Mississippi taken from the United States.  This fair region, with its fertile soil and varied climate, should be blended into one empire.  On the north, the Great Lakes should be his boundary line, while the Gulf of Mexico should lave with its salt waters his southern shores.  The high cliffs of the Rocky Mountains should protect the western boundary, and on the east the towering Alleghanies form a barrier to invading foe.

Such was the dream, and a fair one it was.  Of this new empire, Aaron Burr would of course be Imperator; and the ways and means for its establishment must be found.  The distant Blennerhasset seemed to point to the happy termination of at least some of the difficulties.  His wealth, if not his personal influence, must be gained, and no man was better suited to win his point than the fascinating Aaron Burr.  We will not enter into the plans of the artful insinuator made to enlist the sympathies of the unsuspecting Englishman, but we must ever feel sure that the cloven foot was well concealed until the last, for Blennerhasset loved the land of his adoption, and would not have listened to any plan for its impoverishment.  His means were given lavishly for the aid of the new colony, as Burr called it, and his personal influence made use of in enlisting recruits.  Arms were furnished, and the Indian foe given as an excuse for this measure.

Burr during this time resided at Marietta, on the right bank of the river, fifteen miles above Blennerhasset’s Island.  He occupied himself in overseeing the building of fifteen large bateaux in which to transport his colony.  Ten of these flat-bottomed boats were forty feet long, ten feet wide, and two and a half feet deep.  The ends of the boats were similar, so that they could be pushed up or down stream.  One boat was luxuriously fitted up, and intended to transport Mr. Blennerhasset and family, proving most conclusively that he knew nothing of any treasonable scheme against the United States.

The boats were intended to carry five hundred men, and the energy of Colonel Burr had engaged nearly the whole number.  The El Dorado held out to these young men was painted in the most brilliant hues of Burr’s eloquence.  He told them that Jefferson, who was popular with them all, approved the plan.  That they were to take possession of the immense grant purchased of Baron Bastrop, but that in case of a war between the United States and Spain, which might at any time occur, as the Mexicans were very weary of the Spanish yoke, Congress would send an army to protect the settlers and help Mexico, so that a new empire would be founded of a democratic type, and the settlers finding all on an equality, would be enabled to enrich themselves beyond all former precedent.

About this time rumors were circulated that Aaron Burr was plotting some mischief against the United States.  Jefferson himself became alarmed, knowing as he so well did the ambition of Burr and his unprincipled character.  A secret agent was sent to make inquiries in regard to the doings at Blennerhasset’s Island and Marietta.  This agent, Mr. John Graham, was assured by Mr. Blennerhasset that nothing was intended save the peaceful establishment of a colony on the banks of the Washita.