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

mental IN making arrangements of such
Incompatible nlopent 10 them :. When
| kentucky becaI,ss "a state, what WAS IL ;ha,
induced her ciusens 10 form themsalves
into associations iler legislature TO remon-
strate, her peoP!e 10 petition, -s-her homes,
linen TO exert evSry nerve, and her ambiti-
GUS men to secorl their exsrtions, and =.
ven 10 outstrip their zeal rs the surest path
to popularity What was il bui convic
ton pervading every class and dsnomina
ton OF cillzens, that without the free pa-
vigation of the Mississippi we should be a
poor, disp.riied. peggar!y people! i. -,
What was II ,lat induced some OF our
Citizens to engage in the projects OF Il 70.
reign minister Tor attacking the Spanish
possessions, anu winch led those mol au.
atty engaged, 10 regret ihAt the proiect
could TO, be carried in.o execution ,vithon,
violating our ncugseiisy * ieopard.zing The
peace at the uGion; but the conviction
That without the free navigation Of The
Mississippi ne'ther neutrality nor ro
vernmen'al prot faion, nor peace. was Of
any value? lam merely stating fac,s and
principles Of a2l "a which were known %
exist,--wi,houl alpl ,,ng the one, OF meaa
lng to expressaG appreciation of III other.
Nor would l be thought Ia intimate ,bata
ny considerable portion Of The people were
EN- "a ked in the project OF invading Leu.
isiana. ,.,
But the violen, and momsntary roie6ls
ct the few--and he legal, bu, steady aud
persevering efforts OF The macy lall direcl
cd to the same obiect,) alike discove,
what we're the feelings and congi6tons Of
the whole body of the people relative to
an unembarrassed outlet of our commerce
Behold then, fellow citizens, you have i,
Ii has been obtalned by your government
without Your exertions, and unsnackled
by every kind OF condition, or cncum.tan
ces, which could cucumber III. tx .rciss
otit,or which might rsndcri,s permanence
questionable. !, I he navigation of lie Mis-.
sissippl slands ulw on the same fooliog
as the navigation of ,he Hudson orthe ID
laware land ills free and unenbarrass
ed,--not from The good pleasure. of 70
reign power, bu, because W own the ter.
rtory ON each of its bank, and though
The acquisition OF he territory so Gar from.
being c&pecled Vas tot even thought Of
IN Kentucky; yst it is evident that no
thing short ofthis could av, aGo deitou Ii.
complete security for The permanent en-
joymenl Of our rights.
The plan Of colomzinE Louisiana il is
known was favo,ite ore with the frs.
consul Of france. HID i been undeg.a
ken at all, there can be 40 doub. bur ,ha
1t would have ben underf ken with ihs
same bnldness OF design AID grand .ur oil
execution which chsracl rise all his capital
performances. frerch villages, Frcnch
encampmemts, French forts, would hay
appeared IN every part of the country
west OF the Mississippi: French vessels
would have swarmed il. the river: and on
Its eastern shores should we have been
occasionally dozziad aud captiya.ed by
French splendo, add m.erifcence. and
necessarily he duPcs OF freucl, ambition
and intrigue. Every d ~ should we have
seen and felt. that hrugh we Owed 20 the
UNION the blessings of good governments,
we depended on The French for the bless.
'ngs oil commerce land by the exhibit
on OF generosity at one time and of pow
er at another by alternately Aaitering
our vanity and awakening our fears, should
we have been training 10 The belief, that
The fraternity of our new neiehbors WAS
more essential TO oUr interests, than ourCe-
derai alliance with our fathers and our bro
theirs il is possible therefore. il i, high.
ly probable, that in course of time, we
should have embraced as a point of pru
dence, the plan OF close councillor with
France. But close as it NIGH, have been,
identified as you might nor irally have BE-
come with the Ere ch republc; remem.
Der, people Of Kentucky! that you never
could have been transformed into French.
men No; nature iogb.ds IL, and the OH.
ginal sin Of being descended from men
who drew their first bi ea,h in the British
Isles, would have contaminated the b! cd
OF yourselves and your children and have
been q mill stone around The neck Of your
latest posterity. And what would have
been the consequence Look al Swi.zer.
land al Iaiy aud at Holland and YOU
will easily Judge what would have been
the situation OF the descendants OF the
men OF Ciessy and Asincouri.
Fellow citizens! Cod forbid 'hatIshould
ezclte national iealous.as, or blow up lhe
Bdme Of hostility to France or any otbgr
country. 1 aliudr ,ul, o.. as. g., ,.