31To James Madison from James Wilkinson, 6 November 1805 (Madison Papers)
When I arrived in this Territory I found Rufus Easton Esqr occupying the Office of Attorney general, under the appointment of Governor Harrison, which was vacated by his acceptance of the Office of Territorial Judge. Particular reasons prevented my filling the vacancy, but on the 29th. Ulto. the day when the General Court commenced its first term, I appointed a District Attorney to attend the...
32To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 6 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the Honor to enclose you a list of the Articles transmited you by Captain Stoddard, which may I hope afford you an Hours amusement.— The Cotton Tree (Populus Deltoide of Bartram) is rarely to be found above limestone on the Ohio, but abounds on the Bottom of that River below the Rapids, and on the Mississippi & Missouri as high up as I have been—The favourite Soil of this Tree is...
33To James Madison from James Wilkinson, 12 November 1805 (Madison Papers)
When I reached this territory, I found a surveyor general in office, authorized by the regulations of Spain to appoint his deputies, and I continued him in commission, as I have done every other appointment of my Predecessor, Governor Harrison. As we have no territorial law, which recognises a surveyor general, or defines the duties of such station, the propriety of the appointment, has been...
34To James Madison from James Wilkinson, 26 November 1805 (Madison Papers)
To promote the presidential Views relatively to the transfer, of our wide spread Setlers in the lower Districts of this Territory, to some other Quarter of our Domain, I have availed myself of the agency of a few Persons of observation & influence, and have the enclosed communications of a Mr. Bond, (whose Letters have before been transmited to you). The Object appears to be attainable,...
35To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 23 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The opposition of a party of Kances Indians, to a small detachment destined up the Missouri, for the purpose of returning to their respective Nations, the Riccari & otto Chiefs, sent down last Spring by Captain Lewis, puts it in my Power to introduce the former to You. From observation & the limited Enquiry to which I am confined by an illiterate Interpreter, I think you may be able to derive...
36To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 29 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Could I be so vain as to impute aught of personal regard, to the generous & paternal support which you have recently given to my official pretensions, I should not hesitate to implore you to forbear the indulge of every sympathy towards me, which might cause you one single Enemy, however undeserved or contemptible—Dispose of me Sir as your private Interests, or the National Service may...
37To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 21 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I find from a public print lately established in Kentucky, the main object of which is the ensuing presidential Election, That the cause of Easton, Case, Lucas, Hammond & other Mal Contents of Louisiana, has made a powerful acquisition in the Pen of John Wood, by whom I have “en passant” been bespattered with Obloquy, & slandered with a degree of virulence & indecency surpassing all example,...
38To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 21 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Whatever may be the general impropriety, I pursuade myself that on a Subject irrelative to my official obligations, I shall be excused for addressing you directly & confidentially; But I have another & a more cogent reason, for deviating, in this instance, from the ordinary course of my Correspondence; It is possible the momentous occasion of this Letter, & the vital importance attached to it,...
39To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 26 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The following information appears to rest on such broad and explicit grounds, as to exclude all doubts of its authenticity: A numerous and powerful association, extending from New York through the western states to the territory bordering on the Mississippi, has been formed with the design to levy and rendezvous eight or ten thousand men in New Orleans at a very near period; and from thence,...
40Extract of a Letter from James Wilkinson, 31 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Burr had a contract with ______ of Pittsburgh, or a company with which he was concerned, for 20,000 barrels of flour, and 6,000 barrels of pork, deliverable here, or at Natchez. It was to follow Burr, and I understand he made a handsome advance on the contract. Since the expositions ______ has sent orders to Natchez to have these provisions taken care of, and not to deliver them before...
41To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 12 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I again intrude upon you the subject of the duplicate under cover, which presents a spectacle of human depravity, to excite our sorrow, indignation and abhorrence. Many circumstances have intervened since my last, confirmatory of the information previously received, and demonstrative of a deep, dark and wicked conspiracy. My doubts have ceased, and it is my opinion, that nought but an...
42To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 28 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Claiborne appears to be properly impressed par le awful crisis which awaits us, and promises every support in his power. Les troops are behind moi 145.24 & la 195.4 321.14 a commencer. My difficulties are stupendous—my means to be provided—my time prompt unthriving and the occasion urgent and critical. Mais une good cause—the favour du ciel—religious and patriotic hearts 126.19 work wonders....
43To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 9 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I must trust to the peculiar delicacy and difficulty of my situation for the motive and the excuse of this third intrusion on the same momentous subject.—Between the alternatives of waiting for instructions from the proper department (whose last orders to me bear date the 9th. of June) until from the feeble and defenceless condition in which I find this place, the enemy should gain the portal...
44To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 9 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Accompanied by governor Claiborne, I, a few minutes since, met the merchants of the city, and in a short address, to which my sensibilities gave direction, I explained to them the causes which had produced the assembly of the troops at this place, and the preparations which were making to fortify the town; painted to them, in glowing colors, the impending dangers which menaced the city and...
45Deposition of James Wilkinson, 26 December 1806 (Madison Papers)
duplicate I James Wilkinson Brigadier General & commander in chief of the Army of the United States, to warrant the arrest of Samuel Swartout, James Alexander Esqr. and Peter V. Ogden, on a charge of Treason, misprision of Treaso n or such other offence against the Government & Laws of the United States as the following facts may legally Charge them with. On my Honor as a Soldier, and on the...
