Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-11-14
UPPER LOUiSIAN3s

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| the freeman c. taeir respective discricts1
| held on the 18th September il the town OF
| S.. Louis, present twelve members being
majority OF TIC Whole nulnb-r seventeen
expected to meet, after taking the oa,h of
sllegiance to she United States, and max
ing a few observations on his appointment
and the reasons which called them ogether.
the president, c. Gratiot, said,
g according y this invitation we have
now met mere, under the au= p;ces of a free
government, Of Which " are proud TO call
Louisiana an integral pare, in conformity
With the constitutions 90 the United States,
under which we feel Happy to live. Nay
IN more strict compliance with he dufies
imposed or Us rs citiz rs, b. the same con-
,tiiurion, We for The atsf time nave here
formed ourselves TITO dtiibsrative body,
we for the hrst tilnc are exercising the
rights Of freemen, TO petition to the go
venment the redress Of grievaaces.----
Would 90 God oui first com nunication to
Congress, instead of being an application
for redress, had been an expression OF
thanks, although from the known Justice Of
Congress, am confident we shall ultimate
" have thanks 10 return them.
Let then gentlemen, our first steps in
this new career DE as dignifed as the occa-
sion which induced US to assemble together,
is solemn and important
Congress at the time of enacling the bill
alludedto, were not in possession OF suffl-
cicnt information wlthrespect TO this coun-
t,y, to venture TO give us such q form OF
government as we are conscious we are en-
.lted to, and as hope they will not find
US unworthy to live under. We. are ca
Illuminated IN Congress. The Speaker has
allusion to the speech of Mr.. Lucas.
mcmber from Pennsylvania, in which he
says, "the people OF Louisiana have not
been consulted in the act Of cessiop, but
have been transferred by a bargain made
overtheir heads. ltwas proof, coaiinu-
| ed Mr. l.. this act had not been received
| with appreciation BY them: that when
they saw the American flag hoiated in the
room OF the French, they shed tears
| this was proof that thes were not on friend
! ly terms with our government as some
! gentlemen imagine. ! On the very floor
of Congress our gratitude to government
| absolute in principle it is true, but whose
| truly paternal benevoence we had unitorm-
" experienced, and which as virtues go)
| hand in hand, should have been constrn-
ed rather as certain pledge Of our attach
ment to the principles cfa free government,
was tortured into satisfactory proof Of
our not being ripe to enjoy the benefits ola
free government. Rumours very Injurious
TO our general character, representing us a
set of covetous, rapacious land -ioobers.
who, BY false, ante-dated, counterfeted
| deeds, had monopolized the greatest GUAM
! tity OF the vacant lands of the district of
Louisiana, were at the same time artfully
circulated through all parts Of the United
! States. Not an inhabitant of this district
was on the spot at the tine to contradict
those unfoundeJ accusations. Isit then to
be wondered at that Congress under those
circumstances, should have acted with re.
spect 10 us with unprecedented severity?
But Congress may have it now in their
power to be truly informed Of the real state
of things, not only from the representa-
tions of the generality OF the inhabitants
of the district OF Louisiana, but likewise
/ from their different officers in this country
since the taking Of possession by the Unit
ed States.
! Before conclude gentlemen, give me
| leave to observe TO you, that invested as
! we are all with the confidence of the inha.
bitants of the district of Louisiana, it will
be more particularly incumbent upon us,
both in the course of the discussion which
is to take place, and likewise after our se-
paration, and when We shall have returned
to our respective districts, to enforce a.
mong all descriptions of inhabitants, by our