Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-03-11

satsUiuICty uCCGSSNFyst hlat ANOTG pOWeE au0
more means ought to be given to the presi-
dent, in order to render his negotiations
eficacious. Could the president proceed
further, even If he thought more vigorous
measures proper and cxpedient! VAST
IN his power TO rcpe1 and punish the indig.
nifty uponthe nationi Certainly not. This
must be the act Of congress. They are
now to Judge Of Interior measures. They
ritist givethe power and vote the lmeans
to Findicate in becoming manner the
wounded honor and the best interests OF
the country lsS >.ss W Nh p .*sz
Mr.. r. said he held III his hands certain
resolutions for that purpose, and beforehe
offered thsm 10 the senate he would very
fully eSPlain his reasons for. bringing them
forward and pressing them with earnest
ness, as the best system the u. S. could
now pursue. r. ...r. - I'll
1t was certainly unnecessary to waste
the time o. that body in stating that we had,
a solemn explicit Treaty with Spain that
this Treaty had been wantonly and unpro-
'vokediy violated, not only in what related
to the Mississippi, but BY the mostaagrant,
destructive spoliations Of our commerce
on every part of the ocean, where Spanish.
armed vessels met the American dag
These spoliations were of immense mag
nitude, and demanded the most serious
notice Of our government. They had
been followed by an indignity and direct
intraction Of our treaty relative to the
Mississippi which bore an aspect MOTTO be
dissembled or mistaken.
To the free navigation of that river we
had an undoubted right from nature, and
from the position of the Western country.
This right and the right Of deposit in the
island of New Orleans, had been solemnly
acknowledged and fixed by treaty in i7es.
The treaty had been in actual operation
and execution for many years and now
without any prctence Of abuse or violation
on our part, the officers Of the Spanish 90
vernment, enytheright, refuse the place.
OF deposit and add the most offensive of all
insults, BY forbiding Us toland on any part
of their territory; and shutting y out a
common nuisance. q t.zzzssez.- -5#-
By whom has this outrage been oiftreds
BY those who have constantly acknowledge
ed dur right and now tell Us they are no
longer owners Of the country III They
have given it away; and because they
have no longer right themselves, there
fore they turn Us out who have anundoubt-
ed right Such an insult, such unproyoked'
maligniy Of conduct, no nation but this
would effect to mistake. Aid yet we not
only hesitate rs to the course which inte-
rest and honor call US to pursue, but we
bear with patience, tameness, and apps
rent unconcern. .s 49," - 5s. - S. ~
] Sir, said Mr.: R. whom does this infrac-
ton of the treaty, and the natural rights
of this country most intimately affect? IL
the wound inflicted ON national honor be-
not sensibly felt by tho whole nation il
there not alarge portion Of your citizens
exposed to immediate ruin BY continu.
anee of this state of things! The calaniity,
lights upon all those who live upon the
western waters. More, than half MILL
on ofyouf citizens, are by this cut off from
q market. What would be the language,
what would be the feelings Of gentlemen
in this house, were such an indixnity Of
feTed, on the Atlantic coast.f What would
they say ifthe Chesapeake, the Delaware,
or the bay of New. York were shut up, and ]
all egress prohibited by foreign power;
and yet none Of these waters embrace the
interests of so many as the Mississippi.
I he numbers and the properly affected BY
shutting this river il greater than any thing
that could follow by the blockade ola ri
yer on the atlantic coast. Every part of
the union was equally entitled topTotectii-
on, and no good reason could be offered
why one part should be less attended to
than another:
- In the last year goods to more than the
value oftwo millions of dollars, had been
carried into the western country. These
goods were purchased on credit. The
consumption Of that merchandise afforded
a revenue to our treasury of more than