The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-09-05

we were to enjoy, or at mof relate 70 the mode
IN which they were to be conferred, and that
the articie contemplates no other delay to our
reception, than will he required TO pats the ne
ceilary laws, and aicsrtain the experimentation 70
which we are entitled.
The inhabitants of the cedcd territory, are TO
be" Incorporated into the Union of the United
States. Thete words can in no fenfe be fltir-
Fed by the ACT in que0ion. Aterritory govern
ed IN the manner the act directs, may be pro-
vince Of the United States, but can, by no con-
ftruttion, be faid to be incorporated into the u
Mon. To be Incorporated into the Union, mutt
mean to form part OF it; but to every COM
poncnt part of the United States, the conftituti-
on has guaranteed republican form OF govern
ment; and this, as we have already ihewn, has
no one principle of republicanifm in its compo-
htion.-lt is, therefore, not compliance with
the letter of the treaty, and is totally nconit-
| ent with its fpirit, which certainly intends fome
Populations in our favour. But if Congreis may
govern us as they pleaie, what necefiity was
, there for this claufe or how are we benefited
by its introduction. If any doubt however
could politely arife on the frf member of the
ientence, it mutt vaniih by confederation of
the fecond, which provides for their adminion,
to the rights, privileges, and imlnunties of cti-
Zens of the United States. But this govern
ment, as we have fhewn, is totally Incompatible
| with thofe rights. Without any vote in the e.
lection of our Legislature without any check
upon our executive; without any one incident
OF felf- government-whatv valuable &C privilege"
of citizcnihipf Is allowed u.s. what " right do
we enjoy? what +" immunity" can we boat, ex-
cept indeed the degrading exemption from the
cares OF esitlation and the burthen of public af-
fairs
Will it be faiL, that though our right be adj
| mitted, yet Congrcfs are to determine the Pc
Rod when it ihall be conferred This, we ap-
| prehend, would not only be contrary to the
| words OF the treaty, but would be a foIecifm in
itielt. The words, according to the principles
of the federal contribution, to enjoyment of the
rights" etc certainly mean, to fuch rights, as
are ecured by the principles of the contribution,
or, that we are admitted to their enjoyment in
jneb manner as the fame principles direct and
| at any rate the words &C as foon as poiiibe,"
can never be conitrued, 70 as to give a right of
deferring it indefinitely. If it may be procralti-
mated for two years, we fee no reafon, why it
may not be deferred for twenty or an hundred,
| or totally omitted.-That our verbal conftru6ti-
| on is true one, will be evident from purifying
| the other expedition TO its consequences. IF the
| treaty means to fay that we lhall be admitted as
toon as the principles of the contribution will
permit we mutt look into that inffrument to diff
cover what reitri6tions oppofe its immediate per-
| Torrance. We fhould naturally expect if this
1
fore which we could not become members of
the Union fome republics of population, or
| other clrcumitance, TO be prevouily attained or
performed but on the contrary, the powers
| OF admitting new ftates is veted in Congrefs,
without any restriction whatever, that can be
applicable to the prelcnt cafe; there is there
fore, nothing that can fatisfy thefe words, if they
are continued as limitation nothing but the
will of Congrefs is referred to in the ccnftitut-
| flrlIS han al,
the United States had ftipulated, to admit US
| into the Union as foon as they fhoud think pro-
per; but treaty implies a compact, and what
compact, can arife from liquidation to perform,
or not perform, as the party ihall deem cxpe-
dent this would be fuch a folecifn in argu-
! neht, fuch confuGon of terms as mutt make
US doubt the propriety of any contribution that
leads to them, and we feel ourfelves iuftified in
4 periuahon, that the treaty intended to incor-
porate us into the union 70 foon as the laws ne
cetary for that purpofe could be pal1ed.
| We know not with what view the territory
| North of the SD degree, has been fevered from
us and carried with it the distinguishing name
which belong TO us, and to which we are attach
ed; the convenience of the inhabitants we hum
bly, apprehend would have been better conful-
ted by preierving the connection of the whole
province, until greater degree of population,
made diviion neceliary. IF this diyifion
ihould operate 70 as to prolong our fate of DO
litlca tutelage on account ofany fuppored de-
lcency of numbers, we cannot but confder
1t as INJURIOUS to our rights, and therefore inu-
merate it among thofe points of which we have
reaion to complain. If there is force in our re-
CARNATIONS, on the great quefion of fundamen
tai rlghts-ifwe are entitled to legirate for our
ielves As member of the Union, and to eta
bhh the forms which that legillation fhall
be conducted, by framing contribution, flited
to our own exigencies then no farther OFFER
vations need be made on other parts of the law
for the right of local legilation implies that of
making the alterations, we might deem expedi-
ent, then our judiciary would become indepen-
dent; the executive power would be PROPERLY
cIrcumicribed, and the Legislative guarded A.
gainit encroachment. There is one fubie4
however extremely int GREETING to us in which
great care has been taken to prevent any inter
ference even by the governor and council, fele6t
ed by the preiident himfelf. The African trade
is absolutely prohibited and fevere penalties,
,mPoied on traffic free to all the Atlantic Rates
who chute to engage in it, and as far as relates
to procuring the fubie6ts Of it from other ftates,
permitted even in the territory of the MifIiIip
pi.
1t is not our intention to enter arguments that
nave become familiar TO every reafoner on this
queition, we only ak the right of deciding il for
ourielves, and of being placed in this refpect on
an equal footing with other ftates--To the me-
tf Ii