Voices; Birth-Marks; The Man and the Elephant

by Mathew Joseph Holt

  CHAPTER XIII.--The Tempter Speaks.

  John Brown, a member of congress from the Kentucky District of theCommonwealth of Virginia, by letters notified Judges McDowell and Muter,that Don Gardoqui, the Spanish minister to the United States, hadauthority to extend to the people of Kentucky, free navigation of theMississippi and a duty-free market and place of deposit at New Orleans,"if they would erect themselves into an independent state and appoint aproper person to negotiate with the minister, but that this privilegenever can be extended to them while part of the United States by reasonof commercial treaties existing between Spain and other powers ofEurope."

  This communication had fanned into a popular flame the dormant sentimentthat General Wilkinson and his friends had been nurturing, by personalinfluence, by argument, by the aid of Spanish gold discreetlydistributed and by the big prices they were paying for tobacco, hidesand produce to be sent down the river to Spanish Louisiana, under apersonal permit granted by Governor Miro to General Wilkinson; and byreason of which tobacco which had been selling at two cents a pound, wasnow being bought by the Spanish Government at nine and one-half cents.

  Tobacco, as had been the case in Colonial Virginia, to residents of theDistrict of Kentucky was the only practical export crop and means thesettlers had of adding to their very scanty supply of cash. No wonderGeneral Wilkinson was at this time head of the Court Party and verypopular; and that his proposed suggestions carried popular approval.

  As Danville was the district capital, and the District Convention wascalled for November 4, all the conspirators assembled there, with theexception of Captain Fairfax, who it was reported had been sent east toconfer with the Spanish minister. Even Dr. John Connelly, agent of theBritish Government, was in Danville proposing a counter conspiracy.

  The Political Club, formed in 1786, met each Saturday night at Grayson'sTavern. By its constitution membership was limited to fifty persons,though any resident of the District was eligible. On its roll were thenames of Harry Innes, John Brown, Benjamin Sebastian, George Muter,Judge McDowell, Thomas Speed and thirty others.

  The purpose of the club was to discuss in a free and unrestrainedmanner, political issues affecting the District of Kentucky. After thediscussion closed a vote was usually taken to arrive at the sentiment ofthe members.

  Discussions incident to the adoption of the proposed constitution of theUnited States is supposed to have given birth to the club. Thesediscussions ended with its adoption. Afterward the club took up suchpertinent issues as--Should there be an emission of paper currency forthe District? Should tobacco be grown for export? (First decided in thenegative, but after General Wilkinson obtained his permit, in theaffirmative). Shall slaves be imported into the district? Why does notCongress force the British to surrender forts of the NorthwestTerritory? Questions of special interest repeatedly debated were: Thepropriety of separation from Virginia; in favor of which the club votedunanimously. Then Wilkinson and his friends after considerable logrolling, sprung the added issue: "Resolved, that after separation as anindependent state, this Commonwealth should sever relations with theUnion and if expedient unite with Spanish Louisiana." They claimed thatonly in this way could Kentucky obtain a free river and market for herproducts. This had been the only question discussed since the receipt ofMr. Brown's communication; and for a better name was called by itsopponents--The Spanish Conspiracy.

  John began accompanying his uncle, who was a member, to these meetingswhen this discussion was at fever heat; and had very decided views uponthe issue. He felt tempted many times to raise his voice in argumentupon the minority side--That Kentucky should remain with the Union;feeling assured that relief would be procured by treaty.

  Saturday night, following the adjournment of the Sixth Convention, theclub had an open meeting which was addressed by General Wilkinson, whospoke strongly in favor of Kentucky's withdrawal from the Union; at thetime being an agent and pensioner of the Spanish Government.

  As the discussion, like the meeting, was an open one, when Wilkinson hadfinished, the chairman, as was the custom, stated: "The club would liketo hear from an advocate of the other side. Any one feeling himselfcompetent to answer General Wilkinson's very able address, is invited tothe stand."

