USA > Louisiana > History of Louisiana, the Spanish domination > Part 22
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" And I fear that we can rely on a few only of my coun- trymen, if we cannot make use of liberal donations, &c.
279
CONTINUATION OF WILKINSON'S INTRIGUES.
* *
"I know that Colonel Morgan happens now to be in New Jersey, where I believe that he is awaiting the results of the promises of Don Diego Gardoqui. Doing justice to the Colonel,* I must inform you that he is for ever the friend of Spain, and the advocate of our plans. But I fear that, owing to peculiar embarrassments of his own, he will not be able to effect his settlement at L' Anse à la Graisse (New Madrid) as promptly as he hopes. He is as badly treated as I am by the depend . ents of General Washington and by the friends of Con- gress. I see that all those who are put in office are the enemies of Spain, and that all the friends of Congress are hostile to me, because I openly praise the former, and publicly blame the latter. All those who go down the Mississippi as traders are my enemies, because they envy my position, and the favor and protection which you grant me. But you may rest assured that the con- stant persecution of Congress cannot produce the slight- est impression on my attachment and zeal for the interests of Spain, which I shall always be ready to defend with my tongue, my pen, and my sword."}
Relatively to the Convention which, he said, was to meet in Kentucky in June next, and the members of which were to be elected in May, he expressed himself as follows: "I will pay strict attention to its proceedings, and I will present myself to that assembly, with the intention of doing all that may be in my power, to pro- mote the interest of our cause, in which I shall be warmly assisted by our good friend Sebastian, who is now my principal aid, because, although Harry Innis is also our
* Wilkinson is here in direct contradiction with himself, see p. 245. But he may have had reasons to change his sentiments and language.
+ Pero puede Vs. vivir convencido que el universal maltrato del congreso no puede hacer la menor impression en el amor y zelo que tengo por los intereses de „a España que estaré siempre pronto á defender con mi lengua, pluma y espada.
280
WILKINSON'S WISH TO BECOME A SPANIARD.
friend, yet the office which he holds renders it improper for him to work openly. At present, all our politicians seem to have fallen asleep. Buoyed up by the privilege of trade which has been granted to them on the Missis- sippi, the people think of nothing else than cultivating their lands and increasing their plantations. In such circumstances it is impossible that I should, with any chance of success, press upon them the important ques- tion which I had proposed to myself on my arrival here.
"I am justified in saying that Congress strongly sus- pects my connection with you, and that it spies my move- ments in this section of the country. Consequently, an avowed intention on my part to induce these people here to separate from the Union, before the majority of them show a disposition to support me, would endanger my personal security, and would deprive me of the opportu- nity of serving you in these parts. My situation is mor- tally painful, because, whilst I abhor all duplicity, I am obliged to dissemble. This makes me extremely desirous of resorting to some contrivance that will put me in a position, in which I flatter myself to be able to profess myself publicly the vassal of his Catholic Majesty, and therefore to claim his protection, in whatever public or private measures I may devise to promote the interest of the Crown."
The change to which Wilkinson alludes in this com- munication is to be attributed to the confidence inspired to all by the wise and firm administration of Washington, who had been installed into office on the 4th of March, 1789, as first President of the United States, under that new Constitution which had just been framed by the people thereof, "to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the com- mon defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the
281
MOULTRIE'S LETTER TO WILKINSON.
blessings of liberty to themselves and their posterity," and which was beginning to accomplish these objects.
It appears that the emigrants whom Colonel Morgan had attracted to L'Anse à la Graisse, or New Madrid, had not long remained satisfied with their leader, for they had sent John Ward to New Orleans as their delegate, to present to Mirò* a memorial signed by them, and in which they complained of the state of complete anarchy in which they lived, and of the exactions of Colonel Morgan. "We also beg you," they said, "to permit us to remark, that the method adopted for settling this dis- trict is very prejudicial to the interests of the King, and also to those of the inhabitants of New Madrid, his sub- jects. Therefore, we conclude with assuring you, that if we cannot obtain satisfaction with regard to what we represent to you through Mr. Ward, our agent, we shall be obliged, relying on our right and the just support of our friends, to abandon a country and a climate with which we are highly pleased."
