action, a person in whose integrity, resources, and making such offers of understanding, and discretion, entire emolument and command, to engage confidence could be reposed, with him and the army in his unlawful' eninstructions to investigate the plots terprize, as he had flattered bimself going on, to enter into conference would be successful.-Tlie general, (for which he had sufficient creden- with the honour of a soldier, and tials) with governors, and all other fidelity of a good citizen, immediately officers, civil and military; and, with dispatched a trusty officer to me, with their aid, to do on the spot whatever information of what had passed, proshould be necessary to discover the ceeded to establish such an underdesigns of the conspirators; arrest standing with the Spanish commantheir means, bring their persons to dant on the Sabine, as permitted him punishment, and to call out the force to withdraw his force across tbe Misof the country to suppress any unlaw- sissippi, and to enter on measures for ful enterprise, in which it should be opposing the projected enterprise. found they were engaged. By this The general's letter, which came tiine it was known that many boats to hand on the 25th of November, were under preparation, stores of as has been mentioned, and some provisions collecting, and an unusual other information received a few number of suspicious characters in days earlier, when brought together, motion on the Ohio, and its waters. developed Burr's general designs, Besides dispatching the confidential different parts of which only had been agent to that quarter, orders were at revealed to different informants. It the same time sent to the governors appeared that he contemplated two of the Orleans and Mississippi territo- distinct objects, which might be carries, and to the commanders of the ried on either jointly or separately, land and naval forces there, to be on and either the one or the other first their guard against surprise, and in as circumstances should direct. One constant readiness to resist any enter- of these was the severance of the prize which might be attempted on union of these states by the Allega the vessels, posts, or other objects hany Mountains, the other an attack under their care; and, on the 8th of on Mexico. A third object was pro-November, instructions were for- vided, merely ostensible, to wit, the warded to general Wilkinson, to settlement of the pretended purhasten an accommodation with the chase of a tract of country on the Spanish commandant on the Sabine; Washita, claimed by a baron Bastrop. and, as soon as that was effected, to This was to serve as the pretext for fall back with his principal force to all his preparations; an allurement the hither bank of the Mississippi, for for such followers, as really wished the defence of the interesting points to acquire settlements in that country: on that river. By a letter received and a cover, under which to retreat, from that officer, on the 25th of in the event of a final discomfiture of November, but dated October 21st, both branches of his real design. we learned, that a confidential agent He found at once that the attachof Aaron Burr had been deputed to ment of the western country to the him with communications, partly writ. present union was not to be shaken; ten in cypher, and partly oral, ex- that its dissolution could not be efplaining his designs, exaggerating liis fected without the consent of its in kabitants; habitants; and that his resources were inadequate, as yet, to effect it by force. He took his course then at once, determined to seize on New Orleans, plunder the bank there, possess himself of the military and naval stores, and proceed on his expedition to Mexico; and to this object all his means and preparations were now directed. He collected from all the quarters where himself or his agents possessed influence, all the ardent, restless, desperate, and disaffected persons who were ready for any enterprize analogous to their characters. He seduced good and well meaning citizens, some by assurances that he possessed the confidence of the government, and was acting under its secret patronage; a pretence which procured some credit from the state of our differences with Spain; and others, by offers of land in Bastrop's claim on the Washita. This was the state of my information of his proceedings about the last of November; at which time, therefore, it was first possible to take specific measures to meet them. The Proclamation of November 27, two days after the receipt of general Wilkinson's information, was now issued. Orders were dispatched to every interesting point on the Ohio and the Mississippi, from Pittsburg to New Orleans, for the employment of such forces, either of the regulars or of the militia, and of such proceedings also of the civil authorities, as might enable them to seize on all boats and stores provided for the enterprise, to arrest the persons concerned, and to suppress effectually the further progress of the enterprise. A little before the receipt of these orders in the state of Ohio, our confidential agent, who had been diligently employed in in vestigating the conspiracy, had ac quired sufficient information to open himself to the governor of that state, and to apply for the immediate exertion of the authority and power of the state to crush the combination. Governor Tiffiu and the legislature, with a promptitude, an energy, and patriotic zeal, which entitle them to a distinguished place in the affec tion of their sister states, effected the seizure of all the boats, provisions, and other