CHAPTER VI
THE GREAT CONSPIRACY
The simplicity dinner was at an end. Released by the President'swithdrawal, the crowd--it could be called little else--broke from thetable. The anteroom filled with struggling guests, excited,gesticulating, exclaiming.
Meriwether Lewis, anxious only to escape from his social duties thathe might rejoin his chief, felt a soft hand on his arm, and turned.Theodosia Alston was looking up at him.
"Do you forget your friends so soon? I must add my good wishes. It wassplendid, what Mr. Jefferson said--and it was true!"
"I wish it might be true," said the young man. "I wish I might beworthy of such a man."
"You are worthy of us all," returned Theodosia.
"People are kind to the condemned," said he sententiously.
At the door they were once more close to the others of the diplomaticparty who had sat in company at table. The usual crush of thoseclamoring for their carriages had begun.
"My dear," said Mr. Merry to his irate spouse, "I shall, if Mrs.Alston will permit, ask you to take her up in your carriage with youto her home. I am to go with Mr Burr."
The Spanish minister made similar excuse to his own wife. ThusTheodosia Alston left Meriwether Lewis for the second time that day.
It was a late conference, the one held that night at the home of theVice-President of the United States. Burr, cool, calculating, alwaysin hand, sat and weighed many matters well before he committed himselfbeyond repair. His keen mind saw now, and seized the advantage forwhich he waited.
"You say right, gentlemen, both of you," he began, leaning forward. "Iwould not blame you if you never went to the White House again."
"Should I ever do so again," blazed the Spanish minister, "I will takemy own wife in to dinner on my own arm, and place her at the head ofthe table, where she belongs! It was an insult to my sovereign that wereceived today."
"As much myself, sir!" said Mr. Merry, his brows contracted, his faceflushed still with anger. "I shall know how to answer the nextinvitation which comes from Mr Jefferson.[1] I shall ask him whetheror not there is to be any repetition of this sort of thing."
[Footnote 1: During the following winter Mr. Merry had opportunity tofulfill his threat. In February, 1804, the President again invited himto dine, in the following words:
"Thomas Jefferson asks the favor of Mr. Merry to dine with a smallparty of friends on Monday, the 13th, at half past three."
Mr. Merry, still smarting all these months, stood on his dignity andaddressed his reply to the Secretary of State.
Reviewing at some length what seemed to him important events, headded:
"If Mr. Merry should be mistaken as to the meaning of Mr. Jefferson'snote, and it should prove that the invitation is designed for him in apublic capacity, he trusts that Mr. Jefferson will feel equally thatit must be out of his power to accept it, without receivingpreviously, through the channel of the Secretary of State, thenecessary formal assurance of the President's determination to observetoward him those niceties of distinction which have heretofore beenshown by the executive government of the United States to the personswho have been accredited as our Majesty's ministers.
"Mr. Merry has the honor to request of Mr. Madison to lay thisexplanation before the President, and to accompany it with thestrongest assurance of his highest respect and consideration."
The Secretary of State, who seems to have been acting as socialsecretary to Mr. Jefferson, without hesitation replied as follows:
"Mr. Madison presents his compliments to Mr. Merry. He hascommunicated to the President Mr. Merry's note of this morning, andhas the honor to remark to him that the President's invitation, beingin the style used by him in like cases, had no reference to the pointsof form which will deprive him of the pleasure of Mr. Merry's companyat dinner on Monday next.
"Mr. Madison tenders to Mr. Merry his distinguished consideration."
The friction arising out of this and interlocking incidents was partof the unfortunate train of events which later led up to the war of1812.]
"So much for the rule of the plain people!" said Burr, as he laid thetips of his fingers together contemplatively.
"Yet, Colonel Burr, you are Vice-President under this administration!"broke out Merry.
"One must use agencies and opportunities as they offer. My dear sir,perhaps you do not fully know me. I took this election only in orderto be close to the seat of affairs. I am no such rabid adherent todemocracy as some may think. You would be startled if I told you thatI regard this republic as no more than an experiment. This is a largecontinent. Take all that Western country--Louisiana--it ought not tobe called attached to the United States. At this very moment it ishalf in rebellion against its constituted authorities. More than onceit has been ready to take arms, to march against New Orleans, and toset up a new country of its own. It is geography which fights formonarchy, against democracy, on this continent--in spite of what allthese people say."
"Sir," said the British minister, "you have been a student ofaffairs."
