[An extended discussion took place, and continued, at intervals, until the 7th of January, when Mr. Randolph withdrew his motion, to make room for the following from Mr. Burwell of Virginia:
Resolved, That Mr. John Randolph, a Representative in Congress from the State of Virginia, and Mr. Daniel Clark, Delegate from the Territory of Orleans, be requested to lay upon the Clerk’s table, all papers or other information in their possession “in relation to the conduct of Brigadier-general James Wilkinson, while in the service of the United States, in corruptly receiving money from the Government or agents of Spain.”
This resolution was adopted by a vote of 90 to 19.
In compliance with this vote, Mr. Randolph immediately laid on the table the documents he had read on the 31st, and Mr. Clark, on Monday the 11th, laid on the table the following statement:]
General Wilkinson.
DANIEL CLARK’S STATEMENT.
In obedience to the direction of the House of Representatives, expressed in their resolution of Friday last, I submit the following statement:
I arrived from Europe at New Orleans in December, 1786, having been invited to the country by an uncle of considerable wealth and influence, who had been long resident in that city. Shortly after my arrival, I was employed in the office of the Secretary of the Government—this office was the depository of all State papers. In 1787, General Wilkinson made his first visit to New Orleans, and was introduced by my uncle to the Governor and other officers of the Spanish Government.
In 1788, much sensation was excited by the report of his having entered into some arrangements with the Government of Louisiana to separate the Western country from the United States, and this report acquired great credit upon his second visit to New Orleans in 1789. About this time I saw a letter from the General to a person in New Orleans, giving an account of Colonel Connolly’s mission to him from the British Government in Canada, and of proposals made to him on the part of that Government, and mentioning his determination of adhering to his connection with the Spaniards.
My intimacy with the officers of the Spanish Government and my access to official information, disclosed to me shortly afterwards some of the plans the General had proposed to the Government for effecting the contemplated separation. The general project was, the severance of the Western country from the United States, and the establishment of a separate Government in the alliance and under the protection of Spain. In effecting this, Spain was to furnish money and arms, and the minds of the Western people were to be seduced and brought over to the project by liberal advantages resulting from it, to be held out by Spain. The trade of the Mississippi was to be rendered free, the port of New Orleans to be opened to them, and a free commerce allowed in the productions of the new Government with Spain and her West India Islands.