  John, trembling with excitement and desire to speak, but too modest torespond, hoped that some one of capacity would answer him. He felt thatthe argument was a specious one and that the orator's pleasant mannermasked a hypocrite and a traitor.

  When it was evident that no one else would respond, the chairman, amember of the Court Party, remarked: "All seem to think the argumentunanswerable. We thank the General for his address, which was promptedby his generous and unselfish spirit as a friend of the District. Theapplause indicates that the sentiment he expressed seems to meet withuniversal approval. We will now proceed with other business." It wasthen John asked permission to be heard, and the chairman with a smileinvited him to the stand.

  The crowd recognized the lanky and evidently considerably embarrassedyoung man, as the hero of the wild rumors which had been circulated forseveral days and in a buzz of whisperings about these tales John beganhis rather immature response:

  "The very capable speaker, to whom you have listened for more than anhour and with evident approval because his scheme puts ready money inyour pockets, won his title by distinguished service at Saratoga. Themajority of your members either fought valiantly at Monmouth and King'sMountain, or followed General Clark through the winter floods thatcovered the plains of Illinois to Vincennes, or bore with Washington thehardships of that hopeless winter at Valley Forge. Captain Fairfax, amember, received distinguished recognition before the assembled armiesof France and the colonies at Yorktown. Every family represented uponyour roster, tendered their all of property, of service, of life itselfto the cause of freedom. It was thus you purchased your independencefrom British oppression. Yet the most unfavored of Britain's colonieshas never borne such a yoke of servitude as the most favored Spanishcolony must wear.

  "Is your poverty, due to sacrifice, so unbearable that you will barteryour freedom in order that you may be made temporarily prosperous by thesale of a few pounds of tobacco?

  "Is the need for money so pressing, is your impatience for itspossession such, that you cannot allow the Federal Government time toorganize, to put into operation a constitution just adopted and to maketreaties which in decency and in order and without color of treason,will gain for you the perpetual free navigation of the river andcommercial privileges, which will never be hampered by export duties?Has your independence of five years already become so burdensome, thatlike the frogs you wish a stork for king?

  "If it is your desire to surrender your freedom, to be slaves, let us goback to our own people. I would rather be taxed without representationby my father's own people, who speak and think as I and who are agrowing, virile, prosperous race and who respect their treaties, than bea citizen of such a decadent power as Spain; which even the least astuteback-woodsman can perceive has passed the zenith of her power, thoughtemporarily mistress of Louisiana and the Mississippi.

  "England frequently has shown her supremacy of Spain. We drove thearmies of Britain from our shores; why then should we conspire witheither power to procure that which we can take for ourselves--if timeshall disclose that it cannot be gained by amity and treaty?"

  In this spirit young Campbell spoke for half an hour, carryingconviction, not by logic and eloquence, but by an earnest faith in therighteousness of his cause. It was not so much what he said as that hehad made suggestions which caused his hearers to think. There radiatedfrom him a spirit of conviction that took possession of his hearers, sothey said to themselves: "That's true, that's right." What he said wasuttered in a tense, distinct, conversational tone and after the firstfew words in apparent self-forgetfulness, he lost self in his cause.

  The button from the collar of his hunting shirt had dropped off beforehe had begun to speak and, unknowingly to him, his shirt front standingopen disclosed the u
pper portion of the vivid cross tattooed upon hisbreast. His intent face and pallid flesh gave to the blood red cross asetting that impressed the more superstitious and convinced all thatrumor rested on a foundation of fact.

  General Wilkinson, noting the effect of his remarks, made a sign toJudge Sebastian not to introduce the resolution they had expected tooffer and in a white rage of passion, was the first to take the hand ofthe young man and congratulate him when he had finished. He thought:"What an ally he would make in the promotion of our conspiracy; how hewould stir the backwoodsmen; yet if he did not believe in our cause itis my guess he would be as mum and flabby as an oyster. But for him myresolution which Sebastian was to offer would have gone over and revivedthe sentiment throughout the District, which met with defeat before theDistrict Convention; now I dare not offer it. I must attend to the younggentleman; and Fairfax will help when he returns; possibly we can foolhim. I wonder if we can catch him with Fairfax's daughter for bait."

