Burr had probably engaged one thousand men to follow his
fortunes, without letting them know his projects, otherwise than by
assuring them the government approved of them. The moment a proclamation
was issued, undeceiving them, he found himself left with about thirty
desperadoes only. The people rose in mass wherever he was or was
suspected to be, and by their own energy the thing was crushed in
one instant, without its having been necessary to employ a man of
the military but to take care of their respective stations. His first
enterprise was to have been to seize New Orleans, which he supposed
would powerfully bridle the upper country, and place him at the door
of Mexico. It is with pleasure I inform you that not a single native
Creole, and but one American of those settled there before we received
the place, took any part with him. His partisans were the new emigrants
from the United States and elsewhere, fugitives from justice or debt,
and adventurers and speculators of all descriptions.
I enclose you a proclamation, which will show you the critical footing
on which we stand, at present, with England. Never, since the battle of
Lexington, have I seen this country in such a state of exasperation
as at present. And even that did not produce such unanimity. The
federalists themselves coalesce with us as to the object, although they
will return to their old trade of condemning every step we take towards
obtaining it.
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