Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-12-19
NGREss
OF THE
tx NITED STA T.E.Ss
DEBAT,E IN the SENATE on The LOll5-
kSLdN.A TREAT9.
GoNTINUED.
TnuRspAr, November 2.

commencing WITH iCPCaeiuS "iisel ' 80
Yesterday, in answer to another honora-
BILE gentleman from Delaware, Mr.. WhlteA
that every argument they have nade use
sof would better have applied at the time
the treaty was on Its passage, tor ratiflca-
ton, or at the time ofthe passage OF the bill
for taking possession of Louisiana; and 1t
appears extraordinary now after voting, II
not for the treaty, for the bill, to see those
gentlemen rise tooppose the conditions to
be performed on our part, when France has.
issued the necessary orders to comply on
her part. The delay of the passage OF the
bill before YOU may have the most fatal
consequences, and if, as some gentlemen
have limited on former occasions, the French
are sick of their bargain, will give them an
opportunity to break it altogether, or create
snch iealousies between the two nations, as
may render the coded territory and It's IN
habitants of little value to us. In my OPT
mon policy as well as justice requires, that
we should comply with the stipulation on
rpart promptly and with good faith, and
leave no opening for complaint with the O
Their party. We shall then stand justified
in the eyes ofthe world, and to ourselves,
not only to take, but keep possession OF this
immense country, let what nation will OPP
pose 1t.
Butthe honorable gentleman (Mr. Wells)
has said that the French have no title, and
havingno title herself, we. can derive none
from her. Is not, | ask, the king of SPANS
proclamation, declaring the cesslon of Lou
siana to France, and his orders to his 60
vernon and officers to deliver it to France,
a title? DO nations give any other? | be-
lieve the honorable gentleman can find no
solitary instance of feofment or convey
ance between states the treaty OF St. IL
defonso was the ground work OF the cession
and whatever might have been the terms to
be reformed by France, the king of SPANS
proclamation and orders, have declared to
all the world, that they were complied
with. The honorable gentleman however
insists that there is no consideration ex-
pressed in the treaty, and therefore it must
be void; if the honorable gentleman Will
but look attentively at the ninth article,
am persuaded he will perceive one; the
the conventions are made part OF the treat
-ty; they are declared to have execution in
the same manner, as if they had been IN
serted in the treaty; they are to be ratified
in the same form, and in the same time,
the other. What inference can possibly be
drawn, but that the payments to be made
by them was full consideration for Louisia-
ma? But the honorable gentleman lays
stress on that part of the treaty which de-
clares that C The First Consul Of the
French Republic desiring to give to the
United States strong proof of his friend
ship, doth hereby cede to the U. States
the territory, &C." Inferring from thence
thatour title rests on the friendship Of Bo-
naparte alone. Sir, let my opinion Of the
present government of France be what il
may, and | confess it is not very favora-
bic, Bonaparte by the consent of the natl
on, is placed at it's head; he is the organ
through which the will of the nation is ex.
pressed, and is, and must be respected as
such by all other powers. No nation has
q right to interfere with the rule or police
of another. 1t is enough that the nation
wills it, that Bonaparre's act is the act OF
the whole nation, which cannotrecal it, e
venif Bonaparte should cease to govern,
and another form of government be adopt
ed. But, Sir, admitting the objection of
the honorable gentleman, in its utmost la
titude, as to pecuniary considerations; are
there no other considerations among pow
ers-and potentates? Does not policy some
times induce a cession. of territory to pre-
vent a larger portion from being sacrih-
ced? Is not the establishment of n1onar-
chal connections, sometimes an object and
consideration for cession? The very in
stapce before us is convincing proof-the'
chr,ent of fba Kino of Z tr,,x;o