University of Virginia Library

TO MANN BUTLER.

Dr Sir I have recd your letter of the 21 ult. in
which you wish to obtain my recollection of what
passed between Mr. John Brown and me on the overtures
of Gardoqui "that if the people of Kentucky
would erect themselves into an independent State,
and appoint a proper person to negotiate with him,
he had authority for that purpose and would enter
into an arrangement with them for the exportation
of their produce to New Orleans."

My recollection, with which, references in my
manuscript papers accord, leaves no doubt that the
overture was communicated to me by Mr. Brown.
Nor can I doubt, that, as stated by him, I expressed
the opinion and apprehension, that a knowledge
of it in Kentucky might in the excitements there, be
mischievously employed. This view of the subject
evidently resulted from the natural and known
impatience of the W people on the waters of the
Mississippi for a market for the products of their
exuberant soil; from the distrust of the Federal
policy produced by the project of surrendering the
use of that river for a term of many years; and from

a coincidence of the overture, in point of time, with
the plan on foot, for consolidating the Union by
arming it with new powers, an object, to embarrass
& defeat which the dismembering aims of Spain
would not fail to make the most tempting sacrifices,
and to spare no intrigues.[157]

I owe it to Mr. Brown, with whom I was in intimate
friendship, when we were associates in public life,
to observe that I always regarded him whilst steadily
attentive to the interests of his constituents, as
duly impressed with the importance of the Union
and anxious for its prosperity.

Of the other particular enquiries in your letter my
great age now in its 84th year, and with more than
the usual infirmities, will I hope absolve me from
undertaking to speak, without more authoritative
aids to my memory than I can avail myself of. In
what relates to Genl. Wilkinson, official investigations
in the archives of the War Department, and the
files of Mr. Jefferson, must of course be among the
important sources of light you wish for.

It would afford me pleasure to aid the interesting
work which occupies your pen by materials worthy
of it. But I know not that I could point to any
which are not in print or in public offices, and which
if not already known to you are accessible to your researches.
I can only therefore wish for your historical
task all the success which the subject merits,

and which is promised by the qualifications ascribed
to the author.

I regret the tardiness of this acknowledgment of
your letter. My feeble condition and frequent interruptions
are the apology, which I pray you to
accept with my respects & my cordial salutation.