CHAPTER XIV.--The Conspirator.
General Wilkinson made his first trip to New Orleans with a cargo oftobacco, flour, hides and bacon in June, 1787. It was seized by theauthorities; but after an interview with Governor Miro was released andsold without the payment of duty.
He remained in New Orleans until August, when he traveled home by shipto the Virginia coast and thence overland to the District of Kentucky,where he arrived in September.
He reappeared in Lexington in an ornate coach drawn by four horses andattended by several slaves. Always of prodigal habits, he now seemed tohave money to indulge his every whim. In his pocket he carried a paperto which he gave the widest publicity and which made him popular. It wasa private trading treaty signed by Governor Miro, authorizing him toimport the raw products of Kentucky to New Orleans duty free; and anoffer on behalf of the Spanish Government to purchase all tobacco heshould deliver at New Orleans at nine and one-half cents a pound.
Because of this permit, he was treated by some as the idol of the hour;by others with indifference, and by partisans of the Country Party hewas declared a traitor to his country.
He became the head of the Court Party to which Innes, then attorneygeneral, Brown, Kentucky's first delegate to Congress, and Sebastian,Judge of the Court of Appeals, belonged.
It might be said that at that time, Kentucky had at least four localpolitical issues, but two political parties.
FIRST (Advocated by Wilkinson wing of the Court Party)--That Kentucky should become a province of Louisiana. The bribe they held out was the Wilkinson permit, a promise of unrestricted navigation of the Mississippi, trade privileges with New Orleans and free grants to actual settlers of great boundaries of land in Louisiana Territory.
SECOND (Advocated by the Brown wing of the Court Party)--That Kentucky should become a sovereign state independent of the Union, a new republic which was to enter into treaty relations as an independent power.
THIRD (A surviving Tory influence)--That Kentucky as a sovereign state, independent of the Union, with the assistance of the British Northwest should declare war upon Spain and seize New Orleans.
FOURTH (The Country Party, led by Colonel Thomas Marshall)--An immediate severance of Kentucky from Virginia; an independent commonwealth but remain one of the confederacy of states; confident that the Union in good time would by treaty or by force, open the Mississippi to free navigation.
In June, 1788, another flotilla of Wilkinson's arrived in New Orleans;the tobacco of the cargo was sold to the Spanish Government for seventhousand dollars.
The boats on the return trip were loaded with merchandise worth "$18,246and six reals." This cargo had been purchased for Wilkinson by hisagent, Daniel Clark, Sr., a citizen of Spain, a resident merchant of NewOrleans and a cousin of David Clark, Sr., of Danville.
The flotilla in charge of John Calvin Campbell made the voyage offourteen hundred miles to New Orleans in twenty-four days, arriving onthe second day of April, 1789.
The city at that time had a population of exceeding 5,500 persons, andhad fully recovered from the disastrous fire of Good Friday, March 21,1788, when more than eight hundred and fifty-six houses had beendestroyed; among them the principal stores, the town hall, the prisonand the arsenal.
John immediately upon arrival went to the palace of the Governor todeliver the sealed package given him by General Wilkinson. Informed thatMiro was out of the city he returned to the wharf and began unloadingthe cargo.
The following day as they were unloading the last boat and almost thelast hogshead of tobacco, it slipped from the derrick hooks and rolledupon his foot. While the injury was not serious it so crippled him thatwhen Governor Miro returned he was unable to deliver the letter inperson. He handed it to David Clark with positive instructions to giveit to no one but the Governor.
David after quite a wait was admitted to the Governor's office andhanding the sealed package to him was told to be seated.
The Governor broke the seal and took from the package an invoice of thecargo and several other papers. He attempted to read a letteraccompanying them; finding it hard to do so because he read Englishrather indifferently, though he spoke it with comparative ease, he senta messenger for his secretary, Daniel Clark, Jr. As it happened he wasout; and supposing the letter referred merely to the cargo invoices, hehanded it to David, asking him to read it aloud.
Just as David began, they were interrupted by the arrival of animportant personage, who was escorted by the Governor into an adjoiningroom where they remained in conference for some time. David, tofamiliarize himself with the handwriting rather than from curiosity,began reading the letter; as he read he became interested and finallyalarmed. This is what he read:
"Kentucky, March 8, 1789.
