Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-04-24

1
| to KS limas, sf.ea sormetly possessed (dJ
| by France, i.ssfe;etes 10 she cast, as far
al least, as fIlrs rlyer pefdido, which iuu,
into the BAY CT Mexice, eastward Of he
river Mcblise.'
Ihas it appears, that even according to
the authority here referred TO, and quoted,
the United States had purchased from
France large uact ct country, all the
boundaries of which were, in fact, left in.
definite by our very provid,nt segocia.ors,
and therefore necessarily !" ibvols 1 IN
some obscuri,y - with the exceptions on !.
ly Of its maritime border, and OF the ri.,
yer Mississippi, down to the 5lsl degree.
of ncrst latitude. I'll
4 But although wesiwardly Of the Mis-,
eis.ippi, ;his land Of " obscrEi;yn nay be
/" very exsensive," and, notwithstanding
we have been told, by the same auhoril,
thar " ii stretches TO the east as far at Ieass
as the river Perdido" Germs which are
indeed. very incompetent to convey anv
shlpg Ike ''preclse" meaning) there
were many" Individuals" and these, too.
g among the best Informed upon thar sub.
jec,'', who did, nevertheless, then believe
that The cQloty or province Of Loasi,
ana" had no extent at all cas,wardly CT he
Mississippi, The lberville and the lakes;
but that (souslwardlY of the 3lst degree
OF north lali;ude) these waters constitute
she western boundaries Of The Spaash
province Of West Florida. Those who
entertained this opinion, it now fully ap,
pears, were correct.
This business has been finally discussed
in congress, and the peoplc of the United
States are al length gracio9sly perthitted
10 know the result Of their secret delihera-
lions on the SUBJECT; excepting one alt-m.
portan, measure, (would TO Ged il were
an honorable and beneficial one which il
is endesyored, still TO cover with a veil
OF mysterious secrecy! (eI-Now we
find, that a nos: uUlucky mistake some
how Or other; occupied the mind ofour
executive, respecting the extent Of our
newly acquired territory. 1t seems TO be
now conceded, that wha, is properly called
louisiana (he denomination of the oply
country, except the Island of Orleans,
which we had actually purchased lies on
the western bank OF The Mississippi But
although this colony of Louisiana, for
which IS Ooo,COO Of d ollars have been DO.
IA fde ps,d5is said to be very extensive
wsstwafd'y of that river, we are about 10
cede to the Spauiards "a great portion ofiti
SO as 20 give them arl ample barrier oa
the side oftheir provinces of Mexico, &c.
And besides shis sonle mplalsd disme n'btr-
ment ST Louisiana Pn ,per, and in addr'lon
70 the saoney psid ia the purchase OF Is
it is now proposed, tn at the people OF ibs
United States shall pa y two millions more,
(and who is lhere ANA ing IS, thar viii un'
dcrtake to say, that Fl ance viii not obtain,
as sort of tribute, tM IS dcaceur OF super.
added CT millions in order to acquire
hstyery serri:ory, can twsrd OF the .MiSsis'
Bippl, &c. which we are told, from high
authority, our fifteen mll!iont OF dollars
had already paid for!
The truth, bowever, is and is at length
known thai The executive pf the United
States cid promuigatt TO the American
people, such wild aud eAtravsgsnt notions,
concerns g the eastern extension OF the IL
mis- Of Louisiana, as many persons fore
saw, at an early period, could neither be
nationally nor fairiv csslnfalned And
il is now manifest, that. in consequence OF
the sanction which those visionary oPlnl'
ons, unfortunately received among the
people solely On the credit OF me execu'
i've, in whoss probity and intelligence
hey had reposrd great confidence, ihey
aave hten led into a very serious error
TIE situation and ex,co', conse.
1uenily the value and importance as wen
As she ultimate price, ofthas territory which
he United States have already purchased,
and paid for, at SO enormous a rate. ~
Nav sot everv independent american vs-
" Justly exalala,. 10 the words OF Mr.. fan'
Io!ph g when behold the affairs Of TINS
.a,lon instead o; b=iog where,i hoped, aad
he ,,e,pl4 he i;evid they were: committee