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Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser 1807/01-1807/06 msa_sc3722_2_6_1-0067 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
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Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser 1807/01-1807/06 msa_sc3722_2_6_1-0067 Enlarge and print image (4M) |
| From the N. Y. Evihing Pcsf. . It is hoped the following queries will be forward' ' Mr. Jnnes, by republications in •the southern prints. To Henry Lines, esq. of Kentucky. Sir, tin- [j.j rs inform u« that Thomas Powers, the iigeM of the Spanish baron de Carondelet, addressed a letter to yon, & cer- trvhi' of your co-patriots, on the 18th of Ju- ly, J796, containing propositions for divid- ing the western states from the union, and, th.it thoughyou disapproved of those propo- sitions, you did not communicate them to the government, because John Adams was ?hen president, andyou was afraid of a stand- ing army. Though I have no authority to demand answer.1-', yet I presume the f ¦Uw'ving ques- tions will not be deemed impei linent : 1st. ftavjb you ever perused Stewart's Ken- tucky Herald of Sept. 18tH and 20th, 1796, the last containing thedeposition of the Spa- nish agent, Thomas Powers, made before George Wallit; on the 9th of August, 1798? 2d. Do you know the author of the pub- lication in the Herald of September 13th, 1796, entitled " A Piracy on the Ohio, perpetrated under the orders of major-gene- ral AnthonyWayne, commander of .the American army. 3d. A Tier perusing those documents, do you supp' se, that general Wayne must have had some knowledge of the business, concerning which Powers visited Kentucky in July 1796 ? 4th. Though general Wayfle is dead is it expedient for you to presume that all the in- formation of which he was possessed, died •with him ? 5th Does not the constitution of the United States prohibit anysiate horn enter- ing into any agreement or compact with a foreign power, without the consent of con- gress ? 6 hi Were you not one of the district judges of the United States in 1796, and had you not taken an oath to support the constitution ? 7th. Was John \dams or George Wash- ington president in 1706 ? 8th. Were not the measures adopted by general Wayne, to detect the intrigues of the Spam, ii agent, Powers, authorised by president Washington ; and if so, did you or your associates take any pains to vindi- cate those measures, or were you restrained from doing so, by fear cf John Adams and a standing army? 9th. What was the true date of your and Nicholas's letter to Sebastian—was it before of after the search of Powers, by order of general Wayne ? 10th. If Powers had not been searched, irould you and Nicholas have written the letter disapproving of Powers' proposal for a, separation of the union t Whoever saw ttis letter before the late trial of Sabasti'an ? 11th. Did you know and hold intercourse Vrith certain persons, who were dispatched from Philadelphia, by a foreign minister, to travel through the Western country in 1796 ? If so, what -were the objects cf their mission ? 12th. Did you, as was your duty, give any information to president Washington Concerning these intrigues ? Or were year prevented, by the fear of John Adams and a It'anding army ? lath. Do you fear an impeachment, ordo you rely upon your professed hatred of the vigilant and virtuous John Adams, as an atonement with bur masters, the Virginians, for your ingratitude and treason ? INTERROGATE!!. RETORT Of the committee to wh m was referred the resolution of the 11th December, to in- quire whether any, and, if any what de- scription of claims against the U. Slates are barred by the statutes of limitation, •which in ren-on and justice ought to be provided for by law. That all claims for services rendered and supplies furnished or done prior to the 4th of March. 1789, are barred by sundry resolutions of congress, parsed in the years 1785 and 1787, and by laws of the United States passed February 2, 1793, and on the 3d of March, 1795, and on the 9th July, 1798. Your committee are of opinion,that justice and sound policy require, that all hist and equitable claims against the United ^States, which are thus barred, should be ful- ly paid and satisfied : we therefore recom- mend the following resolution. Resolved, that all just and equitable claims against the United States, for services ren- dered and supplies furnished during the re- volutionary war with Great-Britain,, and loan-offiee certificates, final settlement certi- ficates, indents of interest, and balances cre- dited on the books of the treasury, which are now barred by any law of the United States, ought to be provided for by law. Massachv etts Legislature. House of Representatives. Friday, Jan. 9. Mr. Story, (^ f Salem) after