Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-10-28

| Florldas viii nos Only be required for n. -.
yenienee Of the United States, but will b. NV !.
manded by their most inlpcrious necess;..
| The Mississippi and its branches, with tboss
| ther rivers above referred to, drain an eztenr =
country not less perhaps than one hall Of on
whole territory, containing at this tine one e;obsL
Of our population and progressing with ram ran;
dity beyond the experience of any former tim.
or of any other nation. The Flordas and Nsg,
Orleans command the only outlets of the 90.
and our best interests require that we shouIt
get possession Of them. This reeuisition howe
yer arises not from disposition to increase o,,.
territory for neither the Florldas nor Ns,,
Orleans, offer any other inducements than tb.,r
mere geographical relation to the United State,
But if we ool: forward to the free use Of tho
Mississippi, tie Mobile, the Apaacbcola ana
othes rivers Of tie west, by ourselves and our oo,,
terity, New Orleans and the Flo,idss must be
come part Of the United States either BY pu,.
chase OF by conquest.
The great question then which presents itself
is, shall we at this time lay the foundation or
future peace, by offering fair and equivaI.p,
the
hazards and the horrors of war ?--The govern.
rnene Of the United Safes is differently ora.
nized from any other IN ghe world. Is obiett
is the happiness Of man; its policy and It's int.
rest, &c pursue right by right means. WarsI
the great scourge Of HE human race, and should
never De resorted TO but in eases Of the most i'm.
perious necessity. A wise government will avoid
| it, when its views can be attained by peaceful
measures. Princes fight for glory, and the blood
and treasure of their subjects is the price they pay
In all MONS the people bear the burthen Of war
and in the United States, the people rule. Their
representatives are the guardians of their rights,
and it is the duty of those representatives to
provide against any event, which may even at a
distant day, involve the interests and the happi.
ness of the nation. We may indeed have our
rights restored to us by treaty, bur there Is a
want of fortitude in applying temporary REMEDIES
| to permanent evils; thereby imposing on our
posterity burthen which we ourselvesoughtt 70
bear. If the purchase can be made, We ought
not to hesitate. If the attempt should fail, ".
shall have discharged an important duty. War
may be the result; but the American natiop, So.
tis6ed with our conduct, will be animated by
one soul, ana will unite all its energies 10 the con-
test. Foreign powers will be convinced that it
is not war OF aggrand!zemeat on our part, and
will therefore feel no unreasonable isalousies to.
wards us. We shall have proved that Our object
was Justice it will be seen that our propositions
were fair; and i. VIII be Acknowledged that our
cause is honorable. Should alliances be necessary
they may be adysntageousiy formed. We shall
have merited aud shall therefore pisces general
confidence. Our measures will stand justified
not only 20 ourselves and our country, but to
he world.
In another point of view perhaps If would be
preferable 10 make the purchase, as it is believed
that smaller sum would be required for this
object, than would necessarily be expended, if
we should attempt 20 take possession by force;
the expences Of war being indeed almost 10.
caleulabie. The committee have no infor-
nation before them, TO ascertain the amount
for which the purchase Can be made, but II is
hoped, that with TIE assistance OF two millions OF
dollars in hand this will not BE- unreasonable.
A similar course was pursued for the purpose OF
settling our difference with the regency of AIgGs
by an appropriation of one million OF dollars PRIOR
to the commencement of the negotiation, and
we have since experienced its beneficial effects.
Under these impressions therefore the Commit
tee recommend the ADOPTION OF the resolution
referred to them in the following words, viz.
kfsOk0e4, That sum Of two millions OF dol
lars in addition to the provision heretofore made Dc
appropriated to defray any expence which may
be incurred in relation to the intercourse between
the United States and foreign NATIONS; to &c
paid cut of any money that may be in the Urea,
sury not otherwise appropriated, & to be apPleII
under the direction OF the President OF the Cni''
States who Unnecessary is hereby AUTHORISED -
borrow the same or any part thereof, an acc0u".
whereof, as soon as may be, shall be LAD ns'0''
Congress.
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