Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-04-28
Miseelaasuus Reading.
STORY OF AARON BURR.
Light In Case From Interesting Old
Mississippi Documents.

PORT GIBSON, Miss, April 21.-Thi:
is one Of the prettiest towns In the
south-neatly kept and prosperous
and sacred to Aaron Burr and Blen.
i nerhassett. The houses which they
once occupied are pointed out to
strangers and interesting incidents
are told with which they were con-
nected Port Gibson Is one of the
wealthiest communities in the state
as might be inferred from the spa
cious mansions and other appearances
of prosperity and culture. The streets
are wide and we'll shaded there Is q
tall dome on the court house; the
churches have aspiring steeples, and
long rows of enormous warehouses
are crowded with cotton waiting until
the price gets up to 10 cents pound
Dunbar Rowland, the state historian
has recently unearthed a lot Of val
liable historical documents down here
including a diary Of Governor Clai-
borne's, which Is reasonably complete
and connected, and covers all the i'm
portant events in the territory be-
tween 1903 and 1916. 1t was obtained
through a nephew. He has also Sc
cured the journal Of Cowles Mead, who
was acting governor at the time Of the
Burr incident, and a large quantity OF
the private and official correspond
ence Of both these gentlemen, the
| greater part of which refers to the
conspiracy This was. the greatest
event that ever occurred In this Sec
ton of the country until the days OF
secession. This material is entirely
new, and there are some exceedingly
interesting reports made by state Of
fcials bearing on the same subject
While, unfortunately, none Of these
documents Is convincing, or contains
positive evidence Of Burr's guilt, they
throw much light upon his character
and relate circumstances which would
not have occurred in the conduct Of a
loyal citizen or an honorable man.
| They also indicate that he had adher-
ents down in this section who must
have been familiar with his designs
and were prepared for his arrival, al
though there Is no evidence among all
the records to show that any Of them
ever betrayed the confidence he re-
posed In them.
Months before President Jefferson
issued his proclamation declaring
Burr to be engaged in a reasonable
plot, rumors were brought down the
river by travellers and boatmen, and
the people became convinced Of his
guilt and very much excited. About
this time Cowles Mead, young Geor-
gian, wes appointed secretary Of the
territory, and during the absence of
Robert Williams, the governor, exer-
cised the functions Of that office. His
diary and correspondence, which, as
I have said, have recently been dis
covered, show that he was a man OF
energy and courage and was convinced
that Burr was engaged In an attempt
to set up an independent government
in the southwest. There is no doubt
Judging from intimations and hints
that appear in the writings, that he
had confidential informations which
he dared not even confide to his diary
1t Is also clear that Mead had evil
dence that General Wilkinson was
crooked also. He warned various au-
thorities of the United States that
Wilkinson was the greatest trans
gressor Of the group. 1t was evident
ly his opinion that Wilkinson had be-
trayed Burr to Spain and was in the
pay of the Spanish authorities.
AS Burr's flotilla came down the
Mississippi river II was preceded by
exaggerated reports Of its strength
and intentions, and In order to pro-
tect the territory from invasion Gov
ernor Mead called out the militia, and
stationed it at certain strategic points
to arrest the invaders and If necessa-
ry engage in active military opera
tions against them. Colonel +. L.
Claiborne, afterward governor, was
selected TO organize a f1otilla at
Natchez and to obstruct Burr's pass
age down the river. Colonel Thomas
Fitzpatrick. George Poindexter (after-
wards United States senator) and w.
B. Shields afterwards judge in the
United States cour) were appointed
commissioners on the part OF the state
government to meet Burr and demand
his unconditional surrender to the
Mississippi authorities. On the morn
ilg of Jan. Is, 1907, they halted the
fiotilla and visited him on board a
fatboat, which he made his head
quarters. They assured him that, In
the event Of his surrender to the civil
authorities. his life and property
would be protected. and If, after in
vestigation. it appeared that he was
innocent of reasonable design he
would be given his liberty. After an
oral conference letters to this effect
were exchanged. This corresponds ice
was unknown until recently and does
not appear in any of the histories of
the conspiracy.
AS a result of this correspondence a
conference between Acting Governor
Mead and Colonel Burr took place at
the residence Of Thomas Calvit In
Jefferson county. That fine old man.
sion is still standing, and Is now the
property of one of the justices of the
supreme court of Mississippi. Burr
formally surrendered to Mead and
gave his parole in writing. while Mead
gave Burr a written pledge that until
his case was investigated by the
courts there shall be no restraint on
his person. no violence or molestation