Norwich bulletin., 1921-08-22
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY
THE BLouxr CONSPIRACY.

of the President of the United States went to the House of Representatives. with his official documents, among others he carried some papers dis closing a plan for the invasion of Spanish territory by citizens of the United States.
 In 17s0 Blount was appointed by Washington to be Governor of "The Territory Of the United States south of the Ohio" and soon afterwards he founded the city of Knoxville, Tenn. When Tennessee was a4~'itted to the Union, in 17S6. Blount vsls elected to the United States Sena.-, and it was while thus employed he entered into olm, James Carey and others. Casey was interpreter to the Cherokee In- dians.
 Carey had come to Philadelphia with several Cherokee chiefs, where he fell inc with Chisolnl, heard his plan, and spoke to Blount. The Senator affect ed to make light of the matter. But the interpreter was no sooner back 10 Tel lieo than Blount wrote him a long note,
 The affair Cspt Chisolm had talked of was likely to come off in the fall. If the Indians would do their part it must succeed. A man of much conse- quence had gone to England. He would probably arrange affairs. If he did Blount would likely take part iE the business himself at the head of the British forces.
 In Blount's letter to Carey he eau ! tioned him to move with great care l as single careless word and each one concerned in the expedition would be ruined man. When the interpreter l received the letter it caused him great uneasiness. He longed to serve William | Blount. He had sworn to serve the United States. What to do he knew not. and, in his uncertainty he consult ed clerk in his employ The clerk bade him consider the oath"
 This did not content him and a sec. | ond man was consulted and shown the I note. On the assurance that the public ought to know Of it Carey gave it LII and the contents were soon in tht newspapers. In a few weeks a CODY was in the hands of the Secretary o
 War and the Secretary of State. The English minister was at one, addressed. Pickering reminded him O 1 the denial of 8 plan to invade Louis ana from the upper lakes and asked him If he knew of a project to invad, it elsewhere. This question was no i based on a vague suspicion, Undoubt
 edly information he was told had com
 10 him and in it the British ministe | was named.
 comea great. .BMVi bb mf wv wy pp
 The next day brought a reply iron
 Robert Liston. the British minister
 He admitted the visit, the plan, tn
 mission to England, but declined t
 mention any names. The day followin
 copies of the letter of Blount. to Care
 of Pickering. to Liston and the repl
 were laid before the Senate and th
 House. The case against Blount wa
 thought a plain one.
 committee was appointed by the ser
 ate to report what should be done wit
 him. and while they were debating tn
 report proceedings were interrupted by
 messenger from the house. The attorne general had been consulted by a menbe
 and had given it as his opinion that th Carey letter was evidence of a crime an the writer of it was liable to inpeacf ment.
 The republicans, led on by Gailatil raised the question of the constitution;
 right of the house to irapeaeh the sen:
 tor But after considerable debate tn
 right wa sdeelared constitutional, and C 3 July s, lIs7, he was expelled from u
 seHaeei ana was ofdered to give bonds . come and answer such articles of in peachment as might be exhibited again e 1 him.
 Blount at first hid himself. and so p y all manner of runners afioat. He had fie n He had been arrested. The truth Wa y when the Carey letter was printed, = did make an effort to go southwsrd, b a he was apprehended,
 s No one could declare him innocel
 Even his own friends did not attempt
 but attacked the English minister a
 the secretary of stSte. A contrast " V drawn in this case to one still well 1t mind, that of Genet, the French min E ter. who was recalled for intrigues c: .l ried on here against our government. F $ the Federalists were in control, and wh e their opponents said Genet was 2 nounced because he was an honest 8 d clear-headed man, and minister from k republic of France, Liston was bel d i caressed because he has talents for c IS ruption and intrigue, and is minis ,e from the English court"
 The main charge in the Blount consr
 acy scheme was the wrestling os N
 Orleans and the Floridas from the Sp:
 iards on behalf of Great Britain. ] 2. whole incident increased considera i,, Blount's popularity In Tennessee, 2 " soon after his expulsion hc was. cleo to the state senate, over which he pres lS ed for some time
 Tomorrow: The PAxtang Indian Outra