 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser 1807/07-1807/12 msa_sc3722_2_6_2-0206 Enlarge and print image (5M) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
Federal Gazette & Baltimore Daily Advertiser 1807/07-1807/12 msa_sc3722_2_6_2-0206 Enlarge and print image (5M) |
| TRIAL OF AARON BURK, (Continued by adjournment and hdd at thi. ca. ¦bitolin the kill of'the home of Delegates.) for high treason against the United States. . ¦ •- [ The Examination on Wednesday., August 19th, continued.'] Examination of Co!. George Morgan. Colonel Morgan was proceeding, when Mr. Burr objected to this kind of evidence, consisting of conversations and previous de- cimations. Some desultory conversation eo-ncd upon this point, when the Chief Justice said that he understood the same ob- iections would hereafter apply to the consi- deration as to the introduction of testimony ; that these objections might be hereafter urg- ued ; and that it was impossible for the court to kno-.v the nature of the evidence before it was introduced. Mr. Hay. If the gentlemen will only wait, they will find that other circumstances •will come out to prove the materiality of this testimony. This witness will prove what was the state of the prisoners mind in August last. Mr. tee. I hope, then, the jury will distinctly understand, that they are not to inler from the court's declining to interfere on the present occasi- on, that every thing which drops fr .in the witness, is to pass without objection. Col. Morgan, (the father of the last wit- ness.) There has been a long acquaintance between D>1. Burr and myself- He had in- troduced to my notice two of his nephews by the name of :------ and a third by the name of Edwards, Pierrepoint Edwards's —-. I had received many civilitie from Col. Burr in New-York, after these things had passed ; which had formed such attach- ment to him, that I never should have for- gotten it, had not this late business taken place. About three years ago, colonel B. was under considerable, and as I thought unjust persecution. I had then a younger son, who is now here studying law at Pitts- burg. I wished to make him known to colonel B. and in consequence of my friend- ship'for him and of the great rage ol per- secution against him, I invited him in that letter to Morganza. In all probability I should have done the same thing, from the same motives, if not for the attachments which I had conceived for him. Col. Burr however had left Pittsburg before my letter reached it, and it remains now in my sou's scrutoire at Pittsburg.—On the 24th last August, I received a letter from col. Burr dated at Pittsburg, informing me that he should dine with me next day. (Here Mr. Hay handed the letter to col. M. who said that the letter was dated oh. the zist, and that he had not for some time seen it, as be had transmitted it to the president of the United States.) This letter was handed to me by a man, who called himself Count Willie. 1 believe my son did not call onine that evening ; but next morning I inform- ed him if I was able, I should certainly go and meet col. b. ; & I requested him and his brother to do it, with a letter of introduction explanatory of their names & their intention. What conversation took place between him and my son, I shall not state. Col. B. men- tioned to me in conversation, col. Dupies- ter, as one of the first military characters of the age. I shall pass over the conversation and incidents during dinner. After dinner I spoke of our fine country ; I observed that when I first went there, there was not a sin- gle family between the Alleghany mountain and the Ohio ; and that by and bye we should have Confess sitting in this neigh. bourhood, or at Pittsburg. We are allowed to sport these things over a glass of wine.^— <•¦ No ; never,'* said col. ¦ B. "for in less than five years you will be totally divided ii-cin the Atlantic states." The colonel en- tered into some arguments to prove, why it would and should be so. The first reason was, the produce of the sale of the western lands, being carried to the Atlantic States, •and that the people to the west should not be tributary to them. He said that our taxes were very heavy ; and demanded, why we should pay them to the Atlantic parts of the country. By this time I took an op pirtunity to observe, God forbid ! I hoped that no such things would happen at least in my time. This observation terminated the conversation as to that particular point. It then turned upon the weakness ami imbe. cility of the F. government ; 1 don't recol lect saying any thing on the subject ; but fcegan to think, that all was not right. He said, vvith 200 men he could drive Congress with the President at-its head into the river Potomac ; or that it might be done} and he said with 500 men he could take possession of New York. He appealed to col. Dupies- ter, if it could not be done : he bowed assent. There was a reply made to this by one of my sons, that he would be damned, if they could take our little town of Cannonsburg with that force. Sorre short time after that, col. B. went out from the dining room to the passage and beckoned to my son Thomas.