The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1810-12-21


(Sgned) JOHN RHEA, Prest
Baton Rouge, Sep. 2e. 1910.
THE CONVENTION OF FLORIDA,
To the Hoa Robert Smith, Secretary Of State for the
UAiied Stafes.
sIR,
THE Convention of the State Of Florida have
already uaDsmitted official copy OF their Act ot
Ind cpel,uence, sough His EXcellency Gov Holmes
to the Pr siuenl OF the United States, accompanied
with tlc expression of their hope and desire that
this Commonwealth may be Immediately acknowled
ged and protected by the government of the enited
States, 40 an integral part OF the American Union.
On subject ~ ntcrcs.ng To the community repre-
sentcd by us, it j, necessary that We should have
the dilect and unsquivocai assurances Of the
views and wishes ot the American government with
out delay, since our weak and unpro oected situation
will obl,Se US To look to some ore sn government for
supporl, should 1t be refused 10 Us by the country
winch We nave considered our parent stale.
We therefore make inis direct appeal through YOU
20 the President and General Government of the A.
nerlcan States, to solicit that immediate protection,
to which consider ourselves entitled and TO OBJ
tam speedy and favourable decision, we Offer the
following considerations list Tie governm,n Of
the United States IN their instructions the Envoys
Extraordinary at Paris, 1870, authorized the pur-
chase OF t-Forida, directing them at the same
time TO engage France to ntercede with the cabinet
OF Spain, to reinquish any claim to the Territory
In
dipomatck correspondence with American ministers
aoro4d, the govern ment oi the United States have
spoken OF West Florida az part of he Louisiana
cession. They have iegislated for t.,e country
part OF their own Territory, ana have deferred 20
take possession of it, IN eXpeI Itaton that SPAN
night be induced 10 relinq ash her claim by AMIGA
bic negotiation. 3d. The American government has
already rctused to accredit any mins from the
Spanish Junta, which body was certainly more lc-
gay organized, AS the representive of the sover-
Cignt., than Chat now called the regency OF spain
therefore the CnLed States cannot but regayd any
force authority cmany,ing fron them. with AN m
tcntion 10 su6JuSate us, AZ they would Invasion ot
their territory by foreign enemy Attn. The En-
pesour of France has invited the spanish Americans
To declare their independence, rather than remain in
subj jgatlon 10 me old Spanish government there.
fore an acknowledgement OF our independence by
tie UnneI States could not be complained of BY
France, or invptyc the American government in any
contest with that power. 5th. Neither Can IL afford
any jus, cause OF complaint to Great itsn, sltno'
sl, DC the ally OF Span, that the Uaited States
should acknowledge and support our dependence;
ss this measure Was necessary to the country
from falling into ,he hands of the Freach cxes from
the Island OF Cuba, aud other par,zans OF Bonaparte
who are the eernai enemies Of Great Britain.
Should the UnSed Safes DC induced by these or
any oter consideration, to acknowledge claim
to their protection integral part of their Terri
tory, otherwise, We feel 1t duty to claim for
our constituents immediate aclniss sion into the
Wnion as an nde pendent state, oil "A territory ot
the Uatcd States, with permission to establish our
own form of government, or to be united with one
OF the neiyhbouring Territories part of one of
them, in such manner as tn form statc.-Should it
b. thought proper tn annex To- of tue neigh
bouring terri les, ora part OF one Ut them, the In
habtants ot this commonwealth would prefer being
annexed to the Island ot Orleans, and in The mean
while, until state government should De establish.
ell, that they should be governed by the ordinances
already enacted by TINS Convention, and by their fur.
ther regulations hereafter.
The clam wiica W. have To the soil or unloc ated
lands, w,iain this comm onwealth. will not it is pre-
sameS. be contested by the Ua,ted States, as they
have tacitly acqu,csced in the claim of France or
S., n for seven years, and the restrictions OF the
several embargo aud nonintercourse laws nigh, FAIR.
n be constructed. IL not REIMBURSEMENT of their
claim vet at least sufficient 10 entte the people of
t.;s co'nnonwca attn, (sho have wre,ted the govern.
msns and coL,ry from Spain, at the risk OF their ives
aal f,c.unc,) ~ all the unlocatcd iau,s II will
strike the American government that the ,aoass ari
sax from tue sales OF thcse lands, applied, as they
vii o- toimprovyas the in'ersi comm iu,c,tions Of
the coaatry. opeuihg canals, will IN fact Dc adding
10 tic Dro.pcry anu slrcng u OF the federal union
rs itl:il with good faith our promises and engage.
mens to the Inhabitants Of td;s country, viii b. Sar
Al, xl,ficd ua,tlon al Il