Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-07-22

u
presidency, and will, doubtless, give
eclat to his administration. Every man,
however, possessed OF the least candor
and reflection win readily acknowledge
that the acquisition has been solely ow-
inn to q fortuitous concurrence OF un-
foreseep and unexpected circumstances,
and not 70 any wise or vigorous measures
ON the part Of the American government.
As soon as we experienced from Spain
direct infraction Of an important article
of our treaty, in Withholding The deposit
Of Newt Orleans, it afforded us iusti6a-
BE cause Of war, and authorised imme-
date hostilities. Sound policy unques.
tionably demanded Of Us to begin with a
prompt, bold and vigorous resistance
against the injustice !; to seize the object
az once and having this pansags GROUND,
should we have thought il advisable to
terminate hostilities BY q purchase, we
might then have done it on almost our
own terms. This course, however, was
not adopted, and we were about to ex-
perience the fruits Of our; folly, when
another nation has found il her interest,"
to place the French government in a sit1-
alton substantially as favorable to- our
views and interest as those recommend.
ed BY the federal party here, excepting
indeed that We should probably have OBJ
tained the same object opbetter terms.
I On the part Of France the short inter-
vi ofpeace had been wasted in repeated
and fruitless efforts to subiugate ST. Do
ningo and those means which were
Originally destined to the eolinization Of
louisiana, had been gradually exhaust
ed by the unexpected difficulties Of this
il-ssarred enterprise. >s x
Tothe deadly climate of St. Domingo,
and to the courage and obstinate resist
anee made by its black inhabitants are we
indebted for the obstacles which delayed
the colonization Of Louisiana, till the
suspicious moment, when rupture be.
tween England and France gave new
turn to the projects Of the latter, and de-
: stroyed at once all her schemes as to
this favorite object Other ambition.
| II was made known to Buonaparte.
that among the FIRST objects Of England
would be the seizure Of Newt orleans,
and that preparations were even then in
Q state OF forwardness for that purpose.
The 6rst consul could not doubt, that If
an English Aeet was sent thither, the
place must fail without resistance Il
was obvious, therefore, that it would be
surely in every; shape preferable that il
should be placed in the possession of a
neutralPower and when, besides, some
millions ofmoney, Of which he was ex.
remely IN want, were offered him, to
part with what he could no longer hold,
! it affords moral certainty, that It was
to an accidental state of circumstances,
and not TO wise plans, that this cessioH,
At this time, has been owing. We shall
venture to add, that neither of the mi
T. nisters through whose instrumentaIity Il
i was effected, win ever deny this, or even
I pretend that previous to the time when
Z rupture was believed to be inevitable.
, there was the smallest chance ofinducine
4, The first consul, with his ambitious and
aggrandizing views, to commute the
territory for any sum Of money in theif
power 70 offer. The real truth Is, Bu6.
napar.e found himself absolutely com
PEELED BY situation, to relinquish his dar-
! ling plan Of colonizing the banks Of the
Mississippi: and thus have the govern.
ment ofthe United States, by the un-
foreseen operation Of eyents. slvained
what the feeblensss and pusillanimity
OF It's miserable system OF measures
could never have acquired. Lat usthen,
with all due humility, acknowledge this
2: another OF those signal instances ofths
j kind interpretations Of an oyer.rnIino
Providence, which we more especialIS
4 exPerisneed during our revolut;onayy
war, and BY which we have more. ,hay
once, been saved from the consequence,
Of our errors and perversen ess. - s !
We are certainly not disposed ,olesssy
the importance Of this acquisition 8 a,
country, but il l. proper thar the nphl;,