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I llll I iUHlSwillil'l Will im.l.MWIt- JUIIH ll-JXi-iillWIW HI Willi I H T" ' liMIM mm ,M w ,M , , - , fa ; , , , B , I I 111 llll , ' nlim , ' , ,u - n S U THE Examination of GerteraL Eaton, I" BEFORE.' t ' 'v The VIRGINIA FEDERA COIJRT. The jude having delivered Ms opinion on the point last argued, some arrangemenis were made for tbe ac commodation of the jury that they were to occupy lu-ofcr more rooms in the capitol ; that for the sake of exercise they iniftht walS; out in a body, or separatfiy, ir accompanied the Marsha or his,D;lu'tv ; and that they might sender receive let ters,if the superscripfioh was shewn, lo the Marsha!. It Was understood, that they were to lay all letters be fore the'eourt, whicli-shcml appear to touch on thetri'41, designedly strit to influence their verdict, ' The hours of the court tere fixe ! from nine t iii four. . Wumam Ea ton was then Culled for.exarni nation. Mr. Elt uciuired whether he might he permtttefl.to have recur rence to his notes ' 1 Chief Justice Were they written hy yourself?. Mr. E They were. Mf. Wick ham At what time I Mri Eaton At different times. Curr Of what nature are th;? Mr Eaton-- They are nothiogf but memoranda, 'when from notes, which I made of the conversations !betweenyou nnd myself, at the time they passed. "The court .decided that tliey were not admissible. Mrj Eaton May I ask one further indulgence from the court ? I have been lone; before the public. Much stricture be some severity h&ve passed upon me. May J, in stating my evkh-nce be per n;itted to make some explanations conccrninpj the, motives cf my con duct ? Chief Justice,--Perhars if would be nrore correct for ihe court to decide upon the propriety of the explanation, whcithe particular case occurs. Some cases may require it: And if any objection is made tp your explanations, then the Court will decide upon it. i ! Mr. Eaton Concerning ahVi-ert acVfvhich goes to prove Aarop llrjrr gtrilty of treason, I know hoihinp: ; concerning certain transattiobsiwh ch are saidlo have happened k 13!an. .. il&rhasset's, or any agency yhich A. lUirr may be supposed to have had ' mrtherh, I know nothing. But con cerniii Col. Burr's expressiofts of treasonable intentions, I know much, Mid it is to these that my evidence velars. ivIr.'Martin-f-l know not .how ivthe court's opinion extends. Chief JusUct it is this : that;.ny proof ol intention foiled before tbe court it stif, irrelevant to that act, may be relative to tliis particular act. Mr. Martin I trust that when he speak of a treasonable intenttcn notlappli cabie to this act, the court will stop h:;n. , Mr.. Eaton Dm inp ftis winter of 1 r 5-6, I cannot be positive as to the cnstinct point of time, vet, cSmifcg that winter, at the city of Washing ton, Aaron Burr signified to trie that ie.was organizing an cxpedit be mgsved against the Spanis vlss on the South Western on to i Pio- Fron- uers ot the United State's. I undsr7 tood under the authority of the TJ hu,-,;5?v rom Our existing cjontro- Vtrsies with fsnain. xnA Ch,-l Ik- Jb nor of the President's comniunica 1 Hons to both 1-Iouspr nf r.rmrLc ' T - ww..iS fVja, a concision was naturally drawn, that jvar with that, power was inevitable. -1 "da jUrt then rtfUr:,e(j- fr rein the coast ot Africa, and having been for many years employed on ymfr fron--tiers, or on a coast nrore barbarous d obscure, I wW ijvnorant of the estimation in which Col. 13. vjas hejd !v Jus country : The distinguished 5 -n he had hdcfiin society, and the ong marks of confidence which he tiau received front his feilow-eilinv "'d not peimit me to doubt of h n,- r.tisiu. As a military character, - had been acquainted uith no. one t-ic I . States, under whost diree 0n a wWier might with greater se t miY confide his honor. ' Inf case df "vcountrys being involved , a war,. bill!! il iavnll K. . 