"And why not? I claim intelligence, good education, association withmen of thought. My reason tells me that conquest is in the blood ofthose men who settled in the Mississippi Valley. They went intoKentucky and Tennessee for the sake of conquest. They are restless,unattached, dissatisfied--ready for any great move. No move can bemade which will seem too great or too daring for them. Now let meconfess somewhat to you--for I know that you will respect myconfidence, if you go no further with me than you have gone tonight. Ihave bought large acreages of land in the lower Louisiana country,ostensibly for colonization purposes. I do purpose colonizationthere--_but not under the flag of this republic!_"
Silence greeted his remark. The others sat for a moment, merelygazing at him, half stunned, remembering only that he was Jefferson'scolleague, Vice-President of the United States.
"You cannot force geography," resumed Burr, in tones as even as if hehad but spoken of bartering for a house and lot. "Lower Louisiana andMexico together--yes, perhaps. Florida, with us--yes, perhaps. Indeed,territories larger perhaps than any of us dare dream at present, onceour new flag is raised. All that I purpose is to do what has beendiscussed a thousand times before--to unite in a natural alliance ofself-interest those men who are sundered in every way of interest andalliance from the government on this side of the Alleghanies. Wouldyou call that treason--conspiracy? I dislike the words. I call itrather a plan based upon sound reason and common sense; and I holdthat its success is virtually assured."
"You will explain more fully, Colonel Burr?" Mr. Merry was intent nowon all that he heard.
"I march only with destiny, yonder--do you not see, gentlemen?" Burrresumed. "Those who march with me are in alliance with natural events.This republic is split now, at this very moment. It must follow itsown fate. If the flag of Spain were west of it on the south, and theflag of Britain west of it on the north, why, then we should have thenatural end of the republic's expansion. With those great powers inalliance at its back, with the fleets of England on the seas, at themouth of the great river--owning the lands in Canada on the north--itwould be a simple thing, I say, to crush this republic against thewall of the Appalachians, or to drive it once more into the sea."
They were silent alike before the enormousness and the enormity ofthis. Reading their thoughts, Burr raised his hand in deprecation.
"I know what is in your minds, gentlemen. The one thing which troublesyou is this--the man who speaks to you is Vice-President of the UnitedStates. I say what in your country would be treason. In this country Imaintain it is not yet treason, because thus far we are in anexperiment. We have no actual reign of reason and of law; and hemarches to success who marches with natural laws and along thedefinite trend of existing circumstances and conditions."
"What you say, Mr. Burr," began Merry gravely, "assuredly has themerit of audacity. And I see that you have given it thought."
"I interest you, gentlemen! You can go with me only if it be to yourin
terest and to that of your countries to join with me in these plans.They have gone far forward--let me tell you that. I know my men fromSt. Louis to New Orleans--I know my leaders--I know that population.If this be treason, as Mr. Patrick Henry said, let us make the most ofit. At least it is the intention of Aaron Burr. I stake upon it all myfortune, my life, the happiness of my family. Do you think I amsincere?"
Merry sat engaged in thought. He could see vast movements in the gameof nations thus suddenly shown before him on the diplomatic board. Andon his part it is to be said that he was there to represent theinterests of his own government alone.
In the same even tones, Burr resumed his astonishing statements.
"My son-in-law, Mr. Alston, of South Carolina--a very wealthy planterof that State--is in full accord with all my plans. My own resourceshave been pledged to their utmost, and he has been so good as to addlargely from his own. I admit to you that I sought alliance with himdeliberately when he asked my daughter's hand. He is an ambitious man,and perhaps he saw his way to the fulfillment of certain personalambitions. He has contributed fifty thousand dollars to my cause. Hewill have a place of honor and profit in the new government which willbe formed yonder in the Mississippi Valley."
"So, then," began Yrujo, "the financing is somewhat forward! But fiftythousand is only a drop."
"We may as well be plain," rejoined Burr. "Time is short--you knowthat it is short. We all heard what Mr. Jefferson said--we know thatif we are to take action it must be at once. That expedition must notsucceed! If that wedge be driven through to the Pacific--and who cansay what that young Virginian may do?--your two countries will beforever separated on this continent by one which will wage successfulwar on both. Swift action is my only hope--and yours."
"Your funds," said Mr. Merry, "seem to me inadequate for the demandswhich will be made upon them. You said fifty thousand?"
Burr nodded.
"I pledge you as much more--on one condition that I shall name."
Burr turned from Mr. Merry to Senor Yrujo. The latter nodded.
"I undertake to contribute the same amount," said the envoy of Spain,"but with no condition attached."
The color deepened in the cheek of the great conspirator. His eyeglittered a trifle more brilliantly.
"You named a certain condition, sir," he said to Merry.
"Yes, one entirely obvious."
