The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-02-21

TO the interest OF Spain, or u hc <b0u,u h't
agree to continue Il there, he will assigr ~
them on cnother part OF the banks Of tic k:.s.
issippi an equivalent cslabIiShnaent." TIE
subject remained in this situation until tie
year 1902, when the Spanish authorities a,
New-Csleons after the country had been
transferred to France by the beatty of St. Ia.
dcionso, prohibited the deposit Of American
" merchandise and effects" at Ncw-Orlcsns,
without assigning on another parlo the banks
of the Mississippi piancquivalent establishment.
The circumstances were communicated TO
Congress Ivy President Jefferson, and special
envoy Nominated, with a view 10 obtain the
country en- both sides the Mississippi, by a.
micablc ncgociation. WelL sir, what was the
conduct of gentlemen whose political opin.
IONS correspond with those OF the gentlemen
from Massachusetts, on that occasion We
| were told that II would no, do TO trust TO the
larty process 81 negociaiicn 10 mnttrr
which involved, SO materially, the interest of
the nation---mmcdiatc war was recommend
ed, and the wise measure adopted by pscsi.
dent Jefferson Mas loudly condemned. An
eloquent gentleman from PenRsy lvania, then
member of the other House, (Mr Ress)
asserted, that I" ,o the fee navigation OF that
river we have an undoubted right from Ma.
ture, and from the posilion of tho Western
oountty"---lhat I" hostility IN It's most ofiens
sivc shape had been offered BY those who tirs
claim all right to the soil, snd the sovereignty
of that country---an hostility fatal 10 the hsp-
piness of the western world ,chy nor saisc
then what is SO essential TO us as naticn."
And in q subscqusni part OF the remarks Made
by ths samc gentleman, he srimonshcs the
kesc in these cmphaiiok terms, "Piant
yourselves on The river, fortiy its banks, in.
yte ,hosc who have an interest At stake 10 Gee
f,n6 II, do justice TO yourselves when your
sdycrsaiies deny il, and leave the event 10
him who rules the fate of nasions." The dis.
affection OF the western States was then pre-
dictcd, by the came prophetick spirit which
now warns us Of Eastern malccrtents. New
Orleans WAS then the goal of Z sifcc,ions.
The country must be Instantly conquered, or
the Union would hc dismombercd. But the
wisdom of the atesman, who then 6llcd
| tho Executive chair toscsaw different result.
The digniicd aud honourable appeal, which
| was made to the lustice andstruc interests ct
the French nation,tcrmina,%tin the pvschasc
| Of Louisiana. This eventYso highly advan'
tagcous to the nation, FUSED general Joy
,hroushout tho United &a,cs bat The ie.
IN.
into q premature and unjust war 10 acton'
plish this end, found no difficulty in expsls
ling from their minds the idea, that this COON.
try was {" so essential 10 us as a nation" N
| Orleans suddenly los, sll its charms. I.o,l..
siana became = wilderness OF swamps aud
| marshes, and the vast extent Of territory
! which we bad acquired was one day to Lro.
| ducc the dawniaIl Of tho Kcpublick.
The gentleman from Massachusetts seems
to imagine, that the crisis has arrived VIXEN
| this prediction is to be fulfilled. You arc,
says he, about 10 admit a !" new par,ner In
20 the oopscdcrpcy without the original limits
Of the Udi,ed Ststes, whichtend to diminlAh
the political power Of the original partners,
and act tording to the undcniabIe principles OF
moral law the obligation Of our national com
pac, is dissolved" What, sir, does the gen.
tleman mean by political power in the origin.
| al partners Have we such a thing as patch,
power in the y States Thank God, sir, va
have nei,her counts, dukes or lords,nor nc NJ.
bcrs of the grand legion Of honour, nor any
| other grade Of privileged orders in this cotin.
| try who possess " political power" by linca
| or collateral descent, or by purchase. In thii
| government all power Is vested in nd flows
from the people, and we SIT here, not az theft
| masters, but as their servants, and TO lhoi au'
| gust tribunal are we responsible Tor the ftIcl.
| ity with which we execute the trust con6dcd
to us. Political power then beirg In the great
body of the people, il cannot be definitely ap'
portioned among the States, but each State
rnssc pnlos,iors;e ,c It's Dnm.
,ers. IF for instance two thirds OF the popus
Ia,lon Of Virginia should remove 10 tho Mis-.
sissippi terri,ory, which they have a perfect
tight 10 do, tie influence OF Virginia in the
National Councils, in point of Represents.
lion, would be two.rhirds less than 1T present,
md it might with equal justice be said that
state. inferiour in political power at The ,inc
the compact was entered Into, shond remain
IN that situation al irfninm, as TO contend
that a numbcr of citizens residing in a terri.
20 y Belonging TO the Z. States should net DO