preparations within their reach, and thus gave a first blow, materially disabling the enterprise in its outset. In Kentucky, a premature attempt to bring Burr to justice, without sufficient evidence for his conviction, had produced a popular impression in his favour, and a general disbelief of his guilt. This gave him an unfortunate opportunity of hastening his equipments. The arrival of the proclamation and orders, and the application and information of our confidential agents, at length awakened the authorities of that state to the truth, and then produced the same promptitude and energy of which the neighbouring state had set the example. Under an act of that legislature, of December 23, the militia was instantly ordered to different important points, and measures taken for doing whatever could yet be done. Some boats (accounts vary from five to double or treble that number) and persons (differently estimated from one to three hundred) had, in the mean time, passed the falls of the Ohio, to rendezvous at the mouth of Cumberland, with others expected down that river. Not apprised, till very late, that any boats were building on Cumberland, the effect of the proclamation had been trusted to for some time in the state of Tennessee. But, on the 19th of December, similar communications Y y 3 and and instructions, with those to the and on the 10th of December he was neighbouring states, were dispatched, joined by his troops from the Sabine. by express, to the governor, and a Great zeal was shewn by the inhabigeneral otficer of the western division tants generally; the merchants of the of the state; and, on the 23d of place readily agreeing to the most December, our confidential agent left laudable exertions and sacrifices, for Frankfort for Nashville, to put into manning the armed vessels with their activity the means of that state also. seamen; and the other citizens mani. But, by information received yester- festing unequivocal fidelity to the day, I learn, that on the 22d of De- union, and a spirit of determined recember, Mr. Burr descended the sistance to their expected'assailants. Cumberland with two boats, merely Some surmises have been hazarded, of accommodation, carrying with him, that this enterprise is to receive aid from that stare, no quota towards his from certain foreign powers. But unlawful enterprise. Whether after these surmises are without proof or the arrival of the proclamation, of the probability. The wisdom of the orders, or of our agent, any exertion measures sanctioned by congress, at which could be made by that state, its last session, has placed us in the or the orders of the governor of paths of peace and justice, with the Kentucky, for calling out the militia only powers with whom we had any at the mouth of Cumberland, would differences; and nothing has happenbe in time to arrest these boats, and ed since which makes it either their those from the Falls of Ohio, is still interest or ours to pursue another doubtful. No change of measures has On the whole, the fugitives from taken place on our part; none ought the Ohio, with their associates from to take place at this time. With the . Cumberland, or any other place in one, friendly arrangement was prothat quarter, cannot threaten serious posed, and the law, deemed necessary danger to the city of New Orleans. on the failure of that, was suspended, By the same express of December to give time for a fair trial of the 19, orders were sent to the governors 'issue. With the same power, friendly of Orleans and Mississippi, supplemen- arrangement is now proceeding under tary to those which have been given good expectations, and the same law on the 25th of November, to hold deemed necessary on failure of that, the militia of their territories in rea, is still suspended to give time for a diness to co-operate for their defence fair trial of the issue. With the other, with the regular troops and armed negociation was in like manner prevessels then under command of ge- ferred, and provisional measures only beral Wilkinson. Great alarm indeed taken to meet the event of rupture, was excited at New Orleans by the While, therefore, we do not deflect exaggerated accounts of Mr. Burr, ip the slightest degree from the course disseminated through his emissaries, we then assumed, and are still pur, of the armies and navies he was to suing, with mutual consent, to restore assemble there. General Wilkinson a good understanding, we are not to had arrived there himself on the 24th impute to them 'practices as irreconof November, and had immediately çilable to interest as to good faith, put into activity the resources of the and changing necessarily the relations place, for the purpose of its defence; of peace and justice between us to those them course. those of war. These surmises are the course of proceedings receive here therefore to be imputed to the vaun- their proper direction. tings of the author of this enterprise, THO. JEFFERSON. to multiply his partisans by magnify- Jan. 22, 1807. ing the belief of his prospects and support. By letters from general Wilkinson, Message from the President of the of the 14th and 18th of December, United States,'transmitting furwhich came to hand two days after ther Information to Congress, the date of the resolution of the house 19 touching Burr's Conspiracy. of representatives, that is to say, on the morning of the 18th instant, I re- To the Senate and House of Repreceived the important affidavit, a copy sentatives of the United States. of which I now communicate, with “I received from general Wilkinextracts of so much of the letters as son, on the 23d instant, his affidavit, comes within the scope of the resolu- 'charging Saniel Swartwout, Peter tion.