— They went out and bad some conversation. "What that conversation was, I shall leave to my son himself to tell. Soon after a walk was proposed to rny son's mill and the com- pany went. When they returned, one Cor both) of my sons came to caution me, and said, " You may depend on it, col. B. will this night open himself to you. He wants Tom to go with him." iifter the usual con versatiou, col. B. went up stairs', and as I thought to go bed. Mrs. Morgan was read ing to fne,' as is usual when the family have retired : when about 11 o'clock, and when I thought he had been asleep an hour, she told me that co!. B. was coming, and as she bad heard my son's conversation, she added " vou'H have it no.w." Col B. came with a candle in his hand Mrs. Morgan immediate- ly retired. The colonel took his seat by me. He drew from hi- pocket a book ; I suppose it was a memorandum book. After looking at it, hp askdd me if I knew a Mr. Vigo, of Fort Vincent, a Spaniard. I replied yes, I knew him ; I had reasons to know him.— On» wa=, that I had reasons to believe that l»e was deeply involved in the British con- spiracy in '88, as 1 supposed'; ths object of which was to separate the states ; and which General Nevill and myself had suppressed. I called it a nefarious thing to aim at the division of the the stales. I was careful to put great emphasis on the word nefarious. Colonel B. finding what kind of man he had to deal with, suddenly stopped, thrust into his pocket the book, which I saw had blank leaves in it, and retired to bed. I be- lieve I ««fcs pretty well understood. The next moVhing colonel B. and colonel Dupies- ter went off before breakfast, without my expecting it, in company with my son, and from that time to this 1 have not seen him but in this place. My son agreed with me that I should apprise the president of our impressions, and point out a mode by which colonel B. might be followed step by step. Mr. McRne. After your observations about the country and the subsequent conversation, did the prisoner draw any comparison be- tween the eastern and western states ? A. He said, " Keep yourself on this side of the mountain, and you'll never be disturbed " By which I understood that there was an attempt to be made to effect a disunion— There is one more circumstance, which 1 must state to the court. The Sunday after, the judge of our circuit court dined with me. I requested him to mention the cir cumStanCe to General Neville, aiid invited him to come the following Sunday to dinner, with Judges Thilman and Huberts, fori had business of the first importance to CJitimn. nicate. They did not not dine with me on that day ; but they did on the* follow- ing Sunday. These gentlemen wrote a joint letter to the president, informing him of my communications to them. Cross examined, Mr. Burr. What sort of a book was the one I had in my hand ? Was it bound ? A. It was not so large as this ; I do not recollect whether it was bound, as it would not be very polite in me to take particular notice of such thinp'S, when gentlemen are at my own house. Q^ When you spoke of a nefarious plan, to wjjat transaction did you allude ? A. To Vijjo's plan, which I con- ceivee was intended to dissever the union. Q. Who were present, when judge Thil- man saw y u ? A general Neville and judge Roberts. Q^was there any other from Pittsburg ? A. None-' Q^ Your conversati- on was then jocular about the moving of congress to Pittsburg ? A. My manner might have been jocular; but not my mean- ing. Q. Did you not once live on the mis- sissippi ? A. 1 did with the approbation of my country. Q. Where was it ? A. At New Madrid. Q. On which side of the Mississippi ? A. The west. Q^ In the Spa- nish territories ? A. With the approbation of the Spanish government. Q^ How long did you live there ? A. About 40 days, I went from that place t* N. Orleans, where I detected a British spy. Q. In what year. A. In '88. Gen. Morgan was then called in at there- quest of the prisoner. Mr. Burr. What was the situation of your father, about the time of my visit ? A, He had lately had a fall which had done hun considerable injury. Q^ 1 mean as to his capacity. Did you not make some apology to judge Thilman for the state of his mind ? A. 1 did tell judge Thilman, that my father was old and infirm ; and like other old men, he told 1 ;ng st< ries and was apt to forget his repetitions. Mr. McRae. What was the prisoner's reply to your exclamation ? A. When col. B. said that with '200 men he could drive the presi- dent and c ngress into the Potowmac, I must sonfess that I felt my.elf hurt and I replied with some warmth, " I'll be d-------d, sir, if you c»uld take the little town of Cannonsburg with that force." Colonel B. replied, " Confine yourself to this side of the mountains, and it is another thing."