burr's expedition, 179 



now we have become great and powerful. So we are oppress- 

 ed in al! the ways in which littleness seated on high, can reach 

 us. But we will stand our ground on our own legs, on oar 

 own soil, relying on our own vast resources. It is, however, 

 honor enough for any common man to be a good and worthy 

 citizen of Ohio, travel where he may, in the Union. We may 

 well contemn all the attempts now made and making to oppress 

 and degrade us. This state of things cannot last long, before 

 Ohio has a voice, and an influence at Washington. No presi- 

 dent or attorney general will dare, then, to treat with con- 

 tempt our citizens, and our members of congress. 



During this third period of our history, but two events 

 drew much public attention to them after our state had be- 

 come properly organized. Of these events we shall treat in 

 their order of time. 



burh's expedition in 1806. 



The first event, which agitated the public mind, in this 

 state, after its constitution took effect, and was carried into 

 complete operation, was Burr's expedition. Early in the spring 

 of 1806, rumors of all sorts began to spread throughout this 

 and the adjoining states of an expedition of some sort, about to 

 be set on foot, by Colonel Aaron Burr and his associates. 

 These rumors were circulated through the western country 

 by letter writers in the east, at first, but they soon found their 

 way into the newspapers of that period. In the summer. Burr 

 himself appeared among us awhile, then went to Lexington, 

 Frankfort, and we believe to Nashville, Tennessee and to the 

 Hermitage. The papers were filled with conjectures, as to 

 the Colonel's intentions, views, and ultimate objects. John 

 Smith, one of our senators in congress, was suspected of being 

 in the horrid plot, whatever it might be, as he had been, all 

 along, on friendly terms with Burr, while the latter presided 

 in the United States senate! Affidavits of conversations with 

 Colonel Burr, were gotten up against him. Many of these 

 willing witnesses, we knew, and would not believe them, even 



