Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-10-28
IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE
UNITED STATES.
WEDNESDAY,, the 18th Of Jan. 1908.

w ! = q
Ordered, That the, Committee Of the
whole house, TO whom was yesterday COM
mitted motion ia words following, to
wit: 49,.
& Resolued, That a sum Of two millions
.of dollars, in addition to the provision
heretofore made, be appropriated to de.
fray any expences which may be incurred
in relation to the intercourse between the
United States, and foreign nations, to be
paid out of any money that may be m the
Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, and
to be applied under the direction OF the
President of the United States, who if
necessary, is hereby authorised to borrow
the whole or any part thereof; an account
whereof, as soon as may be, shall be laid
before Congress be dischargedfrom the
consideration thereof and that the said
motion be referred to MIR. Nicholson,
Mr.. Eustis, Mr. Bayard, Mr.. Dickson,
Mr.. Lowndes, Mr.. thompson and Mr..
Gregg, that they do examine the matter
thereof, and report the same with their
opinion therupon, to the house.
The Committee, to zuhom zvas referred, a
Resolution pr2posia8, an apbropriation q
tzvs millions ofdoAar8, IN adaft50n to the
sum atsucl2,j ab5ropriated for the purposes
ofiatere0ulse 6etzveen the United States
and foreign nations, submit the folloaving
REPORT
The object of this resolution, is to ena-
bic the executive TO commence, with more
effect. a.negociation with the French and
Spanish governments relative to the pur-
chase from them of the Island of New
Orleans, and the provinces of East and
West Florida. This object is deemed
highly important and has received the at
tentive consideration of the Committee.
The free unmolested navigation Of the Ri
yer Mississippi is a point to which the at
tention of the general government has been
directed, ever since the peace OF 1888, by
which our independence as nation was fl
nally acknowledged. The immense tract
of couptsser,rd1;;.I -, H. M;s.;.s;'
or communicates with it by means of large
navigable rivers rising within our bounda-
ries, renders its free navigation an object,
not only of inestimable advantage, but of
the very first necessity. The Mississippi
forms the western boundary of the United
States from Its source to the 31st degree
of north latitude, and empties itself into
the Gulf of Mexico about the 2eth de-
gree of north latitude. 1t furnishes the
only outlet through which the produce of
the Indiana Territory, of the states of Ohio,
Kentucky and Tennessee, and of the wes-
tern parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia,
and portion of the Mississippi Territory,
can be transported to a foreign market or
to the ports of the Atlantic states. From
the 31st degree of north latitude which is
the southern boundary of the United States
to the mouth of the river, the Territory ON
each side has heretofore been in possession
Of the Spanish government; the province
Of Louisiana lying to the west, and those of
east Florida, with the island OF N. Orleans
to the east,
Although the United States have insist
ed on an uncomfortable right to pass up
and down the river, from its source to the
sea, yet this right, if admitted in its most
ample latitude, will not secure to them the
tnll advantages Of navigation. The strength
and rapidity of the. current of the Missis-
sippi are known to render its ascent SO ex>
tremely difficult, that few vessels of bur-
then have attempted to go as far as cur,
boundary. This circumstance ebliges the
citizens of the western country to carry
their produce dewn the river in boats, from
which it is put on board of ships capable of
sustaining a sea voyage. Itfollows, there.
fore, that to enjoy the full benefits of navi-
cation, some place should be fixed which
sea vessels can approach without great In
convenience, where the American produce
may be deposited until it's again shipped