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


recommend.
The most permanent measures respecting our
foreign relations. On these. therefore. we shall
bestow the FIRST attention.. These measures prin-
cipa'y resFea Spain and Creas Britain.
These relative 10 Spain are involved In some
obscurity. We know the measures taken: bur
we do NOT know distinctly the reasons on which
,hey were founded. or the arguments urged a.
gajnss them. as the discussions relative 10 them
were conducted with closed doors. and as several
important documents are still reserved from the
public eye, The want of information thus inn
portant should inspire as with dishdence in our
| opinions. IT should. however, n the same time
nor be lost sight of that the negotiation tor the
purchase of the Floridas. the measure ultimately
adopted, did not s:eve the sanction OF the house
Of representatives until several weeks had Chaps
ed after the submission Of the proposition. and
until il had been fully discussed; until ample time
had been allowed tor its calculation ia every
| pea in which It could be presented. Having RIO
received STRENUOUS opposition, II Is but fair ,on
ter that the judgments of the representatives were
| maturely formed on an abundant stock of materi-
ais. When this circumssnnceis consdered in coE-
neetion with the faa that the measure was sane
toned by majority of % members of the house
of representatives and by large majority OF the
senate, we have strong presumptive proofs thar,
in as much rs it was approved by those who
were necessarily the best informed. who are TO
4
their constituents, and who feel the full weight
of responsibility, it is. all things considered. the
best measure which could have been Adopted.
! Viewed as an abstract question the possession
of the Fioridas must be allowed on all hands 10
be of infinite Importance to the United States.
The view taken Of this subje0 by commt,ee
of the house OF representatives, so long ago as
January, 1903, has been justly pronounced con-
lclusve. Tue time when, and the circumstances
under which this ieport was made, entitle il to
peculiar notice
! Ourreaders will recollea that Mt the period re-
feired to our right OF deposit at New Orleans was
invaded, attended by various symptoms of hos,i
| li;y on the par, of Spain At the session imme-
diatcly ensuing the occurrence of this event the
president submitted message TO the house of re-
personalities on the subject. From the debere.
tions of that body emanated this report, which
we subjoin at full length. ~
The committee, 70 cvhom tras referred a re-
solution frotssing an ahtirehTafian of
200 nlitions of dollars, in addition 10 ne
sum usually differentiated TOR the tiurao.
ses of intercourse 6efsvcen the United
States and foreign natisns, submit the
Joiio1cing
! REPORT:
The object of this resolution is to ena.
bic the executive to commence, with
more effect, a negotiation with the French
and Spanish governments relative to The
purchase from them ofthe island of New
Orleans, and The provinces of East and
West Florida. This object is deemed
highly important and has received the
attentive consideration Of the COMMITTEES.
The free and uumolested navigation of
the river Mississippi, is point 10 which
the attention of the general government
has been directed, ever since the peace
Of 1888, by which our independence as
a nation was finally acknowledged. I he
immense tract of country owned by the
United States, which lies immediately on
the Mississippi, or communicates with il
by means of large navigable rivers rising
within our boundaries, renders it's free
navigation an object, not only Of inssti-
mable advantage, but ofthe very first ne.
eessity. The Mississippi forms the wes-
tern boundary Of the United State. from
its source to the 3lst degree of North la
iitude, and empties itself into the Gulf of
Mexico about the asih degree of North
latitude. 1t furnishes the only outlet
through which the produce the Indiana
territory, of the states of Ohio, Kentuc-
ky and Tennessee, and of the western
parts ofPeDnsylvanias and Virginia, and
a portion Of the Mississippi territory, can
be transported to foreign market or to
the ports Of the Atlantic states. From
the 3lst degree of north latitude which
is the southern boundary Of the United
States, to the mouth of the river, the ter.
ritory on each side has heretofore been
in posse ssion of the Spanish government !;
the province Of Louisiana lying TO the
west, aud those of East Florida, with the
island of New-Orleans, to the east. AL
though the United States have insisted on
an uncomfortable right to pass up and
down the river, from its source TO the
sea, yet this right, il admitted in it's most
ample latitude, will not secure to them
The full advantages of navigation. The
strength and rapidly of the current of
The Mississippi are known to render its
ascent so extremely difficult, that few
vessels Of burtben have attempted to 70
as far as our boundary. This circum-
stance obliges the citizens ofthe western
country TO carry their produce down the
river in boats, from which il is put on
board of shins G DabIe of suxtaininor eco