Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-06-25

OIL The republic. They knew that the au.
.noti.y whose duiyiIis to presefve.ord
enforce the laws, could not be expeSfed
speak tsebly about infringemen.s of law
violations OF order, and they felt that the
executive branch IS more naturally the
EXETER than The moderator of the lerisIa.
lure. The term chaStisc, used in the re.
port OF the committee, gave an alarm, FOR it
seemed equivalent 10 offensive war, for
which thcir minds were not prepared.
Regardless of the declaration of contrary
views made by the supporters of the pro-
'osiuon, and oil the different tenor of the
preceding language OF the report, they
persisted IN considering it as a step which
would produce The war it was their desire
70 avert. Ii could not be denied there
was reason 10 believe that Spain, havig,,
inli reliance on the strength of her ally
teit no dissemination TO hostilities, but she
had as yet collected no force on our from.
tier, unless four hundred men sent from
the HAVANA to Mobile might be consi
defed as such {; nor did i, appear TO be ca
sy Tor her TO do it, from the slate of her
troops IN America, and the occupation of
the sea by the English. The measure
proposed would compel her 10 make all
possible exertions, immediately to
strengthen herself on our frontier In the
actual temper of the two nations, it was
deemed unsafe by those who had vet
strong hopes, and had.conceived particu-
lar views of reconciliation, 10 trust large
bodies o6s men, with hostile feelings in
sight OF each other, even if the United
States could collecl them Immediately on
their part. And that was known to BE al.
together hopeless, in the way proposed,
from the slow progress which had been
made IN all former attempts to recruit.
II could BOT be reasonably expected thai
even by increasing Ten fold the bounty for
inlisting, the number desired could be OBJ
tanned in twelve months. This PROPOSE
lion was accordingly rejected.
Another was Immediately brought for
ward, TO put sum of money into the hands
OF the executive to open negotiation
with Spain torihe purchase OF the Floridas,
which contained besides the slip Of coun.
try claimed by the United States, lying
eastward of the Mississippi, a separate
province OF considerabie extent and value,
and finca!cuiable local importance to The
union. That province, East Florida, con-
ians an immense body of unsettled land
OF good quality, IN a wholesome climate,
which admits the culture Of the most va
uable kind of cotton throughout, and on
The eastern extremity, ii is said even that
Ut coffee to advantage. 1t has great ex-
TEN OF sea coast, along which The whole
trade OF the Mississippi, promising very
soon TO be much the largest portion of the
export trade of the union, must pass.
AS long as this coast is held by another
power That trade may be annoyed by pub.
lie or private cruisers of all sizes, from
the frigate to the barge, which may rise
with safety and convenience in its harbors,
or lurke behind its reefs for that purpose.
But when possessed by the United States,
gun boats alone will be sufficient to place
the same trade in perfect safety. The y.
States have no claim upon any part of this
province.
West Florida, which was originally part
OF Louisiana, and is claimed as such by
the United States, contains no greas guam
THY OF valuable land. BY its position,
however, it separates so completely the
territory of Orleans from the Mississippi
territory, that the mails of the United
States cannot be carried by land 10 New
Orleans without the indulgence of the
Spanish governor. II includes the only
outlets to the sea of the north western
part of Georgia, Of the eastern, the cen.
trail, and more than half the western part
OF the Mississippi territory, which are
walcred by some Of our best rivers. One
OF those affords the only ready ana coDve-
nient route for the return trade Of the
country Of the Ohio, the Tennessee, the
Missouri, and all the upper branches OF
the Mississippi. The Object Of those
who brought forward this proposition, was
to offer liberal province To- which the u.
nited States had no professions, yet would
derive immense benefit from possessing,
upon condition that The province in dis
pute should be given up in the bargain,
and that boundary between the two ma
lions on their southwestern frontier
should be established upon Just and {.
quail construction Of the terms of the
treaty as explained by the evidence OF
history. The claim for spcliations
would of course be urged in the new
negotiation, and could be readily pro
yided for out of the money to be paid for