Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-06-20


Constituents there is little occasion. 10 claim
for i. an attentive perusal. The interest
ing dcvelope ments of facts which il offers,
the digniiY oi The topics discussed, and
the able and disrassionate style which per-
vades the whole composition, will com
mand the respectful atteW,n of every
reader.-Nat. Intel.
City IF Washington, .dtrl ~, 1906.
FELLOW CITIZENS,
HE session oil the national iegisla-
,ure having Terminated on Monday the
2ist inst. The period has arrived for me
to communicate with you on the business
which has been transacted by il, and on
the state Of public affairs. The superior
Interest you have no doubt taken IN the
subject which was discussed in secret, in.
duces me TO conine myself at tins mo
mcnt to that single point, that may treat
1t more fully. shall! embrace other &C.
caslons of unfolding to you my sentiments
aud the information have obtained, upon
the other important questions which have
been agilatsd this winter. AT present
Shall eadeavor to give as concise an &C
count of that affair as may be consistent
with clearness perfectly aware that it
will be most agreeable to'you TO receive
Information in the least compass which
can insure facility Of comprs h nsion, and
that you would not be much fonder of
reading letter unnecessarily lengthy Than
should be OF mourning unnecessary ex.
pense for printing. must, notwi,hstand-
ing, unavoidably exceed The very narrow
limits usually assigned TO communicate,
ons of this nature; for to attain my end
ofcoavcying information, must adopt in
some manner the style of narrative, and
that now much soevsr condensed will &C.
cupy space.
The legislature on meeting found that
the nation was involved in serious Difficult.
ties with Spain and with Great Britain.
Not through any error, misconduct, or
neglect OF the executive branch of the go
yernmen;, nor through any injustice, VIC.
lenCe, or unlawful and insulting acts COM
United by our own citizens towards the
subjects OF those powers, or their authori-
ties. Bat with Spain, from difference
OF opinion about The boundaries of the
country VIC had recently purchased from
France, from refusal TO make PREPARATION
1oi the mischief done our citizens by The
suspension 81 the right of deposit at New
Orleans, In violation Of The treaty between
the Swo nations, and from The delay to sa-
,isty urdemand Of Naturalization 10 our
merchants for the spoliations committed
on them ny Spanish priva.eers, and by
the cru:zera ot France, within the juris
diStou OF Spain; the former OF which she
had orce acknowledged and assumed.
With Crcat-Brl.ain, from recent yiola,i.
ons ot the established law of nations in
regard 20 the persons and effects of our
cltzaps, peacea5y engaged in lawful com
rlerce Ia the European seas, more IA
grant and of nature more pernicious
than common. The first Of these alone
Will be the subject ofmy prcscn, commu.
nicaton.
The boundaries of Louisiana, which
had been conveyed 10 the United States
by France, exactly as she herself received
1t from Spain, he never been defined
with any accuracy, from The circumstance
OF The county beng almost entirely un
settled, and still remaining covered with
forests. The United States claim, as the
words OF the treaty authorize, the whole
space occupied by France previous 10
7763, in which year, by the treaty ofpeace
'Sihi"dtiiiB tHdt war; celebrated Tor the
victory Of Wolf and The defeat of Brad
dock, she ceded part to Great Britain
Tor the benefit of Spain, ard the remain
ing part directly 10 Spain herself. Dur
ing The occupancy Of the country by
Ffance, Spain, with the connivance of The
governor and military officers of that ma
ton, arising out OF The perfect understand
Ing and strict friendship existing between
the Two governments, had extended her
small detached settlements from the from.
tier OF New Mexico far within the limits,
al that time unquesuoned and indisputa.
be, OF the French jurisdiction. The part
cedsd by France 10 Great Britain was
wrested from that power by Spain, while
IN alliance with the United States, con-
tehding Tor their independence, and was
confirmed 10 her by Great Britain at the
peace OF 1893, which established that in
dependence. fhe descriptive language
OF the conveyance made by SPAN 10
France, and by France to the u States,
is precisely the same, and is unusually e.
quivocal. it is this, Z" Louisiana, with
the same extent that it now has in the
hands OF spain, and that it had when
France possessed il aCd such as it should
be after the treaties subsequently entered