"My loved and venerated Sir:
"I have again the pleasure of writing you and take this opportunity toacknowledge the receipt of your letter and the money sent by Major IsaacDunn.
"The information given you by Oliver Pollock that John Brown alsoadvocates an independent government for Kentucky and the NorthwestTerritory with treaty relations with Spain, is as far as I have yetsucceeded in committing him. He, Sebastian, Innes and I are in accord tothis extent--That Kentucky must be erected into a state independent ofthe Union and at liberty to align itself with Spain. Innes and Brown saythis should be by treaty, while Fairfax, Sebastian and I insist thatKentucky shall be a province of Louisiana, I have no doubt we shall allbe in accord when the convention meets at Danville on the third Mondayin July. Until then I shall be busy with the delegates. At theconvention, if the occasion is auspicious I shall disclose our greatplan or so much thereof as the circumstances require and am convincedthat it will meet with a most favorable reception.
"The Virginia Assembly has passed a third enabling act, expressing awillingness for the regular separation of Kentucky as soon as possible;though stipulating as a necessary condition of our independence, thatCongress recognize us as a State of the Federal Union; but a conventionhas been called and members elected for the purpose of forming aconstitution for Kentucky and I am persuaded that no action of Congressor the State of Virginia, will ever induce this people to abandon theplan they have adopted; although I have recent news to the effect thatwe shall be recognized as a sovereign state by Congress. In the meantimeI hope to receive your orders and I shall labor hard and faithfully topromote what you may order.
"If the new government succeeds in establishing itself, it willencounter difficulties that will keep it without vigor for three or fouryears; before which time I have good reasons to hope we shall completeour negotiations and shall be too strong to be subjected by whateverforce may be sent against us. My fears then, arise solely from thepolicy that may prevail in your Court. I fear the change of the presentministry and more, that of the administration of Louisiana; an eventwhich you are able to judge better than I; and I beg you to speak to meclearly on this subject.
"I have applied to Mr. Clark, my agent, with regard to sending memerchandise by the Mississippi. This is highly important for ourinterests; because the only link that can preserve the connection ofthis country with the United States is the dependency in which we areplaced to supply ourselves with those articles that are manufactured byus; and when this people find out that this capital can supply them moreconveniently through the river, this dependency will cease and with itall motive of connection with the other side of the AppalachianMountains. Our hope then will be turned towards you and all obstacles inthe way of our negotiations will disappear; for which reason I trustthat you will find it advisable to favor this measure and will have thekindness to grant to Mr. Clark the help necessary to carry it out.
"The tobacco in this consignment, at the price agreed upon, 9 1/2 cents,comes to $9,350.00 in specie; which I ask you to deliver to Mr. Clark,sending me a statement by Mr. Jennings, who is the real captain of myflotilla, though he has instructions to act as a deck hand until youhave dispose
d of the bearer of this communication, John Calvin Campbell,who fights our cause in Kentucky as zealously as John Calvin fought yourreligion. Do not let his youthful appearance deceive you. He has theinnocent look of a cow but the wisdom of a serpent. Had it not been forhim and that hard-head Tom Marshall, I would in this letter haveannounced the consummation of all our plans.
"Keep him a safe prisoner until we are assured his power to harm ourcause is ended. I would advise sending him to one of the insularcolonies. He knows too much for my safety and the prosperity of ourcause. You understand that in support of your projects towards procuringthe reciprocal happiness of the Spaniards of Louisiana and of theAmericans of Kentucky, I have voluntarily sacrificed my domesticfelicities, my time, my fortune, my comfort and what is more important,I abandoned to do so, my personal fame and political honor. You areusing me as I in turn propose to use Brown, Sebastian, Fairfax and Innesand some lesser gentry.
"It is not necessary to suggest to a gentleman of your knowledge andexperience that the human race in all parts of the world is governed byits own interest, although variously modified. Some men are sordid, somevain, others ambitious. To detect the predominant passion, to lay holdof it and to derive advantage from it, is the most profound part ofpolitical science.
"Be _un buen Espanol_, and not alone for this cause but for my personalsafety take good care of the bearer of this. I wish I might have sentMarshall also.
"Sebastian suggests that I remind you of his pension, which for somecause has been delayed.
"I beg you to accept my wishes for your happiness and to believe me,with the highest and warmest personal regard, your obedient, ready andhumble servant.
