The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-10-30

ne non JOHN KHEA,
Fresiaenf Of the Convennon of West ;.
Florida
Certified to be true copy of the original,
in my Office.
(Signed) ANDREW STEELE, Sec'rv.
BY THE REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE PEG
PIE OF WEST FLORIDA,
A'DECLARATION. =.
1t is known 10 the world with how much
fidelity the good people of this territory
have protested and maintained allegiance TO
tneir legitimate sovereign while any hope
remained Ut receiving from him protection
tor their property and lives. Without ma.
King any unnecessary Innovation i'm the es
tabiished principles of the government, we
had voluntarily adopted certain regulations
In concert with our fi,st magistrate, for the
express purpose OF preserving this territory.
a"u showing our attachment to the govern
| ment which had heretofore protected US
his compact, which was eniered into with
good faith on our part, viii forever remain
an honorable testimony OF our upright inten.
tons and inviolable. fidelity TO cur King and
parent Country, while so much as a shadow
| OF ieSitimate authority remained to be ex
| ercised over us. We sought only a sp.edv
remedy tor such evils as seemed to cndan
ger our existence and prosperity, and were
ehcouragedby2 our governor with solemn
prhmisseso OF assistance and Cooperation -
bn- tnose measures which were intended
| 'or oo' preservation, he has endeavored 10
peTveit Into an engine of destruction by en- o.
/ couiaging, IN the most perfdious manner
me violation of ordinances sanctioned and
established by himself as the law of the
| land. -
! 5eing thus left without any hope of pro
lection from the mother Country by being
betrayed by magistrate whose duty Il
was to have provided for the safety and
| tranquility of the people and government
committed TO his charge, and exposed to
all the evils OF state of anarchy, which
we have so long endeavored TO avert; il be-
comes our DUTY 20 provide for our own Sc
curity as tree and independent state. alb.
solved from all allegiance to government
which no longer protects us.
we, therefore, the representatives afore
SAID, appealing to the supreme ruler of the
world for the rectitude of our intentions. do
solemnly publish and declare the several
districts composing this Territory of West
Florida to be free and in3ehende,it Stufe.
and that they have a right to institute for
themselves such form of government as they
may think conducive. to their safety ami
happiness ---to form treaties-to establish
| commerce-to provide for their common
be done ey sovereign and independent ma
tion---At the same time declaring all acts
within the said territory of West Florida
after this date by any tribunal or authori
ties not deriving their powers from the peo-
PIE agreeable to the provisions of this con
| vention, to be null and vod-and calling
upon all foreign nations to respect this our
declaration, acknowledging our indeDep-
dence, and giving US aid as may be consistent
with the laws and usages of nations
lhls declaration made in convention. at
the town of Baton Rouge, OH the 26th
day OF September, in the year of COR
LORD one thousand eighteen hundred
and ten-We the representatives in the
same, and on behalf of our constituents
do hereby solemnly pledge ourselves TO
support with our lives and fortunes.
(Signed)
John II. johnson,
John MHs,
John w Leonard,
Wiiiiam Barrow,
Philip Hicky,
John MORGAN,
Edmund Hawea,
Thomas LiUv.
William Shiiker,
John Rhea, President,
by order offhe Convention,
ANDREW STEELE Sec.
Postscript TO The same taher.
u Just as cur paper was going to press,
we were informed by gentleman direct
from the town Washington, that his excel.
lency David Holmes, governor of this terri
tory, had received int diligence by, an e1s
press, that Col James Caller, of Washing
ton county, with party of forty or fifty men
hadtaken possession of the garrison and
Spanish settlement on the Mobile. We