Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-05-22

sdjaps that inhabit that extensive ,errtlp,.
Z. We have sworn allegiance 20 the Amer;
can government and We expect pro!eclioo.
w ask she free navigation of the Mobie
1 river rot as favor, but as a right. W.
/ apneal to the Law OF nations, TO law
which, al all tllnes Independent OF the ar.
bi;rary entertainments OF the poweffuI.
and the mean submissions Of the WEAK
stand firm apd urshakea On the iromp,aAr
1 basis of ipsiice. The common sense Of
| meh regoIts at the idea, that when Mature
created rivele watering extensive terro.
Ir;es, she mean to conhne the bsnchts Of
them 30 those who should possess .he c0un.
Try where they discharge themselves mo
the ocean. They were Intended for The
common good; end saoae VINO possess
their mouths caE, have no more right 10 ba,
the use ;of. tfem, than those Rho possess
,ieis soGrces can have q right to diver.
their currents into Other channels. II this
doctrine be abandoned, NO other can Be
substituted 10 It's Place which IS founded
on the principles Of justice. Power may
tram pls on this, IS 1t has done Oh all other
rights, and weakness may sink under the
,usurpation: but 10 successful exercise Of
law!ess power eau contravene the ana!tera.
/ bic rules of rec:itude. ne waters Of til:
Mobile pass through the territory Of the
; United States from north to south fora
! space oi at least 400 miles. Shall Spain.
who holds no! 40 miles on its banks, say
thai,h river v@s created Tor her alone
Were we, through diiiidsnt dlsuusto
our own conceptions OF iasursl justice, :o
ljcitous 10 f"r,jty cur cause win the ogi.
Mons of o.hefs, we could easily quote 10
our favor the decisions OF writer ou The |
law Of nations, whose opinions nave a.!
ways been treated with respect IN s,mi!at
controversies Bui we ieei satisfied ia
resting our cause on all appeal 20 saat law
of rccutude which is written on the htart T
Of every man by the Gnger OF his maker.
Nor lei il be said, that expressions SIM.
lar 10 those which were exercised on Us
were formally pracsised on Ger western
fellow c!t!2ens, that a formal eafy with !
the kirg OF Spain was necessary TO confer j
on the people of the United ases rish'
10 navigate the Mississippi, and that they I
acquired by az act Of grace from MS catho'
lie majesty privilege TO which nature had
given him no title. ,fne idea is false;
me doctrine is alike gfoundless and dis 3
graceful 10 the Unnet States. .Ihers IS 10
clause ~ the trei,y a!ludS TO which admits 1
ne rights Of the king of Spain 10 monopu'
lie the use OF the Mississippi river. The i
spirit OF the treaty ptesunes collateral B
Tjght on4he part OF the United Sta'es; and !.
the only express provisions contained On
the sslh]sct are, thar similar right shall E
not be assumed by other nations, and that &
1t shall De- rendered practically useful 10
the United States, by their having place
OF deposi: within the domnions OF the king e.
OF Spain. The mere r!ghs OF navigation S
on the Mobie and Mississippi remained
he same, therefore, under ,he treaty.
The United States did no, deign 60 accept
N either case iron the favor of the king
o SpaiG, bpt fyfsumiNq ttGt they possessed
u under she law or nations, procured the
Ut regulations whicAihouS1
needless on the Mobile, were on The MIS-
elsslpPi absolutely necessary for rendering
'hc right Of navigation productive OF 10
iail sdvsntaGe TO the people Of America
/; IS circumstance not il;tle surprising
thar the .d'a=rent Spanish agents IN tbs
country, aisaHow the charge OF hawpS
oern originally the cause OF our being. bar
tAened " ira: lfnt;es at Mobile WheDI1
Oceooerssse governor Claiborne, with a pa'
.rlouc Zeal for our interests, applied to iaS
iEtendant Morales for suspension ottnei
order; Morales, as we hsee been Informed
-eplied, thar he was entirely without infof
n1atioh'ln tie case referred TO, that hisa'
Ter concsra'ls tie Mississippi, was 5nnfs' "a
y unconnected @ish the navigation OF nc
-iyer Iornbigtee, aud could not have oes'
he basis OF tne. Procee t.lngs at the " obiH'