--By these it will be seen, that V.Ogden, and James Alexander, with of three of the principal emissaries of the crimes described in the affidavit, Burr, whom the general had caused a copy of which is now communicated to be apprehended, one had been li- to both houses of congress. berated by Habeas Corpus; and two “ It was announced to me at the others, being those principally em- same time, that Swartwout and Bollployed in the endeavour to corruptman, two of the persons apprehended the general and army of the United by him, were arrived in the city, in States, have been embarked by bim, custody each of a military officer. I for ports in the Atlantic States, pro- immediately delivered to the attorney bably on the consideration that an of the United States in this district, impartial trial could not be expected the evidence received against them, during the present agitations of New with instructions to lay the same beOrleans; and that that city was not fore the judges, and apply for their as yet a safe place of confinement. process to bring the accused to justice; As soon as these persons shall arrive, and I put into his hands orders to the they will be delivered to the custody officers having them in custody, to of ihe law, and left to such course of deliver them to the Marshal on his trial, both as to place and process, as its application. functionaries may direct. The pre « THOMAS JEFFERSON. sence of the highest judicial authori- “ Jan. 26, 1807," ties, to be assembled at this place within a few days, the means of pur “ I James Wilkinson, brigadiera suing a sounder course of proceeding general and commander in chief of here than elsewhere, and the aid of the army of the United States, do the executive means, should the judges warrant the arrest of Samuel Swarthave occasion to use them, render it wout, James Alexander, Esq. and equally desirable for the criminal, as Peter V. Ogden, on a charge of treafor the public; that being already son, misprision of treason, or such renioved from the place where they other offence against the government were first apprehended, the first regu- and laws of the United States, as the lar arrest should take place here, and following facts may legally charge Yy4 a a а them with. On the honour of a sol- wout) the following disclosure: dier, and on the Holy Evangelist of “That he had been dispatched by Almighty God, do declare and swear, colonel Burr from Philadelphia, had that in ihe beginning of the month passed through the states of Ohio and of October last, when in command Kentucky, and proceeded from Louisat Natcbitoches, a stranger was intro- ville for St. Louis, where he expected duced to me by colonel Cushing, by to find me; but discovering at Kasthe name of Suartwout; who a few askias that I had descended the river, minutes after the colonel retired froin he procured a skiff, hired bands, and the room, slipt into my hand a letter followed me down the Mississippi to of formal introduction from colonel Fort Adams, and from thence set out Burr, of which the following is a cor- for Natchitoches, in company with rect copy: caplains Sparks and Hooke, under the pretence of a disposition to take "'Philadelphia, July 25, 1806. part in the campaign against the Spa“Dear Sir, piards, then depending: That col" Mr. Swartwout, the brother of orel Burr, with the support of a colonel S. of New-York, being on powerful association, extending from his way down the Mississippi, and New York to New Orleans, was levypresuming that he may pass you at ing an armed hody of 7,000 men some post on the river, has requested from the state of New York and the of me a letter of introduction, which western states and territories, with a I gave with pleasure, as he is a most view to carry an expedition against amiable young man, and highly re- the Mexican provinces; and that 500 spectable from his character and con- men, under colonel Swartwout, and nections. I pray you to afford him a colonel or major Tyler, were to deany friendly offices which his situation scend the Alleghany, for whose acmay require, and beg you to pardon commodation light boats had been the trouble which this may give you. built, and were ready." I inquired “ With entire respect, what would be their course; he said, “Your friend and obedient servant, “ This territory would be revolution. (Sigued) “A BURR,” ized, where the people were ready to join them; and that there would be "Mis Excellency General Wilkinson." some seizing, he supposed, at New “Together with a packet, which Orleans; that they expected to be he informed me he was charged by ready to embark about the first of the same person to deliver me in pri- February, and intended to land at rate. This packet contained a letter Vera Cruz, and to march from thence in cypher from colonel Burr, of which to Mexico.” I observed that there the following is substantially as fair were several millions of dollars at the an interpretation as I have heretofore bank of this place ; to which be rebeen able to make, the original of plied—“We know it full well;" and which I hold in my possession.- on my remarking that they certainly [This letter is not come to hand.] did not mean to violate private pra “I instantly resolved to avail my- perty, he said they "merely meant self of the references made to the to borrow, and would return it; that bearer, and in the course of some they expected naval protection from days drew from him (the said Swart- Great Britain; that the captains and the |