USA > Ohio > History of Ohio; the rise and progress of an American state, Volume Three > Part 17
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Burr's western tours were contemporaneous with all these events. It was natural that, when he came to Ohio, he should visit Senator Smith; and as his guest, Burr formed many friends at Cincinnati. "This act of respect and kindness," says Judge Burnet referring to this visit, "by a generous spirit, was relied on as evidence that he was a partisan of the Colonel and engaged in his project. A number of persons then residing in Cincinnati, who were in constant and intimate intercourse with Burr, and who were universally believed to be engaged in his undertaking, whatever it might have been, deserted him as the storm began to gather." Burr's solemn declaration, in his letter to Smith satisfied the latter, and he refused to join in the general outcry. The consequence of this attitude brought on the vindictive persecutions of a later date. The very men who were the loudest in singing the praises of Burr turned out to be Smith's
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bitterest enemies and testified against him afterward, furnishing evidence of the most doubtful veracity.
In the meantime the administration was preparing to thwart Burr's purposes. To do this it was necessary that they should be found to be treasonable. While Burr was at Lexington, the United States District Attorney tried to have him indicted, but failed ig- nominiously. Mr. Jefferson had secured communi- cations from General Wilkinson, and as a result he started an inquiry of his own. John Graham was his secret agent to secure testimony against Burr, and to break up the expedition if possible. Graham came to Marietta and met Blennerhassett and obtained from him a frank statement of the purposes of the venture in which he was engaged with Burr. There was nothing in the information of a startling character or upon which interference could be based. Graham however, supplied motives and intents as well as facts, and he told Blennerhassett that he thought the plan was to attack Spain or the United States, and that therefore the government would have to interfere. Graham was sent for the express purpose of arousing the people of Ohio to action and he admirably suc- ceeded.
From Marietta Graham proceeded to Chillicothe to see Governor Tiffin. Here again he failed to dis- cover any excitement concerning Burr or fear of his machinations; the Governor assured him there was no war, or fear of war in Ohio. Graham called his attention to the fact that Colonel Burr was building boats on the Muskingum for some sinister purpose, and they should be seized. Tiffin replied that they
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were boats for ordinary river traffic, and too frail for war purposes. Governor Tiffin showing an unwilling- ness for summary action, Graham presented his orders from President Jefferson. Then the Governor agreed to act by calling the attention of the General Assembly to the serious situation.
On November 27, the President issued a proclama- tion announcing that unlawful enterprises were on foot in the Western states, and commanding all officers, civil and military, to use their immediate and utmost exertions to bring the offending persons to punishment. On the day after this proclamation was issued the secret agent, Graham, wrote from Chillicothe to James Madison, Jefferson's Secretary of State :- "At this place they seem to know nothing of the plans of Colonel Burr, and I am rather induced to think he has no one at work for him here; if he has, they have made very ittle progress, for all is quiet." From this it is ap- parent that all the information possessed by Governor Tiffin on this subject was imparted to him by John Graham, whose mission was to stir up the West against Burr. The Governor was too good a friend of the administration not to assist in destroying its old enemy. He did it most effectively, and what the courts of Kentucky and Mississippi could not do, he Governor of Ohio accomplished. He completely checked Burr's movements and wiped out all his dreams of empire.
CHAPTER VII. THE OPERATIONS OF AARON BURR IN OHIO CONCLUDED
I HE starting of the civil and military authority of the State of Ohio against the expedition that was soon to leave Blennerhassett's Island was done promptly and with systematic dis- atch.
Governor Tiffin received Jefferson's agent on Friday, he Legislature assembled the next Monday, and on Tuesday he sent the following message to that body: "Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Repre- entatives :
"A number of concurrent circumstances, received rom sources on which the greatest possible reliance nay be placed, warrants a belief that some hostile xpedition is on foot, inimical to the peace and interest of the United States, as well as calculated to prove uinous to the peace and prosperity of the western art thereof. As chief magistrate of this state, I have thought it a duty I owe to my fellow-citizens, to this tate, and to the general government, to lay the infor- nation I have received before the representatives of the people, that their united wisdom might direct to some means of prevention, as far as in their power, towards counteracting the evil designs.
