letter to Colonel McDowell, he disclosed the benevolent inten tions of his Catholic Majesty, suspended upon the precedent condition of Kentucky's declaring herself INDEPENDENT.

It was then-unanimity in favour of independence that Mr. Brown, placed, as the one thing needful, for obtaining from Spain, "every thing we wished."

The navigation, and commerce of the Mississippi, were the ostensible objects; and there is, in the letter of Mr. Brown, to Judge Muter, the express authority, for asserting "that Spain, never would concede the navigation of that river to Kentucky, as a part of the United States." What more is wanted to see through the whole scheme of disunion, and the connexion with Spain? Surely nothing.

No wonder, that Mr. Brown, and the other conspirators, were cautious, and reserved, in the convention; for he there saw, at least a few men, who were so far possessed of his secret, as to be able to penetrate his designs; and this he could but know, when he found himself deserted by Muter, who had attached himself, to Colonel Marshall; these were both active to defeat him.

The party, were closely observed; and it became necessary to counteract them. This was in part done, on the introduction of two petitions, from the subscribers, living in Mercer, and Madison counties, praying that an address might be sent to congress, to obtain the navigation of the Mississippi. Harry Innis, a member of the one county, and a sort of patron of the other, presented these papers. Imagining, no doubt, that every thing on the subject of the navigation of the river, were to be associated; and might be rendered subservient to the main design. And knowing, that if the address should be voted, that the object of it, was not within the power of congress--while the failure to comply, might serve the purpose of misrepresen tation, and ill will in future.

The other side of the house, satisfied with the constitutional course pointed out in the petitions, and contented with discharging their own duty-concurred in a motion made to refer

them to a special committee. Soon after which, a resolution was reported, favourable to the subject, and ordered to lay on the table.

This moment was seized, for the purpose of calling up a resolution, "which had been offered by Mr. Edwards, and seconded by Mr. Marshall, for appointing a committee to draw up a decent and respectful address to the general assembly of Virginia, for obtaining the independence of the district of Kentucky, agreeably to the late resolution and recommendation of congress."

The call was agreed to; and a committee appointed, consisting of the two gentlemen last named, Mr. Muter, Mr. Jouett, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Wilkinson.

This may be considered as a leading and decisive feature in the character of the further proceedings of this convention. It distinctly marked its predominant disposition with loyalty, and good faith--and taught the Spanish party, what they were to expect, as the result of further deliberaiton.

1

Wilkinson, was the only man of the party, on the committee. The other members were for obtaining the desired separation, in the way prescribed by the constitution, and the laws. Nor had the general, the temerity, openly to propose another, in opposition to this course; although it will appear that he endeavoured to defeat it, by indirect means. He had satisfactorily, to his own judgment, ascertained that the state of public opinion would not bear him out, in openly pursuing the views taken in the previous convention, although corroborated by Mr. Brown, as to independent government; and he was too profound a politician, to offer a scheme of disloyalty, and treason, which he was certain could not succeed; but would be overruled by his colleagues; and which could result only in disappointment, and disgrace, to himself, and his adherents.

The same conviction, as to public opinion, was unavoidably connected with his own election, and applied to all the material objects of his policy.

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The timely activity, and success, of Colonel Crockett, who taking alarm on the subject of violent separation, left his seat in

the convention, on Saturday, and returned to it on Monday, with from three to five hundred subscribers to a remonstrance against a violent separation, contributed not a little to this conviction.

The navigation of the Mississippi, was, it is true, an impor tant object in the general estimation; but it was not thought, even if it had been the consequential reward of the declaration of immediate independence, that it was worth the sacrifices which were required--of fidelity, union, and peace. If Wilkinson, Brown, and their associates, were willing to risk the consequences, they most undoubtedly expected other compensation. Spanish gold, was thought plenty-and pensions, convenient annuities.

On the 6th of the month, the resolution on the petition from Mercer, and Madison, was taken up-confirmed, and a committee of Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Muter, Mr. Brown, Mr. Sebastian, and Mr. Morrison, appointed, to draw up the address to congress.