"What is it, then, your excellency?" Burr inquired.
"You yourself have made it plain. The infernal ingenuity of yonderCorsican--curse his devilish brain!--has rolled a greater stone in ouryard than could be placed there by any other human agency. We couldnot believe that Napoleon Bonaparte would part with Louisiana thuseasily. No doubt he feared the British fleet at the mouth of theriver--no doubt Spain was glad enough that our guns were not at NewOrleans ere this. But, I say, he rolled that stone in our yard. Iftitle to this Louisiana purchase is driven through to the Pacific--asMr. Jefferson plans so boldly--the end is written now, Colonel Burr,to all your enterprises! Britain will be forced to content herselfwith what she can take on the north, and Spain eventually will holdnothing worth having on the south. By the Lord, General Bonapartefights well--he knows how to sacrifice a pawn in order to checkmate aking!"
"Yes, your excellency," said Burr, "I agree with you, but----"
"And now my condition. Follow me closely. I say if that wedge isdriven home--if that expedition of Mr. Jefferson's shall succeed--itssuccess will rest on one factor. In short, there is a man at the headof that expedition who must fight with us and not against us, else myown interest in this matter lacks entirely. You know the man I have inmind."
Burr nodded, his lips compressed.
"That young man, Colonel Burr, will go through! I know his kind.Believe me, if I know men, he is a strong man. Let that man come backfrom his expedition with the map of a million square miles of newAmerican territory hanging at his belt, like a scalp torn from hisfoes--and there will be no chance left for Colonel Burr and hisfriends!"
"All that your excellency has said tallies entirely with our ownbeliefs," rejoined Burr. "But what then? What is the condition?"
"Simply this--we must have Captain Lewis with us and not against us. Iwant that man! I must have him. That expedition must never proceed. Itmust be delayed, stopped. Money was raised twenty years ago in Londonto make this same sort of journey across the continent, but the planfell through. Revive it now, and we English still may pull it off. Butit will be too late if Captain Lewis goes forward now--too late forus--too late for you and your plan, Mr. Burr. I want that man! We musthave him with us!"
Burr sat in silence for a time.
"You open up a singular train of thought for me, your excellency,"said he at length. "He does belong with us, that young Virginian!"
"You know him, then?" inquired the British minister. "That is to say,you know him well?"
"Perfectly. Why should I not? He nearly was my son-in-law. Egad! Givehim two weeks more, and he might have been--he got the news of mydaughter's marriage just too late. It hit him hard. In truth, I doubtif he ever has recovered from it. They say he still takes it hard.Now, you ask me how to get that man, your excellency. There is perhapsone way in which it could be accomplished, and only one."
"How, then?" inquired Merry.
"The way of a woman with a man may always be the answer in matters ofthat sort!" said Aaron Burr.
The three sat and looked each at the other for some time withoutcomment.
"I find Colonel Burr's brain active in all ways!" began Senor Yrujodryly. "Now I confess that he goes somewhat in advance of mine."
"Listen," said Aaron Burr. "What Mr. Jefferson said of Captain Lewisis absolutely true--his will has never been known to relax or weaken.Once resolved, he cannot change--I will not say he does not, but thathe cannot."
"Then even the unusual weapon you suggest might not avail!" Mr.Merry's smile was not altogether pleasant.
"Women would listen to him readily, I think," remarked Yrujo.
"Gallant in his way, yes," said Burr.
"Then what do you mean by saying something about the way of a womanwith a man?"
"Only that it is the last remaining opportunity for us," rejoinedAaron Burr. "The appeal to his senses--of course, we will set thataside. The appeal to his chivalry--that is better! The appeal to hisambition--that is less, but might be used. The appeal to hissympathy--the wish to be generous with the woman who has not beengenerous with him, for the reason that she could not be--here againyou have another argument which we may claim as possible."
"You reason well," said Merry. "But while men are mortal, yonder, if Imistake not, is a gentleman."
"Precisely," said Burr. "If we ask him to resign his expedition we areasking him to alter all his loyalty to his chief--and he will not dothat. Any appeal made to him must be to his honor or to his chivalry;otherwise it were worse than hopeless. He would no more be disloyal tomy son-in-law, the lady's husband--in case it came to that--than hewould be disloyal to the orders of his chief."
"Fie! Fie!" said Yrujo, serving himself with wine from a decanter onthe table. "All men are mortal. I agree with your first proposition,Colonel Burr, that the safest argument with a man--with a young manespecially, and such a young man--is a woman--and such a woman!"
"One thing is sure," rejoined Burr, flushing. "That man will succeedunless some woman induces him to change--some woman, acting under anappeal to his chivalry or his sense of justice. His reasons must behonest to him. They must be honest to her alike."
