It was like inviting Satan into Eden.  Aaron Burr, for it was he, readily complied.  He had made the journey thither for that sole purpose.  The story of Mr. Blennerhasset’s wealth had reached the East, and the astute schemer hoped to enlist his aid in certain questionable projects he then entertained.

But no hint of an ulterior purpose was suffered to appear.  Burr was noted for the fascination of his manners, and his host and hostess were charmed with him.  He was unusually well informed, eloquent in speech, familiar with all social arts, and could mask the deepest designs with the most artless affectation of simplicity.  All the secrets of American political movements were familiar to him, and he conversed fluently of the prospects of war with Spain, the ease with which the Mexicans might throw off their foreign yoke, and the possibilities of splendid pecuniary results from land speculations within the Spanish territory on the Red River.

This seed sown, the arch deceiver went his way.  His first step had been taken.  Blennerhasset was patriotically devoted to the United States, but the grand scheme which had been portrayed to him seemed to have nothing to do with questions of state.  It was a land speculation open to private wealth.

Burr kept his interest alive by letters.  The Blennerhassets spent the next winter in New York and Philadelphia, and there met Aaron Burr again.  Not unlikely they came with that purpose, for the hopes of new wealth, easily to be made, were alluring and exciting.  During that winter it is probable that a sort of land-speculation partnership was formed.  Very rich lands lay on the Washita River, within Spanish territory, said Burr, which could be bought for a small sum.  Then, by encouraging immigration thither, they might be sold at enormous profit.

This was the Burr scheme as Blennerhasset heard it.  The dupe did not dream of the treasonable projects resting within the mind of his dangerous associate.  These were, to provoke revolt of the people of Mexico and the northern Spanish provinces, annex the western United States region, and establish a great empire, in which Burr should be the leading potentate.

Mr. Blennerhasset, once enlisted in the land-speculation project, supplied the funds to buy the lands on the Washita, and engaged in operations on a large scale for sending settlers to the purchased domain.  Colonel Burr came to Marietta and took an active part in these operations.  Fifteen large flat-boats were built to convey the immigrants, their furniture, and such arms as they might need for repelling Indians.  Five hundred men were fixed as the number for the first colony, and this number Burr succeeded in enlisting.  Each was to have one hundred acres of land.  This was not in itself any great inducement where land was so plentiful as in Ohio.  But Burr did not hesitate to hint at future possibilities.  The lands to be colonized had been peacefully purchased.