This subject disposed of, Mr. Edwards reported an address to the legislature of Virginia, on the subject of separation; when, an amendment being offered, it was postponed, for future consideration. By some, this postponement, was suspected to be a manœuvre.

The 8th of the month, General Wilkinson, offered the preamble, and resolution, following:

"Whereas it is the solemn duty, so it is the ardent desire of this convention, to pursue such measures as may promote the interest and meet the approbation of their constituents; but the discordant opinions which at present divide the good people they represent, render it doubtful whether they can adopt any plan which will embrace the opinions of all, or even secure the support of a majority--in this state of embarrassment, perplexed with doubt, and surrounded by difficulties; in order to avoid error, and to attain truth-to remove the jealousies which have infected society, and to restore that spirit of har Y*

VOL. I.

mony and concord, on which the prosperity of all depends; they deem it most eligible to address their constituents on the momentous occasion: Therefore,

“Resolved, That a committee be appointed to draft an address to the good people of the district, setting forth the principles from which this convention act; representing to them their true situation, urging the necessity of union, concord, and mutual concession, and solemnly calling upon them to furnish this convention, at their next session, with instructions in what manner to proceed, on the important subject to them submitted."

And a committee was appointed, of Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Innis, Mr. Jouett, Mr. Muter, Mr. Sebastian, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Caldwell.

This procedure, may be considered, as the last effort, of the conspiring faction, which was made in this convention. While, as a measure, so singularly timed-so extraordinary in its developments and so insidiously calculated to defeat the present application for a legal and regular separation, it demands some discussion. It may be taken as the genuine expression of the anxiety and perplexity, of Wilkinson, and his adherents; and the mere exhibition of it, is a convincing proof, of the tenacity, with which they adhered to their project, of organizing an independent government-in a word, of DISUNION.

"The important subject" to be urged on the people, for their instructions, was "independent government." That was the subject, and the only subject, which had in the least divided, or perplexed the people, or the convention. And it appears that previous to this resolution, the convention had decided upon applying to the legislature for an act, to authorize a separation, and the erection of a new state, according to the constitution. Which stood as evidence of the concurrence of a majority in favour of that specific measure. That should, naturally, have settled the question, as to the mode of attaining independent government; and precluded every other in the least degree incompatible. But it was obvious that unless the

legal course could be obstructed, the hopes and wishes of the. faction, were about to be blasted-perhaps, forever.

The crisis, therefore pressed--and Wilkinson, delivered its hasty conception, in the preamble, and resolution, now under consideration. And if this was not for the purpose of suspending the other, and opposite proceeding-for it was plot, and counterplot--and with the hope of getting the subject of "independent government" before the people, it is difficult, if not impossible, to ascribe it to any rational motive. But if this be admitted, then it is casy to conceive, that the party, expected, by playing upon the credulity of the multitude-by working on their fondness for the navigation of the Mississippi, without which, they were to be persuaded they could not live; that congress would not procure it for them--but would cede it away to Spain--with a whisper now, and then, that if Kentucky would but declare herself independent, "that every thing she wanted was in her power"--with the use of such other auxiliaries, as the Indian war, and some ingenuity, could readily furnish; and thus procure from the people, in the phrenetic perplexity, so induced-instructions, to declare Kentucky, at once, INDEPENDENT--and organize government. The first

object of the party's aim. And without which, the rest were unattainable.

The futility of the suggestions, made in the preamble to the resolution, may show that they do not express the real motives of the proceeding, As to "the jealousies which had infected society"--if they existed, which is admitted; they were occasioned solely, by the project for "violent separation," and the mysterious conduct of the party, whose intrigue with Spain, gave rise to suspicions of treachery; dangerous to the peace and liberties of the country: and which were not to be allayed, by agitating the subject.

"The concord and unanimity recommended," was not necessary to attain a regular and constitutional independence-because for that purpose, the people were already, sufficiently agreed, and united: and so were the convention; as manifested by their resolution on that subject. While nothing could be