Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-01-31

OBSERVATION Thatsgcr, which might ca:sc
it to be viewed a. a national offence, ]
must observe, that according to roy in.
the duties on imports and eX.
ports are very moderate, only per cent?
that every power has right TO regulate
as they please these objects within the
boundaries OF thsin jurisdiction, and
that this exercise OF sovereignty is prsc-
tsed by the American government at
Fort Stoddert that is, within their lines,
without any pretensions on the part of
Spain to Interfere in their regulations.
But even admitting it may be trouble
some, 1t never surely can be pretended as
a national offence.
He afterwards says-" Propositions for
adjusting amicably tha boundaries Of Lou.
lsiana have not been acccedcd to- This
assertion is not strictly corre2 for it is,
and always has been, the wish as we'll as
the intention of Spain, to ad;us: anicc5ly
the limits of Louisiana bat however
friendly (amica6le) may have been her
disposition towards IT, she cannot sacrifice
thereto either the digni,y or rights of her
crown SO that it was not, as the pres.
dent supposes, owing 10 the want of
desire of adjusting om:ca6iy, tina, this
Business was not concluded but rather
iror1 the nature of the proposals, which
were lii themselves inadmissible. The
paragraph continues--" While the RICH,
IS unsettled, we have avoided to chance
the state of things, by taking new posts,
or strengthening Ourselves in the dishufcd
territories, in the hope that, the other
VPp WnnII hua
obilse US to meet their example, and
endanger Conflicts of authority, the issue
OF which may not easily be confronted
but IN this hope we have now reason to
lessen our confidence" In truth, I can
not comprehend what the president can
call n',SeHlsd right and still less, if he
wishes 10 apply it to that part of West
Florida cSmpreh. nded within the Mis-
slssippi, ibsrvile, the lakes, and the river
Perddo. The right of this territory
cannot be considered as unsettled or
doubtful; for independent of that right
arising from actual possession and from
The treaty Of retrocsssion OF Louisiana to
france, there is another conclusive cir
cumstance, well known to the American
government, which ought and mus,
dissiPate every doubt, if any could ever
exist on this subjeGt, The most dis,in-
guished civilians agree, that The true
interpreters OF a Treaty, doubtful i'm any
OF ITS cianses or expressions, the CONTRACTING
parties themselves, when this can be Obtained
spain and France. who were the contracting
p2riies in the treaty eff yetccess!on, on which is
founded thar o. sale. OF the 3y:h cf April, f. ON
whence tn pretensions cf the American coysrn.
IN ha.r =.
already known 10 you sir, namely, that it was
not the intention of Spain TO &c e TO France
more than she had received from her, as the IL
lie and word ,e;rocssstG, made use of therein.
clearly imply; and ;hat Flames never would have
pretended or hoped TO obtain one inch of land
east OF The Mississippi, Iberville ana the lakes
hs true intention of IN. contracting ayt,es 6e,ny
t6as expressly nianifestea, shIll content myseir
oy copying single paragraph from Hd;iei a.
mong many other similar ones which could
produce from other civilians, in support of The
rights OF the King, my master. on this subject
IN paragraph 2f4 OF " The Interpretation of
ireaues," Vatlel says" When we manifcstIy
see what is the sense that agrees zvub fbe inren
non u tse contracting powers, 1t is not permitted
10 turn iheir words TO a contrary meaning. 7be
Intention sufficiently KIN srn fu. msbes ne our mar
Ter Of f@e Convention, cf Spbat promised and &C.
ceffed, demanded and Sydmed 10 giol. re fbef,ea
ne'ted rat6e' f6aH against rbe terms in .rbic5 fr
IS concerned, TOR t6e terms are no,bing aoitoar,
fbe intentions THROUGHOUT 20 dictaic them" Accord
ing 10 ms, the position taken by the president
IN The SAID paragraph of his message, that the
right (no doubt aiuding to The territorial right
was doHoyHl or inserted. is inadm; ssible and OF
course al the inductions and consequences he
draws from this supposition, fall completely to
the ground Besides, whatever alteration or
change nigh, have taken place in the territories
OF his Catholic majesty could never have been,
as have had The honor to inform you, SIR, bur
the ELECTS OF new plan of frontiers, which the
retrocession oil Louisiana would of course render
necessary; or else it might proceed from the
circumstance OF Spain's being engaged in war
with England; but never with view to dis.
turb the peace and good understanding betw,xt
SPAN and the United States.
The president continues saying Inroads have
recently been made into the territories Of Orleans
and the Mississippi; our citizens have been
seized and their properly plundered in the yers
ports OF the former, which had been actually
delivered up by Spain, and this by the regular
officers and soldiers of that government"
Although have not on this subikrt more in.
formation than that received thro the Anne.
rican newspapers, whose accorsk cannot he
supposed very impartial, neves ts surprising
them correct in all thier eyen,. rom those
have read, It is neither provo. NJ do think i,
possible to believe, that th,ocey. yand soldiers of
the king. my master, hay crossed the American
line, to commit wiihin,n itnlsdie ttion of the u