Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-09-01

LC4fO1tGOO Ok ldE wv XII - 4 ~ = ~
IN SENATE AND
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
CONVENED.
WE the subscribers, Planters. Mer-
chants, and other inhabitants of Louisiana,
respectfully approach the Legislature of
the United States, with Memorial of our
rights, remonstrance against certain laws
which conIrayeue them, and petition for
that redres to which the laws of nature sane.
toned BY positive stipulation, have entitled
us.
Without any agency in the events which
have annexed our country to the United
States, we vet considered them as fortu-
nate, and thought our liberties secured,
even before we knew the terms of the ces-
sion. Persuaded that free people would
acquire territory only 10 extend the bless
ings of freedom--that an enlightened ma
ton would never destroy those principles
on which Its government Was founded
and that their representatives would dis
dain to become the Instruments of oppres-
sion, we calculated with certainty, that
their first act of sovereignty would be a
communication Of al the blessings they en-
ioyed, and were the less anxious to know
on what particular terms we were received.
Itwas early understood that we were to be
American oitzens this satisfied our wish
es, it implied every thing we could desire,
and filed us with that happiness which aris-
es from the anticipated enjoyment of right
long withheld. We knew that it was I'M
possible to be citizens of the United States,
without ENJOYING personal freedom, pro-
lection OF property, and, above all, the pfi-
yiijges OF a free representative government,
and did not therefore imagine that we could
be deprived of these rights, even if there
should have existed no promise roimpart
them; yetit was with some satisfaction we
found these objects secured to us By the sti-
pulation OF a treaty; and the faith of Con-
gress pledged to us for their uninterrupted
enjoyment; we expected them from YOUR
magnanimity, but were not displeased to
see them secured to us as right, and qua
ranteed,by solemn engagements.
With firm persuasi on that these en-
gagements would be sacredly fulfilled, we
passed under your jurisdiction, with Joy
bordering on enthusiasm, submitted to the
inconvenlences OF an inter mediate do
mlnion without murmur, and saw the last
lie that attached us to our motht country.
severed without regret. Even the evils Of
a military and absolute authority were &C
quiescs Il in, because it indicated an eager
ness to complete the transfer, and place
beyond the reach of accident the union we
mutually desired. A single magistrate,
vested with civil and military, with execu-
tive and judiciary powers, upon whose laws
we had no check, ever whose acts we had
no controul, aud from whose DEGREES there
is no appeal, the sudden suspension of All
those forms, to which we had been accus-
toned, the total want of any permanent
system to replace them, the introduction
of,a new language INTO the administration
OF Justice, the perplexing necessity OF US
ing an interpreter for every eommunica-
ton with the officers placed oyerus, the
involuntary errors Of necessitv committed
byJadges, uncertain by what code they are
to decide, wavering between the civil and
the common law, between the forms of
the French, Spanish, and American Iuris-
prudence, and with the best intentions ua-
able to expound laws, Of which they are
ignorant or TO acquire them in language
they do not understand these were not
slight inconyeniences, nor was this state