some prefato- ry remarks, by which the character of gen. Knox, was, though briefly, yet forcibly and impressively illustrated, introduced the following resolution, which was immedi- ately accepted by the house, and ordered to be transmited to the widow of the illus- trious deceased : " Resolved unanimously, Tiiat the house do sincerely condole with the afflicted reia- \ tives, in the death of inaj. gen. Mbnky Knox. That his patriotic servises in the (.revolutionary warj and his honorable dis- charge of the duties of a statesman andciti- ijsen, entitle him 10 public approbation and jeward. His memory shall sweetly dwell in the records of history, among those he- ri cs, who have died, blest with the ho- jii rs f their country." The committee, consisting of. Messrs. £lory. Lloyd, Bangs, Apthrop and Smith, 0 (W..S.) who were appointed to prepare 1 n answer to the governor's speech} made a report, which was accepted by the house without amendment. It is as follows' : -- " May it please your-excellency. " In convening again for the exercise of constitutional functions, the house of repre- sentatives receive with satisfaction, the ad- dress of your excellency, and congratulate you on the general health and prosperity. Organized by the public will, and sustained by the public confidence, we feel the deep responsibility devolved on us, and proceed in our duties with mingled diffidence and zeal. We trust with a free and generous people, the fair interpretation of our con- duct, and are encouraged by the assurances, that the execative department w'ill co-ope- rate in measures, calculated to secure the dignity and happiness of the commonwealth. " In a republican government, where the popular opinion is distinctly felt in every department, vigor and prudence in the exercise of its delegated powers can never be expected, unless union and candor pre- vail. In vain shall the arm of power be raised to crush domestic conspirasy, or re- pel foreign aggression, if the wisdom of the council be not seconded by the virtue of the citizen. A zeal in defence of national rights, a reverence for civil authorities, and an honorable obedience to the laws, are the rudiments of real patriotism. They alone can ensure to us at home, harmony and happiness, and abroad, respectability, confidence—in peace, the undisturbed pos- session of liberty, reputation, and proper- ty—and in war the successful defence of "ur families and altars. With these senti- ments, we shall devote ourselves in concur- rence with your excellency, to the promoti- on of all measures necessary in aid of the national government, to protect our lawful commerce, and our territorial rights. " The various subjects relative to the state prison, the payment of the public debt, and the organization and discipline of the mili- tia, shall receive an early attention. Their intrinsic importance, and the recommenda- tion of your excellency, at the present mo- ment, entitle them to the deliberate consi- deration of the legislature." The same committee were appointed to present the answer to his exeellency. LEXINGTON, (Ken.) Dec. 25, Opelousas, in Lower Louisiana, Oct. iGth, 1806. Dear Sir, As many of our fellow-citizens may not have understood the causes which gave rise to our late dispute with the Spaniards in this country, I beg leave, in addition to my former details on this subject, to communi- cate the subjoined account of the rise and progress of the affair. Immediately after the cession of Louisia- na from the French republic to the United Slates, it was a matter of primary impor- tance, that the line of demarkation between the Americans and Spaniards should be as- certained and fixed.—Accordingly the Ame- rican exsicutive directed certain ministers, then in Europe, to enter upon a negotiati- on for that purpose, with the court of Spain, which had ceded the country to France, just prior to its cession to the Americans. Whilst these negociations were depend- ing, the president gave notice to the minis- ter of Spain, that the river Sabine which washes the western border of Loui- siana, would be considered by the govern- ment, as the line between the two nations, until it should be specifically fixed by treaty. Whether this notificatian was ever Communicated to the government of Mexi- co, is not certainly km wn. It is true how- ever, that our executive gave directions to the commanding officer at Natchitoches, that if the Spaniards attempted to cross the Sabine, they should be immediately driven on the other side of that river. A party of Spaniards did actually pass it sometime after these orders, for the purpose of taking pos- session of a tract of country which they al- ledged had never been included in the cessi- on of Louisiana to the Americans, and which virtually belonged to his Catholic majesty. This body of men by an