— Mr. Burr. Do you recollect that the proba- bility of a Spanish war was mentioned ? A. It was a general subject of conversation. Thomas Morgan. On the evening of the 21st of August, my hither received a letter from Pitts- burg, by the hands of some person, the signature of which was Aaron Burr. In that letter the writer communicated his intention of dining with myfather on the following day j he also mentioned that he should take the liberty of introducing a friend. My father requested my bro- ther and myself to meet him, which we accordingly did. Nothing of importance occurred during our ride 111 my presence. Col. Burr was generally with my bro- ther. Col. l)u pi ester was often with myself: and sometimes we were promis- cuously together. Whilst we were a( dinner. Col. B. emphatically, as I tho't, confidently and earnestly said, that we, (meaning the people of the west,) would be separated in five years, from the At- lantic states ; the Alleghany mountain to be the line of division. Me said that great numbers were not necessary to execute great military deeds • all that was want- ing, was a leader, in whom they could place confidence, and who they believed could carry them through. This conver- sation occurred during dinner. He said that with 500 men, New-York could he taken ;and that with 200, Congress could he driven into the Potomac. To the last observation, my brother, I think, indignantly replied, " By God ! Sir, with that number you cannot take our little town of Cannonsburg." Col. Burr's reply to this observation was, " ('online yourself to this side of the mountain, and I'll not contradict you," or words to that effect. Col. B. with-, drew from the room where we dined ; and on reaching the door leading into the entry, invited me, by a nod, to go out with him. When we had arrived at the back door of ths entry, out of hearing of any other person, Col. B. enquired what my pursuitsWere. I infornud him 1 «aa study ing the law. He then said, he a as -sure i could not find employment for ei- ther body or mwd : and lie said that there were, or asked if there were not, a number of*young men in Pittsburg similarly situated. He said, that under bur gov -eminent there was no encourage" ment for talents ; that John Kandoiph had declared on the tloor of Congress, that men of talents were dangerous to the government. He asked ine how or whetherl would like a military.expedi- tion or life ; i cannot recollect which.,.. My answer was, it. would entirely .depend upon tire object or cause, for which 1 was to light. 1 think previously or Certainly soon after he said, " i wish you were 011 your way with me."' Alter asking Col. B. concerning a youn^- man (Mr. Duer) living at New-Orleans, with whom 1 had a sliy lit.acquaintance, he said he was do- ing well ; and he then spoke of Duer's brother, who was also doing well, as a lawyer, but that he had much rather be at the head of a military corps......Mr. Morgan then proposed to state the steps which- his father had taken to defeat A. Burr's projects, when he was stopped by the court. Cross- Exumim d. Mr. Burr.. Had you ever spoken to me before ? A. Never U. Did you not mention, witn some complaints, the neg- lect which your ~ducation hud received? A, No. Q. Did you not complain a- bout wasting your time? A. 1 recollect nothing on that subject, hut your re- mark, that I could not surely find etn- ploym.ent.for either body or mind. Examination o/Jacod Allbrihut. Mr. Hay. Our object is to prove by his testimony the actual assemblage of men on Blannerhassfctt's island. It goes of course to prove directly the overt act. Jacol) Mmglu. The 'first 1 knew of this business was ; I was hired on the isl- and to help to build a kiln for drying corn ; and after working some time, Mrs. Blannerhassett told me, that Mr. Blan- nerhassett and Col. Burr were going to lay in provision for an army for a year. I went to the mill, where 1 carried the corn to be ground, after it had been dri- ed. 1 worked four weeks on that busi- ness in the lslaud. Last fall (or in Sep- tember,) after Blannerhassett had come home...he had been promising trie money for some tune....! slept up to him He had no money at the time ; (jut would pay me soon. Says he " Mr. Allbright you are a Dutchman." But he asked me first and foremost, whether 1 would not join with him and go down the river. I told him, I did not know what they were upon, and he said, " Mr. Allb ight, we are going to settle a new country." And 1 gave him an answer, that i would not like to leave my family. He said, he did not want anv families to go along with him. Then he said to me, " you are a Dutchman, and a common man ; and as the Dutch are apt to be geared by high men, if you'll go to l\ew-Lancaster, where the Dutch Jive, and get me 30 or 40 men to go v> ith us, 1 will give you as many dollars." 