46To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 2 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Capt. Stille late of the army—declares that speaking to Mr. Granger in Baltimore Concerning his route to this Country, he Mr. Granger observed to him, why You will be at the Falls of the ohio about the time the Grand Flotilla will reach it—He Capt. Stille enquired what flotilla? Mr. Granger answered have You not heard of the Grand flotilla preparing at Marietta & else where—on Capt. Stille’s...
47To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 23 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
“A moment of awful suspense has arrived. Mr. Burr’s letter to Mr. Mead, of the 12th instant, transmitted to the secretary of war, is not indicative of doubts, fears or despondence; and if he is able to put off Mr. Mead for four or five days from the present, we may expect unpleasant scenes to ensue. The friends of Mr. Burr and my enemies, labour at this moment to stamp on the public mind that...
48To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 13 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I last Evening had the Honor to receive your Letter of the 3rd. Ultmo., & rejoice at M: Briggs’s safe arrival, however unseasonable, for I had begun to feel serious concern for his safety.— You must long before this Period have heard of the salutary decision, to which I have been driven in this City, and of the persecution & abuse I have suffered & am suffering in consequence thereof: The late...
49To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 17 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the Honor to inclose you a duplicate of my Letter of the 13th. Inst., transmitted by the last Mail, and in obedience to your desire, I avail myself of the conveyance by Judge Sprigg, to forward you one of Burr’s original Letters to me, and by the next safe conveyance, I will transmit you a literal Interpretation of it duly attested, which I have not yet taken time to render to my...
50To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 26 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the Honor to transmit you a duplicate of my last, & to inform you, that Judge Sprigg having declined his voyage, after He had taken his passage; and the conveyance both by the Mail & by the Ocean, having become too in ence for the transmittal of original documents, I shall avail myself of the return of an officer on furlough who will leave this shortly, to transmit you the Letters you...
51To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 1 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I transmit this by a Vessel bound to Baltimore, to cover a duplicate of my letter of the 26th. Ulto. and to trespass some further details on your patience. The enclosed Extract of a letter from S. Dinsmore, will apprize you of the State of things at Natchez, and particularly the Situation of Blennerhassett, Tyler, Ralston and Floyd. Should these men be left to the Mummery of a trial, before a...
52To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 3 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just received your Original Letter, of the 3d. of January, and Sincerely congratulate you on the Arrest of Burr, though I fear from the route by which he has been Sent, that you Will never find him at Washington. The popular feelings, His extreme art and desperation conspire to favor his escape. Mr. Gaines has certainly done for the best, but I should have prefered to Send him by Sea....
53To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 12 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
You will find under cover the Report I have promised, and I flatter myself you will not condemn the manner, in which it has been obtained. I beg to refer you for Mr. Burling Character (not a common one) to General S. Smith who has long Known Him—On my own part I profess to you, I consider Him the pure Patriot, & hardly to be equaled in any Enterprize which Interests His feelings; and yet he is...
54To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 20 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Milligan the Express delivered me Your Letter of the 3rd. Ultmo. the Evening of the 14th. Inst:, which lifted from my Breast a load of anxeity, and I will confess furnished a sweet Solace to my poor heart depressed with cares & sorrows—your sympathy for my difficulties, your admonition for my Conduct, & your solicitude for my welfare, impress deeply my affections, and are received as the...
55To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 27 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I tresspass this Note on your Time, to inform you that I have strong expectations I shall be able to prove, that Burr sunk his ordnance Boat in the Mississippi near the Bayou Pierre, That He actually seduced a Sergt. Jacob Dunbaugh to defect the Service, who accompanied Him to Natchez & will I hope be in my power in a few Days, and that He corrupted Lt. Jackson & His Garrison at the Chickasaw...
56To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 3 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
By a singular concatenation of incidents, I have ascertained that Depestre mentioned to you in a former Letter, was the accredited Agent of Burr, who visited St. Louis in October last; and that Mr. Depestre bore a Letter from Burr to a Mr. Provenchere, giving Him assurances that a revolution of the Western States would take place on the 15th. Day of November & inviting Him to join in it. This...
57To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 15 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I transmit you a duplicate of my last, in which you will perceive my ignorance of the Arrangement, you had made for the Territory of Louisiana; and also of the violent & uncharitable attacks, made on my Character & Conduct, in the publick prints & even on the floor of Congress.— Sunk by the severest domestic Calamity into a State of apathy & despondance, my Mind had fastened upon the “Luxury...
58To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 19 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In the Hope Burr may have reached the City of Washington, I think proper to transmit you the inclosed—Every day unfolds something of the Plot & convinces me it is not abandoned—This was Burrs parting declaration to His followers, and if Adair is on his way hither, he is moved by objects of higher importance, than personal or legal reparation from me—He is more competent, to a desperate Effort...
59Burr Conspiracy Statement, 31 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Doctor Watkins in a Speech made in the House of Representatives of the Territory of Orleans, more replete with extravagant, barefaced falshoods than anything of the Kind ever before uttered—Tells us that General Adair, the day he reached the City of Orleans, mentioned, “He had left Nash Ville the 22nd. of December, and that Burr was then there with two Flat Boats, destined for this City.” In...
60To Thomas Jefferson from James Wilkinson, 17 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The Engagements, Soul & Body, which have occupied me since my Arrival here the 13th. Inst:, must be my Apology for not giving you this assurance sooner— I dreamt, not of the importance attached to my presence before I reached Hampton, & had directed my views more to the vindication of my own Fame, than the crimination of the abandoned wretch, who had dared to implicate it; for I had...