The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-29

which Louiliana has juft experienced the COM
motion; & which a ffroke of chance has 70 hap
PLY terminated. II is amidita whrlwind of in
trgues and intereas, which claihed with one
another it is at the moment when powerful
fovereigns were difputing with each other for
our tubjugation, that the invhble hand who, IN
iecret, wiely directs the deitiny of mortals, has
cauied our alarms to ceatc at once, and has con-
Quoted us to the boiom or peace and indepen-
dence.
But, before contemplating the perfpeaive
of happineis which this day opens before us,
let us throw rctrogade glance upon the time
when the maieitic river of which we nhabit the
borders, rolled her waters in the (ilence of de-
ferts when the enterpriGng genius of Europe
ans, our ancettors, cauied them 20 land for the
hr't time, upon the uncultivated and wild coats
of this inmenle country; and let us conlider
the intereiting contrat which Louiliaua preients
at the diverft epochs of her exifence, and the
ferries of events that brought her to ttate of
PROPERTY unexampled. Vein the firft inttance
lee the unfortunate coloniits primitively tranl-
planted from the bofom of Europe into this new
Toll, to languih, deprived of the mot urgent
neceiIaries of life, and to perth victims of the
intemperature of the climate, and of all the
evils which bad administration had brought
upon them. Turning aide our eyes from
icene fo affecting, we fix them upon a coufolinc
di'aiters which had annhilated the 6rit, is tranf
planted into this inhofpitable land but the ex-
perence ofpah misfortunes has pointed out the
means of preventing them it arrives prepared
to combat the infalubrity of the climate and of
the foii, and to overcome all obitaces In [l,ort,
Louiiiana eitabiifhed itfclf The river which
waters it, fees fall under the axe of indufry the
antlent foreftS which covered its borders, and
the icene of nature changes. The progrsf: of
agriculture was at firit flow and difficult. It
became necehary to build dykes, to keep with
In bounds the waters of that immenfe river, and
put top to its detructive overflowings it be-
came neceGary to drain marines where the fun
had never penetrated, at the riiS Of the pefilen-
tia exhaations which theie clearances would
occa'ion 1t became neceilary in fome meaflIre
to conquer theie lands which the clements dif.
puted to men. The activity and perseverance
otthe inhabitants OF Louifiana flrmounted all
theie difficulties and the rchnefs of the foil
rewarded them for their labours and fatigues.
In fhort, this country had already become an in
tereitIng colony, when the turbulent genius of
Poncy cauied it to be abandoned by France to
deliver 1t to Foreign power. That memora
BILE event which divided the inhabitants of Lou
ii1ana from their anceitors, and made them
change matters for the frf time, brings to mind
recollections too painful for us to dwell upon.
Let US, therefore, pats rapidly over thefe mo-
ments OF public conformation, and LEI us ref
cur eyes upon more happy times.
The effects of that political commotion had
proved fatal TO agriculture. Time, and the
kindnefs of the new iovereign, reltored TRANQUIL
iity, and the colony took new fight towards
PROPERTY. During upwards of thirty years
that have elapied under the domination of
SPAN, our country, conftantly f,voured by the
monarch, has encreafed in population, agricul-
ture and nduffry, as much as the reprefiive in
liuence OF an abioute government would per-
mt. In hne, as If the fate of Louifana was TO
EXHIBIT an example of the initabity of human
things, the fame power which had difcarded us
IRON Its bolom appeared TO have recovered for
us Its former attachment, and fucceeded in ne
SacatiTs with Spain ffor the rrtrocciiion OF our
country. Notwithstanding our acknowledge
mentS tor the klndnefS of the prince who had
adopted us, we were joyfully returning under
the banners OF our anceftors, when A new revo-
luton, IT'LL more unexpected, more fudden and
more itriking, again changed our deftinv, and
made us undergo double metamorphoiis.
Here, my fellow citizens, let us pauie for
moment, to contemplate with due reverence
the atoniihing progrefS of events. For long
time the iport Of fortune and of policy; fubmit-
ting alternately to diverfe powers, paGive fDec-
tatorS OF the negotiations by which, in the cha
racter OF our matters, they,would difpofe of our
country ana ol ourieIVeS, could we believe that
we drew near the end of our fervitude? That
deciilve and unexampled moment has, however.
arrived United henceforward to that fortunate
and privileged foil, which houriIhes under the
protection OF free government, we fee open
before us career ofhappinefS of which we can
not perceive the termination.
Ih at independence which a COURAGEOUS na-
ton has conquered at the price of her blood,
over proud and powerful matters that indie
pendence which the United States have pur-
chaied 10y feven years OF war, fatigues and per-
1everance; that independence to which 70 ma
ny heroes have paid the homage of their lives
ana OF their fortunes we have juft acquired the
rLgn Of eIoging without its having colt us the
1maiet effort or the mott trifling facr;hce. We
are about TO paTtake, without having fought for
II, the price of the Victories of Bunker's Hill,
trenton, Saratoga, and 70 many other memo
raoie deeds where the republican intrepidity
has cauied the naughty head of defpotifm to
bend down +; in which the Warrens, the Mer-
GERS, and the Montgomeries, have ended their
career; where tho(e who have furviyed them
nave been covered with wounds of which they
It'll now the honorrable fears and where the
french, from whom we are defended, have la
vlIhed their generous blood for the fame caufc.
We' IN word, are going to ihare in the reward
of the glorious tolls Of the immortal WaGhing-
ton OF that hero whole celebrated name has
reionnded to the confines of the globe, s. whole
eXPioi's and virtues will remain eternalIy the
admiration of the human race. TO have &C
CURED liberty, my fellow citizens, without its