The Irish standard., 1905-04-29

Port Gibson, Miss, April 21.-This
is one of the prettiest towns in the
South-neatly kept and prosperous,
and sacred to Aaron Burr and Blen-
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 has one of the
wealthiest communities in the state,
as might be inferred from its spacious
mansions and other appearances of
prosperity and culture. The streets
are wide and we'll shaded; there is a
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 histor-
ian, has recently unearthed a lot of
valuable historical documents down
here. including a diary Of Governor
Claiborne's, which is reasonably
complete and connected, and covers
all the important events in the terri
tory between 1903 and 1916. It was
obtained through a nephew. He has
also secured the journal of Cowles
Mead, who was acting governor at the
time of the Burr incident, and large
quantity of the private and official
correspondence of both of those gen.
tlemen, the greater part of which re.
fers to the conspiracy. That was the
greatest event that ever occurred in
this section of the country until the
days of secession. This material is
entirely new, and there are some ex-
ceedingly interesting reports made by
state officials, 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 citizens 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
reposed in them.
Months before President Jefferson
issued his proclamation declaring
Burr to be engaged in reasonable
plot, rumors were brought down the
river by travellers and boatmen, and
guilt and very much excited. About
this time Cowles Mead, young Geor-
gian, was 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
have said, have recently been discov-
cred, show that he was a man of en-
ergy, 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 his writings, that he
had confidential information which he
dared not even confide to his diary
It is also clear that Mead had evil
dence that General Wilkinson was
crooked also. He warned various
authorities of the United States that
Wilkinson was the greatest transgres-
sor of the group. 1t was evidently his
opinion that Wilkinson had betrayed
Burr to Spain and was in the pay Of
the Spanish authorities.
AS Burr's fotilla came down the
Mississippi river 1t was preceded by
exaggerated reports of it's strength
and intentions, and in order to protect
the territory from invasion Governor
Mead called out the militia and sta
toned it at certain strategic points to
ARREST the invaders and If necessary
engage in the active military opera
tions against them. Colonel F. L.