Virginia Argus

Mr. PLEASANTS,

I BEG your permission to throw out to our fellow citizens, in your Argus, such hints, occasionally, as may serve to keep them on the watch with all the eyes of Argus. On the present occasion, I call on them for the vigilance of Argus. I mean to watch the state of our affairs, at home and abroad--at home, respecting Burr's plots, and the plots of a federal or anglo-monarchico-aristocractic faction--and abroad, our affairs which have been supposed capable of an adjustment by our ministers, Monroe and Pinckney.

With respect to Burr's affairs, let them not be lulled into a dangerous state of security; believing (as all those would persuade them to believe, who wished success to any one of the projects attributed to him) that his views were harmless and honorable-- Let them rather be on their guard. Let them carefully avoid discouraging such communications as Genls. Wilkinson and Eaton gave. Let them Consider what might have been the consequence, had those gentlemen supposed that their information would be derided, merely because the early exertions of the executive blasted all hopes of success, and gave time for the crafty conspirators to Countermand the marching orders; he meeting at their intended place of rendezvous, and to disperse and divest themselves of every instrument which could exhibit an hostile appearance. Let our citizens recollect how long it is since certain federalists were charged with boasting of the trouble Burr would give to the executive. Let them consider what Wood stated in his Western World, and his prevarications in his Atlantic World; and in addition to all this, let them remember, what a formidable party there is in the United States, which wish to plunge them into a war with Spain, that they might be thrown into the arms of Britain, and who would therefore support, if they had an opportunity, Burr's attack upon Mexico. Indeed, this same party is so hostile to our present administration, and so desirous of a more energetic government, that they may well be suspected of wishing success to Burr's plot of seizing on the president, and dismissing the congress. Let them recollect what Hamilton and Dayton said, of giving them good government at the point of the bayonet, and that had Burr's plan been as well organised when the federalists attempted to make use of him to rid them of the republican Jefferson, how powerfully he would have been supported by that faction. Let them recollect these things, and that Britain, France and Spain would be pleased to see a revolution in the U.S. in favor of monarchical & aristocratical principles, and that Britain and Spain have long been intriguing to separate the western from the eastern states. I say, let our fellow citizens consider these circumstances, and they will see, that the "danger has not yet passed," but is still hanging over them, and to be arrested, must be watched with the eyes of an Argus. Let them not hear with patience, therefore, any one condemn the honest, patriotic zeal of Gen. Wilkinson. If they do, let them be assured, that the time will come, when no officer will venture to make the only effort which can save his country, and that the time is fast approaching, when it will be safer to join a treasonable conspiracy, than to reveal the secrets of a traitor. Let our fellow citizens consider, that they, as the sovereign in these United States, stand on the same ground as the king does in Britain; and that the suspension of the act of Habeas Corpus, is as necessary to the preservation of their sovereignty, as it is to the preservation of the royal authority in Britain. And therefore, Gen. Wilkinson knowing that Burr's plot was treasonable, had every reason to believe that the Habeas Corpus act would be suspended --nay, he had reason to think it was in fact suspended there, as he, Burr, pushed on to New Orleans, there could be no chance of trying his accomplices there. For my part, had I been Gen. Adair, and as innocent as he declares he is. I should have been pleased with the vigilance and spirited exertions of Gen. Wilkinson. I should have congratulated my country on seeing it capable of crushing a daring conspiracy, unrestrained by legal quibbles, and a contemptibly erroneous application of a law intended to preserve the people from a tyrant's oppression Yes, fellow citizens, I think it better that fifty innocent men should be suspected of treason, and denied the benefit of the Habeas Corpus act, than that one traitor should escape conviction and punishment. It is an amiable but erroneous maxim of Sir Matthew Hale. I think. " that ten guilty persons had better be acquitted than one innocent person should be executed." For the ten guilty persons generally come to the gallows at last, after doing infinite mischief to the innocent, and leading to destruction hundreds of badly disposed persons. But what regard can any one have for our country and its happy constitution, who would discourage such communications as were made by Genls. Wilkinson and Eaton, and such exertions as were made by the former, to crush what he knew was a damnable treasonable conspiracy against the United States? Yes, he knew it, and some of Burr's friends foolishly have charged the general with betraying the secret confided to him--whilst others