In 1805 Aaron Burr began concocting a plot with the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Army (James Wilkinson) to seize the Louisiana Territory and establish an independent empire. Burr had contacted the British government for support, but was tuned down. So with private backing, Burr trained and armed a small force of men and in the fall of 1806, lead his army toward New Orleans. Even though Wilkinson had been exchanging letters with Burr since 1804, he feared that his role in Burr's plans and/or his spying for Spain would be exposed. So, Wilkinson sent the letter to President Jefferson and painted Burr's actions in the worst possible light, while portraying himself as an innocent bystander.
With this letter in hand, Jefferson took action by authoring Proclamation re Military Expeditions against Spain, 27 November 1806 stating "that sundry persons, citizens of the United States, or residents within the same are conspiring and confederating together to begin and set on foot, provide and prepare the means for a military expedition or enterprize against the dominions of Spain, that for this purpose, they are fitting out and arming vessels in the western waters of the United States, collecting provisions, arms, military stores, and other means, are deceiving and seducing honest and well meaning citizens, under various pretences, to engage in their criminal enterprizes, are organizing, officering and arming themselves for the same, contrary to the laws". With this proclamation, Jefferson warned all faithful citizens who were mislead by Colonel Burr that their participation in any expedition is unlawful and they must cease all activities or be prosecuted "with all the rigors of the law". Jefferson empowered all civil and military officers, governors, judges and militia to be vigilant and bring any persons engaged to justice by detaining them and seizing their vessels, arms and military stores using "all the lawful means within their power". With this proclamation, Jefferson required all "good and faithful citizens" to aid and assist in the discovery and apprehension of such offenders.
So in his 1806 annual address to Congress, the president shared the news of this proclamation with Congress.
"Having received information that in another part of the United States a great number of private individuals were combining together, arming and organizing themselves contrary to law, to carry on a military expedition against the territories of Spain, I thought it necessary, by proclamation as well as by special orders, to take measures for preventing and suppressing this enterprise, for seizing the vessels, arms, and other means provided for it, and for arresting and bringing to justice its authors and abettors"Jefferson explained that this was all being done in good faith of good order and regular government.
"It was due to that good faith which ought ever to be the rule of action in public as well as in private transactions, it was due to good order and regular government, that while the public force was acting strictly on defensive and merely to protect our citizens from aggression the criminal attempts of private individuals to decide for their country the question of peace or war by commencing active and unauthorized hostilities should be promptly and efficaciously suppressed."Following this address, Robert Smith the Secretary of the Navy sent to Captain John Shaw the Commanding Naval officer at New Orleans a letter with instructions to " intercept and to take, and, if necessary, to destroy, the boats descending under the command of Colonel Burr".
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29448
http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-4597
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/burr/burrjeffproclamation.html
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