On the 27th of February, Alex. Moultrie replied to Wilkinson's letter of the 4th of January, accepting with many compliments the offer of his services, and entreating him to use his best efforts in order to accelerate and per- fect the great enterprise of the South Carolina Company, but informing him that the agency of the company could no longer be disposed of, as it had been some time ago granted to Dr. O'Fallon, who was the bearer of Moultrie's letter to Wilkinson. But it is evident from a communi- cation addressed by Mirò to Wilkinson, on the 30th of April, that this gentleman could not do much for the South Carolina speculators who had applied to him. "I return to you many thanks," said Mirò, "for the letter you have written to Messrs. Moultrie, Snipes, Huger, and
* Mird's despatch of the 27th of January, 1790.
282
MIRO'S LETTER TO WILKINSON.
Washington, although you have rendered them a greater service than to me, by the wholesome advice which you nave administered to them. It would be exceedingly painful to me to march with arms in my hands against citizens of the United States, with which my court fre- quently recommends me to keep on the best terms of harmony and friendship. But, in order to avoid, once for all, every cause of trouble and misunderstanding on this subject, I beg you to communicate to these gentle- men my following declarations :
"1º-Spain is in possession of all that she conquered from Great Britain in the last war, and consequently, of the territory which these gentlemen have obtained from the State of Georgia, and therefore, so long as the ques- tion of limits shall not be settled, every attempt to seize on any portion of the land to which we have a previous right of possession, will be an act of hostility which we must resist.
" 2º-The concession of land from the Choctaws and Chickasaws founded on the treaty of Hopewell and Seneca, in 1786, is a chimera." Mirò then goes on say- ing, that the chiefs themselves who had signed that treaty had signified to the American Commissioners that they had no such powers, and had furthermore declared, that it was only after having been made drunk, that they had put their seals to it. He also informs Wilkin- son that the Choctaws had proclaimed, that they would not permit the Americans even to walk over their lands, because they were afraid of their being gradually usurped by the well-known rapacity of those intruders. The tone of this letter is very different from the affec- tionate style in which Mirò usually addressed Wilkinson, and indicates that he resented Wilkinson's letter of the 26th of January, in which he was informed of the change which had occurred in the feelings of the people
283
MIRO'S CONTEMPTUOUS LANGUAGE.
of Kentucky, and of the almost undoubted destruction of all his hopes and plans.
In a second despatch to Wilkinson, dated on the same day (30th of April), Mirò comments on the reasons given by that gentleman, to account for the revulsion of sentiments which was described to have taken place among the Western people. " Your countrymen," said he, " will soon find out that the advantages they expect from the navigation of the Mississippi, on their paying an import duty of 15 per cent. when entering Louisiana, and an export duty of 6 per cent. when leaving it, amount to nothing. So far, tobacco has been the only produce of any importance which they have brought to New Orleans, and which the king has reserved to him- self the privilege of buying. Should he not choose to do so, on the ground that the article wanted is not furnished in sufficient quantity, or is not of the quality required, it would remain a dead weight in the hands of the owner. Several individuals, who are now here, have discovered this to be the case. With regard to your supposition that they will elude paying the duty of 15 per cent. under the pretext of coming to settle in Louisiana, it is without any sort of foundation whatever, and you may rest assured that I shall take care that the law be executed on that point." He then enumerated in detail the preventive measures which he had imagined, more effectually to defeat the anticipated frand.
" I therefore confidently hope," continued he, " that, with your characteristic perseverance, making use of the information which I give you, and which will be con- firmed by your countrymen on their return, you will be able to revive our political designs, by sowing broad-cast, and causing to germinate among your people, such ideas as will seem to you best calculated to establish the con- viction, that the welfare of the inhabitants of Kentucky
284
A LESSON TO TRAITORS.
depends, either on their forming a close and strong con- nection with Spain, or on their seeking to better their fortune by becoming denizens of Louisiana."
