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


its view, with the ACKNOWLEDGMENT that
the whc,s landtsas purch-itd bona idc with
the public money and appropriated for public
buildings and town that is with the funds of
the ditrict for ufe arliug out of the diltri6 it
ieit, and that this palS oft was granted to Will
liam Dunbar, as compensation for public fsryi-
ces rendered TO the diitri6t. The committee
cannot fee how this land purcbafec for the pur-
pole mentioned, fhould afterwards, the neceiiity
for its application to that purpoie fill exiting,
become the private property of the royal family
OF SPAN. or how the governor could make
grant otiucn private property, as compensation
Tor public iervices, without fpecial pernilion,
"f'ch IRON the dates of the spplication and
{, rant, could not have been obtained.-The land,
theretore, muG be coniidered as reannexed to
the public domain, after the purchafe by the 20
vsrnment and accordingly, it appears, that a
very great part oft has been resranted to indi-
"ouais, as fuch, before the treaty. The I'M
granted part mutt certainly have palied to the u
hited States by the treaty, & could not be egiti-
hiateiy granted after the date of it by Spa
Nth governor. Nor can it be admitted,
even If the term withdraw fettlements'' ufsd
IN the treaty was intended to figuify the right of
dnpoing OF all improved lands for the benefit
o. tle private holders, that under it lands ftill
heId by the government could be 70 difpoieci
or; 1uch being always deemed the property of
the acquiring nation. The committee there
fore regretting the lofs of comnenfation for i'm
porant iervices which meritorious fubiect is
likely to undergo, and hoping the generoiity of
the Spaniih government viii not f1fTer iuch fer
wees to go in this way unrewardcd, pronoun-
ceS that the claim of William Dunbar cannot,
IN 'hClr oplnlon, upon any of the grounds adj
duced' be fuftaned. Upon the proprietv of -
ooptihS liberal policy on this occafion, and
making that compensation from otherlands ofthe
United States, through refpetf for the king of
SPAIN, and IN confederation that thofe ferviccs
were rendered TO the difrict of Natchsz, in
great meaiure, not very long before the relin-
qulihment, by perton at prefent citizen of
inc United States rejecting luilre on his adopted
country by his profound fcience and great pub
lie worth, and that the United States reaned
the benefit of that part of them, it is not with
IN the province allotted this committee to give
an opinion. The object of the petition of the
corporation OF Natchez, is co procure grant
from the United States of the lots and the piece
or land In queftion, for the ufe and accon1mo
datlon of the city. No legal title, on the part
OF the city, pretended. II appears, however,
with refpect to the piece of lard, that II has ali
along been coniidered as defined for the COM
mon ground of the city; and that this conf
deration had its influence in ENHANCING the
price OF the city lots to many OF their prefent
holders. The two lots N queftion leem indif-
pen6ble to the. city being tks ONLY fit fituations
for the erection Of public Buildings, which are
not IN poiiefiion of private perfons, and being
actually the mott hit of all within it for that pun
pole. Their peculiar fjfnefs and the refervati-
on OF them after the alienation of all the others
l"lth the exception ofthree indifferent ones and
the fraction of fourth before nentionedl
give ftrong ground to believe that thev were
really defined for this ufe by the Spanifh 60
vernment. They were formerly rel1nouifhed
by 1t to the United States. The citizens of
Natchez have always had reafon to believe that
they were permanently allotted for fome public
Gie 10 their city, either civil or religious, by the
Spaniih government.-The committee relea-
ing on the peculiar local lituation of this infant
city, cannot avoid conidering its profperitv az
a matter OF fome national importance. The
Miiiliilppi mutt foon become the greatef high
way on the earth. It's long arms extended in
every direction throughout the greateft and
mott valuable portions of the globe, which are
united by any natural caufe, all, with A Jingle
exception, concentre above this place. The
di1ufon of American principles and American
arts through all the wide fpace il embraces
the occupancy OF this whole fertile furface by
american citizens, is now injured beyond all
NIX. The immenfe wealth which will be pro-
NJ ny TIC hiuuitTy ana ingenuity OF thOfe CT
tlzens, with the aid of foilS hyperion to all. and
climates inferior to none on the earth, muG.
with the exception mentioned, be carried for
the purpofe of exchange along this highway.
/ ne city of Natchcz is an Inn efablifhed mon
1t IN choten fpot. There the thoufands of A.
merlcan citizens engaged in the transportation
and the iuperintendance Of the TRANSPORTATION of
mat wealth, with great numbers of the owners
OF It, VIII flop for refreihment and for ref. Be-
tore many years the margin of the river at this
pace VIII perhaps be conaantly fringed with
boats and its banks be covered with American
citizens, the navigators Of them. There is
narrow itrlpe OF land, at prefent the property of
the United States, which extends along very
nearly the whole front of the city upon the river,
and ieparates the buildings of il by a convent
ent diltance from the water. Thistle civ AXIS as
a boon from the government, that il NAV pre-
ierve 1t as an open fpace next the water for the
JOINT accommodation of the citizens, and thofe
itrangerS when they land. IF they are denied
this boon, the buildings win quickly extend TO
the water edge, where othcrwife only few
icattered itore-hOufes for the Temporary rbelfer
OF Paihng wealth would be admitted. OF this,
dreadful lnialubrity NUT be the certain confs-
quence. Scientific obferyation and mclancbo-
~ experience IN the great maratime cities Of the
United States have demonstrated that the germ
OF peitilence, If not always engendered, at leaf
always dcyelopcs first in the denfe and fta2nant
air 0! ihofc fsrects and buildings which lie near
cit the water. Thence, If fqvCured bv The IL.