0!ev 4 - - .v. ii.injiii k my duty to nonorabb icall, as was pro ' i0 ine. TTnrln ; . posed l u ?e. I g,.T - i . - r;."4- nd phtdged rnysdl Ctidi.h-jice; -At several his in-' a;--:, ur-d lo be - me hy-miip anu ! ! I HURSDAY, bEPTEMEER 3, 1807. j Ai e - ? fol other documents of the feasibility of penetrating to' Mexico. At length from certain ihMistinct expressions and, ipuendces, I ( admitted a sustji cion, that Col Burr had other pro jects. He used strong expressions of reproach against the adrhinistra tiort of the government s accused them of Avant of character, wn tof energy, want of gratitude. He ap peajreddesiroUs of irritating thy re sentment by dilating on certain inju ' ious striciures I had received on the Hoor of Congrfcss on account cf cer tain; transactions on the coast f Tri poli ; and also on the delays in ad justing my accounts for cash advanced tp the government; whilst I was con sul jat Tunis, and for the expence of maintaining a war with Tripoli. I had Hut a short lime before been compelled inglcriously lo sirike he flag of thy country on the ram parts of a defeated enemy. where it had flown for 45 days. I had beeii cdmpelltd to abandon my comrades in war on the fields where they had fought our battles- I had seen cash off-Ted to the half vanquished Chief of Tripoli (as he had himself acknow ledged as the price of pacification. (Mr;. WTckham By whom ? A, By our hegociator) when as yet ho ex fcxertion had been made by our naval squadrons to coerce that enemy; I hud seenUhe conduct of the authot of the? e blemishes on our then proud .national character, if not commend ed, not censured whilst my own ina: deqbate efforts to support tiiat cha racter wete attempted to be thrown ihto'shade. To feelings naturally ari- Uing cut of circumstances like .these, I diq give strong expressions. Mere I b g Itave to observe in justice to myself, that however strong these expressions, however harsh the lan guage I employed, they would not jusify the inference, that I Was pre pared to dip my sabre in the blood of my countrymen ; much less of their children, which I believe would have; been the case, had this conspi racy been carried into effect. (Mr, Martin-Objected to this language.) I listened to Col. Burr's mode of in demnity ; and as I had by this time begun to stfspect that the military ex pedition he had on foot, ras unlaw ful I permitted bin? to believe me resigned to his influence, that 1 might. unuerMauu me extent anu motive ot his, arrangements. Col. B. how laid openrhis project of revolutionizing the Territory west of the Alleghany ; establishing an independent empire there ; Ne -Orleans. to be the cap;- j tf, and he himselt to be the Chief; organizing a military force on thr waters of the Mississippi and carry ing conquest to Mexico. After much conversation (which I do not parti cularly recollect) respecting the fea sibility of the project ; as was natu ral, I jstated impediments to his ope rations ; such as the republican ha bits of the- citizens of that country, their kiuachment to the present ad ministration cf government, the want of lands, the opposition he would ex- j penence from the regular, army of th. United . Slates, stationed on thp frontier ; and the resistance too? expectedirom Miranda, incase he shduld succeed in repubheanizing the Mexicans. Col. B". seemed to nave no dimculty in removing those j obstacles. He sfated to me, that he j had in person (I think the preceding i season) made a tour through that country ; that he had secured to his interests and attached to his person the.. most distinguished citizens of ! Tennessee, Kentucky and Territory1 j jf:Orleans V- that he had inex haust iC jble resources "and funds; that the army of the United States would act .with him ; that rt would be reinforced by lO.or I2j000men from the above frjentitned states and territory that he Had powerful agents, in the Spa ish Territory, and as for Miranda,' saicl Mr, Burr facetiously, we will hang Miranda.'. in the course of repealed conversations on this sub ject, he proposed to give me a clis'l Linguiahd command' in hjt army : I unuersiuou tne second command. -1 asked vhi'm who would command in ciiief-f5e said Gen, Wilkinson. 