The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-23
Domestic intelligence.
NEW-O MS, May 4.

AT diuner given by number of gentlemen
OF New-OrleanS to the American comn,ifioners,
on Monday the 10th inf. DIR. Watkins, being
called on to preiide, delivered from the chair
the following addreis to the commiflioners:
Gentlemen,
Permit us to congratulate YOU on the happy
clole of a million as glorious to our country rs
1T is honourable to you1elves. Since the eta
blilhment of the independence of America, no
event has occurred 10 important to its govern
ment or as cilential to the true interets & prof
perity of its inhabitants, as the one in which
you have borne 70 contiguous part. BY the
peaceful operations of the wife and uft policy
OF the United States, territory has been attach
ed To them unbounded in extent, unequalled in
fertility and poi1eiGng all the climates aud adj
yantaSes OF the happief regions in the world.
| 10 you gentlemen has been committed the no.
nourablc talk of taking pofeflion of this coun-
try. The Eagle of Liberty has extended its
flight to Louiiiana, and will cover its virtuous
Inhabitants with its protecting wings. We hail
a new and enterpriing people as friends, bro
theirs and teliow-citiZcns. The feeds of agricul-
ture, commerce and the arts are already TOWN
among them, and will grow unrefrained, fofer-
ed by the hand of wifdom into wealth, power &
national greatness. The prudence which has
governed the latter part of this great tranfaion,
has been equal to the wifdom which originally
| planned it. To execute with ability and adj
drefS important fruits, is the peculiar privilege
of exalted minds and you, gentlemen, are en-
titled to all the praife, and all the recompenfe
due to dttinguifhed and arduous fervices. Your
manly, digniied conduct, your firmnefs & per-
feverance, in difficult, troublefome tranfa6ti-
on; your affable, conciiating manners and,
above all, your conftant fcrIpulous attention to
the interefts of your country, entitle you to the
love of all honef men, and the appreciation &
confidence of the United States. The Goth of
Dec. lat will ever be remembered as the birth
day of the liberties of Louiiana, and will be &C.
lehrated by the lovers of freedom and equal
rights, as long as time fhall lat. The names of
Claiborne and Wilkinfon will be confecrated in
the annals of Louifiana, and command the ref
pect of poterity.
We, gentlemen, who furround you at this
moment, can recolle6t but cannot defcrihe the
pare aiid never 10 DC forgotten joys that anma-
ted each bofom on the day, when you firt I'M
furled the flag, and proclaimed the laws of our
native land, in this long neglected country. We
law the difficulties that lay before you, and have
witneiied with pleafure, that by your wifdom &
prudence they have been removed, and calm
contentment every where eltabliihed. With
ientiments like thefe, it is needless TO exprefs to
| your excellency on the one hand, the pieafure
we experience from your remaining among us,
TO allure you of our firm fupport in the adj
miniftration of your government; and on the
other hand, the deep regret we feel at the de-
lparture ofy your colleague Gen. Wilkinfon, who,
by his dgnifed conduct, and gentlemanly de-
pertinent, has concentrated the refpeet and af-
tectIons OF the country and while we exercifc
our beft withes for the health, PROPERTY and
happineis OF your excelcncy, we deiire that the
q lame fentiments may accompany the general on
his voyage, and be reciprocated by ali grateful
Americans. Permit us to mngle with the fef-
tIval OF this day, as pledge of our frendlhip, a
tear OF regret for his approaching departure /;
and, as the itronget proof of our incerity, we
pray that his voyage may be prefperous, and that
he may meet from an enlightened government,
the recompence of his long and faithful fervices.
To fbe nboUe addrrG, Governor Claiborne re-
turned (eyfenlporr an ayf1Uer to the foilosU-
ing e6fa.
beg leave, fellow-citizens, to exprefs the
emotions of gratitude which your friendly adj
dreis to the commiIioners has excited, and to
offer you our warmeft congratulations on that
great event, which next to the declaration of in
dependence is the mott honorable to the Ameri-
can name, aud mott aufpicious to the perma-
nent PROPERTY of our common country. The
virtue that directed, and the wifdorn that con-
Quoted the memorable treaty which has given to
be acknowledged by the world, and cannot be
too much admired by grateful people. The
/ duty aligned to the commif1ioncrs was indeed
of minor confederation but the truf conhded,
we have endeavoured TO difcharge with fidelity,
and the high appreciation of our conduct which
you are pleafed to exprefs, will be ever held in
grateful remembrance
| pray you gentlemen to receive my fncere
thanks for your kind fentiments of perfonal con-
: fdence, accompanied with af11rances Of my no.
nett endeavours to merit continuance of your
good opinion.
Permit me gentlemen to declare my regret at
the approaching departure of my colleague, &
to Innse with yours my beft wifhes for his
health, happinefs and welfare.
General HHkin/on, after q, /1orf banje, made, in
return, The following rcfI.
Gentlemen,
! Unufedto ipeak in public on any location, ]
hall not be able to do juftice to my feelings on
the prefent My fenfbilities deny me the pow
! er TO make you the flita5lc acknowledgements
for the unmerited honor, the undeferved praife
you beftow on me but gentlemen, were I
dumb, my tongue would rend the bonds of f.
ence to thank you for your projections OFFEND
hip and your kind wilhes. am about to leave
you--to be far removed from you, but fpeak
IN trict verify when FAY, the recollection of this
day viii be ever dear to my bofom, and will