Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-03-18

L hAay sssss - PiSsSutCu again IN cCHgukte8N
and every justification that could be wish.
ed, for awaiting ourselves of the Joppor.
tunity. Spain has dared usto the trial.
and now bids Us de6ance--she L vet n
possession Of that country. Il Is Il this
moment within your reach and within
your power. Il offers sure and easy
conquest. We should have to encour,.
terfhere now, only . veal, inactive, and
dnenterprising people--but how may !
fewmonths vary this scene and @darken
ourprospects-tkough not officially IN
formed, we know that the Spanish pro-
xinces on the Mississippi havebeen ceded
to the French, and that they win O. soon
as possible .zke possession Of them..
What may we then expecti When In the
last extremity we shall be driven to arms
in defence Of our indisputable rights
where now slumbers on his posi- with
folded arms the sluggish Spaniard, We
shall be hailed by the vigiiant and alert
French Grenadier, and inthe defenceless
garrison that would now surrender n
ourappreaeh, we shall see unfurled the
standards chat have waved tFiumRhans In
Italy, surrounded by impregnable ram.
parts, and defended by the disciplined
veterans of Egypt. -;
lam willing sir, to attribute to honors
able gentlemen the best Of motives. I
am sure they do not wish to involve this
country in 4 war, and God knows de-
precate its horrors is much a. any man.
but this business can never be adjusted
abroad---it win ultimately have tobe set i
tied upon the banks Of the Mississippi,
and the longer you delay, the more time
you waste in tedious negotiations, the
greater sacrifices you make to protract q
temporary and hollow peace, the greater
win Be your endorsements when the
war comes on, aud Il il inevitable, unless !
honorable gentlemen, opposed to IA, are
prepared to yield mp the BEST interests
and honor the nationi Ibelieve The on
~ question, now in our power to decide,
Is whether il shall be the bloodless war Of
q few months, or the carnage6f years.
These observations, Mr.. PresidenE<
are urged upon the superstition that il 10
in the power Of the government to re.
strain the impetuosity Of the western peos
pie, and to prevent their doing justice to
themselves, which by the by, Ibeg 10 be +
understood a. not believing, but exprcss-
ly the contrary. They know their own
strength !; they knowthe feebleness ofthe
enemy; they knowthe in6niteimPortance
of the stake, and they feel, permit me
to say sir, with more than mere sensible
.litythe insults and injuries they have ne
c<ived; they are now al alive on this =
subject, and I believe win not submit,
even for the approaching season, 70 their
present ruinous and humiliating situafion.
You had as well pretend to dam up the
mouth of the Mississippi, and say to its
restless waves, ye shall cease here, and
never mingle withthe ocean, - toexpect
they viii be prevented from descending
it.--Without the free use Of the river,
and the necessary advantages OF deposit
below our line, their fertile country 10 not .
worthpossessing, their produce must be-
wasted in their fields, orrot IN their Gra-
naries-these are rights not only guaran.
teed to them by treaty, but given TO them
BY the God of nature, and they win en-.
force them with, or without the authori.
@ty of the government--and let me ask sir,
whether i Is most digni6ed for the 60.
svernment TO lead or follow IN the path Of
honor--one Il must do, or give up that
Western country. But independent Of
these considerations, those people have
other solid claims upon the government
for immediate support. Under your
auspices and with the promise Of your
proterrior, at the hazard Of their lives,
they explored and settled wilderness.
The lonely desert they have transformed
into cultivated fields, the haunt OF the
Wild beast, they have made the seatof
science, and where but afewyears since ~
was heard only the savage yell, their in."'
dustry and enterprise have reared towns
and villages and planted polished socie-
Ties. They are our fellow citizens, our
frieurls and MIR brofhers md we are