less of the west: and when the means of information were so convenient. Nay, he had only to read the newspapers of the country; or consult Mr. Brown, of the senate, with whom lie soon contracted an acquaintance, and whose hostility to the American government, was too apparent to be mistaken. From him, he could obtain all the i formation that he wanted. And in truth, such was at the time, the mass of disaffection, that it could but have been favourable to his purpose. For, where enmity to the national government, is reduced to system, and operates by party concert; it is a beacon held up, and an invitation in effect, to foreign intriguers of all countries, and to designing governments of all nations, to make party, with the malecontents. In this instance, a misguided attachment to France, left no room for mistake, nor opening for any other.

As early as August, within three months after the arrival of Mr. Genet, at Philadelphia, he had digested his plan of operations for Kentucky-in the execution of which he employed four or five Frenchmen in the outset; one of whom, Charles Depeau, is believed to have been, a resident of this state.

These men, were in their order, furnished with military commissions, and corresponding powers, to be employed and exercised in Kentucky, for the purpose of raising an army, with which to invade the Spanish possessions on the Mississippi. A consequence of which, would have been, to commit the neutrality of the United States, and involve them in the war, on the side of France, whether their government, would or not.

The president, of the United States, getting intelligence of this project, caused information of it to be transmitted to Isaac Shelby, the governor of Kentucky. Who thus timely furnished. with intelligence, was effectually put upon his guard; and particularly requested to be attentive; and if any attempt of the kind stated, should be made, "that he would warn his citizens against the consequences." They were particularly to be assured, "that all acts of hostility committed by them, against a nation at peace with the United States, were forbidden by the laws, and would expose them to punishment. And that in every event the governor, should take those legal mea

sures which might be necessary to prevent such enterprise." The same officer, was also admonished "that the special interests of Kentucky would be committed by such an attempt; as nothing could be more inauspicious to them, than such a movement, at the very moment, when those interests were under negotiation, between Spain, and the United States."

In a letter of reply dated the 5th of October, 1793, the governor, acknowledged the receipt of the communication, and gave assurance that he should be particularly attentive to prevent any attempts of the nature of that described, from this state-"that, at that time he was sure none such was contemplated in Kentucky: and that her citizens were possessed of too just a sense of the obligations, they owed the general government to embark in any enterprise that would be so injurious to the United States."

Nothing could have been more satisfactory to the president, than was this answer. Candid himself, he could not suspect the want of candour in the governor; then, so correct in his sentiments--so sensible to his duty-so clear in his assurances of performance-so confident of the attention of the people to the peace, and interests of the United States. The president, gratified with the governor's reply, reposed on it with the most entire confidence. The tenor of the whole, accorded with his own pure views, and the sternest integrity. The writer's sincerity could not be doubted—his defection, was not suspected. As yet, it would seem, that he had not been tempted. He had not then fraternized with the Democratic society-nor exchanged embraces, with the agents of the French minister. Soon, however, he was tempted--and as soon, he fell.

A few extracts from a cotemporaneous publication, in the Kentucky Gazette, which will be found in unison with the resolution of the Democratic society already given, will illustrate the temper and views of the leaders of that society, which was observed to assume considerable activity.

The piece, was addressed, "To the Citizens of the West." And after the positive assertion of an undoubted right to the use of the Mississippi-it proceeds to state: "That they had

too long placed an implicit dependence on the impartiality, and virtue of the general government. Patient under the ungenerous local policy by which that government had been uniformly actuated-patient under the delays which it has feigned, and the obstacles which it has opposed to the procurement of your right-patient under the forever to be detested attempt to barter away that right-you have hitherto submitted to the oppressive exactions of the jealous Spaniards; and have not even raised your faultering voices, to say, to the arbiters of your fate, You have done amiss! Awake, from your lethargy--think, and act for yourselves. Let the example of FRANCE, and her glorious success, animate you in the pursuit of those advantages, which nature has bestowed upon your country." With much more of the same kind of inflated gas--prepared to give out heat, rather than light.

