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

the Union, and TO produce dissolution
oil the crniederacy. Admitting, how
ever, that nothing of the kind would
nave oeen attempted, and that the con-
duct oi france would not even unimlen:
iienaiy have produced this effect; still
we should have been weakened and de,
Oiiiiated by incessant, emigrations to the
westernside oilhe Mississippi. The French
government would have been liberal in
tner oilers to settlers.,b They would
have initiated the Spanish government
instead OF asking serious sum Of money
Tor their land; they would have asked
nothing but fealty and resideuce they
would have pursued the policy OF Spain,
and they would have. pursued it with
more effect. The idea of living under
'onarchy, has been a Serious objection
With many Americans 10 crossing the
Mississippi, and The dread ot political de-
Srada'ion has counteraSlrd the temptinp
prospects cfpersonal independence arising
rom. ample landed possessions. The
French on tiie other hand were lie active
allies ct America in accomplishing her
independence they have caught the Sd
cred hame OF freedom, and the blaze of
rs holy lire hath swept away the .roua
monuments OF antiquity and left not a
vertige vi mona7chIcal authority. O.. The
governments Vi France hath assumed the
name OF republic: liberty and equality
are Its motto: aud many OF our c,tizens
impressed by names and appearances,
would cheersu!ly have removed their ia
mites and their property to the western
-.
mat though their allegiance was trans
TERED from America 10 France il sui
centred IN liberty, in equality aud in rc
pub icanism. Ii is probable, therefore,
that the emigration OF American Citizens
to The western side OF the Alississ.pp
woald have been greater, if the French
mad caloniZed The country, than It will
be now thar The sovereignty Of i, has bsen
vested In the United States. And all,hat
emigrated would have been lost 10 us
Their industry and their property would
have beoehtted d rival, If not a hos lie
naIlon; we should have bEen eus.ebled
BY the event, and the sinews of our ma
uGnai prosperity would have bsLa cut a
suRdcr.
Alsr all, however, it NAV be con
tended that the French piojecl of ccio
niz.nS Louisiana, neysr would have taken
EFFECT. The magnitude of the prspa.e.
tons, it may be said, had already ava
kened the jealousy Of Great Britain, and
her superior naval force would haze en-
abled her not only 10 render thos prepa-
ratiOns abortive, but to reduce the s,,.,ntry
to her own domiuion.
Let II be admitted. Should we have
been beoeiiited by such o revolution? By
no means. Great BRIAN would lkewise
nave found it her interest to colonize the
country. IL would have been The surest
and The cheapest way Of preventing any
other power from possessing Is, and il
would have rendered her ia every respect
independent Of all he world. That she
was able TO coionizc Louisiana, there can
be no doubt. Her capacity of furnishing
inhabitants is such, that she could in one
year spare Cut of those whose existence
u at once burthen to themselves and to
their country, halfas many as the whole
population of the United States amounts
to-, and IN sparing them she would render
the situation Of the mass Of the people
remaining behind far preferable to what
- - g. plSaClt- 1liu WHAT WOuld nave
been the consequence 10 the United
Siatesf Their tranquility would have
been as much endangered by her approach
as by that Of France, and though our
peace were not menaced she would in
course oil years have absolutely exciadrd
It's from her own markets, and would have
been formidable competitor with Us in
eve. Y O,hcr. She would have Produced
IN Louisiana every species Of commodity,
which can be FOND through the whole ter
ritorY Of he American conicderacy, FROM
Maine to Georgia. She would have no
nopolizsd the fur trade. If our northern
states produce lumber, pitch and turpen.
zine; she would have derived the same
from Upper louisiana. II the middle
states produce -four, Indian corn, hemp,
tobacco and iron the same articles
would nave poured into her lap from the
waters Of the Missouri, the st. Fran.
co.'s, the Arkansas, and the Rouge Ri
Were. IT rice, indigo and cotton, are
raised in the southern districts of the
conIcderacY Great Britain would have
needed them not for she would have sup