History of American Conspiracies. A record of treason, insurrection, rebellion, etc. in the United States of America from 1760 to 1860

Front matter

x^%^m mm^IMMtAn OlTIllLE J0T1CT01» PONTIAC TAKING UP THE MATCHfT. J D TOHIŒT, PUBLISHER, 13 SPB.UCE STUEWTOEK HISTORY OF AMERICAN CONSPIRACIES: A RECORD OF TREASON, INSURRECTION, REBELLION, &c. IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FROM 1760 TO 1860. BY ORVILLB J. VICTOR, AVTHOR OF "HISTORY, (CIVIL, POLITICAL AND MILITARY,) OF THE SOUTHERN REBELLION." |ftto stork : JAMES D. TORREY, PUBLISHER, 13 SPRUCE STREET. Eltered, according to Act os Congress, in the year 1863, by James D. Torret, in the Gerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

Preface

. The United States of America, in attaining their exalted position among nations, have not escaped local and national disorder. The history of Colonial times is rife with religious and political ex citement, frequently associated with violence and revolution ; the Aborigines have conspired, in numerous instances, for the extermination of their white foes ; the Continental Confederation, accompanied with alarming distempers, was saved from a conflict of common wealths only by the adoption of the Federal Constitution; and the Federation which made us one people has not accomplished its ends without occasional insurrections against its consolidated authority. In this volume I have embraced the story of such conspiracies, in surrections and popular commotions as directly or indirectly affected the order of society, the destiny of States, or the political institu tions of the Republic.

The table of contents will show what I con ceive to have been such events. Those minor or purely local disturbances, which, though exciting episodes in State or Colonial history, yet contributed nothing of change to the order of historic events, I have passed with but a brief allusion in the Preliminary Chapter. Having for several years contemplated this work I entered upon its preparation with a good store of authorities, among which were several volumes of documents, letters, memoirs, &c, not accessible to the ordinary inquirer. These, with the generally available works on American History, have enabled me to produce what I hope will prove a satisfactory narrative of the interesting and important events considered. In the composition of the chapters on Pontiac's Indian Conspiracy and the Paxton Riots I freely drew upon the thoroughly exhaustive

PREFACE.

. VIII work of Francis Parkman, Jr. His "History of the Conspiracy of Pontiac," is a very able and painstaking production. It has afforded to a class of scribblers for popular magazines matter for many an article, though the reader was not permitted to know who was plundered for their edification. The work of Mr. P. is one of the most valuable of all late contributions to American History. The chapter on Wilkinson's Conspiracy doubtless will excite astonish ment in the reader's mind — it being so much at variance with the popular estimates of the man and his services. I have studied the matter well, and conceive that the record here presented will stand the test of critical examination. If it does, then General James Wilkinson be comes one of the dishonored among our public characters. Genet's Conspiracy and the Alien and Sedition Troubles I have treat ed as exhaustively as the subjects seemed to demand.

If the version presented reflects discredit upon the Anti-Federal faction, it is because the proofs against Genet and his coadjutors, of a design to paralyse the administrations of Washington and Adams, if not to overthrow the Federal Constitution, are, to our apprehension, incontestible. It is not an agreeable task to discrown men whom the public long has worship ped ; it is, indeed, presumptuous, even to attempt ; but, no writer is warranted in suppressing truth, from personal considerations. If what is here set forth is not sustained in its assumptions and conclusions let it be put aside for what is better testimony, if such can be produced. Of Aaron Burr's Conspiracy I have sought to present the most complete narrative yet published. Having access to a great mass of evidence bearing upon the subject, I have not hesitated to use whatever came well au thenticated, no matter whom it affected.

The reader will see that " pure and disinterested patriot," General James Wilkinson, in a new role — that of defender of the integrity of his country. The paper will be found to embrace much incidental matter of interest not hitherto presented in connection with the operations of Burr. The Hartford Convention Conspiracy and the New England Discon tents are subjected to a somewhat extended exposition. Their intimate and intricate relations to the general history of the country compels a constant recurrence to national affairs if the causes and effects of the discontent are to be clearly set forth. No local or partisan treatment

PREFACE.

