and open detection--and in that, he had also exposed, or caused to be exposed, other precious republicans! who were accustomed to give tone to public opinion, and who might as a consequence, lose their influence among the people; he was therefore, cut off from the body, which was nevertheless to be preserved.

The effect of the explosion, was indeed great, for the time; but no effort that could be made, was omitted, to reduce it, or to put down those who had been the moving cause of the examination, which had thus stripped of its fraud and treachery, a faction, which had existed in the bosom of the state, from the year 1788; and whose objects have already been exposed.

Judge Innis, the coadjutor of Sebastian, remained unmolested; and even uncensured, by any expression of opinion, on the part of any public functionary.

The representation in congress from Kentucky, remained as dumb as stocks or blocks, after a full disclosure, that the judge of the United States' court had been engaged in this clandestine intercourse, pronounced by the house of representatives, in the case of Sebastian, "illicit, unjustifiable, and highly criminal, subversive of every duty he owed to the constituted authorities of our country, and highly derogatory to the character of Kentucky;" and which every man of common sense must have seen applied with augmented force, to the sole judge of the federal court. Who, if he was not also a pensioner of Spain, was not the less guilty, nor the less devoted to the conspiracy against the government, for being an active and zealous volunteer. But it is probable, the impunity with which he was treated, found its cause in the party motive which suggested his apology, for not disclosing the overture of 1797, for severing the union; the concealment had been prac tised in the administration of President Adams--to whom Mr. Jef ferson had succeeded, and in whose heart there was a perfect amnesty, for all such crimes, if not for treason itself, when perpetrated by a devoted admirer of himself, and a party coadjutor; and such the delinquent judge was estimated, at, and before that time. But to close this narrative, which reflect

the picture of degradation, already drawn for Kentucky, by the committee, and confirmed by the house of representatives, in relation to Sebastian, upon the United States' court as then filled; it will be further observed, that to free Kentucky from the reproach of quiet submission to a self-convicted, illicit intriguer with a foreign power, for partial treaties, and dismemberment of the union, in effect--while he was the only judge of the United States' court; holding in chains, the criminal justice of the government; and in order to have this judge, thought to be totally unworthy of his place, and a disgrace to the state, tried, and turned out of office; the person who instituted the process, which eventuated in the detection, and resignation of Sebastian, determined, if practical, to rouse the palsied and sleeping faculties of his fellow citizens: and with the view to give effect to the new life and vigour which he hoped to inspire, determined to present himself as a candidate in Franklin county, for the next legislature, to be further noticed.

..

CHAP. IX.

Burr's Enterprise unfolded-Proceedings in Kentucky, in Ohio, and elsewhere-Part taken by the United States' Attorney, and by the President of the United States-Wilkinson, and others, impli cated-Proceedings in the Court, and in the Legislature, &c. &c.

[1806.] RETURNING upon the current of time to the occurrences of 1806, there will be found with the transitory records of the year, a variety of narratives, highly meriting the attention of the reader of Kentucky history. In the course of the summer, Colonel Burr again made his appearance on the Ohio river, and its adjacent territories. Whence proceeded rumours of grand enterprises, intrigues, conspiracies, revolution, and eventual war: sometimes threatening the Spanish dominions; sometimes those of the states, and of the United States; and occasionally, even both, with rupture and dismemberment. Early in October, it was known that extraordinary measures had been assumed, and that actual preparations were making for some mysterious operation of a military character, in the vicinity of the colonel's ostensible residence. For he, in the mean time, not less susceptible to the impressions of beauty than ambitious of military renown, finds on an island in the Ohio, Mrs. Blannerhassett; whose charms of person and of mind, produce effects on the colonel, no less powerful than those fabled of Calypso on the wandering son of Ulysses; and though detained "in love's soft fetters bound," yet were his agents active; and none more so, than this fair lady's husband, in the state of Ohio: while others in this state were also busy in the same month, forwarding other means to the same end. Whispers now are heard to circulate the scheme; when rumour gives it the form of a project, to ensure the possession of millions of dollars to those concerned, and to put a diadem on the head of Colonel Burr. Thus reports, running like king's messengers, came, A**

VOL. II.

1

though low-toned, upon each other's heels; and implicating some Kentuckians, begat suspicions crude, of their inexplicable movements. Some were said to be purchasing provisions, others building boats, and others still engaging men, without an avowed object. While well disposed, and peaceable citizens of reflection, became impatient, and even astonished, that nothing was seen or heard from the president of the United States, nor from the executive of the state, to remove their ap· prehensions, and clear up their doubts.

To these, and especially to the president, they looked for information, as to the character of those movements. It was supposed that as he had care of the whole, and was to see the laws executed, and could collect intelligence from all quarters, that hence he could not be ignorant, nor yet connive at any thing illegal. But how could the president be ignorant of what was known to so many others? And why did he not warn the public by proclamation? In this state of perplexed anxiety, the author of the numbers alluded to, signed "An Observer," published an address, in the "Western World," under date of the 15th of the month of October, 1806; determined to rouse the public, and to warn the people of their danger, by pointing their attention to it. The publication will give an impression of the time, and is here inserted, in preference to an abridgment.

"For the Western World.

"THE people of Kentucky have seen published from the Ohio Gazette, which has its origin and stand at Marietta, and which is supposed to be under the influence of Colonel Burr, a paper in which the idea of disunion by the Allegheny mountains is both openly avowed, and publicly advocated. This is but the idea of the Spanish associates, upon a more extensive scale, and with a more imposing aspect. The man who is held up in front, and at the head of this new plan of dismembering the union of the states, is now among us. While his secret and mysterious movements indicate the management and combina tion of some plan of operations, which will not bear the public

7

view and examination. It is announced as a fact, and doubtless is true, that a number of gun-boats and a schooner of a sin. gular construction, are preparing for this man, on the Ohio river. These can but be considered as preparations for some military expedition. But whether it is intended for the Spanish mines of Santa Fee, for the city of New Orleans, or the Spanish territory on the Gulf of Mexico, or elsewhere, is all uncertainty and conjecture. Yet that a blow is to be struck somewhere, I have no doubt.

“We are taught to believe that this man's fortunes are such as to tempt him to desperate enterprises; his genius capable of planning those which are bold and extensive. It is believed he holds no public commission, nor any authority under the United States. It seems incredible that the president of the federal government should know and connive at an armament or equipment of hostile vessels, within the United States, under the direction of an American citizen, or any other, without public authority: and therefore we must suppose the president uninformed of the fact. We must hope that so soon as he is informed, effectual means will be resorted to, for the suppres sion of these measures, now conspiring to commit the peace and dignity of the United States, with a neighbouring nation; or, what is equally probable, to effect a disunion of the states, and a dismemberment of the American republic.

"We would hope that this will be prevented by the vigilance of the government, and the good sense of the people roused to indignation against those who dare to plot their disunion. We do hope that, upon the meeting of congress, a law will be passed, with suitable provisions to meet all machinations against the union; and to punish with adequate severity all at tempts at private armament within its limits. For it is the government which must fix the sentiments of the people.--Without effectual measures on the part of the government, what are the peaceable and well disposed citizens to think? where are they to fly for protection, against the secret plots and wicked projects of the bold conspirator, or the unprincipled demagogriet