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

~s.0n which il makes for population
which doubles itself every IS years 10
the increase Of strength derived to onr
I5a.eieracy by The addition OF the inha-
bta3ts Of Louisiana; 10 the new lies of
friendship winch it creates between the
pGited states avid the most powerful natl
on 20 Europe; the danger which it ayerts
OF .he unfriendiy Influence OF foreign pow
crs on the several Indian nations bordering
on our frontiers, TO the ability it affords US,
BY an exchange of territory advantageous
TO bo,h parties, 10 remove them farther
from our settlements, and to become the
undisiurbed possessors oil the country East
OF the MisSissippi,-andt to the riches
which may be obtained, by means OF the
precious metals which are SAID to abound
in Louisiana. These considerations, as
well as those perhaps, on which ! have
Already dwell are familiar 70 your minds,
and you. Know how 10 appreciate them {:
and 20 engage in a detailed examination
of the wloie, would Father DE trespas, stag,
ON Todr patience, than enr.ching your
Scores of information. And what has
been tie price q these numerous and
imme"se advantales! Have your young
men been summoned from the plough 10
in- ic!ai Of ba,tle! Have your fathers
of iani,e. been Obliged to tear them
selves tao:0 their lItIle ones, and TO a0an
d@n domestic duties Iiase your towns
been s,orlnci, or YOUR fields stained with
human blood ! Or have you oeen the in
strumca,s OF vengeance on other coun.
tues, aud d=soiated The far works OF God
hs- .s-a = & a.. D.
your uationai character, and Uttered hio
obligations dHb C ming he dignity oil All In
dePenden; people No; nothing of lie k,nd
has taken piacc. In: whole untry. has
been transferred III you COR less Jhln two
iniions AID d hatf sic ling. EJu have
Obtained it for about one half The sum
which Great Britain a te3 years since
squandcrsi away ON dispute, vine.
,her the Turks or the Rus,ilns, should
posses 5iugie iorcSs il 4 desert. You
have ublaiTci il for about oue halt the
sam, II MY memory deceive, ms not,
8hIch the s;,'ie power soon after this ex.
pende, IN d controversy wi,h opa,G, Nhe
thcr her subj chs should enl5y the ,igh
oi tshin; on coast belonging IN fact to
neither OF them; sid which was about
'tN Oi lGll (sOGSauu Il1llGS distant rom
bc;h.
Citizens of America well may you be
proud OF your government dread TO ex
CHE ihe feelings OF self concCit, and natl
o"Al arrogance: but you MAJ trace the
long page OF history, aud mark the pro.
Srcss oi other governments, whilst your
eve will q thnL land times alternately Hash
wi;h Indignation, and melt with pity, be
fore you will end It's para!l@l.
Het has tnis government been calum-
nIated . Ii has been illuminated, not by
foreigners, not by rival nations. No !:
they respect it and are lling TO bestow
oH it ihe tribute OF admiration. IL has
5een ca!umniated, ridiculcd and abused,
by native Americans!
The oppo cats ofthe government seem
10 DC dissatisfied with tbs acquisition of
Louisiana, because it was no. previously
iJn.5,.t lUr: 80 Il 10 contracts could be
valid between nations but sucn as are writ
ten N letters Of blood. Whatever merit
there way be, i'll having obtained the terri
tory, 1t oaght - be ascribed, they say, IA
thcr 10 Great Britain, than 10 the wisdom
a1d energy Of our own executive. Ii was
her making war on France, before The feet
had sailed, which was destined TO eolonize
LouSiana--it was the bower Of her navy,
and apprehension ofthe country's fall
irg into .cr hands, tha, induced the First
Consul TO ceds il to the United States.
I'D Uniting, that a calculation OF the
CHANCES Of war had an int,nsncc on the
mind Of the First Consul; will it follow
that no merit is due To the American go
VeFBneht Tor the prOmplncss with which
they ayailed themselves of this circnm
STAGE, 10 promote the aggrandzemenl oil
their country, and the extension of the
reign OF liberty and reason England, it
IS known, w"s Ia possession of the same
naval suPerIoTlty--was supported by the
powC.t oi conubcntal allies, and Louisiana
was il the hands OF he enemies, during
the administration Of p. Adams. How
Uld II happen then, it the acquisition of il
was 50 easy a matter under such circum
Stances, that Mr.. Adams never obtained
1t; or a, least 50 much Of it as should have
secured as tic navigation Of the Mssis-
siPPi! il surely was not owing to a doubt
81 rs Importance, vixen the friends Of
INSTRUMENTATION were disposed 10 plunge
che nation INTO a war for the sake OF It's
rapil.i CITY f,prrtv Vi,f, reasop is or,r,,