The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-16

Philosopher in the fequencrsd vale of life mo,rns
over theie evils, benevolence drops a iilent tear,
and humanity weeps aloud. Hope fickens at
the proipect; the moral reformer almoit def
pairs, and the genius of freedom is ready to take
his flight from the world. But putting Aide all
considerations derived from theie calamitous
coniequences of war, and regarding this fubieet
merely as a matter of common calculation, we
have fill reaion to rejoice in the prudence
of our government. IF we had taken foreibk
poilefiion of New-Orleans and its dependencies,
we ihould have held it by infecure and illegal
tenure. We fhould indeed have had atfuai poi-
FELTON,, but France or Spain would have had the
right of poiIeflion and it is hardly probable
that thefe nations, one of them fiuihed with VIC
tory, and governed by a naughty and imperi-
Gus Conful, would tamely have yielded up this
right. Their pride, their prejudices would have
revolted at the idea, and we would have been
obliged to maintain with shofe formidable enc
mics never ceaiing warfare or at the end of
Tome untuccefsful campaign, we ihould be for
ced to reitore our conqueft, and iniiG only on
our original right of depoit.
| Suffer me ALTO to direct your attention 10 the
expence which would be incurred, and the trea-
fure which would be exhaufted during the diff
| aitrous period of war, and to a companion of
the two modes of acquiring property, merely as
1t reipe6ts the wealth of a nation. Louiiana
has been purchaied for fifteen millions of dol
/ lars, or iomething lefs. Two years continuance
or bohiltieS would have extorted from induttry
| a tar greater fun. We have nozv fifteen years
gwen us to pay the purchafe money in the
other cafe as money is the very fnew of war,
we would have been obliged to advance the ne
cehary tupplies without moments delay. In
the preient inftance we raife the fifteen mil
lions without laying cent of additional tax
from the duties on imports, which principally
| TAU on the wealthy confumer of the luxuries OF
life, and are eaGly and cheaply collected In
the other cafe we would have been obliged to
have recourfc to dirsd taxes, which by their ne
cefiary inequality, their falling heavily on the
poor at time they are Leaf able to pay them, and
the very great expence attending their colleeti-
on, are always odious and fometimcs infupport-
able. BY purchaiing this extenive country, we
preierve our neutrality, we pay off our public
deot, we perform all our engagements, we main
tain national credit. BY going to war for it we
ihould have been entangled in the contentious
of Europe, our public debt would have incacu-
lably encreafed, our engagements have been vi
olated, our credit impaired, and perhaps def
troyed. " Gold and filver would difappear.
The Banks would be ihut up. A circulating
medium, couiifting of their protected fecuri-
ties, of the deprecated certificates of the pub
tic debt, of a new Paper-curency ifIued on
6 the verge of national bankruptcy, would ge-
+" nerate IN its perpetual and rapid fluctuations,
fwarms of fpeculators who would intercept
&c the blood of the nation before it had perform
ed its natural Office, and glitter amdit its rui-
&c ms"
have dwelt the longer on this filbieet, fellow
citizens, and have endeavoured to impress it
the more forcibly on your minds becauie | be-
heve there is nothing from which thefe United
| States have 70 much to fear, as from military 60
vernments, and entangling alliances with other
ftates ETcJf man who ccnGde.s ;E.ra:t;;;a!!II;yf
the evils into which it might lead us, will caft
look of apprehension towards his country and
tremble for its liberty. But he will fet hmfelf
to oppofe thefe evils he will become the firm,
the ftrenuous advocate of peace; and in the hour
OF danger, fit fhould ever arrive, he will point
out the rock on which the velie of fate is about
to be ipht, and will warn the pilot of his danger.
Our government, fortunately for the American
people and for mankind, was in the prefent in
itance actuated by the puret virtue and the mott
enlightened policy; for inftead of embracing the
hottie meafures propofed, it had refort to nego-
citation, and Louifiana is ours. We now hold
1t, fellow citizens, by the right of purchafe.
France and Spain have given us an indi/paable
tifIe accompanied with peDsDTon. All the natl
ons OF Europe acquieice in the title and acknow-
ledge our right. Then we will defend it againft
all the world. s.-
NiiHoul one crop OF innocent
blood, without forcing from any human being
one tear of anguiill, without matching from ho-
neft induftry the fruits of its abour or oppreing
the poor with multiplied taxes and CONTRIBUTE
ons, we have obtained peaceable pofleflon of a
country of unlimited extent and inexhaufible
fertility, and annexed it to the union forever.
We have iecured ourfelves from the danger of
having reftlefs, intriguing & ambitious neigh
bour, ever ready to fan the flame civil diicord,
to fow difiention among the ftates, and to take
advantage of popular connections. We have
opened the markets of commerce to our weftern
brethren, and already the white fail, which
watts their opportunities to the inhabitants of
another land, is feen moving down the Milf
fiffippi. We have given to half a continent
the blefings of freedom, we have receiv-
ed a whole nation with open arms as bro
theirs, we have made them to participate in
all the advantages of our 6tuation, and from the
JiaUes of a king, we lave exalted them into the
children ofa republic. Nothing was wanting to
render the union firm and compact, and to per-
feet the order and harmony of the whole fyffem,
but Louifians and the Floridas. Lo,Iifana, re-
peat it, is ours, and the Floridas nigf follow.
If telinto have prefcribed to this addrels permit
ted, would endeavour to explain more fully, the ad-
vantage Of this acquiltion and its tendency to promote
commercial aud agricultural interets, our moral
and political improvement; and perhaps the view
might take of the fubject would be altogether M
intereting to your feelings. Knight lead YOU into 4