Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-11-15
CONGRESS
OF THE
UNITED S ia T E's.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
TursDAr, October IS.
DERATE on the LOUISIANA TREATY
t ursDAr, October IS.
.DEBATE CONTINUED.

Mr.. Smile should not long deta'n the com,
mittee. He offered with gentlemen on the con-
stitusional question; considering the r'ght OF an
nexing territory incidental 70 all governments.
4 he were correct in this opinion, slch a power
were vested in soale department. Of governments Ia
the Unitcd States. That It was not vested ~ the
states was-eear, as they were expressly uiyssted
81 the right. They were by the constitution ex-
pyessY Invested of the right OF forming treaties
and making war. It could then reside IN the
general government only. II was aPosition that
could not be denied that all societies possessed the
right of sefsprotcteion. Let Us then suppose
that 9 nation Uni astly attacked by another nation
repels the hostility and that the injured nation
proves successful. Two things will results the
one, right TO indemnity for the injury received
the expence incurred & the other right to future
security by making such PROVISIONS as shall place
it beyond the pewer of the ag8ressinS nation IN
future time to repeat her injuries. If ne was
correct in these principles, and they were not dis
puted, the right Of the United States to annex
territory could not be contested, # that measure
were connected with her futu'e security. The
right indeed was common to all nations; admit
ted By all denied by none.
Another constitutional difficulty had been start
ed from the aledged obligation OF the United
States TO incorporate this territory in the union.
Mr. Smile wished gentleman to attend to that
psrt of the treaty which related to this point, and
their difficulties would be removed. The treaty
says:
/" The inhabitants of the coded territory shall
be incorporates in the union of the United States,
and admitted as soon as possible Aeeor
Ding 10 The principles. Of t6e contribution, to the
enjoyment Of Ill the rights, advantages immunl-
ties of the citizens of the United States; and In
the mean time they shall be maintained and pro.
te9ed in the free enjoyment Of their liberty,
property and the religion which they profess"
Now where, said Mr. Smile, is the difficulty
We are obliged to admit the inhabitants aecer-
ding TO the principles et the cogffatfoa. Suppose
those principles forbid their admission; then
are not obliged TO admit them. This fol-
miss. Th re existed, however, a remedy for
this case, if it should occur for if the prevail
ing opinion shall be that the inhs bitanta of the
coded territory cannot be admitted under the con-
st;tution as it now stands, the people of the U.
States can, if they see fl, apply renedy, by
amending the constitution so as to auihorise
taeir admission. Ard If they do rot chuse to do
tbs, TIE inhabitants may remain in a colonial
state.
Mr.. Crowninshield. Mr.. Chairman, I
rise, sir, to correct the gentleman from n.
Carolina in one particular-he has stated
that the First Consul of France signed the
treaty ceding Louisiana to the United States
after the declaration of war by Great-Bri-
tain against France. i believe he is mis-
taken, Sir, for the Louisiana treaties were
signed the 3oth April, and Great-Britain
issued declaration of war against France
on the.17th May. If | am right, sir, the
gentleman might have spared himself the
trouble of detracting from the merits of the
executive on this great occasion-Now [
am up, sir, Ibeg leave to state to the COM
nittee some of the reasons why shall give
my vote in favor of thesestreaties.
A resolution is on the table, sir, which
recommends that provision ought to be
made to carry into effect the late treaties
with France, which cede Louisiana to the
United States Feeling as do that we
have acquired this country at cheap
price, that it is a necessary barrier in the
southern and western quarters of the Uni
on, thatit offers Immense advantages to.us
as an agricultural and commercial nation,
am highly IN favor of the acquisition, and |
shall most cordially give my vote in appro-
baton ofsthe resolution.
What, sir, shall we let slip this golden
opportunity of acquiring New-Orleans and
the whole ofLouislana for the triAing sum
] of fifteen millions of dollars, when ore
quarter part of the purchase money Will be
paid to our own citizens, and the remain
der-in public stockwhich we are net oblig-
ed to redeem under fifteen years. trust,