inferior number of Americans, under the command of captain Johnson of Natchitoches, was compelled to .retreat beyond the Sabine. The Spaniards irritated at these measures on the part of the Americans, which they considered as an aggression on their rights, and an actual commencement of hostilities, communicated the affair to the government of Mexico. It is said that the council of that province was immediately assembled, and that an army of 30,000 men was de- creed to be raised for the purpose of taking possession of the ground from whence the first paity had been repelled by the Ameri- cans. It is certain, however, that sometime in the year 1805, the Spaniards began to col- lect an armament in the country on this side of the Sabine, between that river and the Rio Fonde, and continued to increase it until the fall of 1806. Information of this armament was communicated to the governor of the territory of Orleans, who immediately repaired to Natchitoches. A correspondence, conducted with considerable warmth, but by no means unsuitable to the existing posture of affairs, was openedi be- tween the governor and general Harrara, a field-marshal in the Spanish service, and commander in chief of the Spanish arma- ment on the Rio Fonde. The governor as- serted the right of the United States to the territory upon which the Spaniards had en- camped, remonstrated upon the injustice of the Spanish commander in having taken three American citizens, and sent them on prisoners to Nagadoehes; and for having protected several negroes, who had fled from American citizens within the bounda- ries- ©f the Spanish dominions. These dispatches were conveyed by ool. Hopl a youn'r> officer ofconstdefabie merit, to the* Spanish camp. The governor received a verbal message from the Spanish command- er, inreply, that he had not been vested with authority to enter into any specific investi- gation of the principles upon which the dispute of the two nations had been ground- ed ; that he had sent the governor's dispatch- es on to the captain-general of Mexico, and that he held the station where he was then encamped by order of his Catholic majesty, from whence he cauld not retreat without actual compulsion. In consequence of this message, convey- ing ffie intelligence that the Spaniards were determined to maintain their ground on the Rio Fonde, governor Claiborne thought it expedient to call out a part of the militia of the territory. A draft was accordingly made in the counties of Opelousas and Ra- pide. That part of the" militia of Opelou- sas, composed of Americans, turned out with great readiness; but the French dis- covered every mark of disaffection to the cause. These people have been imposed, on ever since the cession of Louisiana, by Spanish emissaries, who had deluded them with the idea that the country would either be again receded to the French or Spanish government, or wrested- from the domi- nion of the Americans by conquest. When the Spanish armament was formed on the Rio Fonde, they conceived that the period for the accomplishment of this event had arrived; and, therefore, resolved to remain neutral to avoid the censure of the Spanish government. The militia from Rapide marched n the expedition with considera- ble promptitude and spirit They were principally Americans. From Opelousas. a troop of horse, composed of volunteers, was made up in the course of a few days, and were in perfect readiness to receive or- ders to march. A very handsome corps, elegantly equiped, marched also from the Mississippi territory. The place of rendez- vous was at Natchitoches, where there was a considerable number of effective troops stationed in the garrison of that place. About the time when these military prepa- rations for an attack on the Spaniards were making, general Wilkinson arrived at Nat- chitoches to take the command of the Ame- rican forces. It is thought that the Ame- ricans would have been able to oppose be- tween thirteen and fourteen hundred men to the Spanish armament, which from the best authority never consisted of more than eigh- teen hundred men. The Spaniards were all mounted on horseback, and armed with a dagger about a foot lrmg, a small fuzee and a brace of pistols. The body was covered by a light shield worn on the left arm, and made of, several hides of leather closely at- tached together ; but, by no means invul- nerable to the rifle ball at a distance, or to the shot of the common horse-pistol, in a close engagement. As soon as general Wilkinson arrived at Na,'.,hit ches, he opened a correspondence with the governor ot M'outera, who was then at Nagadoehes. . Colonel dishing, the commander of the fort at Natchitoches, was sent to that place, with dispatches stat- ing in mild, polite, and determinate lan- guag - the right of the United States to the tract of