9136. WILKINSON (James), Burr's conspiracy.—
I have ever and carefully restrained
myself from the expression of any
opinion respecting General Wilkinson, except
in the case of Burr's conspiracy, wherein, after
he had got over his first agitations, we believed
his decision firm, and his conduct zealous for
the defeat of the conspiracy, and although injudicious,
yet meriting, from sound intentions,
the support of the nation. As to the rest of his
life, I have left it to his friends and his enemies,
to whom it furnishes matter enough for
disputation. I classed myself with neither.—
To James Monroe. Washington ed. vi, 35.
Ford ed., ix, 332.
(M.
Jan. 1812)
