Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-07-22

thar Ne are to ascertain what terri.orv !.
really eomprehended under the name &c
Louisiana. France coded to Great Bri.
tain al the country east and south-ea.t of
lime drawn along the middle Of the
Mississippi from its, source TO the Tier.
vile, and from thence along that river
and the lakes Maurepas and Pontchartr,
into the sea /; France retaining the conn.
Try lying west ofthe river, besides the
town and island Of Newt ,l.ans on the
east side. This shesoon after coded n
Spain who acquiring also the Fioridas b1
the treaty Of f7s3, France was entirr,y
shut out from the continent of Nortb.
America. Spain, at the instance Of B,,.
sonaparte, coded to him Louisiana. IN.
Guiding the town and island fas il Il com.
monty called Of New-O Orleans. Buo-
naparte has now ceded the same tract Of
country, and this only, to the United
States. The whole Of East and West
Florida, lying south Of Georgia and the
Mississippi Territory, and extending
~ the Gulph Of Mexico, stilfremains 10
Spain, who win continue, therefore 10
oecupys rs formerly, the country alonp,
tbs southern frontier OF the United
States, and the east bank Of the river.
from the lbersille 70 the, American line.
Those disposed to magnify its value
will say, chat this western region Is im-
portant IS keeping OF q troublesome
neighbour and leaving rs in the quiet
possession ofthe Mississippi. Undoubt-
eddy this has some force, but on the other
hand Il may be said, that the acouisiti.
on Of Newt Orleans IS perfectly adequate
toesery purpose: for whoever is in pos !
session Of that, has theuncontfoled conn.,
mand OF the river. Again, ii may BE
said, and this probably IS the most favor
able point OF view in which iteanb be piac-
ed, that although not valuable to the u.
nited States for settlement, it is so TO
spain, and will become more 10, and
therefore atsome distant period win form
an object which We rnay barter with her
forthe Floridas, obviously offar greater
value to US thznall the immense, unde-
fined region west ofthe river. =
Il has been usual for the American
writers on this subject toinclude the Flo
ridas in their ideas Of Louisiana, as the
French formerly did, and the acquisition
has derived no incopsiderable portion of
its value. and importance with the public
from this view Of i. Il may, however,
be relied on, that mo part Of the Floridas,
not foot Of land on the east side of the
Mississippi, excepting New-O Orleans,
falls within the present cession. As to
the unbounded region west Of the Mis-
sissiPpi, it j., with the exception Of ve-
y few settlements Of Spaniards md
Frenehmsn bordering on the banks Of
the rive, q wilderness through which
wanderhumerous tribes Of Indians. And
when ye consider the present extent of
the United States, and that not one six
tesnh part Of lis territory Is yet under
occupation, the advantage Of the acquisi-
ton, a. il relates to actual settlement,
appears too distant and remote to strike
the mind ofs sober politician with much
force. This, therefore, can only rest
In specialization many years, ifnot een-
turtles to come, and consequently win
not perhaps be allowedyery great weight
in the account BY the majority Of readers.
But il may be added, that shculd our
own citizens, more enterprizing than
wise, become desirous Of settling tiiis
country, and emigrate thither, il must
no. only be attended with all the injuries
ofa too widely dispersed popaist;on, but
BY adding 20 the great weigt ofthe wes-
tern part Of our territory, must hasten
the dismemberment offs large portion of
our country, or q dissolution of the Co
vernment. On The whole we think Il
may with candor be said, that whether
the, possession 1t thistime Of any territo-
| ~ west Of the river Mississippi win be
advantageous, is At best extremely pro-
bismaticle, ,Fer. ourselves, We arc very
much inCiined 70 the opinion, that after
fall, itYis the Island Of N. Orleans by
/ ,.hieh fhA 80. ,,..n1 &c q Grae x,av;aafian