1 went, home then, and gave him no answer upon that. In a lew days alter the boats came and landed at tiie Island. The snovf was about 'J incites deep, and I went out a hunting. 1 was on the Ohio side. 1 met two men ; 1 knew they belonged to the boats, but 1 wanted to find out ; and they asked me whether I had not given my consent to go along with Blannerhasset down the river. As we were talking together, they named themselves Col. Burr's men, be- longing to the boats, lauded at the island. When they asked rue, whether I had not consented to go down with Blannerhas- sett; 1 put a question to them. 1 told them 1 (lid not know what they were a- bout ; and one of the gentlemen told me, they were going to take a silver mine from the Spanish. 1 asked the gentle men, whether they would not allow, that this would raise a war with America J'hey replied, no. These were only a tew men; and if they went with a good army, they would give it up and nothing more said about it. J had all this conversation with the two men. These men showed me what hoe rifles they had, going down the river with thein....... Then I went to the Island, and Blannerhas- sett paid me off in Kentucky notes. Peo- ple however did not like these notes, and I went over to the bank to change them at Kenswha. I got two of the notes changed ; and one, a ten dollar note, was returned to my hand, for which I wished to get silver from Blannerhassett. I went to the island the day the proclama- tion came out. But before 1 went to Blan- nerhassett's h /Use, I heard he was not at home, but at Marietta. I went on the Vir- ginia side, where I met three other men, be- longing to the boats, with three complete rifles. They ntade a call upon me to take them to the island in my canoe, and I ac- cepted (excepted) to it ; but afterwards I carried the third man, who stood close by my canoe over to the island. After being sometime on the island, I went down to the four boats—Blannerhassett was not at home yet ; and I met some of the boat-peo- ple shooting at a mark. They had a fire between the bank and boats. I waited at the house till Blannerhassett came home. He seemed very much scared. One of the men came up to ask him for something, and he told him " Don't trouble me ; I have trouble enough already." He went up to his chamber ; and I saw no more of him. I asked an old gentleman to go up to his cham- ber, and change my note for silver. He did go, and brought me silver. By and bye I heard that they were going to start that night. Thinks I " I'll see the end of it." This was the night of the very day that Blannerhassett got back from Marietta. He got back before night. When night came on, I was among the men, and also in the | kitchen, and saw the boatmen running bul- lets. One of them spoke out to tile others, " Boys., let's mould as many bullets, as we can lire i'i rounds." After this, I saw no more till alter twelve o'clock at night. Then Blannerhassett came down from the cham- ber 5 and called up some of his servants ; he bad four ere five trunks; There were not trusty hands enough to carry them to the boats ; and some person called after my name, and asked me to help them : and I carried one of the trunks and moved along with them. When we got down some per- son, I don't particularly know, but think it was Blannerhassett himself, asked me to stand by the trunks, till they wore put m the boats. When the last of them went off", I saw men standing in a circle on the shore. I went up to them ; perhaps they were five or six rods from me. The first thing I heard was, their laying plans how Blannerhassett and Comfort Tyler'should get safe by Galliopolis. One Nahum Bent was called forward, and when he came, Blannerhasset asked him whether he had not two smart horses. N. Bent answered, !io ; he had but one. Then Blannerhassett told him to go to captain Deiinie, and get. his sorrel horse ; and N. B. told him, that the sorrel horse had no shoes on ; and Blan- nerhassett said, the roads were soft and would not hurt the horse. Blannerhasset told N. Bent to meet him and C. Tyler with the horses somewhere sbout Galliopolis : Bent inquired how he was to find him out: should he inquire for him ? "No."—'• Have you no friends there?" "No." Mrs-. Blan- nerhasset then came forward and she told Blannerhassett and G, Tyler, that they must take a canoe and get into it before they got to Galliopolis, and sail down the stream of the Ohio ; for nobody would mind two peo- ple going down the stream. She said, she'd pay for the canoe. N. Bent was told to meet them above G.Jliopolis about day-break, and then they might surround (go around3 Galliopolis. Then a man by the name of Tupper, laid his hands upon Blannerhassett, and said, " Your body is in my hand in the name of the commonwealth ;" or such a word as that. As quick as Tupper made that motion, there were seven or eight musquets levelled down at him. Tupper looked about him and said, "Gentlemen, I hope you will not do the like." A man next to me about two yards eff said, " I'd as lieve as not." Tupper then changed his speech ; and said he wished him luck and safe down the river. Tupper before ti Id Blannerhassett he should stay and stand his trial. But Blannerhassett said, no : the people in the neighborhood were coming down next day to take him, and he would go. Next day after. 