With regard to that passage in Wilkinson's letter in which he said that he had become an object of suspicion to his government, and that his situation was mortally painful, because, whilst abhorring duplicity, he was obliged to dissemble, wherefore he was seeking for the
occasion of professing himself publicly the vassal of his Catholic Majesty, in order to claim his protection in whatever public or private measures he might devise to promote the interests of the crown, Mirò replied :* "I much regret that General Washington and Congress suspect your connection with me, but it does not appear to me opportune that you declare yourself a Spaniard, for the reasons which you state. I am of opinion that this idea of yours is not convenient, and that, on the con- trary, it might have prejudicial results. Therefore, con- tinue to dissemble and to work as you promise, and as I have above indicated." In this letter, all the caressing epithets and other expressions so plentifully used, on other occasions, are dropped, and the words, my dearest friend, or any other approaching their meaning, are stu- diously excluded, and Mirò's despatch terminates merely with the commonplace salutation so familiar in Spanish phraseology : "Dios guarde a Vs. muchos años." "God preserve you many years."
In travelling over these historical grounds, here have we come to a point from which a rich scene of practical morality is displayed before us. "You may rest assured," had written Wilkinson, "that the constant persecution
Siento mucho se desconfie el general Washington y el Congreso, de la co- nexion di Vs. conmigo; pero no me parece oportuno que Vs. se declare Español, a fin de que nuestra corte pueda sostenerle. Soy de parecer que esta idea no puede ser conveniente, y que al contrario podria acarrear prejudiciales resultas. Disímule Vs. pues, y trabaje como promete y arriba le indico.
285
MIRÒ'S DISTRUST OF WILKINSON.
of Congress cannot produce the slightest impression on my attachment and zeal for the interests of Spain, which I shall always be ready to defend with my tongue, my pen, and my sword." So far, so good, and "Thank you, dearest friend," had replied Spanish interest. "But I am anxious to become a Spaniard on the first opportunity that shall present itself," said Wilkinson, proceeding a step further .- "You! a Spaniard, Sir! Oh, no! that cannot be. Continue to dissemble, and to work under ground, as you are bound to do. Retain your American tongue, your American pen, and your American sword. You can serve us better in that guise." Thus spoke Spanish pride and Spanish honor. Is there on record a more striking specimen of withering contempt?
On the 22d of May, Mirò wrote to the minister, Don Antonio Valdès, to render him an account of his last transactions and correspondence with Wilkinson. “Al- though," said he, "I thought with Wilkinson that the commercial concessions made to the Western people might deter them from effecting their separation from the United States, because I supposed they would prefer losing the defalcation produced in the value of their crop by the payment of the duty of fifteen per cent., to running all the risks of a revolution, yet I never ima- gined that the effects would be so sudden, and that the large number of influential men, whom Wilkinson, in his previous letters, had mentioned as having been gained over to our party, would have entirely vanished, as he now announces it, since he affirms having no other aid at present than Sebastian.
"I consider that I am exposed to err in expressing an opinion on the acts of a man, who works at six hundred leagues from this place, and who has undoubtedly ren- dered, and is still rendering services to his Majesty, as I have explained it in my other despatches. But the
286
SEBASTIAN, A SPY ON WILKINSON.
great falling off which I observe in his last letter induces me to believe that, full of good will and zeal, and per- suaded, from the experience of past years, that he could bring round to his own opinions the chief men of Ken- tucky, he declared in anticipation that he had won over many of them, when he had never approached them on the main question, and that, encountering, at this time, instead of facilities, invincible obstacles, and, above all, personal risks should he declare himself, he has availed himself of the motive which he puts forth, to cover his precipitation, &c. &c. * *
"Nevertheless, I am of opinion that said brigadier- general ought to be retained in the service of his Majesty, with an annual pension of two thousand dollars, which I have already proposed in my confidential despatch No. 46, because the inhabitants of Kentucky, and of the other establishments on the Ohio, will not be able to undertake anything against this province, without his communicating it to us, and without his making at the same time all possible efforts to dissuade them from any bad designs against us, as he has already done repeat- edly."