"I have it from a gentleman of great respectability, clothed by the United States with a public character, that a person living near Marietta, on the Ohio River, but out of the jurisdiction of this state, has avowed himself an agent of a gentleman late high in office in the United States, and is empowered, and is actually preparing a flotilla, consisting of from ten to fifteen batteaux, forty feet long, on the Muskingum River, and is purchasing up provisions to load them with,
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and endeavoring to engage active, enterprising your men, to sail therein down the Ohio, who are promise pay and rations from the time of engagemen with promises of future fortunes, etc .; that this ager proposed to two gentlemen of great respectability 1 join in a plan suggested by his principal, and which } had engaged in, which would procure them ampi fortunes; which plan was to attack and seize the Cit of New Orleans and its dependencies, the money i the bank and treasury (which amounts to upwards ( two millions of dollars) the military stores, and a fin park of French brass artillery laying there, and t erect a government independent of the United States under the protection of a foreign European power and finally to force, or draw the people of the wester country to secede from the Union, by sundry mean pointed out. It has also been suggested, that thre different small armaments below this on the Ohio are preparing to join the expedition, and if all ar permitted to join, will amount to thirteen hundred men the force designed to commence operations with, and from which, owing to the disaffection of the people o that territory, and the expectation that the Americar troops will be kept in motion by another power, suc. cess is strongly calculated on. It is also strongly suspected that a foreign gentleman, friendly to the enterprise, has pecuniary means equal to the extent and wants thereof, at command.
"On Friday last, I received a communication from a general officer in the militia, in the first division, informing me, that two boats loaded with artillery, muskets and bayonets, new, and of French manufac-
THE HOUSE OF BLENNERHASSETT
Located on Blennerhassett's Island in the Ohio River opposite Belpre; constructed in 1800 and was noted for its beauty and as a home of sumptuous hospitality; here Aaron Burr first met its master and induced him to join his enterprise.
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and THE TOURHAHAprising you
pay 91911 :vtilstigeon anontqmtre to shton Eles Eris used affagente with miot os mid boubri bus asteam atitom teilt riuthedisAhis proposed to two gentlemen of great respectability join in a plan suggested by his principal, and whirs had engaged in, which would procure them Toniune; which plan was to attack and seize the (5 of New Orleans and its dependencies, the mo De Lapk and treasury [which amounts to upwards two urltiona of dollars) the military stores, and park od French brau artillery laying there, Proct a government hdependent of the United under the pratenbon of a foreign European mid freilly to force, of draw the people of the country to secede from the Union, by sundry pointed out. It has also been suggested, than different small armaments below this on the sre preparing to join the expedition, and if permitted to join, will amount to thirteen hundr the force designed to commence operations will from which, owing to the disaffection of the peu that territory, and the expectation that the An troops will be kept in motion by another powch cess la strongly calculated on. It is also sti suspected that a foreign gentleman, friendly enterprise, hét pecuniary means equal to the and wants thereof, at command.
"On Friday last, I received a communication a general officer in the militia, in the first di informing me, that two boats loaded with arti muskets and bayonets, new, and of French mand
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ure, passed down the Ohio River, on board of which vere gentlemen who spoke the French language; that or want of legal authority, he was not able to gratify his patriotic wishes in arresting them.
"Under this state of things, it is submitted whether the public energies of Ohio ought not to be directed towards counteracting that part of the preparing forces within our jurisdiction, on the Muskingum River, and then securing the agent preparing them, if possible. And indeed, it is thought other forces may descend the Ohio from above, and which might be stopped in the Ohio while floating down towards the point of junction."
Edward Tiffin.
Chillicothe, December 2, 1806.
This confidential message, for it was so regarded, was considered for several days in secret sessions of both the House and Senate. When the seal of secrecy was removed, it developed that severe and stringent legislation had passed looking to the suppressing of the Burr expedition. This was an act of the General Assembly, passed December 6, (Chase's Statutes, I, 553) entitled, "An act to prevent certain acts hostile to the peace and tranquillity of the United States within the jurisdiction of this State." Among its provisions was one declaring that any person or persons fitting out or arming any vessel or vessels, or enlisting any persons, party or army, or marching any such persons, party or army through Ohio with intent to act against the peace and tranquillity of the United States should,
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upon conviction, before the Supreme Court of Ohi be fined not exceeding four thousand dollars, and b imprisoned not to exceed three years.
The act further provided for the forfeiture to th State of such vessels, together with their furniture equipment, arms, provisions and stores. It gave t the Governor power to use the militia forces of th State to carry its provisions into effect, and appro priated the sum of one thousand dollars for his use i the premises.
Governor Tiffin, immediately upon the passage o this act, proceeded to take the necessary steps to sup press the expedition and prevent further movement looking to its consummation. There are in existence three letters of Governor Tiffin which show his activity and executive force in this crisis. They are here pub- lished for the first time, being copies of originals ir the possession of the Ohio Archaeological and His torical Society. They are addressed to Mathew Nimmo at Cincinnati, who was commissioned by the Governor as his agent in this emergency, with full power to issue warrants for arrests or call out the militia in the same manner as if the Governor had been present. These letters give a good narrative of the events as they were occurring in Ohio at the time, and they form a faithful record of Governor Tiffin's acts on this occasion.