country then occupied by the Spa- nish armament, and expressing his surprize thai the Spaniards should pretend to any kind of claim to a portion of territory which had actually been ceded to the Americans in the cession of Louisiana ; that he had received positive orders from the American executive to repel any armament of the Spa- niards which might be formed on this side of the Sabine, with an exception to a small settlement on Bayou St. Pierre : that it was the wish of the government to prevent the effusion ot blood, by every rational means of ac«ommodation, but the orders of the executive would be rigidly enforced, provided it became expedient. Colonel Gushing was politely received at Nagadotches, and treated with great hospi- tality by the governor of Montera, who, in reply to the communications of general Wil- kinson, stated in a very short dispatch, that he was not authorised to enter upon an in- vestigation of the existing differences be- tween the two nations, but that the dispat- ches of the American commander in chief should be immediately communicated to the governor of Mexico. 'The governor of Montera added in a verbal message by col. Cushing, that accounts had arrived from Madrid of an amicable negociation between the two countries having taken place ; that the Floridas had been ceded to the United States for eleven million of dollars, and that under those circumstances, as it was not the desire of his government that blood should be shed upon that occasion, the Spanish arma- ment should be withdrawn to the western side of the Sabine. It was accordingly or- dered to- pass that river. A few days after the retreat of the Spa- niards, an officer belonging to the army, came in with dispatches from the governor- general of Mexico. They contained an an- swer to those which had been sent on to Mexico by general Harrara, wh*n gover- nor Claiborne and that officer first opened their correspondence. These dispatches were brought in twenty six days, a distance of 700 leagues, and being of a public na- ture, were opened by general Wilkinson. The governor of Mexico expressed his sur- prize, that the Americans should lay in any kind of claim to the country which the Spaniards had occupied on this side of the Sabine ;' that it had ever been considered by the former governments which had suc- cessively held dominjon over the country, as the rightful territory of his catholic ma- jesty, and that a large army had been col- Jested in Msxieo ft» the purpose of raain- ~ the claim of the king- of Spain ;" that with respect to the American citizens who had been taken, they should be deliver- ed up, provided it should appear that they had not violated the laws of the country, & that the negroes who had fled to the Spa- nish dominions, should be also returned to the proprietors. On this last point the go- vernor-general expressed a desire that some arrangements might be made between the two countries, with respect to negroes who should leave their masters and pass into the dominions of either of the two nations. The affair having advanced to this crisis, general Wilkinson disbanded the principal part cf the militia, which had been assem- bled at Natchitoches, except a company of forty men, commanded by captain Welsh, & the Natchez troop of horse. As the Spanish government, however, had asserted their right to the country lying between the Rio Fonde and the Sabine, and had actually tak- en possession of it with a considerable arm- ed force, general Wilkinson conceived it to be his duty to support, the right of the U, States to that territory, in the sarin manner. He accordingly wrote 'to general Harrara, in- forming him that it was his intention to fix his camp near the Sabine. Several compa- nies of soldiers were marched towards that river ; and by the last intelligence from Nat- chitoches, it was the intention of the gene- ral to move the main army forward in the course of a few days. The conduct of gen, Wilkinson,upon this occasion, has been ni ,..i y . ien itoriojs. He has acted in the prosecution of every mea- sure witli uncommon moderation, prompti- tude and firmness. I.itieed, very great me- rit is attached, not only to all the officers who h ive been engaged in these operations but to the*Americans in general who com- posed our little army. The principles of pa- triotism appeared to animate all their move- ments, which were upon all occasions active., spirited and courageous, in a very high de- gree. Doctor Sibley has in his possession a very large volume of manuscripts, containing an account of the ancient boundaries of this country, and copious details on its.civil and political history. I shall go to Nathjtoches in a few weeks for the purpose of procuring additional documents on the subject of Indi- an affairs. To dr. Silbey I am already under great obligations for vocabularies of several Indian languages. I expect by the spring to be enabled to complete my collections on this subject, of nine or ten different idioms. A copy will be presented to the American Phi- losophical Society, and one, also, to doctor Barton of Philadelphia, to assist him in his investigation on the origin of Indians. I am, dear sir, with much esteem, Your most obedient, ALLAN B. MAGRUDER. Mr. Daniel Bradford. HY THIS DAY's MAILS. ate. CHILICOTHE (Ohio) from the journal of the sen Monday, Decembe The speaker laid before the ^¦^^JRl- lowing written message from his excellen- cy the governor of this state, W-1-^^ To the general assembly of i-'.