The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-02-05


Of the Territory of Louiiana {; to whom was
referred the third ult,fe, uetssrial IL the French
language, with tranllation thereof, from iindry
planters, merchants and other inhabitants of the
fad territory ~ l.oulana.
January 25th, lso5--Read ard ordered TO he refer
red to seonrnittee ct the whole Houfe, on Monday
next.
THE grievances, which have been felt by the
memorialifs, are of nature, which your con-
mittee believe TO he infeparable from thoi. fid-
den trsn6tions of government, TO which late ro-
litical events have fubistted the inhabitants of
Loufana. By them, however, they are afcrb-
ed to denial, on the part of the United States,
of thofe rights and irnmunities to which they
declare themfelves entitled, in virtue of the third
article OF the treaty. which transferred them to
our dominion, and to the immediate enjoyment
OF which they now claim to be admitted. It is
only under the torture, that this article Of the
treaty of Paris can be made TO .peak the Ian
guage, 'afcribed to it by the memorialifs, or
couutenance, for moment, that charge Of
breach of faith, which they have conceived
,hemfelves jufi6ed, in exhibiting againh the 60
vcrnmcnt. By that article it is fipulated, that
" The inhabitants of the coded territory fllsi,
" be Incorporated into the union of the United
States, and admitted, as foon as poffible, ac-
"cording to the principles of the federal cor
ffitution, to the enjoyment Of all the rights,
I" advantages and immunities of citizens OF the
United States (; and, in the mean time, they
fhall be maintained ard protected in the free
enjoyment of their liberty. property, and the
" religion which they protest.
They ihali be Incorporated into the union
'' and admitted"-to what "to the enjoyment
OF all the rights, &c. of American citizens -
when? Sc 3 foon as it can be done in confor-
L" nifty with the principles OF the federal contt-
"tution: Ias2n while they are TO be protect
"ed, &c"
Could any doubt be excited of the foundnefs
of this confru6tion Of the EngliCh context, it
would be infantly diiiipated by recurrence
To its counterpart, in the French language, if
the nanifeit abiurdity of the concluding words
of the article, which would refult from an op-
polite Interpretation, fhonid fail to remove it.
For what necelity could exit for provifon
FIGURING TO the inhabitants of Louliana the tenn
porary enjoyment of certain minor privileges,
when their immediate admfion 10 all the rights
of American citizens was one of the conditions
on which their country was transferred to the
United States, by France Whether the words
" as foou As poi,ible, according to the prnci-
pies of the federal contributions" be undcrttood
refer to any change, which. in conformity
with'its own principles, might, at fome future
period, be made in that inhrument or, to that
proviiiop of the contribution which requires the
equally fatal to the claim, urged by the memo
rialiits, of their right to an immediate partici.
patton ofthoie benefits, which they cannot poi.
icis, i'll their full extent, until admitted to their
enjoyment by the principles the conftitu ion.
The imputation, therefore, of want of good |
faith in the government of the United States is |
not more unfupported by the language of the |
third article of the treaty of Paris, than if re-
pusnaDt to the uniform tenor of the American
&
tonal exiitence.
But becaufe the memorialins may have ap-
preciated too highly the rights which have been
fscured to them by the treaty of ceilion, the
claims ofthe people of Louiiana, on the wifi
dom audjuitice fCopgrefS, ught not in (the OPT
Mon of your committee)to be, thereby, preju- |
diced. Relying on the good fenfe of that peo-
pie TO point ont to them, that the United
States canuot have incurred heavy debt in or
Ger ijbtai:i the territory CT Lo;aE merely
with view 10 the executive, or Especial benefit
OF its inhabitants, your committee, at the fame
time, earneft,y recommend, that every indul-
gence, not incompatible with the interefts of
The union, may he extended to them. Only
too modes prefent themfelves, whereby de-
pendent province may be held in obedience to
its fovereign fate. Force and affection. The
fri ofthete is not only repugnant to all our
principles and Invitations of government, but
it could not be more 0dious TO thofe on whom
it might operate, than it would be hottie TO
the bet interefs, as well as the dearef predi-
Lotions, of thoie by whom, in this intance, il
would have to be exercifed. The United States
are not the property of an hereditary depot,
or the rich prize of a military adveHturer,
whole favortes and followers may haitian on the
fpol of plundered provinces, won by the blood
and treature of their exhaufed fuhjects, but
they form the patrimony Of a free and enight- |
ened people, who control, Whit they conNi- |
tute, the only fund, from which tie men and
the money, Of which military power is compo- |
fed, can be drawn. IL can never be the nteref, |
therefore, ofthe people of the United States to |
fIheci themlelves to the burthens, and their H. !
bertiesto the dangers, ola VAT military force |
for the fubjugation OF others. The only alter |
native, then, which prefents itfeIf, is believed |
to he not more congenial to the feelings, than |
10 the beit interefs of the union. So long as |
their authority pervades the territory of Louf- |
ana, fo long as their laws are refpe6ted, and o. |
beyed therein, your committee arc At lofts to |
conceive how the United States are more inter-
eftcd in the internal government of that terri |
tory tnan of any fate in the confederacy. By |
permitting her inhabitants to form their own
ieeaircgulltions, the voice of dilconteut would
be ed,--fatlion Off it exift) difarrned, and
the people bound to US by the nrong ties of
gratitude and interef. The fpirit of difafeci- |
on, ihould it be excited at any future period, |
by ambitious and unprncipled men, would be |
In Gtrst.t houttitv ths f,Lvinus irfo,an &c