Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-05-06

lie assigned, the late occurrence shsw,
the uncertainty of It's continuance. Elk !
peisuce proves that the caprice or the
interested views OF a single efficsr, may
perpctual.y subject us 10 the alternative +,
of submitting TO iljary, or OF resort.ng 10
war.
: The late violation Of our treaty with
Spain necessarily leads to the enquiry
how far the western country may be at
fected in other points, not connected with
New Orleans. The Mississippi terrific
ry extends from the confines of Georgia
to the river Mississippi, and FROM the 8 LIST
TO the Ssth degree of north latitude. Ii
IS estimated to contain more than fifty
millions OF acres, and from its numerous
advantages must one day or other pos
ses an immense population. The vare-
", richness and abundance Of its preduc-
tons, hold out to settlers the stronge., in
ducements to resort thither, and the u
nited States may safely Calculate on draw
ing considerable revenue from the sale
OF lands in this, as we'll as in other quar-.
ters OF the western country. The value
ct these, however, may be administrator
increased, and the sale impeded or adj.
vanced by the impression made on the
public mind, by shutting the port of New
Orleans, and by eventual. measures which
may be adopted to guard against similar
injuries.
Yves, Florida is bounded on the north
by the Mississippi serri,ory, from which
It IS separated by no natural boundary
on the east by the river Apalachicola
which divides it from East Florida on
the west by the river Mississippi, and on
the south by the Gulf of Mexico. The
Mississippi territory is intersected by
many large and valuable rivers which rise
within its own boundaries, and neander
through it in a general direction from
north to south, but empty themselves in
to ihe Gulf Of Mexico through the pro-
vince of West Florida. In fact with the
exception OF that part of the territory
which lies immediately on the Nississip-
pi, the whole must depend on the Mobile
and the Apalachicola, with their nume-
rous branches, and on some other rivers
OF inferior note, for the means of send
ing its produce to,market, and of return
ing to itselfsuch foreign supplies, as the
necessities or convenience of its inhabi-
tants may require. In these rivers TOO,
the eastern parts of the state of Tennes.
see are deeply interested, as some of the
great branches of the Mobile approach
very near TO some of those branche. of
the Tennessee river, which lie above the
great muscle shoals. Even If it should
prove difficult to connect them, yet the
land carriage will be shorter, and the
route TO the sea more direct, than the ri-
yer Tennessee furnishes. These river.
possess likewise an advantage which is
denied 10 the Mississippi. As their
sources are not in the mountains, and
their course is thro' a level country, their
currents are gentle and the tide flows con-
siderabIy above our boundary. This cir.
cumstance together with the depth of
water which many Of them afford, rem.
der them accessible to sea.vesseIs; and
ships of two hundred tons burthen may
ascend for several hundred miles in the
heart of the Mississippi territory. These
rivers, however, which run almost ex.
clusively within cur own limits, & which
it would seem as if nature had intended
for our own benefit, we must be indebt.
ed TO others for the beneficial use of, so
long as the province of West Florida
shall continue IN the possession Of 70.
reign nation. If the province of West
Florida were of itself an independent en-
pire, it would be the interest of its 90
vernmentto promote the freedom IF trade,
by laying open the mouths Of the rivers
to all nations, This having been the policy
of those powers who possess the mouths
Of the Rhine, the Danube, the Pc and the
ragus, with some others. But the sys
tern Of colonization, which has ALWAYS
heretofore prevailed, proves, hat the mo.
tler country IS ever anxious 10 eDgross
10 itself the trade OF i;s colonies, and az
fofds Us every reason TO apprehend that
Spain will not readily admit US 10 pass
through her territory to carry on trade
either with each other or with foreign
nations. This right we may insist on,
and perhaps it may be conceded to us
but il is possible that it may be denied. |
At all events il may prove the source of
endless disagreement and perpetual hos.
tility.
In this respect East Florida may not
perhaps be go important, but It's acquisi
ton IS nevertheless deemed desirable.
From its junction with the state Of Ceor.
gia az the river Ct. Msrv's IN e,re,cba,