believing that he would co-operate with Burr, announced to the world the capture of New Orleans All Burr's friends, and even his son-in-law, Mr. Alston, confess, that he had resolved to attack Mexico, in case of a war with Spain--and, Adair declares, that Burr calculated with certainty, as well from the policy of the measure, at this time, (mark this citizens,) as from the positive assurance of Wilkinson, who seemed to have the power to force it in his own hands, (that is to force his country into a war with Spain, France, Holland and Italy) " and this continued to be the object of Col. Burr, until he heard of the shameful and venal bargain, made by Wilkinson at the Sabine river." Attend to these expressions, fellow citizens, and you will discover in them Adair's mortification at the disappointment of his wishes and expectation, that Burr would at least be furnished with a plausible pretext for invading Mexico. But can any one really believe that had not the president's proclamation, and the virtuous, energetic exertions of the state of Ohio, given a serious check to receiving any supplies from above, and the patriotic determination of Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Mississippi Territory, cut off all hopes of furnishing troops with necessaries below, and had not Gen. Wilkinson and the governor of New Orleans, sworn to oppose him, and were actively engaged in making preparations for a vigorous resistance by land and water; I say, had not Burr found himself in this unexpected, embarrassing situation, can any one really believe that he would have waited for a war with Spain, to serve as an apology for his invasion of Mexico, if Mexico was his object, as his friends say it was? But as this expedition to Mexico, Adair acknowledges could not be undertaken, but in case of war with Spain, and that even (although in his opinion so desirable in sound policy) his sagacity enabled him to foresee would not take place, and Burr's discernment and deep foresight must have satisfied him also, that it would not happen. Why then did Burr send Dr. Bollman to Gen. Wilkinson, informing him that he had six thousand men, and that he could have had double the number if they were necessary? Does not this confirm what Gen. Eaton said Burr told him, of his project of separating the western from the eastern states, and what step so necessary to give any chance for success to such an enterprise, as seizing on New Orleans, and imposing on the Spaniards and the Spanish government, a belief, that he had been authorised by the president of the United States to invade Mexico; their allies, might chastise the eastern states for their perfidy to Spain, he would revolutionise the western states? Had Wilkinson, Eaton, Truxton, Preble and others, entered hastily into Burr's views, the navy and army been seduced, and had the marine corps and Burr's accomplices, in and near Washington, seized on or assassinated the president, and seized or dispersed the members of congress, who would not consent to overthrow the government : and had the western states been as ambitious, and as fond of change as Burr was, what could have saved our country? The Yankees, as Eaton said, could, in a few weeks, it is true, march to Washington and hang Burr, if he were there. But it is probable that they would not find him there--the protector would hold himself in readiness to sally forth, when necessary, from a stronger position. He would be in his strong hold at New Orleans, till his allies George the 3d, and Charles the 4th, at least, if not Napoleon the 1st, had recognized his authority, & rendered it prudent for the Yankees to look to their own state and keep their troops at home. Some have laughed at Eaton's account of Burr's project of " assassinating the president, and turning congress neck and heels out of doors, seizing on the treasury and navy, and declaring himself the protector of an energetic government ;" but all this would, in fact, be necessary to the execution of the plan of invasion and conquest of Mexico; or, of holding New Orleans, and revolutionising the western states; or, at any rate to that of giving an energetic government to the United States. For in vain would Burr seize on and plunder New Orleans. invade Mexico, or prevail on the western states to declare themselves independent, or attempt to give to all the states the energetic government he had in view, if he should leave the president and congress of the United States, possessed of all their present powers and dispositions, and uninterrupted in the performance of their respective functions." The power of the union is such, that it could crush him, even if he had his "twelve thousand choice souls" in New Orleans. And the United States would have Spain as her friend, and her allies as friends, also, to aid in overwhelming him, if even possessed of Mexico. The honorable conduct of our government towards Spain, would endear it greatly to her; and, however, well pleased the British government might be to see a revolution in these states in favor of monarchy, she would not find it her interest to assist Burr in an attempt to produce it. when Spain and France were our allies. both of which countries would, in that case, be well enough satisfied with the energy of our present government.