  John's speech broadened the breach between the Country and the CourtParty; the one led by Colonel Thomas Marshall, the other by GeneralWilkinson; both of whom were delegates to the District Convention fromFayette County. The speech and the action of the convention had alsomade the General's co-conspirators timid in their utterances andcautious in their work. It caused John's name to be presented andfavorably voted upon as a member of the club.

  The District Convention had been called for the third of November, butno quorum appearing, the members being delayed by high water, anadjournment was had to the fourth. On that day it was organized withJudge Samuel McDowell as president.

  The chief fight centered upon a motion made by Wilkinson to refer theresolution of the last convention upon the subject of the MississippiNavigation. The motion brought about an animated debate led byWilkinson, Brown, Innes and Sebastian, who spoke in favor of thereference. They were opposed by Marshall, Muter, Crockett, Allen andChristian.

  Wilkinson argued for immediate separation from Virginia by an act ofseparation and the setting up of a separate government; intimating thatit was desirable for purposes of trade and as the only means to procurethe free navigation of the Mississippi; and that then the District unitewith Spain.

  He said in part: "Spain had objections to granting the navigation inquestion to the United States--it was not to be presumed that congresswould obtain it for Kentucky, or even the western country only; hertreaties must be general. There was one way and but one for obviatingthese difficulties and that was so fortified by constitutions and soguarded by laws, that it was dangerous of access and hopeless underpresent circumstances. Spain might concede to Kentucky alone what shewould not concede to the United States--and--there is information withinthe power of the convention and upon this subject of the firstimportance, which I have no doubt a gentleman present will communicate."

  Looking at Mr. Brown he sat down, expecting Brown to fulfill his portionof the preconcerted program.

  Mr. Brown arose and after a few preliminaries, stated:--that he did notconsider himself at liberty to disclose the private conferences he heldwith Don Gardoqui, but this much he could say: "If we are unanimouseverything we wish for is within our reach."

  Then Governor Wilkinson took the floor and read, "An Address Presentedto the Governor and Intendant of Louisiana."

  The temper of the convention was shown at this stage of the proceedingsby the adoption of a resolution offered by Edwards and seconded byMarshall; "To appoint a committee to draw up a decent and respectfuladdress to the Legislature of Virginia for obtaining the independence ofKentucky, agreeable to the late resolution and recommendation ofCongress." After the adoption of this resolution nothing more was saidin furtherance of the Spanish Conspiracy.

  ----

  John now had spent the five dollars which Martin had returned; and hewas compelled to go to work or return home.

  One of the earliest settlers of Kentucky, John Filson, was at this timein Danville, gathering material for a supplemental edition of hishistory of Kentucky; which had first been published at Wilmington in1784, and was entitled: "Discovery, Settlement and Present State ofKentucke." Historically it was chiefly of value for a map showing thelocation of the trails and stations of the District.

  He had been present when John addressed the Political Club. A day or twolater they met in Grayson's Tavern and he invited John to his room. Whenthey were seated he began the conversation by saying:

  "Young man, how would you like to help me survey out a new town on theOhio, this winter?"

  "I am quite anxious to find something to do; in fact, I must, or returnto Campbell Station."

