View of the President's conduct concerning the conspiracy of 1806
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Joseph Hamilton Daveiss was an American lawyer and a district attorney for Kentucky. He called Jefferson's attention to the "Spanish Conspiracy", which actions seemed quite distrustful, but could find no evidencies.
Background
Joseph Hamilton Daveiss was born on March 4, 1774 in Bedford County, Virginia, United States. He was the son of Joseph Daveiss, of Irish descent, and Jean (Hamilton) Daveiss, of Scotch ancestry. His parents were both born in Virginia and resided in Bedford Country, from which they removed in 1779 and settled near Danville, Kentucky, United States.
Education
Young Daveiss had no formal instruction until his twelfth year, when for some time he attended private schools in the vicinity of Harrodsburg.
Here he made rapid progress in the classics and in natural science, largely impelled, it seems, by an ambition for distinction rather than a zeal for scholarship.
Already skilful in fighting Indians, he took part in a campaign north of the Ohio at the age of eighteen.
On his return he studied law under George Nicholas, and at twenty-one began at Danville the practise of his profession.
Career
In the winter of 1801-02 Daveiss argued the celebrated land case of Mason vs. Wilson before the Supreme Court of the United States.
His associates were at first inclined to sneer at the uncouth backwoods lawyer, but he presented his argument so as to gain their respect and win the admiration of Chief Justice Marshall. In 1800 Adams had made him district attorney for Kentucky.
Early in 1806, shortly after Aaron Burr made his first visit to the western country, Daveiss called Jefferson’s attention to his movements.
Daveiss claimed that those who formerly had been concerned in the “Spanish Conspiracy, ” including General James Wilkinson, were reviving that project, and that Burr’s activities had some relation to their machinations. His first warning was followed by other reports, and he became increasingly bitter in his charges against contemporary officials.
Failing to arouse the administration to take the action which he regarded as necessary, he attempted to organize public opinion against the supposed peril by joining Humphrey Marshall and others in publishing the Western World, a sheet that bitterly attacked the alleged conspirators.
Moreover, when Burr crossed the mountains a second time and visited Kentucky, Daveiss made complaint against him in the federal district court and tried to procure his indictment by a grand jury.
In the course of two hearings Daveiss failed to establish the charge of conspiracy against the United States to separate the western states from the Union, or to lead an expedition against Mexico. Removed from office by President Jefferson after this failure, he vented his resentment in a pamphlet, which bitterly criticized the latter’s conduct.
If he and his associates had hoped to discredit the administration and build up a Federalist following in the West, their attempt was an utter failure.
Shortly after this, he removed to Lexington, where he continued the practise of law.
In the campaign against the Indians under General Harrison he served as volunteer with the rank of major, was wounded in the battle of Tippecanoe, and died the next day.