The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-01-24
AN ADDRESS
TO THE
PEOPLE OF NEW ENGLAND.
BY ALGERNoN SIDNEY.
[CoN9f.UEp.
penhLe of M.nr Irrh.A

Justice of the claim OF, confidence which
make in behalf of the national gov. rnnent
tut i go further, ami drInand your gratitutie
The opposition claim the credit of FURNISHING
the funds for this administrator Solar as the
internal taxes have contributed, | admit theil
-'iaim and yield every advantage they can
derive. but they have been answered, and
repeat it. that the right of levying an impost
and the power to regulate commerce., were
the most powerful reasons that Induced the
lconstitution; and the impost was levied by
universal consent. two years before that diff
ference. oil opinion which produced the pre-
sent parties.
Neither party can justly claim the credi,
OF the measure, but, it either can, it justly
belongs to the republican party, for it was
proposed in Congress by the republican Pre-.
sident elect, on the Sthday of April 1883
debates IN Congress, Volume first page thir-
teen.)
The purchase of Louisiana has passed the
ordeal of severe party censure, yet the his
tory of ancient and modern times does not re-
cord an act of higher political wisdom.
II cost fifteen millions of dollars, of which
three millions and three quarters, went to
the relief of our merchants. The right to
collect our present duties for thirty years at
the port of New-Orleans would sell in mar
ket for more than the whole Purchase mo.
ney.
To this is to be added The valse of at least
200, 000, 600 acres OF productive, we'll situated
lands immense public properly in the CITY
and island of New-Orleans,; neXhaustible
supplies Of lead and other precious metals /;
the revenues collected at Philadelphia, Balti-
more, and New-York on goods sent over tue
mountains or by the northern waters, to the
people of these countries fore
! aul all tha f,tnra heno;tc &c tbats ,,t. ,.,l
trade, which is now deserving attention, and
will become of more importance 10 our mer-
Chants. than the whole foreign commerce of
the small Kingdoms in Europe
In a political view the advantages derived
from this purchase transcend tae conceptions
of the boldest calculator.
1thas excluded the intrigues If Europe from
our western frontier; and secired the peo-
pie of West Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan,
West Virginia, Kentucky. Tennessee, Indi-
ana, and Mississippi, in a free and u~ninter-
rupted passage to and from the 5cean, which
twas essential To their existence.-it has bril-
died the savages OF the west, and deprived
them of the aids without which they cannot
maintain war with this nation. 1t has pre-
vented our citizens from migrating to a TO-
reign power, in numbers not less than thirty
Thousand annually, and saved us from all the
evils of a foreign nation on our western from
tier.
Next to seas. impossible mountains and
impenetrable marshes are the best bounda-
lries between ~rations. None can be worse
than navigable rivers, where the citizens of
different nations encounter daily, and almost
unavoidable collision. Is there a man who
wishes that Bonaparte held louisiana, or
New Orleans, and that he should settle his
disbanded Veterans on the banks of the Mis-
sissippi!
If the country west of that river be too re-
mote and extensive to remain always under.
or a member of this nation, the inhabitants
some centuries hence will withdraw and set
up tor themselves, as a son bids adieu tc the
house OF his father, and establishes for him
sell a family and like the son, they will car
ry with them our principles, our love of Ii
berty, our habits and manners, an affection
ate recollection OF past scenes and AN attach
to this nation only.
Finally, it has relieved all our citizens
west OF the Allegheny FROM being taxed by
q foreign power i'll their neighborhoOd, and
secured TO our merchants the freight Of that
extensive country and a profit on its products.
4 freight which i'll thirty Years will re-
|quire As much tonnage as is now owned in
this nation. This country can never conc
in competition with any interestsin New En-
gland, but 1t comes into direct competition
with all the states south OF the Delaware, and
particularly with those south Of the Poto
mack; and the planters and farmers of those
states, as well as the states themselves, MAY
feel the effects of this competition and RI
valship. ToNew England it viii be a miue
OF weaith-would to God that our other from
tier was as well secured, and much / fear.
that before that event happens, this nation
viii not enjoy, at any one time, any consi-
derable period Of tranquility and happiness
1his purchase forms one ground OH which
l contend that the republican adminisrra,i-
on has paid superior attention to commerce /;
and however it may be thought at this day.
the period is not remote when our merchantk
VIII acknowledge that they owe 4 quarter or
Il third OF their prosperity to this acc. Other
evidences in support Of my claim, will be de
veloped in the sequel.
line government is charged with ~artfulIy
shaping The course Of national affairs, so as
to undermine The lcadiag re
publicans are charged with an insiSious de-
sign to oVerturn it and introduce the .faucied
~ stem of Chin'; and the southern and west
ern people are charged generally with a ha-
tired 30 commerce. Starry ] am to say that
these charges have taken deep root in The
minAs OF many Of you. who ] know tobc no
nest, and who will never surrender the rights
vt civil h5eriy. 1t shall be my endeaycc 70
remove this belize, < to show you bg proofs
irresistible, that the charges are unfmmded.
Of at lctSs not supported by a Single fact.