The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-12-29

MT. Shaw. agreeably to his notice of yes.
'erday: offered a bill "providing for, and
authoring the call of convention to draw
up constitution, preparatory to the ad-
, mission OF this territory into the union as an
independent state
November &c.
GALL OF A CONVENTION "A bill is now
before the house of representatives of this
territory, 'for the call of convention, to
form a state constitution. The convention
is to meet ON the An day of July next. anr;
proceed to the adoption of constitution.
winch is to be presented TO the next COG
! Sress, and application to be made for adj
| Inissior, ,ate .hS an!o...
hostiie as we are TO territorial govern
| mems, we cannot view this step in our lie
| gisiature bit with the most serious concern.
we i1oA npon 1T as an unwarrantabe exer.
CiSe oi power, Incompatible with the s,irir
OF repnoi!cani,m, and DANGEROUS 70 the peace
anu tranquility of the union A precedene
once set, IS easily followed, and it Goes NOT
require the spirit OF divination to foresee
'hat oihcr territories will tread our step,
and each claim right Of admission in,c
| the union.
we think it presumption in our repre-
sent"siVes TO see their judgments in opI}ost-
ton TO the wisdom OF the nation and if the
| bill should pass, this inference is irresisti-
pie: we deny TO congress justice or liberia.
N.Y. ana say, you would not authorize us
20 can convention, although legally en-
ci.eu 10 &c. Should congress be thus illibe-
| raj and unjust, they will, if we form a con-
| stituton without Permission, auouestiona-
ply refuse US admission into the UNION.
row then are we to acts WIZ we quietly
return 10 our condition? or will we aC.empr
70 coerce congresss If we consent to re-
turn TO the territorial grade, we had bet
Ter not attempt the change; and if we Der
sist IN self government TN defiance of Inv
ana the expressed will of the nation. we,
are apPrehensiye that our Conduct viii, he.
construed into treason.
independent OF the principle of the mea.,
sure, we are opposed to it from policy.
II IT, should unfor unately pass, con-
B'eSs VIII suppose that we mean to awe.
tnem into compliance, and will refuse onri
application until we have the entire nom.
'aion required by law-----but if we *.
permission TO cali convention as an act of
courtesy, they may prove more comply
ing, and we be dispensed of several wears
o! minority, and admitted as soon as W.
nave population that will entitle Us to re-
presentation IN congress. we know that q.
considerable degree of irritation ez;sts IN
Washington as,nst this ,errito,y--onr do
ieSHtc tells US that he has neither the oar
Vi 'he executive or of Gongrcss---WJhar
SncCI Wal the passage OF this bill have
WIN 1t not tend 70 increase the irritation
"'hi hot decide congrcs to punish our
temerity, by proiongIng our territorial ex.
An eyii of serious consequence, that will
In lady gro" CUT OF the passage of this
pi'. Is that the example will be followed
Oy the Orleans territory, where omen ret,el
non may be the consequence of coneress;on
al non compliance. The people of Orlrane
would gladly seize any pretext hat might
present Itself 20 ged rid of the check With
IN ene general government holds over them
DICK Oh q government, whose Beauties and
eAoehehc'es they have not intelligence to ap-
PTeciate, they sigh for the moment that ia RI
enable them to destroy every shad. IS
American policy and governments: and in
troduce the od;ous features e tho Frar.t,
monarchy, having already in force orsae
par Oh the napoleon code, under The ;Inpo
sing 'itle OF % a digest of civil laws now n,
torce In the territory of Orleans" Toco,nN.
teract TINS evil, the island of Orleans the
tract on country lying between the Cbasss
,ia ana NlissisSiPp rivers, West Florida. and
tnis territory. must form one state. ,rbie.
arrangement would completely uaral ze,be
dangerous influence of - & Co. b., o,,,n~
the people the form of government theY ast
anu 10 the state, redundancy of A-oer,car,
popula ion
Ii may be said that this arrangement com.
net take place, because West Florida ;s .
oPanish province, or an independent Govern.
Heht. thus argument we reDIy thai FL.
rida' as tar as the Perdido, is as much ,nrA
as Is Louisiana, only that we have derI,nad
occupying Il. We may Calculate with moroI
certainty, that Congress will not adjourn,
wthout deciding on the future ,es,inv IS
florlda and as they Cannot sit longer ~
the An OF March, we shall, after tba, nsri
o. nave ample~tIme to form a constitn,ior
and 10 present II to the next conprees S.
appreciation and admission. '0'
I'D Whatever light we view this bill wa
ma II l'"poi'tiS and eXceprionable and VS.
nave TOO much confidence in the p nod s.nss.
81 our legislature to suppose thar they will
oy any precIpl' ate act, commit the dioni,,S
OF the territory.
ferhaps 'bese remarks may not ne reI.
is"ed ny our representatives IF snch m
fortunately be the fact. we shall lament,
sincerely. TO offend is not our ;ntrn,ior.
1ut we should not discharge The duty of ~
dependent editors, were we 10 fail ceosn,.,.
ing what we think would affect the b1nor.
ana happiness OF our fellow citizens Wv
leeI medlately concerned in every thing hat
INTERESTS the welfare of the nation and -
mediately Interested in every meas,rs ~.
may affect the prosperity Of his terri, 10
Our littie all is here, and we will assjdnons
" and firmly pursue that course we thai
perity. P'0'
RUMOUR.----It has been rumonrsd Co,
: uay OF TWO past, that the people of Florj-
Ia are again in arms but for vhat nurf,osa
foft r.