  "Have you met Matt Denham? He came from New Jersey along with the StitesColony and stopped for a while at the mouth of the Little Miami, but heliked the north bend opposite the mouth of the Licking better as atown-site and purchased it from Judge Simmes, 800 acres for $500.00,continental money. Then he came to Lexington and from there here,looking for Robert Patterson and me to help with his colony. He intendsto call it Losanteville, but why I do not know, except that he claims tobe of French descent and has coined the name from the words, _L'os anteville_, which he may have translated, the village opposite the mouth. Wehave gone in with him; and while Denham procures his townsmen, Pattersonand I are to survey the boundary, lay off a town on the river bank, andcut away some of the timber in the streets, so the purchasers can get totheir lots with their wagons. We leave for Lee's Town tomorrow and shallthen travel down the Kentucky and up the Ohio in canoes to thetown-site. We need a dozen husky young fellows to help us out. Would youand young Clark care to go? We will pay $40.00 a month continental moneyor $10.00 in specie."

  "I accept at once. I cannot say positively for David, but believe hewill go too. What time do we leave?"

  "At seven in the morning."

  "Well, I will see David at once as we must arrange a few matters beforestarting. Good bye."

  On the morning of the twenty-fourth, the party under the leadership ofColonel Patterson set out in four canoes, three men to the canoe, and onthe twenty-eighth arrived at Losanteville.

  Though considerable ice was running they met with no adventures until inNorth Bend at the mouth of the big Miami. Hugging the north shore, onaccount of rough water caused by a strong north wind, they weresurprised by a large Mingo war party of more than a dozen canoes, whichunexpectedly paddled out of the willows near the mouth of the river.

  Colonel Patterson, John and David were in the forward canoe and not morethan fifty yards distant. A battle seemed inevitable, which doubtlesswould have resulted disastrously for the whites as they were greatlyoutnumbered and taken by surprise. John, recognizing several of theIndians, called them by name; and Colonel Patterson, having been toldJohn's story, ordered his men not to fire.

  Word was passed among the Indians that Chief Cross-Bearer was the leaderof the white men. They ceased their hostile demonstrations and madepeace signs. The white men were invited to land and a great pow-wowensued.

  The Mingoes were on their way home from a council with certainShauanese, who at that time were camping some miles up the Big Miami.Three canoe loads of the Shauanese had come to the Ohio with theProphet's party, which was returning to the Scioto.

  The Prophet, when told of the intention of the whites and theirdestination, shook his head and asked that they build on the south sideof the river, saying: "If no, cause big heaps of trouble with Miami."

  After some delay the whites re-embarked and paddled up the riveraccompanied by the Mingoes. When they reached Losanteville the wholeparty landed, the Indians spending the night with the whites. Again theProphet told Mr. Filson and John of the danger that threatened allsettlements on the north bank of the river.

  Filson had about completed marking off the town and surveying the800-acre boundary, when one day taking his rifle he wandered off intothe wilderness looking for game. He had been gone about an hour, whenseveral shots in rapid succession were heard. The men of the colonysuspecting that
he had been attacked by the Indians started into thewoods but at John's suggestion remained where they were on guard, whilehe alone, without a rifle, but wearing his girdle, went in the directionof the shooting.

  In a half hour he returned, carrying the dead surveyor on his shoulders.He had found him still alive, though scalped and shot through the bodyin several places. He died shortly after telling John he had beenassaulted by a dozen Shauanese.

  They buried him under a great elm on the bank of the river, just beyondthe boundary of the town-site; the name of which was changed toCincinnati a short time after his death.

  John and David spent all of January and February working for the towncompany. When the preliminary work was completed they were paid off andwith most of the men who had come with them from Lee's Town, started forhome in their canoes.

  On the sixth of March at the mouth of the Kentucky river they came uponWilkinson's flotilla of five large batteaux loaded with tobacco andproduce consigned to the Spanish Intendant at New Orleans. The boatswere temporarily delayed because they had not procured a sufficientguard for the voyage.

  The General, seeing John Campbell and David Clark, both of whom he knew,called them into his cabin and suggested that they and their companionsact as guard of the flotilla, promising to pay John, whom he had noticedacted as leader of the party $12.00 per month in specie and the men$10.00 for the trip.