"Don Jayme Wilkinson."
David had just finished reading the letter when the Governor returned.As the door opened he laid it on the table. The Governor after resuminghis seat directed him to read it aloud.
He was at first so surprised and excited by its contents that his voicetrembled and his hands shook; gradually he recovered his poise. When hecame to that portion asking that the bearer be detained as a prisoner helaid the sheet with the preceding one he had just read upon the tableand finished by reading the closing clause and the signature.
The Governor, who regretted having asked a stranger to read such acommunication, was listening intently and noticed the break in theconnection and his confusion. He called a couple of guards and sayingsomething to them in Spanish which David did not understand; took theletter and turning to the unread page, after a time deciphered itsmeaning.
He gave a command, and the two guards one on either side, took David bythe arms and led him from the room. As they passed out his cousin,Daniel Clark, Governor Miro's secretary and interpreter, came in. Thoughhe recognized David, who called at their home the night before, heremained silent; exhibiting the trained self-possession of one occupyinghis position.
The Governor handed him Wilkinson's letter, with directions totranscribe it in Spanish. This he did, handing the original and atranslation to the Governor, but he retained a copy in Spanish.
David, held a prisoner in the barracks guardhouse was not concernedabout himself; feeling confident that when his identity was disclosedhis discharge would follow. He was worried about John and how he mightwarn him; knowing that he must have time to escape before the Governordiscovered he held the wrong man.
Some time after he had been placed in the guardhouse Daniel Clark cameto see him. While they were still planning how to warn John and effecthis escape, a squad of marines from a Spanish frigate entered thebarracks and presented an order to the commandant from the Governor thatDavid be delivered to them. This was done and he was taken aboard theirship.
This precipitate action alarmed both David and his cousin. The thoughtoccurred to both that since David knew the contents of Wilkinson'sletter, he might be detained a prisoner even after the Governor wasinformed of his identity.
Daniel Clark returned to his office and hurriedly wrote a letter toDavid's father, explaining the situation and in order to make thegravity of it clear, enclosed the copy of Wilkinson's letter. He thenwent to the municipal wharf and hunting up John Campbell, told what hadhappened, without mentioning his fears as to David, and impressed uponhim that for his own and David's safety he must return immediately toKentucky.
A pirogue was gotten ready, loaded with provisions and John's personaleffects; he was given the letter for Mr. Clark and told to take two menfrom the crew. He selected two friends and they were getting into thecanoe when Jennings came up and asked that one of the crew namedBallinger be substituted in place of one of the men as he had acommunication for Wilkinson which required immediate delivery. Jenningsseeing the Governor's secretary helping John off assumed that he wasleaving as a special messenger in the Governor's service and did all hecould to help; glad that without friction he could now assume commandand load the boats with the return cargo.
Shortly before sundown of the afternoon of David's arrest the threehardy back-woodsmen, and by recent experiences capable river-men begantheir river voyage to Frankfort, of more than fifteen hundred miles.John was now fully impressed with the importance of getting away beforethe Governor discovered his mistake. As Clark had not told him of thesecrets David had learned by reading Wilkinson's letter, he knew of noreason why David should not be released as soon as he was beyond thereach of the Governor. Before leaving he made Daniel Clark promise thaton the afternoon of the next day he would demand of the Governor why hiscousin was held as a prisoner; when an investigation would ensue and theGovernor discover his own mistake.
The early morning of the day following John's departure, the frigate setsail for Spain with David Clark prisoner aboard.
Thirty hours later the ship passed through the mouth of the river andthe swells of the gulf soon caused him to forget his own identity; or atleast for the time being, to wish that he was John Campbell or anyperson other than David Clark. When he felt better they were out ofsight of land and thinking it time to exhibit an interest in his ownwelfare, asked to speak to the captain and was brought before him.
"Be brief, what is it?"
"My name is not John Calvin Campbell but David Clark."
"Well I had nothing to do with naming you. Sergeant, bring me the filesand the commitment of the prisoner." (The Captain examines the papers)"I do not care who you are, the commitment does not disclose your name;and my instructions are simply to--'deliver this prisoner with theletter attached to this commitment to the commandant of the fortress ofBarcelona'--and this I am going to do. The letter may mention your namebut I have no authority to open it. If a mistake has been made I am notto blame. I must follow my instructions. It is not my business toinquire who you are and why you are held. As we are out of sight of landyou will be permitted on the lower deck during the day but at night youwill be locked up. That is all."
