Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-11-04
fcoNI1NuED.9

The house having proceeded to consider
the resolution, when
Mr.. T. Randolph rose and said, hope
/ the house, will notagree to this resolution.
am well aware. the consequences which
may result from requiring papers from the
executive before the business comes fully
before the house. The gentleman who
brings it forward, has varied a little in men
tioningthe word subject. | knowit is IA
vorite expression with thegentleman. The
peculiar benchant of some gentlemen for
E this expression, will be an excuse for my
varying my phraseology. A comnlissary
has been sent from France to Louisiana, to
dc that which may be necessary, and eff
which the gentleman is doubtful, and to
transmit his proceedings to the president
of the United States. It appears by this
that provision is making on the part of
France, to putus in possession of the ter
ritory, and of the citizens of Louisiana, as
soon as we on our part rasify the treaty.
There is, therefore, necessity for our
making provision to carry it into effect
There was in the famous treaty with Great
Britain, objections, almost innumerable.
Language of this kind was then held up in
the house, twas said we detest your treaty.
a treaty now very different from that of
London treaty advantageous and popu-
lar is made with France. If we find it a
good treaty we surely ought to make pro-
vision for it. Shall we take an exception
to our own title, when France has pledged
herself for its validity? Shall we refuse to
be put in possession Can any gentleman
doubt that as far as France can bestow, we
have a title? Can they doubt, but that
France has not title from Spain? VIII
our passing an act to make provision tor car
rying this treaty into effect, impair our IT,
tie? If itshoaldh thereafter appear that Spain
has a title, and that title is un-conveyed to
France, it certainly will not. 1t appears to
me that it will be little better than mock
cry to enquire, at this time, whether we
have title to this territory. So long as
we are informed by the executive that we
are to be put in possession, and that he has
power so to do, we need not, in the present
instance, inquire farther.
Mr.. LYON. rise only to observe that
I think this resolution has been brought
forward in disrespectful manner Had it
been decent and respectful should have
voted for it. 1t implies that the executive
has made bargain to which he hadno title.
wish the gentleman vino brought this re-
solution forward had shewn little more
respect for the executive. I have, for my
own part, no objection to the documents
being brought forward. | think they should
be brought forward-Every person might
have seen the fact from the newspapers
I only rose to mention the mannerin which
this business has been brought forward
Mr.. Goddard. The object to be obtain
ed by seeing the papers requested to be laid
before us, is to ascertain, whether France,
from whom we have received a cession of
Louisiana, had derived from Span, any IL
tie to that countrv-Gentlemen say that it
is unnecessary for us to know this: that
France has declaredin the treaty, that she 4
has an sincontestible title to the domain and
to the possession of the said territory -
Such indeed are the words of the treaty,
but France has not left the matter here---If
that declaration had been simply made,
there would have been more in the argu-
ment-but the treaty has gone further, and
told us.what that inconteshble title is-And
what is it? Allthe title of France to the ced-
ed territory is derived from the third asti-
Gle of her treaty with Spain, of the 1st of
October, 1900. That article is introduced
into the treaty, now on our tables, and is
nothing more than a promise on thepart of
his Catholic Majesty, To ceae to tie
French republic SIX months otter the fuHand
entire execation Of the conditions and stiha-
dtionsherein, rclative to his royal higghasess
The Duke Of Pama, the colony ard brovi'lce
of louisiana Sc. Our treaty with France 1