Mirò concludes his letter with recommending that a pension be granted to Sebastian, "because I think it proper," said he, "to treat with this individual, who will be able to enlighten me on the conduct of Wilkinson, and on what we have to expect from the plans of the said brigadier-general."*
Thus every thing was done according to the most approved rules laid down in the code of corruption : "set a thief to catch a thief, and a spy after another
* Por que creo muy conveniente el tratar con este individual que podrá aclararme mucho la conducta del expresado brigadier y lo que se puede esperar de sus proyectos.
287
MIRÒ PRAISING WILKINSON.
spy." Thus Wilkinson was employed to watch the Kentuckians, and Sebastian to betray his confederate Wilkinson. Not a link wanting in the chain of infamy.
In a second despatch of the 22d of May, Mirò commu- nicates to the same minister all the information he had received on the plan of colonization formed by the South Carolina Company, and all he had done in relation to that matter. "You will observe," said he, "that Messrs. Alex. Moultrie, William Clay, Snipes, and Huger, members of that Company, recommend to Colonel Hol- der to cultivate the alliance of the Indian nations, and to communicate to us all the operations of said Company, together with their intention to court our friendship, because they consider their interests and ours as insepa- rably connected, and conclude with charging their agent to take possession at all events.
"From the whole texture of their letter to Holder it is to be inferred, that they believe themselves authorized to form an Independent State, because there is not in it one word which indicates the least subordination to the United States. On the contrary, they flatter them- selves that they will serve as a barrier or rampart for the protection of Louisiana, which circumstance could not happen, unless they formed a sovereign State."
Mirò praised Wilkinson for the part he had acted on that occasion, and for having so much discouraged the South Carolina Company, that their operations were suspended for the moment. "I mention this fact the more readily on his behalf," said he, "that I spoke less favorably of him in my preceding communication." Mirò closed his despatch with asking for instructions on the subject, and said that, in the mean time, should the South Carolina Company attempt to take possession of the territory which they pretended to have purchased
288
JAMES O'FALLON'S LETTER TO MIRO.
from Georgia, he would oppose that usurpation with such forces as he could command, and with the assist- ance of the Indians, and that his first step would be to occupy a strong military position at " Walnut Hills," at the mouth of the Yazoo.
On the 24th of May, James O'Fallon, who styled him- self the "General Agent in the Western settlement for the company of South Carolina relatively to the Yazoo territory," wrote from Lexington to Governor Miro a letter, which, notwithstanding its length, I shall quote almost in full, on account of the curious developments which it contains.
" The detention," said he, " which I shall probably experience in Kentucky, where I have just arrived on my way to New Orleans; the importance of the mission for which I am sent to you, not only with regard to the Spanish Empire in general, but also particularly with regard to Louisiana and West Florida, as well as in relation to the interests in the Yazoo territory of the South Carolina Company, whose general agent I have the honor to be, in virtue of a unanimous nomination, under the seal and formal diploma of the chief director and of the other proprietors of an extensive territorial conces- sion in the vicinity of your government, finally granted to them by the State of Georgia; the weighty political bearing of my negotiation with you, and the propriety of your being made acquainted with the general design of our plan, before my arrival and my presenting to you my full credentials, with other authentic documents, which clothe me with the most extensive and confidential powers, and which I shall communicate to you with my characteristic frankness; the obligations resulting from the public situation in which I am, as well as my natural disposition to contribute to the glory and prosperity of the Crown which you serve (which disposition is quite
289
PLAN OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMPANY.
notorious at the Spanish Court, through the information afforded by its minister at New York and the Governor of St. Augustine, who, from abundant experience, can testify to it) :- All these motives now prompt me to address you, in order to give in advance the following intelligence. which you will examine in your moments of leisure.
