Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-09-22

.>''s..
ONCE more fellow citizens. are we as
ser"bied to CONNIE morate the birth lay al
our independence ! This anniversary has
always been day Of Joy and day of no
nest pride, But never did it approach US
win SO Smiling an aspect, never did it as
sumo so triumphant countenance as at
the present moment. Hitherto we have
reloiced,--and we have had reason TO re-
loice, IN national existence we have re-
Joiced that The unreasonable pretensions
ot. the parent state, 10 tax us without our
own consent, had been silenced by TIE
voice OF truth and justice, --that her fcro-
cions method Of snbduinr the spirit of her
refractory children, had only served 10 u .
mite the whole family against her, and ,lla,
Notwithstanding her repeated threats, not.
withstanding her great and reiterated ex.
ertions TO subdue them, --notwithstandin
her proud rank among the nations of the
earth; she had been compelled 10 acknow.
ledge her rebeIIious offspring to be free,
sovereign and independents And who
would wish Tor more substantial sources Of
10Y What could we desire farther, SO
long as our freedom, sovereignty and indie.
pendence remained uniinpared, unsulli
ed 4! buiheavcn hasbeen more bountifuI to
US still. Having placed at the head of
our counsels, men on whom it had breath.
ed more than common portion Of the spi-
nit of wisdom aud patriotism; we have
through their prudence. and foresight and
energy through their holiness Of concep-
Ton and mastery execution, become pro-
pr'efors OF an additional portion of terri
tory, stretching almost from the polar cir.
Gle 10 he tropic, and from the waters or
the Atlantic to those Of the Pacific ocean.
Yes! fellow citizens. YOU, whose forefa
theirs, not two hundred years ago were
but hardlul Of fugitiyes from The religi
Gus and political Intolerance of the east,--
YOU who bit Yesterday rose out OF the con-
diliop OF feeble colonies, dependent Ia a
great measure on the mother country for
protection from the savages, and relying
IN the industry OF your brothers at home
Tor the supply Of three fourths OF your ne
cesslties,-are now the citizens of the
grandest country on the globe 1.-The pro.
prietors of territory aHording almost c.
very variety of production that the SUI.
tace OF the earth is capable of affordng TO
satisfy the. wants and TO feed the luxury
OF man. 1t is unnecessary fellow citizens
10 endeayor to exhibit to your view all the
advantages resulting from this immense
acquisition. They have been already SO fre-
quenly detailed that they must be famiJi-
ar TO the minds of all who hear me. In.
deed when addressing the inhabitants Of
kentucky, 1t seems altogether superllu-
Gus work, to prove by argument that the
acquisition of Louisiana, is an important
benefit To The United States. To satisfy
you, all that can be necessary is to callyour
attention to the impressions Of yonr own
minds and your recollection ofpast events.
Recollect what was the state of sentiments
here, previously to the year 90, when
you still continued annexed TO Virginia
and when those national feelings which
result from the formation of distinct DO,
dy polite, had not vet begun to exist. f.
ven, then, when all your public expenses
were betrayed by Virginia, and when your
destiny seemed inseparably connected
with hers; were there not persons among
YOU, and those, not hair Drained politicians,
VI iiISb VI uNoilSIaNt lOItuncSs--WefS lnGre
not persons among you, who conceived
closer connection with Spain than what
existed between her and the rest Of Ame-
RIGA 10 be absolutely necessary to the in
habitants of the country on the western
waters! And whence arose this ccuceDti-
on IL was not from hatred TO Virginia, IL
was not from disaffeclion to the federal II
Mon: 1t was simply a conviction Of the
all importance of the navigation of the
Mississippi TO the existence Of western
population. What was it, which about
the same period induced epterprizing in-
dlviduais (ior such they were) to leave
Kentucky, and make personal representa-
tons TO the Spanish ministry Of the deBen-
dencc OF the western country on the re
nerosity ct his Catholic majesty, which
induced them to tempt By turns the mer.
camille genius Of the British cabinet-and
the ambitious revoIutionizing spirit Of the
French executive committees with the
prospects Of commerce and wealth and IN.
luence &. dominion, which the possession
Of Louisiana would afford, and with the
ilattering belief that their tat only wa,
necessary to complete The conquest2 Wa,
II not the conviction that property h rC