The National tribune., 1900-12-13
GEN. WILKINSON.


In all the secret movements, the strange
conduct of Aaron Burr, the fitting up and
down the river, going from State TO Terri
tory and back again, sometimes in boat
and sometimes on horseback. Harry Gran
ger could never bring himself TO admit
that there was anything wrong. lie knew
that Col Burr was mysterious, buL WINE
the greatest men and statesmen were CIV
ing halls and dinners. and making him the
object of their care, Harry could not
Doubt that it was all right He knew that
Aaron Burr had marked out a career OF
slory-that he would found an empire;
that much he had gained by singular hlnts
let drop from the lips of Aaron L. hlmselt.
If Aaron Burr could blind the eyes of
such patriotic. keen and sagacious men as
Henry CLAY and Andrew Jackson, one
can hardly blame Harry Granger for be
coming a victim to his deluSlye spell;
Youth is vulnerable, hopeful, poetic and
ambitious and Harry saw SlItterng
crown, but not the shattered Nation, and
bleeding thousands that must strew the
way to such conquest
One character in this drama who has
been much discussed is Gen. Wilkinson.
He is accused of having first conspired
with Burr for the secession of the Western
States and Territories, the invasion of
Mexico, or whatever scheme Burr had IN
mind. and then bctraying him. MIR. James
Parton Burr'S hiographer, makes
greater seoundFel Of Wilkinson than Burr.
But Mr.. Parton, all through his work of
two volumes, shows a Partially for the
cleaning sinner, and displays an ungov-
ernabIe hatred for Burr's opponents,
much as he tries to conceal his real feel
ings. He says:
1T was Wilkinson, the reader may re-
member. who, as aid-de-camp to Gates IN
TIT, blabbed to Lord Stirling an express
cin mead Inv n Gates 1Ign1Fag -
ing the gcHeralship of Washington, which
led TO Conway'S ruin, and to much other
embarrassment and difficulty" Every
student of American history knows that
Conway was an unprincipled, undeserv-
ing rascal, and Gates was a drunken,
boasting malcontent with a great ambition
and u small ability; that Gates and Con-
way were conSDiTng. in every possible
way, to ruin Washington, and were more
dangerous at one time than Arnold. Con
ways Cabal lis too well known TO the his
tOrian to blame Wilkinson for any plots
lie may have revealed directly or indi-
rectiy to the COmmander-in-C Chief on those
conspirators. Wilkinson was more deserv-
ing of praise than condemnation for his
"blabbing.'
Gen. Wilkinson was at this time Burr's
friend. and when the exile went West,
he warmly received him.
To thoroughly understand the strange
complications and misunderstanding that
followed Burr's visit, one must be thor
oughly acquainted with Burr and his
double dealings. He never spoke a SEN
tence with q single meaning, never
planned a campaign that did not have Il
broad way to retreat. His words were
cunningly ambiguous, and he never failed
to take any advantage, however unscrupu-
lOus. He was a shrewd, keen lawyer, and
always had technical points in his favor.
1t was evening. and Burr and the Gen
eral were alone III the quarters Of the lat
ter. when the conspirator began carefully
feeling his way with Wilkinson.
General. ! am going to bring colony
TO the West. and build up a vast empire"
he cautiously remarked.
There seemed to be nothing wrong in
the ambiguous sentence of the conspirator,
and the General responded:
An excellent plan, Colonel. OF course.
you viii succeed, too; for you seldom fail.
/ wish conld share your glory
do you:"
Burr took his cigar from his mouth and
glanced keenly at the General.
"Of course / do" answered the Cen
eral.
"Gen Wilkinson, do you really mean
what you sayT'
Certainly"
Burr took his hand in silence. pulled
few small clouds, and asked in a light,
meaningless sort of a way:
How would you like to be Generai-in-
Chief Of the army Of this new empire, and
second to none, save the Emperor"
Nothing would please me better"
laughed the General.
.'You remember what said at our meet
ing in Washington
II am not likely to forget 1.-THE Gen
erai answered.
did ] make my meaning clearg"
Certainly you did"
General. hope ! can rely on you"
Il assure you you can"
II did not dawn on the mind of Gen.
Wilkinson, he afterward claimed, that
Burr's designs were other than honorable
He was strangely mysterious but he sup
posed it had relation only to some business
matter. After several moments Of silence,
the conspirator said:
General, have made you my trusted
friend. / have confided in you what
g have coniided in no other. In this age of
treason and corruption one knows not
whom to trust"
VERY true, Colonel, very true; but as
sure you, Colonel, that your secrets are
safe with me. l regard it the basest act
of humanity to betray friend"
After short period of smoking and
contemplation the cOnspirator remarked:
Gen. Wilkinson. l believe we under
stand each other"
Fully" Wilkinson unhesitatingIy an
swercd.
it not?'
well. yes: tia. definition is good
one"
IF it were TO your interest to be Mex
lean instead OF an American, you wouia
SO to Mexico and live there?"
1t would certainly be rery natural for
one TO do So"
If you were living in Mexico and
wished to throw off the Spanish yoke. as
we did the English, you would do 500"
Though Gen. Wilkinson was little
puzzled at the course in which his friend.
was leading him, be was compelled to nd
NIT the truth of his argument
Then. Gen. Wilkinson, but one ronclu-
sion can be drawn fror, this argument;