This address evidently intended to promote the objects of the Democratic society, whatever they might be--the establishment of other societies, and other publications of a similar kind, ever calculated to attract the attention of the reflecting, as well as of the merely feeling, part of the community; but such as were not initiated, were left without a clue by which to gui e, even conjecture, to a definite object. The governor, omitted to warn the people, as he had been requested. Mr. Brown, the only member in congress, from this state, as it is believed, who was in the secret, did not deem it expedient, to make any publication, of a nature to put the well disposed citizen, on his guard. That he was apprised of Genet's project, even at its birth; has been long since disclosed by him, in the course of legal evidence-in which he also disclosed that shortly afterwards he heard it from one of the heads of department; and that as to himself, he did not return to Kentucky in that year, nor till August, 1795.

A Democratic society at Georgetown, and another at Paris; are to be considered as offsprings of that in Lexington; inheriting its principles, and embracing its projects. They condemned, and abused, the president's proclamation of neutrality; his decisions in relation to Genet--the excisc-the army-and

whatever had the name of federal. They proclaimed themselves the friends of the people; and offered to become the guardians of their rights, and liberties; which they represented, as being in danger, from those to whom they had committed the administration of the general government. Thus arrogantly overlooking, even the state governments, and all the regularly constituted means of public, and private safety; they openly aimed to alienate the people from them; and especially the general government, which held the destinies of the nation; by means of resolutions, and newspaper publications-intended to operate on, influence, and control, popular opinion.

Whenever the people are induced to act, by other than constitutional organs, sinister designs may well be suspected-while the tendency is to anarchy; often to revolution--Or they may terminate in a simple change of party; or explode in abortion.

And were not such things, under one form, or another, frequent in democratic governments, the success on the one side, and the delusion on the other, would be matters of astonishment.

On the 6th of November, in the same year, a second letter from the secretary of state of the United States, was despatched to inform the governor of Kentucky, "that the representatives of Spain had given information that four Frenchmen of the name of Lachaise, Depeau, Mathurin, and Gregnon, had left Philadelphia, on the 2d of the month, for Kentucky. With this information, was sent a description of their persons; and the further intelligence, that they were authorized by the minister of France, to excite, and engage as many as they could, citizens, and others, in Kentucky, and elsewhere, to undertake an expedition against the Spanish settlements; and eventually to descend the river, and attack New Orleans. That they were furnished with money, and blank commissions, for the purpose to be filled at discretion." And the attention of the governor, was again invited to the subject: and particularly to these Frenchmen--once more he was requested, not to permit them to excite, within Kentucky, or carry on from there any hostilities into the territories of Spain. Legal prose

cutions, were recommended--but should those fail, or prove inadequate; suppression by the militia of the state, was suggested, and urged. Reference was made to the example of other states-and much solicitude expressed, that the people of Kentucky should not be decoyed into any illegal participation of these measures, by any effect they might expect from them, on the navigation of the Mississippi. And they were again admonished, that their surest dependence was on the general government, and the measures they were pursuing, for the attainment of that object.

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Had this letter, or the substance of it, been published; no doubt should be entertained, notwithstanding Kentucky was anti-federal, but that the good sense, and real patriotism of the country, would have turned an awful frown on so insulting, and clandestine an intrigue, as that, instituted by Mr. Genet.

This was not desired; on the contrary it was to be avoided: and the governor having united himself to the party, no such publication was made, to the people as had been requested.

Under date, of the same day, as the last letter of the secretary of state, there was another addressed to the governor, from the secretary of the war office—of which, the following is an extract. "To permit such a measure, (as that projected by the minister of France) in any of the United States, would be a breach of our neutrality, and of course involve the United States in the existing war--and therefore, the enterprise ought not to be tolerated in the least degree." Again "The secretary of state has suggested how this design may be prevented by the usual course of the laws-but if this mode should be ineffectual, I am authorized by the president of the United States, to request that your excellency will use effectual military force to prevent the execution of the plan of the said Frenchmen, or any other persons who may support, or abet their design. For the lawful expenses of which the United States will be responsible."

So much had this French enterprise rendered the governor of Kentucky an object of attention, that the governor of the Northwestern Territory, addressed a letter to him on the 7th N

VOL. 11.