Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-09-22
IL - Cas- S'4gle.]

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| Il seems 10 be little short Of inialuation,
thIt The British ministry, during the late
war with Spain; never made single ef-
} tort 10 obtain the possession OF the I'M
mense and fertile territory /; aud were it
not Tor the arrogance which would inter-
uningle itself with cur pety, well might
We offer 10 the Supreme Dispuser Of c.
vents the tribute of our gratitude Tor so
! binding the eyes OF the British admini-
siration as 10 prevent their making them
seises masters OF a country, ri hose CONT.
guity to Us would ALWAYS have threatened
oei, i.eaos, and whose productive cspaci-
ties ould have iniiicled so serohsa wound
on the commercial prosperity oF The Unit
ca States. II may be said, iqdeed, taac
the progress oi this newly acquired terri
tory l" population and improvement will
be as detrimental 10 tbs original states,
whilst under our own dominion, as ii could
have been whilst urder thst OF foreign
power. But let il be cScolle6lud, tha: pos
sessing the sovereignty, we possess The
power Of cOu;ruulii'g its. population, and
THAT " ha,cYer rcspcclabiiity and wealth it
Ray hereafter arrive al, it Will all be
thrown toto that common stock, which
npuo!ds the security, the strength and the
gr-ndeut Of The Whole.
There is another consideration, less
thought Oc indeed, but more awful and
more t,ply interesting 10 the safety and
happiness OF at least the western parts of
the Union, than any which has been sug-
ges,ed. Had eitoer France or England
obtained possession of Louisiana with he
view oL colonzhg it, il is probable that in
the course OF lew years, that territory
would have been drluged with slaves from
The coast oil Africa England, noiwltl-
siand.nS the cHcr,ions Of men whose
names are SO dear TO the cause OF huma-
nifty, hes scarcely ever relaxed the ardor
with which she vas accustomed 20 pur-
sac this execrablc traffic: and though
t. lnce through ihe shor; but glorious era
when The principles Of the vir,uous and
pAilosophica parry OF the Gronds, had
an ascemdaucy, denounced th.s infamous
outrage upOn'human nature yer no stea-
dy aversion To II Eaih been since disco
vertd-and al length, To use the express
siSe ailusion of holy writ, " The dog is re-
,uraed 10 his WON'T again, and The sow
70 her walIowing IN The mirc." Span ir
- true psrsued he same policy, and it is
only because she has not pushed the po-
rUiatiou of The county, that we have hi.
theyio seen no evil ironl this quarter.
10 the honour of our nation, II has been
reserved for the CoHgres, of The United
States 10 put Veio OF this traffic, and
may il every whore b. known and menti-
oned that prohibition of the slave trade
of Louisiana Wa, decreed in the rational
Ven .;e l>xr3 g g. y
To impress you with an idea of what
our situation would have been in the m
mediate vicinity ola French or Brush co.
lony, OF which Hne lenths Of Inc popula.
zion were slaves, no language OF miue is
necessary. ii you cast your eye on the
dark and terrific scenes which have been
exhibited in ST ID omingI YOU cannot err
IN your conceptions. by TIE transle. of
this territory to the Uniied States, instead =
OF new grave being opened Tor me chill
dren OF captivity, there is a wide area
thrown open to he sons Of freedom -
Here IS a Chanrel into which the overflow.
ing population Of other countries may be
safely discharged. Here the oppressed
may fad relief and The furnished be sup-
piled with abundance, whilst liberty and
t'N-~ i'si'N'~'NS o4tetii w ''AN " Nllno
3ut the horrors of seven years war 10
accomplish it.
In commercial view, the proepsa is
equally flat.ering. Hitherto the trade
Of the Yves, Indies has b.cn Of great inr.
porlance to the Uhi.ed States. Our COM
mobiles correspond with their wants
and their Productions, or tie other hand
are such IS we have been unable to raise.
Bu; 1t has been a trade dependent on the
will OF foreign powers. At no distant day,
We shall possess a similar trade within
our own territories. 7 hat part Of Louisi-
ana winch is capable Of producing sugar
AID coffee, cannot be les than The whole
OF the British West India Islands. Here
! then we shall possess a trade free from
al foreign interference ,--inderendent Of
every nation upon eauh,-unfe"ercd by
The cspricious and perPlex.og regulations
OF adistant goyernmcnt,-~we shall furnish
our sou herp brethren with the prime ne
cessaries Of life and they in return will
supply for us those wants, which though
more artificial, are rendered by habit al