Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-11-09
70 draw the preciseliae; but there was not,
w;thstanding, one beyond which we should

Rut If the right Of extending our territory De
hy the constitution, its exercise Is vested III
t tbr legislative branches of the government. An
RI, sd section of the fourth article OF the constl
tut;an il is said, q New States msy be admitted
BY lie cong,elt into this ualon." Congress may
admit new states, but, according to my conslruc' 4
ton Of this article, are conhned TO the territory
beloosing TO the United States at the formation
. Of tile constitutions, to the territory then WITHIN
the U,itec States. Existing territory not WITHIN
The limits Of any particular states, may be moor
uora,ed IN this union. He cnntended, thereiore'
that the power to Incorporate new territory oa
not rxis.: and that, if it did exist, II belonged
to the legislature and not the executive, to IN
corporate it in the union. ItMs were the case,
It was The duty Of The House to resist the usnfprd
power exercised by the executive
There was another ground as to the eonstitu-
tonalisy OF the treaty. at least one winch excited
doubts in his mind, which he hoped gentlemen
would take up and remove. an the 9 IN article OF
the treaty are these words:
/" AS it is reciprocally advantageous to the
commerce OF France and The Uuteo States to en-
co,rare the communication OF both nations for
limited time in the country coded by the present
treaty until general arrangements relative TO the
commerce OF both nations may be agreed on II
has been agreed between the contracting parties,
that the Fsench ships coming directly from france
or any of her colonies, loaded only with the pro.
Suce and manufactures of France or her said colo.
mes and the ships OF Spain coming directly tfcm
soaiu or any of her colonies, loaded only with
the produce or manufactures OF Spain or her COLO
MES. shall be admitted during the space OF twelve
years in the port Of Nea O,!eans, and IN all o.
taes legal ports Of entry within he ceded terrific
~, in tne same manner as the ships OF the Unit
! Cd states coming dsrealy from France or Spain,
or anv Of their colonies, without being subcetto
any Q. her or greater duty on merchandise, or O.
TIER or greater tonnage than that paid by the Gill
zens of the United States"
This article gives to ships of France and Spain
the same right OF entering the ports OF the coded
I territory with our own vessels; and II preciudes
the sips of all Other nations fem the same light.
Now i. as gentlemen contend tho new ce6ed ter
rito,v with the inhabitants should become incor.
porated with the United States, there VIII be
por,s Of entry in the United States into which
French and Spanish vessels may enter on terms
different from those on which they may enter other
ports Of the United States. The inference was
that here was favor granted to the port OF New
Orleans over other ports. This was against an
important principle Of the constitution. tof IN
the ninth section of the FIRST article, we find no
~ . yr h e; 81 one state over
those of another" This treaty then becomes a
law of the land-It has made commercial rggu.
laton. It gives tovhe ports OF the ceded terri
tory preference 70 any other ports. Because the
produce Of France and Span can be carr,eJ cheap.
er 10 their pots than TO any other. If the in
cipir consendcd for by gentlemen i'll favour of the
Treaty is admitted, think see fatal blow
proposed against the constitution Of the United
States, Dy destroying the reciprocity of interes.
that unites at present the different members OF the
( unioa. Perhaps zee wrong.
/ Mr.. Randolph rose for the purpose of satisfy.
. ing, 50 far as was in his power, the doubts ex-
! pressed by the gentleman from New York, tMr.
] G. Grswold] He had listened with great plea
sure to the candid exposition which the gentleman
had gwen of his objections, and from the temper
evhinh he had manifested, MR.. relied on being
able to satisfy some Of his scruples on this subject
Ishe objections which have been urged 20 the
motion before the committee, resolved themselves
into arguments against the eonsti.usonaIisy, and
. arguments against the expcdirncy Of the treaty
proposed to be carried into efea. Is it would
be needless to repel objections Of this LAST KIND.
unless those Of the FIST description could be salts
faaoriIy answered, he should arss reply to tha
observations which lad been made on she cops.i
tutional doctrine.
E!e understood the gentleman from New York
denying that there existed in the United Stats.
as such, capacity to acquire territory -tb t
by the constitution they were restricted to the H.
nuts Which existed at the time OF It's adoption.
II this position be correct, il INCIDENTALLY follows
tina, thuse limits nast have been accurately de-
ca "a nd naarallv knnlY III t:nne