Kentucky Gazette And General Advertiser

FROM THE WESTERN WORLD.

The Kentucky Spanish Association, Blount's Conspiracy, and General Miranda's Expedition.

[CONTINUED.]

No. XVI.

WE have now concluded our narration of the principal facts of which we have been informed respecting an association that had originated 30 years since in the state of Kentucky with a view of a separation from the union and an alliance with Spain. It must appear obvious that in every investigation of this nature which has been dormant for a length of time, that innumerable difficulties present themselves in the obtaining of proofs. It is not in the power of an historical narrator to compel testimony as a court of justice; he can only furnish such documents as will lead to the sources where the proper evidence is deposited: by which the public prosecutor may be able to bring the accused to justice, or the latter if innocent may exculpate themselves. The importance of the present investigation, it is unnecessary to dwell upon. Every person except a few who are biased by personal interest, feels the propriety of endeavoring to ascertain, whether or not an association such as is described ever did exist. We expressly stated in the commencement of our narration that we were neither "goaded on by party spirit or personal malice;" but that our intention was solely to develope conspiracy, "the seeds of which were planted with first settlers of Kentucky, which are still growing, and if ever brought to maturity, will affect the interest, not only of the western continent, but of the known world." We never expressed the slightest design of censure or of attaching criminality to the individuals implicated. The Spanish association in Kentucky, was the only question proposed by us to be discussed. The Public and not we were the party to criminate or applaud—It was stated in the most explicit manner, that many persons would be implicated "for whose virtues we entertained the highest respect, and from whom we received several marks of favour." Gen. Wilkinson alone was condemned as the projector of the scheme. Let the words of our first number be remembered—"Yet if ever the attempt was pardonable, it was pardonable with several of the members of the Kentucky Association, From the public as well as private character of many of those concerned, who are personally known to us, we are confident that only the most extreme necessity compelled them to take a part in the treasonable scheme." Then after describing the unhappy situation of Kentucky at the period alluded to, we observed, "under these circumstances the cool and dispassionate reasoner will not see it astonishing, if even virtue and integrity themselves, yielded to the plausible proposal of an intriguing and ambitious adventurer." It is true that in the progress of our narrative we thought ourselves authorized to censure in the severest terms several others whom we implicated in the conspiracy, though not from the same cause. Our censure was not predicated on the part which they acted in the conspiracy; but for the opposition which they exhibited to its development. We have censured in the severest terms John Brown, Judge Sebastian, Judge Wallace, Colonel Muter, Judge Innes, and even Colonel Todd, but for what reason? Not for their agency in the original association; whatever punishment or censure those concerned might merit on this account, it was the province of the people to pronounce and not ours.—The hostility of the Editors of the Western World to these men, proceeded from the uniform opposition which they have exhibited to the development of the conspiracy, to their endeavours to harass the editors, and prevent the circulation of their paper. The development of any public conspiracy is a fair subject for every citizen publicly to discuss, and the individual of whatever station or rank he may be, who opposes such discussion, is an enemy to the welfare of his country, and the freedom of the press. Besides the attempt of suppressing the investigation of any political subject, argues guilt on the part of those concerned. Treason and conspiracy viewed in an abstract sense are no ways criminal. These acts may be exercised for the preservation of a country equally as for the destruction. Every individual who took a part in the revolutionary war was a traitor and conspirator in the eyes of the British government, but certainly a virtuous patriot with respect to America. There is no man who had the slightest agency in the American revolution, but who glories in the recital of all its actions, and for the best of reasons, from the conviction that they tended to the prosperity of his country. The desire manifested by the Spanish associates for suppressing the development, on the contrary proves that those concerned are impressed with an idea, that they were engaged in a conspiracy injurious to the interest of Kentucky. These remarks are made to prevent any misconception of our views in detailing this conspiracy, and to impress particularly on the minds of our readers, that the fact of the existence of a Spanish association in Kentucky is our sole object, and the question before us, and not the propriety or impropriety of the conduct of the associates relative to the conspiracy. Their procedure since the commencement of the development of the business and the hostile measures which they have pursued with respect to the Western World, are the only part of their conduct, which we think ourselves now at liberty to arraign. The policy or impolicy of a separation from the union, and how far such a measure would be conducive or injurious to the interest of the western people, is a subject which we shall examine at a future period. We intended at first, to have carried on this investigation along with the Spanish conspiracy, and accordingly published two numbers entitled, "The interest of the western people," for that purpose; but perceived the matter to be of such magnitude and to require such research as would necessarily occupy our exclusive attention. We therefore deferred it until our present enquiries would be completed. The proofs of the existence of a Kentucky Spanish conspiracy, and the respective parts which those men, whom we have called conspirators, have acted in the association, will compose this and the three following numbers, with which it is our design to close the list of those secret combinations which we have proposed to unfold. 1st, with respect to general Wilkinson whom we have charged as the original projector of the scheme. The proofs at present which we shall exhibit against the general, are: 1st. The correspondence between Colonel Marshall and General Washington, which we noticed in the first number. The existence of this correspondence is proved by the letter of A. K. Marshall, republished in this day's paper from the Kentucky Gazette. Mr Marshall says, "They shall now be given to the world and except these letters which will be extorted from me by Franklin, the editors of the Western World never did derive any information from me (for I possessed none) or my father's bureau, or as I believe any member of my family."

[To be continued.]