"The affair which I have the honor to lay before you is pregnant with events of the greatest importance, which must promptly and inevitably be brought forth, if opportunely favored by the court of Spain and your- self, and which are such, that, even in the eye of the most indifferent, they must assume proportions of the most considerable magnitude. This great project was conceived by myself, a long time ago. Through my persuasion and influence the members of the General Company, who, in particular, are all dissatisfied with the present Federal Government, have, immediately and spontaneously, fallen in with my plan, for the execution of which, considering that it was my conception, they have appointed me their delegate as one of the twenty proprietors of the concession, with plenary powers to complete it, as you will see after my arrival. At the same time that this important affair was in agitation, and progressing among the most influential members of the Legislature of Georgia, the Company was honoring me with their entire confidence; and, without their having suspected in the beginning what I was aiming at, I insensibly prevailed upon them to acquiesce in my political views (after the obtaining of the concession), and led them to consent to be the slaves of Spain,* under the appearance of a free and independent State, forming a rampart for the adjoining Spanish territories, and establishing with them an eternal, reciprocal alli-
* Esclavos de la España
19
290
PLAN OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMPANY.
ance, offensive and defensive. This, for a beginning, when once secured with the greatest secrecy, will serve, I am fully persuaded, as an example to be followed by the settlements on the western side of the mountains, which will separate from the Atlantic portion of the confederacy, because, on account of the advantages which they will expect from the privilege of trading with our colony, under the protection of Spain, they will unite with it in the same manner and as closely as are the At- lantic States with France, receiving from it every assist- ance in war, and relying on its power in the moment. of danger. In order to induce the Company to pursue this course, I refused to take any share in the enterprise under any other conditions ; and, in order to confirm their hostility to Congress, which then was acting des- potically, as well as to the President and his ministers, who were opposing their pretensions,' I used indirect means, which decided them to form the resolution of separating themselves from the Union, and of removing with their families, dependents, and effects, to their con- ceded territory, with the determination, if Spain favored them, not to subject themselves, nor the numerous colo- ny which they will soon form, to the administration of Congress or of Washington. The individuals interested in that concession are gentlemen of the greatest influ- ence, power, and talent, among the most gifted in the confederacy ; and they are sure of having, within eighteen. months after the date of their first settlement, ten thou- sand men established on their territory and capable of bearing arms. All that they desire from the Spanish Crown for their projected establishment, is a secret co- operation, which, in reality, will soon ripen into a sincere friendship. I assure you that Spain will obtain every- thing from them in return, except the sacrifice of their liberty of conscience and of their civil government. I
291
O'FALLON'S CREDENTIALS.
affirm all this, because I am authorized to do so by the plenary powers which they have given me, both in writ- ing and verbally, as will appear by my secret instruc- tions, which I shall communicate to you with the utmost sincerity on my arrival. For I intend, in my proceed- ings, to keep aloof from all dissimulation whatever.
" Whilst the Company was making the most strenuous efforts to obtain their concession, in which two years were secretly employed, I was corresponding with Don Diego Gardoqui in New York, and with the Governor of East Florida, through my intimate friend, Captain Charles Howard, the Secretary of that province. At the same time, at the request of the same minister, I was confidentially engaged in obtaining for the court of Spain information of the highest importance, in relation to Great Britain and the United States, and was also work- ing to procure the emigration of ten thousand Irish, American, and German families to the deserts of East Florida. In order to bring these affairs to an end, I was preparing to follow that minister to Madrid, when, in spite of Congress and the President, the Legislature of Georgia, as it were unanimously, conceded to the South Carolina Company, the Virginia Company, and the Ten- nessee Company, the territories which they had re- spectively sued for in the vicinity of your government : in consequence of which, these Companies found them- selves incorporated and organized by an act of that Le- gislature, and, by virtue of said incorporation and organi- zation, were empowered, under the sanction of the new federal constitution and authorities, and against the will and wishes of the President and of some of his ministers, to treat and negotiate in relation to the contemplated colonization.
" In this conjuncture, I fully informed the minister Gardoqui, and the Governor of St. Augustine, of the cir-
292
SCHEME TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT.
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