^f ^Vhio. byes ken itts ,uW ?tta I now communicate to the of the people, such operations al place under the act passed this session, to prevent certain acts hostile to the peace and tranquility of the U. States, within tin* ju- risdiction of this state, that they may be fully possessed of what has already occurred and is still in train. immediately upon receiving the law, af tents passage, I dispatched an express to Marietta, with orders to arrest the flotilla on the Muskingum river, and the agents engag- ed in its preparation, and to make due in- quiry after such proof, as woufdlead to their conviction, as also to prevent any arma- ments proceeding, that might be descending the OMo, if possible. The execution of the operations at Marietta, were entrusted to judge Meigs and major-general Buell. I al- so dispatched orders to Cincinnati, to plant one or more pieces of artillery on the bank of the Ohio, to keep patroles up the river at proper distances, in order to give notice, in due time, of the approach of all boats, either singly or in numbers, and to call out a suffi- cient force to be able to meet 300 men, the number I expected might probably be with Bk-.unerhazet's and Comfort Tyler's flotillas, if they should effect a junction, and lest they might attempt to pass in detachments of one boat at a time, not to suffer a single boat to pass, without an arrest and examina- tion. The execution of these operations were entrusted to generals Gano, Findley & judge Nimmo. 1 have also given authority to Jacob Wilson, esq. of Steubenville, to act, if occasion offers for his interposition in that quarter—and it gives me great pleasure to inform you that I have last night, received a communication from judge Meigs, of Ma- rietta, announcing the comp/.ie success of the operations entrusted to him and general .Buell, and wh»se patriotic efforts entitle them both to my warmest thanks. It is suspected notice was conveyed to Blanerhazet's island of the passage' of the law, and the preparations making here to carry it into immediate effect ; for it appears that in the night of the ninth instant, Comfort Tyler, passed Marietta with a number (not yet ascertained) of fast-rowing boats, with men armed indiscriminately with musqets, pistols and cutlasses, and an- chored at the island, and immediately sent an express after Blanerhazet, who was hur- rying on his flotilla j that upon discovering the movement of our militia they fled full speed to the island, which was guarded at night by centinels and lighted lanlhorns at proper distances, and none suffered to pass t-. it except by countersign or watch-word. Spies were also placed at Marietta, to give notice of the movements there ; in the meantime general Buell, by the direction of judge Meigs, with a detachment of militia, proceeded up the Muskingum river in the night, and arrested ten of the batteaux, as they were descending the river to join Ty- ler's forces ; they were so hurried that four more of the batteaux were not got ready io embark and would also be seized, which is, I believe, the whole of the Muskingum flotilla. There were near 100 barrels of pro- vision* seized on board, and ICO more which had not been put on board, and which I ex- pect is also seized with the same remaining batteaux : these batteaux are each 4Q feet long ; Vrids and covered ? mi calculated each So carry one Ccmpsmy cf men; It is believed notice was imroesKately given to cite island of this seizure, for in about thre* hours a."m \T.