Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-12-16
C @ n 6 r E S S
DERETE in III. SENATE OF tie LCUI-
.SI4N44 TREATY.
WHDRssDsY. November ..
(BSr. Wsife's Speech Conslaaed
OF THE
U N TT Ed S I'll z e S.

gerous to the United States; but as to what
has been suggested Of rssaoying the Greeks
and other nations Of Indians, from the east
aern to TO the WESTERN banks of the Mlssls-
sippi, and Of making the fertile regions ct
Louisiana bowling wilderness, neverto
be troddeR BY the foot of civilized man, It
is impracticable. The gentleman from
Tennessee, (Mr. Cocke) has she~Tl his u
sual candor. on this subject, and believe
with him, to use his strong language, that
YOU mad as well pretend to inhlbit the flsh
from swimming In the sea as to prevent the
population eof that country after IT'S sove-
reignty shall becomes ours. 10 every man
acquainted with the adventurous, rowing,
and enterprising temper of our people, and
with the manner in which our western
country has been settled such an idea mast
be chimcrical. The inducements will be SO
strong that it will be impossible to restrain
our citizens from crossing the river. Lou
isiana must and viii become settled, five
hold it; and with the very population that
would otherwise occupy parto our present
territory. Thus our citizens will be re-
moved to the immense distance ottwo or
three thousand miles from the capital OF
the Union, where they viii scarcely ever
feel the rays of the general government
their affections willbscome alienated--they
will gradually begin to view US as strangers
they will form other commercial con-
nexions, and ourinterests will become dis
tinct.
These, with other causes, that human
wisdom may not now foresee, within time
effect separation, and fear our bounds
will be fixed nearer to our houses than the
waters of the Mississippi. We have al
ready territory enough, and when | con-
template the evils that may arise to these
states, from this intended incorporation OF
Louisiana into the union, would rather
see it given to France, to Spain or to any
other nation of the earth, upon the mere
condition, that no citizen of the United
States should ever settleswithin its limits,
than to seethe territory sold for anhundred
millions Of dollars, and we retain the So.
vereignty. But however dangerous the
possession of Louisiana might prove to US;
do not presume to saw that the retention
oft would not have been very convenient
to France, and we know that at the time OF
the mission of Mr.. Monroe, our admini-
stration had never thought of the purchase
of Louisiana, and that nothing short ofthe
fullest conviction on the part of the First
Consul, that he was on the very eve of
war with England--that this being the most
defenceless point of his possessions, ifsuch
they could be called, was the ore at which
the British would first strike, and that it
must inevitably fall into their hands, could
ever have induced his pride and ambition
to make the sale. Hejudged wisely, that
he had better sell it for as much as he could
get, than lose it entirely.--And do say,
that under existing circumstances, even
supposing that this extent of territory was
desirable acquisition, fifteen millions OF
dollars was a most enormous sum to give.
Ourcommissioners were negotiating il. 4
Paris, they must have known the relative
situation ofFrance and England, theymust
have knownat the moment thata war was
unavoidable between the two countries,
and they knew the pecuniary necessities 0,
Franco and the naval power Of Great Bril-
tain-These imperious circumstances
should have been turned to our advantage,
and five were to purchase, should have
}essened consideration. Viewing, Mr..
President, this subject in any point of light
as itregards the territory purchas.
ed, the high consideration to be given, the
contract itself, or any of the circumstances
attendingit, 4 see no necessity for precipi-
tating the passage of this bill and if this
motion for postponement should fail, and
the question on the final passage Of the bill
be taken now, shall certainly vote against
It.
General Jackson rose, and was replying
at length to Mr.. White, when he was call