1 observed', that it was sin&ular he sTd Ibhnupoh Gen. Wilkinson. Tn:disUngmshed command Sc hicb trust lie held under government, as cue uuninianaer.in rtnt o: our army, and as governor of a . province, he Would no? be apt to put at hazard for any precarious projects of aggran dizement. Colonel Burr stated ihait Generic Wilkinson balanced in the confidence of his country ; that it Was doubtful whether he would much longer retain the distinction and con fidence he now enjoyed ; and :hat he was prepared to secure to himstlf a permanency. I asked Cel. H. if he knew '(General Wilkinf;. Me aid. yes ; and echoed the qilestiotu I told him that 12 years ago, I was at the same time a captain in his legion of the United Stateshiis actin'bri- f gade major and aid-de-canip ; and that 1 tttought 1 knew him well. He asked me what I knew of Gen. Wil-klnson-I said, I knew Gen. Wil kinson would act as lieutenant to no man in existence, " You are in an error," said Mr. B. "Gen. Wilkin son will act as Lieutenant to me.''. Fl 'om the tenor ol much conversation on this subject, I was . prevailed on to believe, that the plan of revolution meditated by Col. 'B. and communi cated to me, had been' concerted With Gen. Wilkinson, Cud would have hi co-operation ; for Co!. B. repeat-: eiliy, and very conltdeniiy expressed nimseii, mat tne mtJuence ot Gen. W. with his army, the promise of double pay and rations, the ambition of his officers,, and the, prospect of plunder and military atchievements, would bring the army generally into the measure. I pass over herb, a conversation which took place be- tween Cob B, ; nd myself, respecting a central revolution, as it is decided to be irrevelant by the. opinion of the bench. (Mr. HayYou allude to a revolution l:r ovf rihrowing the go vernment at Washington, and of re volutionizing the Eastern States). I was passing over that to come down to the period whn I supposed he had relinquished that design, and re turned to his project in the west. I was thoroughly convinced myself, that such a project was already so farorganized as to be dangerous, and that it would require an effort to sup press it. For in addition to positive assurances that Col. Burr had assis tance and co-operation, he said that the vat extent of territory of the U. States beyond the mountains which offered to adventurers together with a view on the mines of Mexico- would bring adherents to him from all quarJ ters of the union. The situation in whiclvthese communications and the impressions they made upon me, placed me in, was peculiarly deli cate. I had no overt act lo produce against Col. B. lie had given me nothing upon paper ; nor did I know of any person in the vicinity, who had received similarcommiinications 'and whose testimony might support mine. He had mentioned to The none, as principally and dcVidedly engaged with him, but Gen. Wil kinson ; a Mr. Alston, who I after wards learnt was bisson-in law ; and a Mr Ephraim Kijsby, who I. learnt was a captain of Rangers jn Wayne's army. Of Gen. W. Burr said much, as I have stated : of Mr. Alston very little, but enough to satisfy irne that he was engaged in the project ; and of Kibby he said, that he was bri gade major in the Cicinnati (whether C. in Ohio or Kentucky, I know not) who had much influence with the militia and had already engaged the majority of ' he brigade to which he belonged, who were ready torn arch at Mr. Burr's signal. Mr. B. talk-! mS these perversions at some other of this revolution as a matter of right, ' ; time ant place. Ch, JusticeYou inherent in the people and con.sfhu.Jj navg nsed that indulgence.) lional ; a revolution which would ra- ! Little more passed between Col. ther be advantageous than detriment 'iurr ami myself relevant to this en tal to the Atlantic States : a revolu- ; MlrY whilst 1 remained at Wash tioBW'hichmust evenniaUy takeplaGeJi mStonv though he was solicitous to and for the operation of which the j present ensis was peculiarly favora ble : that there was no energy to be dreaded in the general government, and his conversations denoted a con fidence, that lirs arrangements" were so Avell macle that !he would rrieet with' no opposition5 at Tew-brleans J for the arrny and the chief citizens 1 of that place were ready to receive h i nu On t he solitary grouti d upon wnicn i scooo, i was at a Tositvow to conduct, though