The first letter under date of December 10th is as follows:
"Herewith you will receive a commission as my agent to perform certain duties under an Act of the General Assembly passed last Saturday; in order that you may have a proper idea of things relative to this Act, I
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forward a copy of a communication I made confiden- tially to the General Assembly last week marked A; they acted on it with closed doors & passed the Act, a copy of which I also enclose marked B; you will discern that they thought the times called for energetic efforts, and have clothed the Executive with uncom- mon powers to enable him to counteract every hostile effort that may be made within, or pass through our Jurisdiction; these powers from my confidence in you as a civil officer I have in part delegated to you. You will I have no doubt exercise them with all that pru- dence and sound discretion which their importance requires; and not issue any warrant without first knowing that you can avail yourself of such legal proof as will justify the measure. You will appoint your own Executive Officer to carry your warrants if any should issue in effect; and I would recommend to you to lay your authority & the accompanying docu- ments before Major General Gano & Brigadier General Findlay, that they may afford you counsel & be ready to aid you with the force of the militia in case circum- stances should make it necessary to call in its aid. [ have last Saturday forwarded on a special Express to Marietta, that if proof could be obtained to arrest the flotilla on the Muskingum & Blennerhassett, Mr. 's Agent; if any thing occurs which you ought to know at your Lower Station on the Ohio, it shall be communicated by Express, that you may be ready at Cincinnati to arrest any hostile movement floating down the Ohio; it will be well to keep good lookout on the river as it is said some part of the intended expedition is at Pittsburgh ready to start down."
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On December 17th, Governor Tiffin again write! Mr. Nimmo:
"I have just received yours of the 14th and by the return of the Mail, I thought proper to acknowledge its receipt altho I have nothing further to communi- cate, only that I am highly gratified at the prompt prudent and energetic measures you & Generals Ganc & Findlay have adopted, and which I fondly hope wil be crowned with success in arresting Tyler's Boats &c You will have before this time seen my orders sent on to General Gano by a Special Express, and wil find that the United States will cover the expenses you have been at engaging. I expect the two Com- panies of Men are now embodied & on service at Cin- cinnati under authority of the United States; please give my best respects to the Generals Gano & Findlay. tell them I long to hear that you at Cincinnati have been as fortunate in securing Tyler's Boats as my friends Buell and Meigs have been at Marietta in arresting Blennerhassett. Ohio deserves and will assuredly get great credit with the general Government & the Eastern States for its patriotic efforts on this occasion."
The third letter is dated "at Night, " December 24th
"I have just received yours of the 22d and avai myself by return of the Mail which starts before day in the morning to write to you.
"On Sunday night the 14th inst I received Orders from the Secretary of War of the United States, to raise 150 or 200 Volunteer Militia, for the purpose of arresting the flotilla on the Muskingum &c. That same night I received news from Marietta that it had been arrested in obedience to orders I had previously
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sent for that purpose. I therefore thought it best to direct one Company of Militia to be immediately raised at Marietta (under these orders) to guard & keep safe the flotilla already arrested and to endeavor to watch the River Ohio &c; and as I had been in- formed several Boats under the direction of Comfort Tyler had passed Marietta the night before the above arrest took place & were then at Blennerhassett's Island, I dispatched the same night John Bates post haste to Cincinnati with a communication to General Gano, requesting him to appoint for me the necessary officers & direct the enlisting immediately of two companies of Volunteer Militia. Mr. Bates my Express returned & brought me a letter from General Gano dated the 15th inst, the day before Bates arrived at Cincinnati and was only an answer to my former communication, not a word was said about the receipt of my orders by the express. I questioned Bates particularly whether he delivered the papers to General Gano, being fearful he has lost them, as I thought the General would certainly have acknowledged their receipt, he declared to me he delivered all the papers into the General's own hand. I therefore expected this Mail would certainly have brought me a letter from him giving me an account how he had acted under the Orders and if the Men were raised, but I am disap- pointed herein for he had not dropped me a line, neither does your letter mention the subject. I there- fore am in great uncertainty whether my Express did deliver the Message (notwithstanding his assertions) or he surely must have lost the General's letter to me.
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"I therefore inclose a copy of the Secretary's Lette to me and another letter to General Gano, which will thank you to deliver him & show him this lette also. I had wrote to the Secretary of War & explained my reasons for not ordering all the Men to be raised & Marched to Marietta & which I am sure would mee his approbation.