----
Wilkinson on his first river venture, at Governor Miro's suggestion, hadengaged Daniel Clark, Sr., to dispose of that portion of his cargo notpurchased by the Spanish Government; and Clark, at the Governor'ssuggestion, had advanced three thousand dollars on the consignment.Before Wilkinson had left for the Virginia coast he had madearrangements with Clark to represent him in disposing of otherconsignments; and later through Major Isaac Dunn as intermediary, theagency had ripened into a partnership.
Wilkinson, remaining in Kentucky, was to buy the produce and ship it toNew Orleans; there Clark was to sell it; invest the proceeds in suchmerchandise as the Kentucky trade demanded, which was to be shipped toWilkinson and sold by him. So long as they were associated, about twoyears, the business prospered.
----
When Daniel Clark, Jr., learned that David had been carried away on theSpanish frigate he was forced to tell his father the whole transaction.
His father went immediately to the Governor and demanded to know why theson of his first cousin had been made a prisoner, taken aboard ship andtransported t
o Spain.
The Governor was not only greatly surprised but exercised to learn thatthe prisoner was not the man Wilkinson had requested him to hold. Heasked Mr. Clark to excuse him for a moment and going to the captain ofthe palace guard, sent him at once to apprehend John Campbell.
Returning to the room where he had left Mr. Clark, he made profuseapology and expressed sincere regret for the mistake; promising torectify it by commanding the immediate return of his kinsman; which hewas sorry to say would take several months, due to the time consumed inthe voyage and the uncertainty of sailings. He however made up his mindto keep Clark a prisoner when he was returned.
Shortly after Mr. Clark left the Governor's office the captain returnedand reported that Campbell had departed for Kentucky the night before.The Governor, put out by this information, told the captain: "Hiscapture is of the utmost political importance; you are to take him deador alive; waste no time and take a sufficient force to do so. Ifnecessary, pursue him to New Madrid or even to the Ohio River. The manwho captures or kills him is to have a reward of one thousand pesetas."
When the pursuit began the pirogue in which John and his friend BenLogan and Mr. Ballinger were traveling had a start of sixty miles. Hetold Logan why he was fleeing from New Orleans, but did not dare tellBallinger, who assumed that the cause for haste was business of vitalimportance; and himself anxious to get to Kentucky was no laggard withhis paddle.
The first twenty-four hours they never landed from the canoe; all thewhile two paddled while the third rested. At the end of that time theywent ashore to relieve their cramped limbs and to prepare food. Loganshot a wild turkey, which they roasted over the hot coals of their campfire; resuming their journey they paddled twelve hours before making thesecond stop. By the evening of the third day, feeling comparativelysafe, they spent the night ashore, and from that time, whenever theywere cramped or needed rest, went ashore.
At sundown one evening, they landed at Chickasaw Bluffs, the desertedsite of an old Chickasaw town and where in 1698 the French had built afort. Pulling their pirogue well up on the bar, they climbed the bluffto buy provisions at Isaac Taylor's Station.
Ballinger and Logan went into the cabin but John stood outside lookingfirst up and then down the river, charmed by the magnificent view andfor a time oblivious of immediate surroundings. Then down the river notmore than a quarter of a mile, he observed two boats loaded with Spanishsoldiers, and headed for their landing.
He ran to the cabin and telling Logan what he had seen, directed him tobuy a few supplies, while he ran down to the pirogue and gathered uptheir belongings. Then he and Logan telling Ballinger that they werepursued by two boat loads of Spanish soldiers, advised that they take tothe forest.
Ballinger, frightened on account of the money and messages in hispossession which he had been instructed to deliver to Wilkinson, readilyagreed and the three taking to their heels disappeared into the forest.
The soldiers, who had not seen John, immediately upon landing examinedthe canoe. It was readily identified as the one they sought. They camecarefully up the bank and quietly surrounded the cabin, supposing theirquarry within. Then the Captain and two soldiers, with muskets cockedand presented entered the cabin door and found old man Taylor, sittingby the fire, pipe in mouth and half asleep.