at po loss i res pected my duty., I durst not place my lonely testimony in the bakmce against therrweight of Col, B's. Cha racter, for bv ttirnlnpr th tnia.i.,n ! on me, which I thought anjf&Jtfil , capable of such a project might very vuutiausby uo, i snoufd sinfc under that weight, jl resolved therefore, with , rnyst-If; to obtain the removal of Mr. B. from this country, in a wayhonorable to him,and on this I didconsult him without his knowing mylnoUve. Accordingly I wated on v the President of the U.! States, and after a desultory conversation, " w!icn i aimed to draw hfs atten tion to the west, I said to him f l took the libeuy of suggesting tolie Pre- sicient),tat 1 thought Cob B. ought to be removed! from the country, be cause i thought him dangerous to it. The President asked wherewe should seiid iiiXi.faid to Enftalci.or Ma dridiHpugh it has been1 said in some publications that I added Cadiz. The President without ahy positive ex pression' (in such a matter of delica cy) seemed to think the trust too important and expressed something like a doubt about Mr; Burr's inte grity: I, frankly told the President that perhaps no person had stronger j grounds to suspect thatintegrity than I had y but that I beheved his pride and ambition had so predominated over Iii other passions, that whtn placed on an eminence and put cn his honor, a respect lor himself would secure his fidelity. I perceived that the subject was disagreeable to the President, and to bring him to my point in the shortest mode and in "a manner which would point to the danger : I said to him, it Col, Bun was not disposed of, we should in 18 months have an insurrection, if not a revolution on the banks of the Mis sissippi. The President said he had too much confidence in the informa tion, the integrity, and attachment of the people of that country to the -union, tq admit any apprehensions of that kind. The circumstance of no interrogatories being mail e to me, I thought imposed silence on me at that time and place. Here, sir- I beg indulgence to declare my. mo tives for recommending that gentle man to a foreign mission atthat time, and in the solemnity with which I stand here, I declare that Col. Burr was neutral in my feelings ; that it was through no attachment to him that 1 made that suggestion, but to avert a great national calamity which I saw approaching, to arret a storm seemed lowering in the west, and to divert into a channel of lisefulness, those consummate talents, which were to mount " the whirlwind and direct the storm." About fie lime' of my having waited on the Presi dent, or a little before, I determined at all events to have sprne evidence of the uprightness of my intentions, and t(j fortify myself by the advice pX more experienced men I waited upon two members of the House of Representatives whose friendship I had long the honor to retain, and in whose wisdom and integrity I had full faith ; I am at liberty to giv&l uieir names u required, and 1 believe a senator, but of that I am not cer tain. I opened to them the projects of Cob B. They did not seem much alarmed. (Mr. Martin objected io the witness stating any of the obser vations of other persons to himself. After some desultory conversation, the bench supported the objection Mr. Eaton I did ask indulgence of the court to make such explanations, because perversions of my conduct were beore the public ; but I wave thismdulgenc, contented with meet engage me in his western plans. I returned to Massachusetts ; and thought no more of Col. B. and his projects, until in October last a Iel-i ter'was'put into mv hands from M. Bellnap to T. E, Danielson. statin? i 4 I- i 1 . 