-rt--, OH thf-s:ene right,- Blan- narhazet and Tyler made their escape frofoi the island and have- pushed, it is said, thro' Kentucky. Colonel Phelps, of Virginia, with a few mounted men, are in pursuit of them. I expect Tyler's boa1-- »"H descend the Ohio, to meet him and Blanar.iassct at some point low down on that river, and I have no doubt but that general Gano will render a good account of them as they attempt to pass Cincinnati. I also received last night a communicati- on from the secretary of war of the United] States, by direction of that government, requiring me, without delay, to raise 150 or 3(XJ volunteer militia, to be formed in companies,with one field officer, one captain, two subalterns, and 70 men, commissioned officers, privates, and musicians, to each company, in the pay of the United States, and direct them to march to Marietta, with orders to seize the Muskingum flotilla, and prevent it from being removed until further orders from the president. But finding that this service was in part effected, I have ventured, from the necessity of the base, to vary in some degree from these instructions, and which I hope will meet the approbation of the general government and als" your's. I have sent on orders last night to Marietta, to raise one company of volunteers, to be composc-1 of one major, one captain, two su- balterns, & 60 men, commissioned officars, privates and musicians, which I have tho'C sufficient to guard and keep safe the fiotilla and stores already arrested—and have also dispatched an express to Cincinnati, with orders to raise two companies as above, each—as I thought the most force wanted there to relieve the militia previously or- dered out, and to secure Comfort Tyler's flotilla while descending the Ohio, if it was;, not already done. I hane no doubt that these three companies will instantly be un- der arn\s, and that this hitherto mysterious enterprize will be completely frustrated, and the intended evil levelled at the peace and tranquility of the United States, will fall with all its weight on its projectors. EDWARD TIFFIN. Chillicothe, December 15th, 1806. In consequence of the proclamation of the president of the United States and the act of the legislature of this state, the mi- litia under major John S. Gano, were call- ed, and a considerable number volunteered —others were drafted to actual duty, to the number of one hundred and twenty men, a third part of which were stationed on the bank of the Ohio. Several boats were ex- amined and discharged. On Sunday night, some very suspicious boats made their ap- peaxaace and were brought to. The next they were examined, and although spicion existed respecting certain jftH^p in the boais, yet on investigation, they produced two certificates from officers on the Virginia side of the Ohio, and no legal evidence could be obtained by which the agent for the state could be authorised to detain either the boats or persons ; since which time nothing has transpired to excite alarm. On Christinas day, captain Stod- dart arrived at Newport, opposite this town, with one hundred and thirty troops of the United States, which with the datachment of aiilitia will preclude the possibility ot any boats descending without being noticed. Extract of a letter jrom Judge Nimmo to a senator from Hamilton county, dated Cin- cinati, December H)lh, 1806. " We are all bustle and confusion here, in consequence of the act, " to prevent cer- tain acts hostile to the peace and tranquility of the United States and this state." The governor was so obliging as to commission me, to act upon it, in his room, here ; and in consequence of which, two compa- nies of militia, and the light infantry com- pany, have been ordered out, consequently equipped and stationed along the river, so that it is impossible for a boat to pass, without examination. Unfortunately, Blan- nerhazet with four keel boats, has escaped —he passed here on Sunday evening, last, before the guards were put on the river. At a meeting of a number of the citizens of Muskingum county, at the court-house, on the 26th of December, 1806, after the adjournment of the court, for the purpose of expressing the public sentiment on the important subjects, which have for some time agitated the public mind :—Jesse Ful- ton, esq. was chosen chairman, and Samu- el Henrick, esq. secretary, when the fol- lowing resolutions were unanimously agreed to : Resolved, That this meeting, viewiag with concern, the agitation of the public mind, respecting certain reports which are spread abroad, lelativs to the unusual pre- parations which have, been made on the western waters for an expedition against the dominions of Spain, adjoining the Unit- ed States and its territory, think it a duty they owe to themselves and their country, in this pnblic manner, to express their de- cided disapprobation and abhorrence of such attempts, or any othfct which may tend to disturb the peace and harmony of the U. States. Resolved, therefore, unanimously, That we will, to the utmost of our power* exert ourselves to detect and defeat any scheme of combining o^Pgr.niziiig any of the citi- zens of the United States for ths purpose aforesaid. Rcsok'cd, That we will support the pre- sent administration of our government, in. such measures as they may adopt, to cheek or defeat the same, with our lives and for- tunes ; being satisfied that under the present administration, we enjoy every blessing which ths best of -go{.eminent* can afford, |