Louisiana and Aaron Burr 339 



whom Burr counted most, both in Ohio and Ken- 

 tucky, hastily followed this example. This imme- 

 diate defection showed how hopeless Burr's plans 

 were. The moment he attempted to put them into 

 execution, their utter futility was certain to be ex- 

 posed. 



Meanwhile Jefferson's policy with the Spaniards, 

 which neither secured peace nor made ready for 

 war, kept up constant irritation on the border. Both 

 the Spanish Governor Folch, in West Florida, and 

 the Spanish General Herrera, in Texas, menaced 

 the Americans. 13 Wilkinson hurried with his little 

 army toward Herrera, until the two stood face to 

 face, each asserting that the other was on ground 

 that belonged to his own nation. Just at this time 

 Burr's envoys, containing his final propositions, 

 reached Wilkinson. But Wilkinson now saw as 

 clearly as any one that Burr's scheme was fore- 

 doomed to fail ; and he at once determined to make 

 use of the only weapon in which he was skilled, 

 treachery. At this very time he, the commander 

 of the United States Army, was in the pay of Spain, 

 and was in secret negotiation with the Spanish offi- 

 cials against whom he was supposed to be acting; 

 he had striven to corrupt his own army and had 

 failed ; he had found out that the people of the West 

 were not disloyal. He saw that there was no hope 

 of success for the conspirators; and he resolved to 

 play the part of defender of the nation, and to act 

 with vigor against Burr. Having warned Jeffer- 



13 Gayarre, IV, 137, 151, etc. 