1 saw the Wood Coun- ty militia going down. The people went off in boats that night about one. ti 11 ? A All but one, who was a doctor. All had some kind of arms. & How many were there in all ? A About twenty or thirty : I did not however count them. Every man I saw had arms. & At what time of the year was this ? A I do not recollect the particular time. I recollect the year; but not the month. (J Do you recollect whe- ther it snows in September ? A I do not recollect. Examined by the Counsel for the Prosecution. Mr. IVirt. Had you seen col. Burr on the island ? A. Yes. Q_ Was he there be- fore Blanneihassett went t Kentucky ? a. He was. O^ Did you speak of the b ats under the command of Tyler ? A. I did. Q^ Did the boats quit the island, at the time of hearing about the proclamation ? A. Yes. Q^ Did the county militia go there next day ? a. Yes. Mr. Burr. Did you see Peter Taylor converse with Blannerhasset that night ? A. I do not recollect. Mr. Ifirt. How long did Aaron Burr remain on the island ? A. I do not recollect. Q^ How long was he therj bef re the departure of the boats ? a. About 6 weeks. Cross Examined. Mr. Burr. Did you know Gen. Tupper ? A. Yes, Q^ Is that the person ? a. Yes. O^ When the musquets were levelled at him, did they sSem to have a mind to hurt him ? a. Yes : a gentleman near me said, " I'd as lieve shoot as not." Mr. Burr. You said differently on a former occasion. Don't you recollect saying before, it looked like exeicising ? a. I do not. A desultory conversation here ensued between the two counsels. Mr. burr professed that it was his intention to degrade the witness by in- validating his credibility. The cross exa- mination proceeded. Mr. Burr. Have you not been examined before ? a. Yes. Q^By whom ? a By Mr. Jackson. Q_Had he not printed questions in his hand ? A He had a paper in his hand. O^ Did he set down your answers ? A. Yes. Q^ Howr long af- ter the guns were pointed at gen. Tupper. before the men went to their boats ? a. I do not recollect. Any thing that I am nut certain of, I cannot speak to. Q^ was Mrs. Bl. there, when the guns were p, inted ? a. Yes. O^ Was Tupper inside of the circle ? A. Yes. 0^ Was she too ? a. I do'nt recol- lect. 0^ Did you see Mr. Woodbridge there ? A. I do'nt know him. Q^How long did you work with Blannerhassett ? a. Six weeks. Q. At what time was it, that you saw me there ? a. I «Io not recollect, Mr. burr. The counsel for the United States know, I presume, this circumstance and have testi- mony to ascertain it. Mr. Hay. We have not, as far as I am informed- Mr. t.urr I will state that it was on the last day of Aug. and the first of September, that I was on the island. Mr. Anthony (one of the jury.) Did you see any powder ? a. No. Mr. Hay Were you in the boats ? a. I was not. Mr. Burr. Where does gen. Tupper live ? a. In Ma- rietta. Q. Does he not belong to the state of Ohio ? a. Yes. Q^ When did you first know him ? a. Last fall. Mr. Burr then asked the clerk for the statement, which he had taken of Allbright's testimony, when it was submitted to the court on a former occasion, on the motion lor binding Mr. B. in higher bail. The clerk handed him the copy, and the prisoner proceeded with the examination : You said before, that the men who raised their muskets against gen. Tupper, were not in earnest : a. That was a piece of of my opinion. I did not know whether they were in earnest ; as there was no quarrel among there, and no firing after- wards. Mr. Burr. I beg1 the court to call on. the proseeution for the deposition of this wit- ness, taken before John G. Jacks an. Mr. (Jay. Can gentlemen, When tfiey please, thrust their hands into my Port Folio ? C. JWfiV«.was not satisfied, that the court had a light to call for the affidavit. Mr. Wick- ham said, i: was obvious, that there were certain suspicions attached to the credibility of the witness ; and that it was their desire to compare his present testimony with his former affidavit. Mr. Hey objected that Mr. Jackson might not have taken down the testimony of the witness in his language; but couched it in his own ; hence there might be an apparent variation between the present evidence and the affidavit Besides the witness might not have recollected a great many circumstances at that moment, which have subsequently occurred to his mind, since he was set to thinking upon them. Mr. Burr. W e have a right to coerce this paper. If gentlemen will not surrender it, I may at all events avail myself of their refusal. My object is to prove such a diver- sity between the statements of the witness at different times, as may destroy all faith in his recollections. Mr. Hay. Then, sir, although