The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-29

JAMES WILKINSON, born In I15i and died
Is25. had a strange career. He was a SOL
/ der Of the Revolution. leaving the service
l under a cloud, which was never satisfdc-
| torily cleared away. He was a trader IN
| Kentucky in I7ss, and afterwards. and was
| thought TO be In league with the Spaniards
| to ALLEVIATE the colonists west of the Ale
| ghanies from the Government Of the United
| States This suspicion was confirmed years
| after his death by his letters 10 Spanish
| officials In the archives a. Madrid. He was
| Military Governor of Louisiana for several
years after the purchase of Louisiana Ter
| ritory. He was implicated in the Burr con-
| splracy, and finally warned the Govern
ment OF tho designs of that picturesque
| man He was discharged from the serv-
ice Of tho United States Army after the
War Of lSl2 and removed to Mexico, where
he died. strange record. indeedi
Accused Of traitorous designs. IN at last
| two instances. no was DOUBTLESS unfaithiul
to the confidence placed in him by his EEL
lows. He had served with some distinction
| In the Revolution. but was deep In the
Conway cabal," which had for its purpose
the oeposng OF Washington and the plac-
| ing OF Gathes In the role of COMMANDMENT
Chief 1t was through him that the fact
Vi inc existence OF pIlSpIid'g itSh'A
| out. Adroit as he was. he could not ex-
plain his treachery TO Gates nor convince
Washington that he was not connected
with the disreputable conspiracy. Dis
trusted by his fellow officers he resigned
his brevet rank of General. but retained his
commission as Colonel. He was not again
actively employed till toward the close Of
the Revolution. when he served for d time
as clOthier general of the army.
Again. when Military Governor OF Louis
lana, with troops under him Al New Or
leans. he was deep in the schemes of Burr.
When the crucial moment came. however.
he failed to act in accordance with the
plan. and sent Information against Burr to
the Government at Washington Burr al
ways spoke of Wilkinson with bitterness.
and called that General traitor TO him.
This soldier OF the Revolution. Wilkinson.
removed TO Kentucky about the year llS4.
The history Of the colonies south OF the
Ohio River Is closely connected with ST AN
ish intrigue. The Spanards Held New Or
leans and they refused TO allow The plant
ers Of the transalleghany country to navi-
gate the Mississippi. Thus the colon;sts
had no market for their produce save by
the extremely srduous method of trans
porting It across the mountains eastward.
AZ WAS B6feE 10 let II rot N lnelr warns
than undertake such a journey. Besides
this difficulty. the colOnists had another
pressing danger TO face-.he danger of in
cursions from the Indians. Supplied with
arms and set on by Spain. the Creei, in
dams. headed by the notorious half breed
Alexander McGilltvray. kept the settlers in
constant state Of alarm. Spain wished
TO drive the pioneers from their homes. thus
Gripping the power of her enemy, the
United States. The American Cove, nment
Itself was kept too busy with questions OF
diplomacy, the adjustment of affairs with
European nations. TO do more than make
tentative efforts to relieve the settlers Of
the West There was much dissEection
among the settlers of the Mississippi VAL
ley. and there were those who contemplated
setting up a separate Government. Wilk:n-
son was prominent among these mcn. He
was In the pay of the Spaniards for the
accomplishment of this very purpose. Spain
was Jealous Of the power of the United
States. and she had sought 70 exte-minate
the hardy settlers by means OF her allies,
the Indians but now another policy was to
Be pursued.
Writing Of Wilkinson In his history OF
Kentucky. Humphrey Marshall says: Ma
ture herself had gratuitously furnished VIII
kinson with passport which insured his
favorable reception wherever he was seen
and heard-a passport expressed in a Ian
guage which all mankind could read, whose
influence every ore felt. and which none
would suspect. or scruunize on the first
perusal. A person not tall enough to be
perfectly elegant. was compensated by fits
symmetry. and appearance OF health and
strength. a countenance open. mild. ca
NJ - x,rf.l
gait firm. manly and facile; manners bland.
accommodating and popular; an address.
easy. polite and gracious. invited approach.
gave access. assured attention. cordIality
and ease. BY these fair forms he concili-
ated: by these he captivated. The COM
bined effect was greatly advantageous to
the General, on a first acquaintance-which
a further intercourse contributed to modi-
fy''
make fortune II he could obtain a conces-
sion enabling him 10 naviga-e the Mssls-
sippi He set about the attainment of this
object with shrsvdness that would have
been admirable had he been actuatei by
any but the most sordid personal motives.
The Interior project he might prosecute or
abandon. as circumstances should render
expedient.
In his Advance Guard OF Western Civili-
zation." James r. Gilmore records that "a
OeHse mystery OEeflNns Inls WnOlS trans
action (Wiiknsons concessions from the
Spanish GovernmenO for all of fifty years,
and until the curtain was lifted from it by
the Spanish Government conserving to the
examination of Wilkinsons correspondence
and Miro's dispatches. Then II was dis
covered that this ns tive-born American. only
recently In the official service OF his coun-
try. and soon to be elevated 10 the chief
command OF her armies, had bargained to
barter away the district OF Kentucky and,
indeed. the whole territory as far east as
the Alleghanies. for q mess of Spanish pot
tage.
1t has been questioned whether Wilkinson
went further than TO deceive the Spanish
authorities with a pretended disloyal intent
toward his own Government He exags,er-
ated.' II has been sad. his own importance
and influence. and promised much to the
Spaniard which he could never have per-
formed. and scarce thought OF performing
And he did SO purposely. that he misht
exact the money which his extrayagaace
required He kept no promise made to the
Spanish intendant. but regularly received
the Kings money In other words he
was a traitor to both the Spaniards and
his own countrymen."
The plans OF Wilkinson to swing ,bs
Western settlements away from the Union