those of war. These surmises are the course of proceediggs 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 Sanuel 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 him, 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 the 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, brigadiersuing 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 thein, 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 remioved 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

Y y 4

a

rect copy:

a

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 the beginning of the month passed through the states of Ohio and of October last

, when in command Kentucky, and proceeded from Louisat Natchitoches, 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 Swartwout; who a few askias that I had descended the river, minutes after the colonel retired from 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 Natclitoches, in company with

captains Sparks and Hooke, under

the preteuce 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 brotier of onel 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 body 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 “ His 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 enbark about the first of the same person to deliver me in pri- February, and intended to land at vate. 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 he 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 the officers of our navy, were so dis-tober, I immediately employed Lieut. gusted with the government that they A. Smith to convey the information, were ready to join; that similar dis- in substance, to the President, withgusts prevailed throughout the west- out the commitment of names; for ern country, where the people were from the extraordinary nature of the zealous in favour of the enterprize; project, and the more extraordinary and that pilot-boat built schooners appeal to me, I could not but doubt were contracted for along our south- its reality, notwithstanding the testiern coast for their service; that he mony before me, and I did not attach had been accompanied from the falls solid belief to Mr. Swartwout's reof Ohio to Kaskaskias, and from ports respecting their intentions on thence to Fort Adams, by a Mr. this territory and city, until I received Ogden, who had proceeded on to confirmatory advice from St. Louis. New Orleans with letters from col- “After my return from the Suonel Burr to his friends there.”- blime, I crossed the country to Swartwout asked me, whether I had Natchez; and on my descent of the heard from doctor Bollinan ?. and, Mississippi froin that place, I found on my answering in the negative, he Swartwout and Peter V. Ogden at expressed great surprise, and obser- Fort Adams: with the latter I held ved, “That the Doctor and Mr. no communication, but was informed Alexander had left Philadelphia be- by Swartwout that he, Ogden, had fore him, with dispatches for me,

and returned so far from New Orleans, that they were to proceed by sea to on his route to Tenessee: but had New Orleans, where he said they been so much alarmed by certain must have arrived."

reports in circulation, that he was “Though determined to deceive afraid to proceed. I inquired whe, him if possible, I could not refrain ther he bore letters with him from telling him (Mr. Swartwout) it was New Orleans, and was informed by impossible that I could ever disho- Swartwout that he did nat, but that pour my commission; and I believe a Mr. Spence had been sent from I duped him by my admiration of the New Orleans through the country to plan, and my observing, “that al- Nashville, with letters for colonel though I could not join in the expe

Burr. dition, the engagements which the “I reached this city the 25th ult. Spaniards had prepared for me in my and on the next morning James front, might prevent my opposing it; Alexander, esq. visited me. He inyet I did, the moment I had deci- quired of me aside whether I had phered the letter, put it into the hands seen Dr. Bollman? and on my anof colonel Cushing, my adjutant and swering in the negative, he asked inspector, making the declaration, me whether I would suffer him to that I should oppose the lawless en- conduct Bollman to me? which I terprise with my utmost force. Mr. refused. · He appeared desirous to Swartwout informed me he was under communicate something, but I felt engagements to meet colonel Burr at no inclination to inculpate this young Nashville, the 20th of November, man, and he left me. and requested of me to write. him, after he paid me a second visit, and which I declined; and on his leaving seemed desirous to communicate, Natchitoches about the 18th of Oc which I avoided, until he had risen

,

to

A few clays

to take leave; I then raised my fin- now held in the opinion of his counger, and observed, “ Take care, you trymen and his government; the are playing a dangerous game." He rank and confidence by which he answered, " It will succeed."--I had lately been so distinguished, left again observed, “ Take care;" and me no right to suspect his patriotism. he replied with a strong affirmation, I knew him a soilier. In case of a “ Burr will be here by the beginning war with the Spanish nation, which of next month.” In addition to from the tenor of the president's these corroborating circumstances message to both houses of Congress against Alexander, I beg leave to seemed probable, I should have present : the accompanying docu- thought it my duty to obey so homents, AB. From all which I nourable a call of my country; and feel no besitation in declaring, un- under that impression, I did engage der the solemn obligation of an to embark in the expedition. I had oath, that I do believe the said frequent interviews with colonel Burr Swartwout, Alexander, and Ogden, in this city--and, for a considerable have been parties to, and have been time, bis object seemed to be to inconcerned in the insurrection formed struct me by maps and other inforor forming in the states and terri- mation, the feasibility of penetrating tories on the Ohio and Mississippi to Mexico--always carrying forward rivers, against the law and constitu- the idea that the measure was authotion of the United States.

rised by government. At length, (Signed) “JAMES WILKINSON. some time in February, he, by de

“ Sworn to, and subscribed be- grees, began to unveil bimself-he fore me, this 26th day of Deceni- reproached the government with want ber, in the year of our Lord 1806. of character, want of gratitude, and

(Signed) “ GEO. POLLOCK. want of justice. He seened desirous

“ Justice of the Peace for the of irritating resentment in my breast, County of Orleans."

by dilating on certain injuries he felt

I had suffered from reflections made The Deposition of W. Eaton, Esq. on the floor of the house of repre

sentatives concerning my operations “ Early last winter, colonel Burr, in Barbary, and from the delays of late vice president of the united government, in adjusting my claims states, signified to me at this place, for disbursements on the coast during that under the authority of the ge- my consular agency at Tunis; and 'neral goveroment, he was organiz- he said he would point me to an hoing a secret expedition against the nourable mode of indemnity. I now Spanish provinces on the south wes- began to entertain a suspicion that tern borders: which expedition be Mr. Burr was projecting an unauthowas to lead, and in which he was rised military expedition, which to authorised to invite me to take the me was enveloped in mystery; and command of a division. I had never desirous to draw an explanation from

а before been made personally ac- bim, I suffered him to suppose me quainted with colonel Burr; and hav- resigned to his counsel. - He now ing for many years been employed laid open his project of revolutionizin foreign service, I knew but little ing the western country; separating about the estimation this gentleman it from the union, establishing a

monarchy