Informed that the men had left the cabin not more than ten minutesbefore, they spent a good part of the night scouring the woods and atdaylight resumed the search which was continued for several days; whilethose they sought with the unerring instinct of woodsmen were traveling,as the crow flies, toward Cumberland Gap. When they reached a river theydid not hunt for ford or boat, but binding several dry logs togetherwith grape vines, placed their clothing and dunnage upon them and swamfor the opposite bank, resting upon and shoving their light raft beforethem. Twelve days later, the men, footsore and ragged, arrived atCampbell Station.
Logan and Ballinger, re-outfitted by John and Colonel Campbell, restedseveral days and resumed their journey; Logan to St. Asaph's carryingDaniel Clark's letter to David's father, which he had promised todeliver immediately; and Ballinger bound for Lexington, where heexpected to deliver to Wilkinson the sealed communication of GovernorMiro and the three thousand dollars, which was the second payment fromSpain for his traitorous efforts to make Kentucky a province ofLouisiana.
----
By some subtle shift of sentiment, the scheme of Miro and Wilkinsonbecame very unpopular. It may have been partly due to the letter DavidClark received. At any rate the quiet old farmer rode about the countryand had many confidential talks with other farmers.
Wilkinson complained to Sebastian: "* * * things look blue; sentiment isshifting; conditions in Kentucky are no longer favorable. They seem tobe straightening the kinks out of the new government; we may be inpersonal danger; our fair weather friends are deserting us; Brown andInnes have deserted and Fairfax grows timid."
He was right. Conditions were not favorable. The Union was provingitself a capable organization. The states were forgetting theirjealousies under the wise and firm administration of Washington. Theconstitution was in operation. Of all the men who had declaredthemselves in favor of Wilkinson's project, only one now stood firm andthat was Judge Sebastian. He subsequently was impeached and confessedhis infamy.
Wilkinson was a scoundrel of more nerve, with greater capacity todeceive. He was twice impeached and each time acquitted. Long afterSpain had parted with title to Louisiana returning it to France; andFrance in turn had sold it to the United States; long after he died inMexico; access was obtained to Spanish state papers which establishedhis guilt.
As early as January 8, 1788, Governor Miro in an official communicationto his government wrote:
"* * * I have been reflecting many days whether it would be proper toinform D'Arges of the idea of Wilkinson and the latter of the errand ofthe former in order to unite them, that they may work in accord witheach other, * * * Wilkinson * * * would be greatly disgusted thatanother person should share a confidence on which depended his life andhonor. For these reasons I am not able to declare the matter to D'Arges,nor could I confide the errand of the latter to the former beforeknowing the intention of His Majesty about Wilkinson. The delivery ofKentucky to His Majesty, the principal object to which Wilkinson haspromised to devote himself entirely, would assure forever, this provinceas a rampart to New Spain, for which reason I consider the project ofD'Arges a misfortune."
On May 15, 1788, General Wilkinson wrote a letter to Miro and Navarro,in which he said:
"I anticipate no obstacle on the part of Congress, because under thepresent confederation that body cannot dispose of men or money and thenew government, if it succeeds in establishing itself, will encounterdifficulties that will keep it without vigor for three or four years;before which time I have good reason to hope we shall complete ournegotiations, and we will be too strong to be subjugated by whateverforce may be sent against us."
On the 22nd of May, 1790, Governor Miro, wrote to the Spanish Minister,Antonio Valdes:
"Although I thought with Wilkinson that the commercial concessions madeto the western people might deter them from effecting their separationfrom the United States, * * * yet I never imagined that the effect wouldbe so sudden and that the large number of influential men whom Wilkinsonin his previous letters had mentioned as having been gained over to ourparty, would have entirely vanished, as he now announces it, since heaffirms having no other aid at present than Sebastian. * * *
"* * * Nevertheless, I am of opinion that said brigadier general oughtto be retained in the service of His Majesty with an annual pension oftwo thousand dollars, which I have already proposed in my confidentialdespatch No. 46, because the inhabitants of Kentucky and of the otherestablishments on the Ohio will not be able to undertake anythingagainst this province, without his communicating it to us, and withouthis making at the same time all possible efforts to dissuade them fromany bad designs against us, as he has already done repeatedly. *
* * Apension should be granted to Sebastian because I think it proper totreat with this individual, who will be able to enlighten me on theconduct of Wilkinson and on what we have to expect from the plans ofsaid brigadier general."
Voices; Birth-Marks; The Man and the Elephant Page 20