7

general Wilkinson and Burr is not only proved, but admitted. We have seen that the former had engaged in a scheme for the separation of the western country from the United States, and I think the evidence I have adduced incontestibly proves, that he received the wages of a foreign power for his co-operation in that treason. At an interval of about ten years we find col. Burr engaged in a plan, of which the same dismemberment forms a principal feature. During the whole of this interval, the closest, the most mysterious intimacy subsists between the leaders of the two attempts. During the period in which it is acknowledged that the latter plan was in agitation, they correspond in cypher, they have secret interviews, and the intercourse is broken off precisely at the period when it was demonstrated that the scheme must fail. Then, and not till then, the general accuses his accomplice, and, by a kind of political pantomime, the wand of executive favour changes the conspirator into a saviour of his country. Are not these circumstances of strong presumption? Do they not require the fullest disclosure of the nature of the correspondence, of the basis of the intimacy, of the subject of the conferences? Yet what satisfaction on these interesting points has been given? Why, truly, the intimacy was the effect of pure friendship-the correspondence cannot be declared, without a breach of delicacy; (a)—and the journies to Massac and to St.

(a) See the evidence of general W. as communicated to Congress, page 311, where he says: Between the period

Louis were undertaken by Burr, merely to assure general W. that he had a great project, which the general did not think proper to interrogate him about, though he says he afterwards wrote several letters, to draw from him the nature of his scheme.

The winter of 1804 was the last period of Mr. Burr's term of office as Vice-President. Wilkinson passed that winter with him at Washington, and in the spring the latter was named to the first, and the brother-in-law of the former to the second, office in the territory of Louisiana; and Burr himself was to proceed to the western country, furnished with letters of recommendation from gen. Wilkinson. [See gen. W.'s evidence, Pres. Mess. p. 309.]

On the 26th March, the 30th April, and the 19th of May, Burr writes three letters to Wilkinson (letters which would no doubt throw great light on this subject, but which the general's delicacy forbids him to produce) and having spent six weeks in the western country, on the 8th of June had an interview with general Wilkinson at fort Massac, on the Ohio. Here is the first period at

❝of Mr. Burr's leaving St. Lewis [August, 1805] and May, "1806, I received six letters from him. I have said that "those letters blended matters political with matters person❝al. I have considered those letters confidential; they were "so received, and I will not expose them but in the last ex"tremity, without col. Burr's permission; but if I have that "permission, I will do it now. I have asked it, and do again “ask it. Those letters were of an ambiguous aspect, speak❝ing of some enterprize, without designating any, and were " calculated to inculpate me, should they be exposed."

which I have positive proof of the general's participation in Burr's plans. "Col. Burr," the general says in his evidence, "the next day prose"cuted his voyage to New Orleans." How long he staid I know not; but while there, the general furnished him with a letter of introduction to me, in the following words:

MY DEAR SIR,

your

Massac, June 9th, 1805,

THIS will be delivered to you by colonel Burr, whose worth you know well how to estimate. If the persecutions of a great and honourable man can give title to generous attentions, he has claims to all civilities and all your services. You cannot oblige me more than by such conduct, and I` pledge my life to you it will not be misapplied. To him I refer you for many things improper to letter, and which he will not say to any other.I shall be at St. Lewis in two weeks, and if you were there we could open a mine, a commercial one at least. Let me hear from you-Farewell, do well, and believe me always your friend.

DANIEL CLARK, ESQ.

JA. WILKINSON..

What were these things improper to letter, for which I was referred to col. Burr, and which he would not say to any other, I can only tell from the public exposition that afterwards took place; for col. Burr, during our short acquaintance, hazarded no proposition of an illegal or improper nature to

me.

Neither the tenor of my conversation, nor my circumstances, nor standing, could invite any confidence of this sort, and col. Burr has never been charged with dulness of perception on such points. The things, however, which it was improper to letter, to me are pretty plainly expressed in a communication made about the same time to general Adair. The letter is dated Rapids of Ohio, May 28th, 1805, 11 o'clock, and contains these expressions:" I was to have introduced my friend "Burr to you, but in this I failed by accident. He understands your merits, and reckons on you. Prepare to meet me, and I will tell you all. We

must have a peep at the unknown world beyond "me."-(See Note NO. 78.) The letter to me I think fully proves that some secret plan of Burr's was known to Wilkinson in May, 1805. That to general Adair leaves no doubt on the subject. Immediately after this he went to St. Louis, where his very first act, before he had broken bread in the territory, was an endeavour to bring major Bruff into his plans. He tells him that he had a 'grand scheme," that would "make the fortunes "of all concerned;" and though major Bruff's manner of receiving this overture put a stop to any further disclosure, yet we may judge of its nature, for it was introduced by a philippic against democracy, and the ingratitude of republican governments. [See President's Message to Congress, communicating the evidence in Burr's trial, page 81, & seq.] In the same year the general wrote another letter to colonel M'Kee, enquiring whe

ther he

could not raise a corps of cavalry, "to follow his fortunes to Mexico." [Vide President's Message, page 22.] Now contrast this with the general's declaration, on oath, before the Grand Jury at Richmond, when he declared-" That he had an interview with Burr, at St. Louis, in which he [B.] stated that he had some great project in contemplation; but whether it was authorised by the government or not B. did not explain, nor did W. enquire; that this was all the information he was possessed of, at that time, of B's designs; that he was satisfied B. had had some great project in view, but had not expressed what that project was. [See Mr. Tazewell's evidence, President's Message, page 5.] Is this of itself probable, if it stood alone? that Burr should travel to St. Louis, to have a confidential conversation with W. and should only tell him that he had a grand project; that he should stop here; and that Wilkinson, the most intimate friend he had, should enquire no further; all this is almost incredible. But the general does not leave us to doubt on this subject. By the letter to me it appears, that on the 8th of June, near three months before B's visit to St. Louis, Wilkinson knew that he had a scheme, and knew enough of it, to know that it was improper to letter. In the same month of June he knew so much, as to assure general Adair that Burr "reckoned" on him-so much, as to promise him that he would tell him all—and so much, as even then to let out a part, which was a visit to the world beyond him. Yet he pretends [see Mr. Taze