The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-12-27
gRoM PEE NA9IoXAL Ix7sLLrckxcEx.

In comphance with promise Wacn We
made some days ago We have the pleasure
OF laying before our readers the following
, statement, Inc correctness Of which NAV be
relied or respecting the title of the u 5. TO
the territory east OF the river Pert!,do in
the territory heretofore generally called
West-tlorida. Inc statement is extracted
from document published under the au
| thority of an act OF Congress. passed at their,
last session, which directed a collation. and
| arrangement OF the laws, treaties and other
documents relating to the Public Lands
The u. States by the treaty of 1908
| with France acquired Louisiana without any
direct definition OF its boundaries. bul as full.
lY ana IN the same manner as ie had been
acquired by France from SPAN in virtue. of
the treaty of 81. I,u.fonso OF the LIST of Oc-
tooer, 1900. BY ;his treaty Spain had re-
troacded Louisiana to France" with the
same extent dat il then had in the hands
OF SPAN, and l.iat il had when France pos
Ssssed it. and such as il shoul,, oe after the
treaties subsequently, entered into between
SPAN and other siates.'
BY the grant of Louis the fourteenth to
Cfozat, dated IAN Septenbe: 17!2, all the
country drained by the waters emp,yinq d.
rectiy or indirectly into the MisSissppi, is
included within the boundaries of Louisiana.
HE discovery of that river by the French, the
general principles adopted by the Europe
All nations IN relation to the rights of disco
very The publicity of the grant, and the
long acquiescence of Spain. establish the
Claim OF the United States TO that extent
But the western boundary OH the Sc a shore
and south OF the waters emPtying into the
hed Siver, is still a subject of controversy
between the two nation, the territory cal.
led by Spain g Province of Taxas " being
claimed by both. The claim of France now
transferred 10 the United States, extended
ct least as tar west the bay of St. Bcr-
nara, IN virtue of he settlement made there
by La Sale, i'll 1885 in The vicinity of the
river Gaudaloupe at time when Spain &C
cupied no part Of The TERRITORY east of the
R'o Norte That settlement was DESTROYED.
and notwithstanding The repeated orders of
the french government, was not resumed
by the local authorities. In the mean while
Tin 17l7) the Spaniards sent some priests
among the Indians. aud shortly after es.
taoished Il small Military post at Adayes.
afterwards transferred TO N1godches, on
which rests their claim TO the country cast
OF La Sales set. lement, By an arrange
ment made IN 1906. by the commanding of
tlcers in thai quarter, it was agreed that
for the present the Spaniards should not
cross the Sabine, and that the Americans
should not extend their settlements as far as
that river. And III order to prevent any
collisions until the difference should be Fl
nally adjusted instructions have been given
that the public lands should not be SURVEYED
Hest OF meridian passing by NatChi oches
East OF the Mississippi, the u. S claim,
by virtue OF the treaty of 1905, all the ter
ritory south ofthe 31st degree If north lati
tude, and extending westwarlly 10 the small
river Perdido. which lies between Mobile
and PENSACOLA, and was when Louisiana for
merly belonged TO France, the boundary be-
tween that colony and the Spanish proyi2ce
o! Florida That territory, together with
J the residue ct Louisiana, east al the missis-
slppi, was by the treaty of 1868, coded by
France to u. Britain, who by the same trea
~ acquired also Spanish Florida The pre-
liminary articles OF that treaty were signed
on the Sd day of Nov 1852 and, on tie
same day France by separate act, ceded
to Spain all the residue of Louisiana, west
or the MISSISSIPPI. and including the CITY
and island ESQ called) of New Orleans By
the treaty OF 1888 CT. Britain coded to the
u. States. all that part of the former COLONY
OF Louisiana, east of the Mississippi. which
lay north OF the 3Ist degree of north lati
tude and 10 SPAN, under the name of west
ana east fiorida, both 'hat part of louisa
ma, east OF the Mississippi which Law south
OF thai parallel OF latitude. and the old SPA
nish province OF Florida. The 2Ist degree
OF latitude was, By the subseq uent treaty of
lIs5. between the u STATES and Spain cum
timed as the boundary betw en- the posse,
SONS OF the two nations. The title of the
U. States 10 the territory in question, under
the treaties of ST. Ildefonso, and of 1906. is
| fully established by those facts
Louisiana was retroceded 10 France t.wlth
| the same extent that 1t then had IN the hands
OF Spain )" and the territory in question. by
Whatever name Spain chose 10 call il, was
! then substantially in her hands
Louisiana was retroceded with the same
extent that 1T had when France possessed
1t; and not only was that TERRITORY part of
louisiana when France possessed IT (; but
she never owned that province 4 sin lie day
without that territory, rs part Of IT. For,
aS mas been stated, she coded on the same
DAY tue eastern part of Louisiana to Eng
land a~d the western part to Spain.
! Louisiana was re,roceded. "such as II
should be after the treaties subsequently On
tered INTO between Spain and other states :"
and Spain never had, since She ACQUIRED
Louisiana IN 1862, made any treaties re-,
tlVt to Louisiana, bar that of 17g5 with C.
Britain. and thac Of 1905, with tne y. States
one h"d entered into no treaty whatever.
| winch Affected Louisiana 7De3! of the Ms
siSslppi' Inns member Of the description
Can therefore only apply to the territory in
| question, east OF the Mississippi. and there
it mas full effect; theterritory having been
acquired BY span, ~ her treaty uf '83 win
U. Britain, and It's Boundaries ha,iae- been
hnaliy estabilsnedb by her treaty OF 1895. win