There is no inconsistency as some at first sight may suppose; in saying that the same monarchs of Europe, who would be pleased with the destruction of our present government, and would acknowledge the authority of the usurper, would also be pleased, to see an insurrection suppressed, and a revolution prevented which in its progress would probably deprive them of their colonies in America, and to deprive them of which, the constitutional executive of the U. S. could prove to their conviction, was a favorite object of the leader and principal supporters of the insurrection and rebellion. Here it may be said, that you have shewn the impracticability of executing such projects as have been attributed to Burr, and you justify our disbelief of Wilkinson's and Eaton's depositions. But to this, you may reply, fellow-citizens, that it has only been shewn that they were impracticable unless attempted in the manner proposed to gen. Eaton, and prosecuted as proposed to both Wilkinson and Eaton : and you may add, that the sudden disappearance of the conspiracy, is a confirmation of the truth of what those generals and Dr. Rogers have related. It is true, the undertaking was an arduous task, but well suited to the daring adventurous spirit of Burr, and not above the aim of thousands of those who wish "to have an energetic government," a "government on liberal principles, none of your niggardly democracies." '(See the deposition of William Rogers.) Burr's combination of plots, shews his address and cunning, he endeavored to procure the assistance of Spain, to revolutionise the western states, and of Britain to effect both, the conquest of Mexico, and the disunion of the United States : he relied on the ready co-operation of many virtuous citizens in his invasion of Mexico, as he had induced them to believe that he had the secret sanction of our government, and he had the good wishes of all those who hoped for a separation of the western from the eastern states, and for their commercial connection with Britain and Spain, and the guarantee of their independence by those two powerful nations ; at the same time, he assures the timid peaceable land-jobbers, that, all he had done, was merely with a view of drawing out after him, as great a number as possible of persons to settle the vast tracts of lands which he and his friends possessed in the country to which he was going; trusting each person with so much only of his plan, as after sounding them by himself and friends, he saw would be most agreeable to them, respectively enjoining secrecy by the obligation of an oath on all those to whom he communicated the most important parts of his military arrangements, and kept himself prepared to seize on N. Orleans, if Wilkinson would lend him his aid; to pass through it, borrowing all the money it contained in its bank, &c. on his rout to Mexico, if only unopposed by Wilkinson; or, to conceal all his military apparatus, forbid the meeting of his "choice souls," and instantly like gen. Adair become a simple farmer. Burr understands the constitution and laws of the U. States respecting treason too well to apprehend any serious consequences from a prosecution for that crime, and therefore ventured to go on with his projects as long as he did. And possibly, when he has seen that, although there has been no insurrection any where to support his measures, there has been discovered almost every where, a strong symptom of prejudice against the man who blasted his hopes of success, and remarkable sympathetic tenderness for his accomplices, he may resume the execution of his plan, and call on the Spanish general to assist him in taking New-Orleans, and in being revenged on Wilkinson. He may persevere in his declaration to the Spaniards, that he had the secret encouragement of the president of the U. States to invade Mexico, but that his own secret intention was to seize on New-Orleans, as the best means of separating the western states from the eastern, and indeed of enabling him to effect a complete revolution in the government of the United States.-- And for this purpose, after his mock trial and acquittal he may slip off and join the Spaniards on the Sabine, and call on his thousands to meet them at New-Orleans. Or. if the plunder of Mexico was a more agreeable object to him, and he could rely on the co-operation of the British government to effect that first, and then the erection of his and their favorite form of government in the United States, he may, by force or treachery, get possession of N. Orleans, repulse the Spaniards, and with the assistance of the British from their West-India islands invade Mexico. The citizens of America should be called on to watch Burr, and every tory and federalist in the United States and our fellow citizens of Virginia should be conjured to watch over their dearest interests at the approaching election of representatives to serve them in congress and in their state legislature--Let them elect no man who was a friend to Adams's administration, who approved of the sedition and alien acts, or, who now condemns Wilkinson and Eaton, and makes light of Burr's conspiracy. In my next number I will call their attention to the state of our affairs with Britain, and suggest to them the surest means of bringing her proud king to his senses with respect to the U. States.

In the meantime, I remain their friend and yours.

A VIRGINIAN.

Richmond, March 14th 1807.