I might retain this paper, the gen- tlemen are welcome to make all the use of it that they can. Take it. Mr. Burr then pro- ceeded : Did you say that all in the circle had arms? A. /ill that I saw. Q. How many were in the circle ? A. I did not count. Q. What kinds of guns had they ? A. Bifles and shot-guns. Q. Did you see any guns with bayonets ' A. I saw none. Gt. When did you see most arms; in the d,y or in the night ? A. I saw more in the day ; but it was in the night, that I saw most arms in their hands. Mr. Parker (a juror.) Why did yc-u think, that most of them had arms ? A. Because I was wth them almost all night. In the day, I -aw some of them shooting at marks ; and I saw other arms at that time lying upon the beach Mr. Wickham. Did you see them all with arms at once ? A. No. <&. Did you know the men who had arms ? A. No. How- then are you certain, that you did not see the same arms at different times in the hands of different per ons ? No positive answer. Mr. Burr. If gentlemen have now done with the witnesses as to the overt act, or when they have done, I will thank them to inform us ; for then we shall have some considerations to offer to the court. Mr. Hay. we have other additional testimony to offer on this very point. Examination of William Love. Mr. Hay. Were you on Blannerhasset's island ? A Yes ; but not there at the time when Col Tyler's boats arrived there. I was then at Marietta ; and it was on Sun- day I went down in a skiff with t-o barrels of salt. Q_ H iw many boats were at the island ? A Four. Q Ho a many men. A. I cannot tell you ; but I suppose a- bout, betwixt 20 and 25 belonging to cpl. Ty'er's boats. Q Did you see a>y arms ? A I saw the men had rifles. I. know that Mr. Blannerhassett took away with himteo blunderbusses, 1 pair of horse utsti Is a pair of pocket pistols and a diik. Some fuzees were put into the boat ; but nut more than 3 or 4. Q^ And what arms, had Tyler's men. A Pistols, dirk*, and rifles they brought there ; but not all were armed « ith rifles. I-know not whether they were armed with different things. Being as how, Mr. Blannerhasset's servant, that is his groom, I went down the river with him- Q did you see Taylor and Allbright there. A I know Peter Taylor very well and saw All- bright. I saw Mr. Woodbridge too. Q what time did you set sail, a We were the last to embark ; and we' set off between 12 and 1. We parted with general Tup- per in the greatest friendship. Q Did you see the prisoner on the island ? a I never saw eel. Burr on the island. I first sa v him at Natchez about two and a half years ago. What took place after you left the island. A That night was vry cold. The next morning we stopt and made fires. Mr.- Blannerhasset and colonel Tyler went 011 shore and called the company toge her ; and the best I could make out, was, that the governor of Ohio had uttered state- warrants against Mr. b1. and Tyler • and that they wanted to make their escape as fast as possible. 1 went do-» n with the par- ty to Bayou Pierre, where— Mr. Burr expressed a wish that the at- tention ot the witness should be at present confined to the transactions on the island. Mr. r'lartin. Gentlemen had better con- fine themselves to facts within the district of Virginia. When they travel beyond the district, we shall have some important questions to bring forward. We shall ob- ject to the production of such evidence. Mr Hay acquiesced for the present in this arrangement. Cross-examined. Mr. Burr. Were not some of Mr. Blari- nerhassett's clothes put up in the boats ? A Yes. Q. Were not his books put up in boxes and trunks ? A None, that ever I saw. Q. How long had you lived with Mr. Blan- nerhassett ? A Ten or twelve day's, Q How many guns had the party ? a 1 do not know. A great many of the men went out a hunting, (i Did you see any thing like military appearance ? A The men were in a state of preparation to defend themselves,, because they expected people from the mouth of Kanawha to attack blannerhassett and the island. And to the best of my opinion, they did not mean to be killed without some return of the shot. It was said at Marietta* .hat the people of Kanawha were to attack him ; and I suppose they would have. done the best to resist. I should be sorry if a man slapped me in my f.ice without re- turning the blow. Q, Was there any dis- turbance among the party on the island ? A None: 1 did not part with my friends in England more comlortably than in parting with the people on the island. Mr. Parker (a juryman.) Did you ever see all the men with arms ? A I cannot say. When I got to the mouth of Cumberland river I saw a' chest of arms opened. Mr. Burr. Were any chests of arms put into the boats at the island ? A Not that I saw. They might have been put on board withput my seeing / them. Many things were put into the boats before I got in. Mr. McRae. Was the chest which you saw opened at the mouth of Cumberland the same as you-sawgo from ¦ |