"I wish all our Men who were drafted for a six day: term of duty discharged: relying upon the two Com panies to be raised under the authority & in the pay of the United States to be sufficient for the present service. I want a return of the names of the officer! appointed and the men enlisted sent to me & the com. manding officer to see that proper muster and pay rolls are duly kept. I expect John Smith Esq. wil issue rations to them as the United States will pay him if not, they will be paid for their rations if he does not & they will have to find themselves; as the duty will be light and the officers will have horses, perhaps they by turns can save the State expense by keeping up a com- munication between Columbia and Cincinnati, either by themselves or by some of the Men of the Companies.
"I am sorry you could not justify an arrest of the two flat bottomed boats & keel, commanded by young Neville & Wilkins as I have no doubt of their being part of the expedition. I hope I shall have my mind eased by knowing by next post whether my Express delivered General Gano my Orders or no, and how you have progressed under them; if an opportunity occurs sooner pray dont fail to write. Accept my thanks for your prompt attention & communications hereto- fore and believe me to be with great regard."
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In order to preserve entire the record of events of his period, it is necessary to place before the reader wo more important official documents that form an essential part of the history of Aaron Burr's operations n Ohio. The first is the second special message of Governor Tiffin reporting his proceedings, and the results under the extraordinary act of the General Assembly; the second is the joint resolution adopted by that body relating to Senator John Smith. They complete substantially the official proceedings relative to the most important political event of this period.
This second message dated December 15th, is as Follows:
"To the General Assembly of the State of Ohio.
"I now communicate to the representatives of the people such operations as have taken place under the act passed this session, to prevent certain acts hostile to the peace and tranquillity of the United States, within the jurisdiction of this state, and that they may be fully possessed of what has already occurred, and is still in train.
"Immediately upon receiving the law, after its passage, I dispatched an express to Marietta, with orders to arrest the flotilla on the Muskingum River, and the agents engaged in its preparation, and to make due inquiry after such proof as would lead to their conviction, as also to prevent any armament proceeding, that might be descending the Ohio, if possible. The execution of the operations at Marietta were entrusted to judge Meigs and major general Buell. I also dispatched orders to Cincinnati, to plant one or more pieces of artillery on the bank of the Ohio,
E
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to keep patrols 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 sufficient force to be able to meet 300 men, the number I expect might be with Blennerhassett'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 examination. The execution of these operations was entrusted to generals Gano, Findlay, and judge Nimmo. I 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 pleasure to inform you that I have, last night, received a communication from judge Meigs, of Marietta, announcing the complete success of the operations intrusted to him and general Buell, and whose patriotic efforts entitled them both to my warmest thanks.
"It is suspected notice was conveyed the Blenner- hassett's island of the passage of the law, and the prep- arations making here to carry it into immediate effect; for it appears that in the night of the 9th inst. Comfort Tyler passed Marietta with a number (not yet ascertained) of fast rowing boats, with men armed indiscriminately with muskets, pistols and cutlashes, and anchored at the island, and immediately sent an express after Blennerhassett, who was hurrying on his flotilla; that upon discovering the movements of our militia they fled full speed to the island, which was guarded at night by sentinels and lighted lanthorns at proper distances, and none suffered to pass to it
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except by countersign or watchword. 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 at night, and arrested ten of the batteaux, as they were descending the river to join Tyler's forces; they were so hurried that four more of the batteaux, were not got ready to embark and would also be seized, which is, I believe, the whole of the Muskingum flotilla. There were near 100 barrels of provisions seized on board, and 100 more which had not been put on board and which I expect he also seized with the same remaining batteaux; these bat- teaux are each forty feet long; wide and covered; and calculated each to carry one company of men. It is believed notice was immediately given to the island of this seizure, for in about three hours afterwards, on the same night, Blennerhassett and Tyler made their escape from the island, and have pushed, it is said, through Kentucky. Colonel Phelps of Virginia, with a few mounted men, are in pursuit of them.
"I expect Tyler's boats will descend the Ohio, to meet him and Blennerhassett at some point low down the river, and I have no doubt that general Gano will render a good account of them as they attempt to pass Cincinnati.
"I also received last night a communication from the secretary of war of the United States, by direction of that government, requiring me without delay to raise 150 or 200 volunteer militia, to be formed in companies with one field officer, one captain, two subal- terns and 70 men, commissioned officers, privates and
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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 case, to vary in some degree from these instructions, and which I hope will meet the approbation of the general government and also yours. I have sent orders last night, to Marietta, to raise one company of volunteers, to be composed of one major, one captain, two subalterns and 60 men, commissioned officers, privates and musicians, which I have thought sufficient to guard and keep safe the flotilla 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 ordered out, and to secure Com- fort Tyler's flotilla while descending the Ohio, if it was not already done. I have no doubt that these three companies will be instantly under arms, and that this hitherto mysterious enterprise frustrated, and the intended evil leveled at the peace and tranquillity of the United States, will fall with all its weight on its projectors."
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