The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-03-01

fail to have favourable influence upon the final de-
cion OF this important quetOu, that, ince the deli
very OF the animated obieryaticIs which veilertay 10
powerfully attracted the attention of the Houle,
have been afforded few hours OF tranquil retire
ment from the tempe of the forum, for the purpole
uiefui at all times and peculiarly 20 the preieut
tinle OF calm reelection. To transfer ou,ieives IN
moment from the owery fields Of fancy, the rug
ged road of argument, deicend fundamentally from
the elevated fcencs of eoquence to the humble walks
or common teie, requires effort traufcending or
binary powers In claiming your attention, Mr.
Speaker tor greater portion of the day than COM
monty occupy IN debate upon this aoor, iia adj
dreis you III the ttyle Of compliment CEREMONY IL
Is time TO banIih from thee walls that idle frippery
OF acrimonious conver!aGon, which iiited only &c
new years compliment, a birth day falutat;on and
to try crch Itte If the urdy ipirit of antiquity
bold, loud, an imFreIive appeal, is made to the
American people. In thar appeal | fcarleis,y and
niot cordially unite. regret, however, the eAillence
OF precedent which az jDtlihes and demands
thee addreties to the people. Much as win to dir
terminate correct information, particularly ub;eGt
which believe is but inlperfecly underioua WITHOUT
theie walls except by uiere1ed perious and convin-
eed as that the lubjea is underlfood, aud an o.
Pinon formed upsn it, by every member of this Hou(e
ha not 70 completely follow the example, before us
as to ipeak the people in the rlt iutfance but fall
as uiual direa my ohiervations TO the Eaafe
lpropoie 70 examine, in couce, aud Il it be in my
quehions, which have iire9 application to the a.
mendments propofed by the gentleman from Virginia
(Mr. Cark) to the reioutiun under confederation
and which at the fame time open view the whole
extent of the iuble9.
Did the ilate of Georgia, in the year 1875, poflef.
a title to the territory III que!tion?
We're the egilature Of Georgia, III 1895, inyetted
with the constitutional power of making iale of the
territory, and did they make fuch fe TO thofe from,
whom the PTeeDt claimants derive their title or pre-
tended title! And If fucb laie was made, what title
colour Of title did it conveyl
Were the members of the legislature Of Georgia,
in 1885, inveited with the conititutonal power Of re-
fcinding the acts of their predictions in relation to
fuch f,ie, and did they relcind them?
Were the claims or pretended claims of the preient
claimants IN any manner recognized by the af of
cefion OF the territory in qusion from Georgia to
the United States And,
Dol uiiice and policy, either iuftce or policy,
require that the whole or any part OF the five millions
Of acres reierved by the aa of ceiIon from GEORGIA
to the United States, for the purpsfe of fatisfyng
claims OF certain deicrption again(t Georgia. in re.
feren,e to the fad territory, hould be appropriated
for the PurPoe OF ia5syg the claims of the preient
claimants
However eStenGve the outline which I have
hstched Of the iubjea, the lurvey viii be a rapid
one.
1t is rseelary that Mould make one or two pre-
limnary 75iervat;nns. have uniformly been oppo-
fed to the doctrine which has been 70 powerfully i'd
vocated that Congress is competent to make a egiGa
tive deciiion upon the validity invaidity Of the
conflicting acts OF Georgia. We pollels 10 fnch
powers. But as individuals we may express our opi-
Mons. Nor aru diipofed to do any thing which fha
have tendency to imPugn the title Of the United
States to this territory. Without deciding the oueA;
Of title, my principal obea is TO hevy that the
claimants in poGeion of 70 itrong colour of tl,
that it viii be good policy authorize negotiation
with them for the abandonment of their claim. elpe
cially we have prolPeG of obtaining that sbau
donment their part, without going beyond the re-
ferVation in the aG of celon and Of courle without
the actual exPenee of Jingle dollar to the United
States.
Did the Gate Of Georgia, in the year 179-, pofefs
title to the territory in qucRion1
To anfwer this enquiry, il is only necefary
TO make one or two quotations from the arti-
cies OF agreement and ccl6cn, entered into on
zoe oath OF April 1902, between the commit
lonels OF the United States and thoTe of Ceor-
gia. In the frGt article, "the flate of GEORGIA
cedes to the United States all the right, title
aud claim, which the taid fate has TO the ,urif
dietioD and foil Of the lands ftuated within the
boundaries of the United States (outb of the
fate of Tennefee," SC. By the fecond arti-
Gle, "The United States accept The ce(Iion A.
aforementioned, and on the Conditions Therein
exprstltd and they cede TO the fate of Geor-
ga whatever claim, right, or title, they may
have to the jurifdiction or foil of any lands lying
within the United States, and out OF the proper
boundaries of any other fate, and iituated fouth
of the fouthern boundaries of the ftates of Ten
ne1ee, North-Carolina and South Carolina, and
eat of the boundary line herein above defcribed.
as the eafern boundary of the territory coded
by Georgia to the United States" Whatever
claim or title the United States might previoullv
have had to the territory, they thought proper.
in 1909, to combine With It, and To fortifv il.
by that of Georgia; and flrely we niail not do
any ACT, OF adopt any principle, tending 70 i'm
pair the tile under which we now exercie u-
rji1iction over the territory.
We're the iegi1atuTe of Georgia, in 1909. in.
Vefed with the constitutional power of making
fale of the territory, and did they make ficb
fae TO thcle from whom the preCent claimants
derive their title or pretended title' And If
jIch fae was made, what title or color of title
did il convey?
In this age Of political revolution and rcfor-
nation, ir coniider it as an age Of refofma-
tion as well revolution, there are Oil certain
princiDles and maxims, not merely venerable
for their antiquity, bot confecratcd by their
conformity to the common fenfe and reafon of
NaDkind, which are soniidered as uniyerisl in