The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

TO THE EDITOR OF THE AURORA.

New-Orleans, May 1807.

Sir,

In order to expose the slanders, circulated by the conspirator Bradford, the printer of this place, whose gazette is the sewer through which the filth and venom of Livingston, Kerr, Workman, Davezac, and other Burr-ites are conveyed—as well as the calumnies and abuse that are published in all the prints hostile to our government—I beg you to publish the enclosed address of the ancient and honorable inhabitants of Louisiana to the president of the U. States.

This address is now in circulation, has already been signed by the following gentlemen, and will receive the signatures of all the other real proprietors of the soil, from whom it has proceeded. The gentlemen whose names are attached to the following, are known to most gentlemen of information in the states, as among the first in every respect in the territory of Louisiana.

TO THOMAS JEFFERSON,

PRESIDENT OF THE U. STATES.

Sir,

We had already passed some years of happiness and prosperity, under the tutelary administration of the union; we had begun to felicitate ourselves on seeing our country enjoying, under the safeguard of laws, those blessings of peace, to which the rest of the world are strangers, when a handful of restless and ambitious men such as in all times have disregarded the misfortunes of society, plotted in silence a vast insurrection, of which our unfortunate city was to be the focus. With what painful sensations were we overwhelmed, when the dreadful conspiracy, disclosed by the emissaries of A. Burr themselves, was about to be executed! A little more circumspection on their part, and all was over, perhaps forever, with Louisiana—this country, escaped, as by a miracle, from a revolutionary convulsion, was about to witness all the scenes of horror and desolation, which have accompanied the insurrections in the French colonies.

But the veil, under which the conspirators concealed their perfidious machinations, was not so impenetrable that they could escape your vigilance. You had, sir, full knowledge of the dangers that threatened us ere we could suspect their existence, and we yet slept tranquilly over the volcano, when your wisdom watched to close it.

We did not long wait to experience the effects of your paternal solicitude. Gen. Wilkinson soon appeared within our walls, with an imposing force; and his presence, at the moment of alarm revived tranquility among all our honest and peaceable citizens: the inhabitants of Louisiana received him with those sentiments of confidence which a respectable veteran so justly inspired, who offered, as the pledge of his integrity and uprightness, a long and honorable career. He revealed the details of the odious conspiracy, and acquainted astonished Louisiana, that it was in the very bosom of its faithful people that the traitors had established the seat of their conspiracy. Alarmed, at first, at the dangers which had assailed them unawares, but soon inspired by the vigilance and activity of this respectable general, the Louisianians pressed forward with eagerness to his assistance: all the force and resources of the country were placed at his disposal; and, if any thing could justify the excess of this confidence, it was the moderation with which he used the great power, that the sense of public danger invested him with, at the crisis of alarm and apprehension.

As active in his pursuit of the authors and partisans of insurrection, as distrustful of persons interested in making him display an unjust severity, by calumnious accusations, the result of which would have produced an equally great convulsion, Gen. Wilkinson was sufficiently firm and circumspect to avoid the alternative of measures either too feeble or too severe.

In the midst of trouble and tumult, when the public calamities had reduced in some measure, the laws to silence; the persons and the property of the peaceful citizen were constantly respected. His just severity was directed against the partisans of the treason alone, and with pride we say, that he did not find one of them amongst us: not one of those, who were engaged in the alarming conspiracy, was a native of Louisiana.

The accomplices of Aaron Burr have not failed to asperse the conduct of gen. Wilkinson—his vigilance was represented as a continued system of inquisition—his severity as an abuse of power. Surprised at the same instant, and in all their schemes they represented as public consternation, the terror with which they themselves were stricken, and they represented his rigorous measures as infractions of law and of the constitution. But who does not see in those miserable clamors, the last expressions of despair and of the impotence of crime? Who does not clearly perceive that it was the last resource, which the friends of Aaron Burr had, to conceal the traces of their conspiracy, and to change their condition from that of the accused to the accusers.

But let us who yet tremble at the remembrance of the dangers to which our families and fortunes were exposed, be permitted to appreciate more justly the conduct of gen. Wilkinson. If calumny is necessary to his enemies, gratitude is due from us. It is for us to bless the generous efforts, which rescued Louisiana from so many misfortunes—those who had plotted its ruin cannot but hate its deliverer.

But you, sir, to whose vigilance, in the beginning, we are indebted for the tranquility we now enjoy; you, whose heart was affected by the distress to which our country was about to be a prey, and who came so efficaciously to our relief: you will, we flatter ourselves with the belief, attribute all these vain clamors to the true motive. Was it necessary in order to verify or establish the crime of the incendiaries, to wait until the torches of discord and rebellion had scattered mourning and desolation through our unfortunate country? And ought we not then a thousand times to thank heaven, for having raised up amongst us, in the midst of those fears and embarrassments which arose out of the very nature of our laws and constitution, a man of such conscious integrity as to dare to overcome forms, in order to snatch us from the horrors of an insurrection, so contrary to our interests and our wishes?

Yes, sir, if any thing could add to the lively sense of gratitude, which we feel towards general Wilkinson, it was the heroic resignation with which he devoted himself to every species of calumny and insult, in order to divert the torrent of misfortune which was about to overwhelm us. The monsters who had sworn our ruin, believed themselves certain of success, they did not anticipate so much energy and magnanimity in the military chief, who so honorably justifies your choice. They had calculated upon half measures, and above all upon a rivalry for power between the governor and the general; but in politics as in morals, there is an instinct in upright hearts, which leads them to discover each other; and we have had the satisfaction to see gov. Claiborne justifying our expectations, by seconding the views and efforts of gen. Wilkinson, and that all the other persons honored with your confidence had no other sentiments but those of love and duty to their country.

Accept, sir, the assurances of our profound respect for your character, and of our sincere attachment to your person.

[Here follow 140 signatures.]