1 1 1" - . Ui - mat ooais were ouiiamg on me Ohioi Mr. BuriHave you that lette r ? Mr. E,Na. Mr. Burr It is im proper then to state it. Mr. Hay It is immatelial ; Mr. Beilnapis here. Mr. Eaton As to letters, I have had rio correspondence with Col. B. I was about to state, that I made a communication to the, President of the United Stat es,thtourh the hands of the Postmaster General, statinr llG views of Col. Burr , Questioned by the Prosccuticm Mr. Wirt Was thtre any con--versatjon betweep you and the pri. soner, id which oii spoke of the Odium attached to the name oiUsuf per ? A. TJat conversation was ex cluded. the opinion of the court, as;reIailtQ the central project. Mr, H,ay-Did you mearto sate that the hvncrahU indeninitf propo seot you by the prisoner w to ba . kciurJ in this piafjK? ., A..I under-' '2;H'to be includeSTri' thefjsrma- gntiifli and'emotumrt to Ije a- PSlTOe ; in his ftililconuJence, l -c snouia ereet a government of which he is torbe the chief. - Cross-qitesthned. V 'MrgiTilartin,.Do you recollect when you arrived in Washington ? A. I said, that I did not recollect par ticularly, .But the principal part of these conversations must have been j beiween the middle of February and the end of March. Q. W;U there any particular conduct calculated to put ad end to tolonel Burr's importunities? . A. Yes. At some of our last interviews, I laid on his table a paper containing this toast, which I had given to the public : The United Stales PaUey to the brain that should plot to tiismemhe.r, and leprosy to the hand that would:' not draw to defend our Union. Q. Where was that toast drank ? A.I cannot say-This question was made to me.from authority. Jt was sent with other toasts t had ecrree'edy to a paper at Springfield. I laid this prper on Co!. Burr's table, that h e might see it ; and I have reasons to believe he did. Q. Was it drank ex any distant place ? At 'Philadelphia : A. I do not recollect I thought at first it1 was Philadelphia,- but 'l had received many hospitalities thrc'out the union ; many of mf toasts were published and in the hurry cf pas sing and repassing, I have complete ly forgotten, Mr. Burr Do you re collect when you left Washington ? A. About the the 5 th c,r 6th of April. Q Can you not be certain where this toast 'was drank ? At Washington orat Philadelphia ? I am certain it was not at Washirgton, because I gaveapotiier there when called upon. Q. Did you say, that all these con-"' versations happened between the mid-' die of February; & the last of March. AvNo : I did not say so, I said the principal part of these conversations, Q,s You say that this toast was drank )B Springfield; I did,, i Q. Have yob in your possession a paper containing jhat toast? A. I 'have not here. Q. You mentioned something about, a communication which you made to .the President through the cst Master General. Look at that paper. Is hat your signature r A. It is ; . and I must give a short account of tlia: paper. Mr. E. then mentioned that the notes on the two first pages were drawn up by Mr. Granger, fiOTi conversations w hi cfc had passe d be . ween Mr. G . and a Mr. EI, w certain communi cations made id Mr. Ely by Mr, Eaton,, respecting Colouei Burr's plans ; that he had seen Mr, Ely at Kortharnptcn at the session cf 'the court of common pleas at a time when they had first heard pf the building of boats cn the Ohio- The notes on the last page, in Mr. Gran- gers wil ing, and .subscribed lw himself, were from. subsequent con versations between hi m and Mr. G, Mr. Burr You spoke of accounts wtth the govern merit. Did you or the-government demand money ? A. They had no demand ;on me. I de manded of them. Q. DTd they st 4te in -account a balance aerajnst vou.-A. Ul expended money for tlie service of the United States when employed in . my agency at Tunis ; an account of which being presented to the ac counting ofBcers of the treasury ,hey I was told, had no legal discretion to settle it As there was no Jaw to authorise this adjustment, I did rt fer jo the Congress of 1 803-4 . A commiUeehad reported on my claims favorably as I had supposed a rc- , paired However to the coast of Bar- bary,and When I returned, found that new difficulties had occurred lo an adjustment Leaving cmtUhe sums which I had advanced, the govern ment had a balance against me The, last session of congress has 'prpviV ed for the payment, and ihe cbmro sicners have settled it m H 3? I I 4 3 Hi t V. 3 y. m 4' It' it 1 i II.-. 3. i f. K A n. a 1 ; v
The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Sept. 3, 1807, edition 1
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