  This offer John declined as did the other men at his suggestion. Butwhen General Wilkinson, knowing John's sentiments, explained that noneof them because of the employment were expected to adopt his views upontreaty relations with Spain and had nothing to do but guard the cargofrom Indians and river pirates; and also learning that Wilkinson wasonly going as far as Louisville, at the request of the others heaccepted the employment.

  General Wilkinson insisted that John and David share his cabin toLouisville and occupy it the rest of the voyage, which was the custom ofthe captain of the guard.

  Floating down the broad river with little to do; the General, to gaugethe strength of John's character, asked him many questions and byflattery and argument sought to make him compromise the views he hadexpressed. In part he said:

  "I was much surprised by your speech. It showed a knowledge of historyand the political situation confronting this district which in one ofyour age and experience is remarkable. Your manner was earnest, yourargument plausible and at first blush, convincing; but you are wrong.Disregarding the question of policy, which is rarely done and thenusually regretted; saying nothing of the District's commercialsalvation, which to a settler should be his first great law; withoutcompromise of honor or conscience my better judgment advises thatKentucky is entitled to state sovereignty. Virginia east of theAlleghanies is as distant, knows nothing and cares less for our wants,has no more right to tax us, to grant away lands in Kentucky andexercise other rights of sovereignty over the District than had KingGeorge and his ministers to exercise similar power over the colonies.What is vital to Kentucky does not interest Tidewater, Virginia, exceptas one is interested in the other as a competitor. That sectionnaturally wishes to maintain its monopoly of commerce with the District,to be the only outlet for all we produce; therefore it opposes asouthern and independent commercial outlet by way of the Mississippi.Again they grumble when called upon to help protect us from Indianraids, or at being taxed for such a purpose and refuse to furnishsoldiers and arms for our protection. General George Rogers Clark, whoseloyalty to the Union has never been questioned, expressed my point inhis epigrammatic plea to the Virginia Assembly. 'That a country whichthey did not think worth defending was not worth claiming.' You concedethat Kentucky should be carved off as an independent state fromVirginia. Now we begin to differ. You are dramatically violent indeclamation though not convincing in argument, that it should be a partof the Union; and that a majority of the states shall fix its commercialpolicies and regulate by treaty or contract, commercial relations with aforeign power, Spain for instance; and thus obtain free navigation ofthe Mississippi; which can be done in no other way and is vital to ourcommercial prosperity. If this right, which it seems is inherent as alaw of necessity, is opposed by the other states from a selfishcommercial policy or as inexpedient from a governmental policy such asJay suggests; then the independent state, as is Kentucky's case, has aright to withdraw from the confederacy and make such treaties withforeign powers as will preserve her commercially.

  "If your conscience would permit you to champion such a commercialpolicy, I see before you the prospect of great wealth and happiness.First, as a mere starter, I could make you captain of my flotilla andadvance you some capital with which you could buy tobacco and otherproduce and a stock of goods. With these resources, trading along theriver and bartering your produce for merchandise in New Orleans, youwould make five times your wages as captain. You would in a sense be myjunior partner; and Captain Fairfax, I am convinced, would be delightedto have you marry his very charming daughter."

  "General, that is enough. I will have nothing to do with your SpanishConspiracy. Even Captain Fairfax's daughter is no inducement. If youmention this matter again I shall be convinced that my employment is amere subterfuge to corrupt my loyalty to the Union and leave your boat."

  "As you will, as you will--but in some ways you are acting the part of afool."

  A few hours later the flotilla arrived at Louisville; where afterpassing the falls the boats took on additional cargo and resumed theirvoyage. General Wilkinson as he left the boat handed John a letter,saying: "This communication is very important. You must deliver it inperson. It contains the invoice of the cargo and a demand for payment.You will in return be handed $9,000 in gold for the consignment. May yousee and learn much before your return; experience is a great teacher."

  The letter was addressed to Don Estevan Miro, Governor and Intendente ofLouisiana; and supposing it to contain what General Wilkinson hadrepresented and therefore of great importance, John placed it in theinner pocket of his hunting shirt.