Burr added this last virtuously, and Mr. Merry bowed deeply in return.
"This is not only honorable of you, Colonel Burr, but logical."
"That means some sort of sacrifice for him," suggested Yrujopresently. "But some one is sacrificed in every great undertaking. Wecannot count the loss of men when nations seek to extend theirboundaries and enhance their power. Only the question is, at whatsacrifice, through what appeal to his chivalry, can his assistance becarried to us?"
> "We have left out of our accounting one factor," said Burr after atime.
"What, then?"
"One factor, I repeat, we have overlooked," said Burr. "That is thewit of a woman! I am purposing to send as our agent with him no otherthan my daughter, Mrs. Alston. There is no mind more brilliant, noheart more loyal, than hers--nor any soul more filled with ambition!She believes in her father absolutely--will use every resource of herown to upbuild her father's ambitions.[2] Now, women have their ownways of accomplishing results. Suppose we leave it to my daughter tofashion her own campaign? There is nothing wrong in the relations ofthese two, but at table today I saw his look to her, and hers to himin reply. We are speaking in deep and sacred confidence here,gentlemen. So I say to you, ask no questions of me, and let me asknone of her. Let me only say to her: 'My daughter, your father'ssuccess, his life, his fortune--the life and fortune and success ofyour husband as well--depend upon one event, depend upon you and yourability to stop yonder expedition of Captain Meriwether Lewis into theMissouri country!'"
[Footnote 2: It is generally conceded that Theodosia Burr Alston musthave been acquainted with her father's most intimate ambitions, andwith at least part of the questionable plans by which he purposed tofurther them. Her blind and unswerving loyalty to him, passing allordinary filial affection, was a predominant trait of her singular andby no means weak or hesitant character, in which masculine resolutionblended so strangely with womanly reserve and sweetness.]
"When could we learn?" demanded the British minister.
"I cannot say how long a time it may take," Burr replied. "I promiseyou that my daughter shall have a personal interview with CaptainLewis before he starts for the West."
"But he starts at dawn!" smiled Minister Merry.
"Were it an hour earlier than that, I would promise it. But now,gentlemen, let us come to the main point. If we succeed, what then?"
The British minister was businesslike and definite.
"Fifty thousand dollars at once, out of a special fund in my control.Meantime I would write at once to my government and lay the matterbefore them.[3] We shall need a fleet at the south of the MississippiRiver. That will cost money--it will require at least half a milliondollars to assure any sort of success in plans so large as yours, Mr.Burr. But on the contingency that she stops him, I promise you thatamount. Fifty thousand down--a half-million more when needed."
[Footnote 3: Mr. Merry did so and reported the entire proposal made byBurr. The proposition was that the latter should "lend his assistanceto his majesty's government in any manner in which they may think fitto employ him, particularly in endeavoring to effect a separation ofthe Western part of the United States from that which lies between themountains in its whole extent."
But though deeply interested in the conspiracy to separate the Westerncountry, Mr. Merry was not too confiding, for in his message to Mr.Pitt he added the following confidence, showing his own estimate ofBurr:
"I have only to add that if strict confidence could be placed in him,he certainly possesses, perhaps in a much greater degree than anyother individual in this country, all the talents, energy,intrepidity, and firmness which it requires for such an enterprise."]
The dark eye of Aaron Burr flashed.
"Then," said he firmly, "success will meet our efforts--I guaranteeit! I pledge all my personal fortune, my friends, my family, to thelast member."
"I am for my country," said Mr. Merry simply. "It is plain to see thatNapoleon sought to humble us by ceding that great region to thisrepublic. He meant to build up in the New World another enemy to GreatBritain. But if we can thwart him--if at the very start we can dividethe forces which might later be allied against us--perhaps we mayconquer a wider sphere of possession for ourselves on this richcontinent. There is no better colonizing ground in all the world!"
"You understand my plan," said Aaron Burr. "Reduced to the leastcommon denominator, Meriwether Lewis and my daughter Theodosia haveour fate in their hands."
The others rose. The hour was past midnight. The secret conference hadbeen a long one.
"He starts tomorrow--is that sure?" asked Merry.
"As the clock," rejoined Burr. "She must see him before the breakfasthour."
"My compliments, Colonel Burr. Good night!"
"Good night, sir," added Yrujo. "It has been a strange day."
"Secrecy, gentlemen, secrecy! I hope soon to have more news for you,and good news, too. _Au revoir!_"
Burr himself accompanied them to the door.
The Magnificent Adventure Page 7
