The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-11-10

furthCr-tOO
proud to accept lands from the Spanish monarchy
in Fiorida-and that they rely for Indulgence and
relief on the benevolence of the American nation.
And would 1t not be strange soec Ism, that their
names should be counted by and by, when the
mississippi Territory claims of Congress to be
admitted into the union am independent state I:
and that they should be deemed as nothing or
worse than nothing when they pray for the es.
adjustment Of local government under the
especicial guardianship and controul of the U.
States
9. 1t has been suggested that SOM cf the Pc
titioners were concerned in tse famous Yazou
speculation This is from 4 very general know
ledge OF tho petitioners, believed tn be entirely
mistaken idea. Their own conduct in disclai.
ming all title To the public lands, and in petition
ing tor pre- exemptions, fully proves that they Al .
not msn OF that description. The greater pat
OF the new settlers, indeed, are poor men who
labor for their livelihood, and probably know no.
thing ABOUT Y azou dreams. Indeed the only per
son IN the Tombigby settlement, whom the vri-
ter ot this ever understood was conc rned in for
eng .ettlements under Georgia sales, or in any
way participating in the Yazou iniquity, s vio-
lcntly opposed to the separation sf the Mobile
country from the Mississippi Territory. On the
4th ct July last, before tie observations, which
had been made in Congress, could have been
known. there was numerous meeting of per.
sons, settlers on the United States lands in the
fork OF the. Tombigby and Alabama. and the
toasts which were drank on that occasion, evince
spiri. OF patriotism and respect for the laws
One of theirtoas,s was, John Randolph oi Vir.
gnia-,he great Patriot ~ "A gentleman who is
lar frem being favorite with Yszou men, but
whose indignation at the expressions suffered by
t'ie settlers on the Tomb,,by, from the Spanish
government, has enGeared him to people, whose
s,,nation naturally calls their attention more TO
local grievances than to general politics. IT il
true that 1t has been generally asserted, and pro.
pp hat
cerned in tho Yaxou speculation, have lst.iy ss.
tabshed themselves IN tile bis bend of the Ten
nessec, the northern part ct the proposed new
territory but as they have never been consulted
with respect TO the petition, it is rot kno wn whe-
ther they are friendly to it otherwise The
probability is, that they will oppose it, Whilst
they remain under territorial government, they
efiectuslly counterfeit the will of the
people of the United States. But soon the
Mississippi Territory becomes an Independent
state, they will, If they make part oft, possess
consequences and weight which they never
Yet enjoyed II their vanity should prompt them
again 10 attcmptto move the world The state ie
sislsture 'S.A be tile ground which they will
st,nd. And surely TAR from II, kns tho fear
Ut Yazouism, tie reasen for rejecting a petition
for 4 new territorial district II affords the most
substantial motives Tor retaining the country, IN
when the Ya4ou men bave established them
selves, under the especial guardianship OF thu u
our territorial forms ofsosernment, they possess
Al least the advantage OF protecting the general
interests of the natIon, against the inroads OF 10
cal factions.
3. 1t was said in Congress, that the consent of
the state of Georgia, and Of the legislature OF the
Mississippi Territory 10 necessary 10 division Of
that territory.
But What are the words of the articles of agree
lncnt AID cession, which this doctrine Is toun-
ded They as follows
Is The territory thus coded, shall form a state
aud be admitted such into the Union. AZ soon
as It snail contain 90, 900 free inhabitants" fla
state be formed, whenever there are 81, 900 free
inhabitants within tho coded limits surely the
object and intention of this provision is complied
with. II il had been the object of the cummlss-
oners not merely to provide Ter tile erection OF
state, but prevent more than one state from be-
ing established surely words might have been
found to express tiiis attention But what reason
could the state of Georgia have for making such
regulation ; 1t rs improbable that she should
wish thus to limit tie weight and influence of the
southern country in the American coniederacy
aud it is still more improbable that the commIss.
toner's OF the United States should deem them
selve at liberty acquiesce in such proposition,
IT 1t had been made, when the very law uhder
which they acted, expressly provided, =" that the
Mississippi territory might, at the discretion OF
Congress, be divided isto two districts, it'll Sc
psrate territorial governments IN each" indeed
the very section itself, on which this objection is
founded, adopts the ordinance for the p vernGlei.t
Of thS North Western territory, which contains
provision for the establishment OF two or mora
states. AS 10 the talk about the necessity ct the
consent of The territorial legislature, it deserves
notice, until 1T be sneWn what principles II
is founded
1t is indeed truly curious doctrine, that bo-
dy of men, formed for mere l4cal legislation, un-
der the authority Of AN act of Congress, should
have the power of controlling the great council OF
thenatiOn in its arrangements for the good gov
eminent and happiness of persons settling ON
lands, the general property OF the people OF the
u. States.
The present prospect of affairs with Britain, &
the prospect OF happy accommodation with
France, whose interests as to maritime affairs are
the same as ours--crestcs rational expectation
that ere long, the United States will become pos
SCISSOR of Florida.
That country is TOO poor in territory, in soil,
and in population to be fit for separate govern.
ment. That part of it which lies west oil Pearl
river will naturally fall to- state or territory on
the Mississippi whilst that part which hes be-
tween Pears river and the Appalachicola, will
still more naturally become united with the pro
posed territory OF Mobile. But should the whole
ofthe present territory between Georgia and the
Mississippi, be erected into state, IL will be too
unwedy to admit of any accession of territory
Florida can never BECOME state of itself and
there viii l'e then other state or territory to
which il can be conveniently unitsd
MOBILIENSIS.
ON Tuesday last, the Corner Stone of the
RGCHHoND ACADEMY was laid in the pre-
sence of number OF Spectators. The Pro-