. IX of the subject can do it justice. I have endeavored to present it in its true historic light. The Negro Insurrections of Denmark Vesey and Nat Turner are pain ful chapters to peruse, yet they possess a profound interest for all who care to understand the workings of the American slave system. In spite of a studious suppression of testimony by the authorities and the press, enough has transpired to show that the institution of invol untary servitude has rested upon the bosom of a volcano. The Nullification Rebellion has had so much new light thrown upon it by recent events as to reduce its hitherto argumentative, and there fore undefined, position to the condition of absolute demonstration. In the Secession Revolution we have the results of the asserted " rights" upon which the Nullification theory was founded, and therefore have the exact relations of Calhoun's theory and acts to society and to gov ernment perfectly established.

I have given the theme a full con sideration, viewing it from a National rather than a local or State stand-point. Several hitherto unpublished documents are cited in this paper. The story of the sectional struggle in Kansas is given at much length. It is the first exposition of the kind yet offered — being a complete political and social record of the matter. Like the first South Caro lina rebellion, the struggle in Kansas finds a fresh and conclusive comment in the Secession Revolution. We see in its incipient stages the plaus, not of patriotic men but of partisans bent upon perpetuating Southern predominance in the upper house of Congress ; in the pro gress of the struggle we witness the humiliation of a National Exe cutive and the triumph, for a season, of violence and bad faith; in its close we behold the futile efforts of Southern factionists in Congress to override their own asseverated principles of the rights of settlers in a Territory to form their own institutions.

In the failure to make Kansas a Slave State the veil was flung aside. Southern arrogance became Southern treason. The struggle in Kansas was the culminating point in the Congressional history of slavery : it initiated the conflict between the two principles of freedom and servitude which deluged the land in blood. The paper on John Brown's Conspiracy is as complete as it is possible at this time to make it. There is so mueh bad feeling existing to- X

PREFACE.

ward those against whom he conspired and who succeeded in hanging him, that it is scarcely possible to do both parties justice. We have endeavored to present the subject in its true light — confining our record to those authenticated facts and incidents from which a correct judgment is to be formed. In the Appendix will be found documents quite important to the student who would sift to the bottom each case presented. That this volume is free from errors of fact or mistakes of judgment is not to be assumed. What works on American history can claim such positive qualities ? What has been my aim is to present such a record as will bear the closest scrutiny, and to lay before the intelligent reader facts upon which he may form his own conclusions, and sustain or re pudiate the opinions expressed by the author.

No historian can hope successfully to suppress testimony, nor to pervert its interpretation ; and he who writes for the present or for the future must be studious for the truth if he would retain the respect of friends and command the at tention of foes. O. J. V. New York, Nov. 1st, 1863. CONTENTS. paper. page. Preliminary Chapter 24-32 1763—1765. I. Pontiac's (Indian) Conspiracy .... 33-102 1763—1764. II. The Paxton Riots 103-114 1780. III. Benedict Arnold's Conspiracy. . . . 115-145 1780. IV. Revolt of the Pennsylvania Brigade . . 146-152 1785—1788. V. " State of Frankland" Insurrection . 153-164 1784—1785. VI. Shay's Rebellion .... . 165-180 1787—1790. VII. Wilkinson's Western Conspiracy . . . 181-200 1791—1794. Vin. Whiskey Insurrection 201-230 1793—1794. IX. Genet's Conspiracy 231-244 1798—1799.

X. Alien and Sedition Troubles. . . . 245-270 1806—1807. XI. Aaron Burr's Conspiracy . . . . 271-325 1809—1814. XII. New England Discontents and Hartford Convention Conspiracy 326-372 1822. Xm. Denmark Vesey's Slave Insurrection . . . 383-388 1825. XTV. Georgia Indian Difficulties .... 389-392 1831. XV. Nat Turner's Slave Insurrection . . . 393-408 CONTENTS. PAPER. page. 1832—1833. XVI. South Carolina Nullification Insurrection . 409-444 1837—1838. XVIL "Patriot" War 445-448 1842. XVin. Dorr's Rebellion (Rhode Island) . . . 449^50 1854—1858. XIX Kansas-Nebraska Troubles 451-520 1859. XX John Brown's Conspiracy .... 521-546