The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-01-16

grant consistent with the treaties. nave
since made and this seems TO be the plain
and evident meaning of the instrument. 1T
the parties had meant to coniinc the retro
cession TO the limits OF the cession made by
France 10 Spin, of Louisiana West OF the
Mississippi including the Island OF New-Or-
leans, they would have used the same des-
criplion. They would certainly have stop
ped alter saying the extent il then had in the
hands of Spein-but TO prevent mistake or
mi,construclion, they add, /" that it had when
France possessed it /; and what is still more
conclusive OF the meaning oil the parties,
they 20 on to say" and such as il should be
alicr the treaties subsequently entered into
between Spain and other states" AS Spain
had never entered into any treaty, with re-
gard to the Western boundary OF Louisiana,
and as the only treaties To which the parties
could have alluded, was that OF 1893 with &.
Brian and 1875 with the u. States, both re-
lalive to limits Oh the east side Of the Missis-
sippi, il is perfectly clear that the contract
ing parties meant to comprehend whatever
oil Louisiana OH the east side of the Mssis-
sippi Spain had title to. If the construction
1 contend for is not admitted, then the latter
parts of the description will have no effect,
contrary To a settled principle of law and COM
mon sense, that every part Of an instrument
shall have efis CT, if il Can by any reasonable
construction. To strengthen the construc-
ton for which insist it may not be amiss TO
consider the views of the French government
AT The time this treaty of st. lldeionso was
made. They no doubt acquired this pro.
vince with an intention Of holding il, and was
an object of national PRIDE to regain as much
as practicable OF the colonies which had been
lost under the old government Besides they
could not be ignorant of the importance of
East Louisiana, now West Florida, 10 the se-
curity OF n. Orleans, and as the practicabili-
~ Of obtaining il AT that time from Spain Cam
not be doubted, the presumption is irresisti-
bic that the cession was intended to embrace
it. had intended to have ascertained at the
Department OF State the ground OF objection
with Spain TO the surrender OF that country to
the u States, but have not made the enquiry.
do not however think it difficult TO account
for the conduct Of Spain. My onjectures is,
that France, after she had sold Louis lana to
the y. States and received the price stipula-
ted, secretly advised SPAN not to surrender it,
having At that tine formed the projec, which
she Is now attempting to execute, Of acquir-
ing the whole Spanish empire /; her interest
was therefore Identified with that Of Spain,
and she was no doubt wiling to unite with
Spain III giving the most limited construction
to the ccssion TO the u. States. | find that
Congress, by an act passed sn the oath Of
February, 1904, have solemniy asserted our
right 10 this territory and authorized the Pre-
sideht to take possession Of it, and TO estab-
hsh port OF entry, &c. OIL the Mobile,when-
ever he should deem it expedcnt. The
time when, and circumstances under which
this step should be taken, were submitted To
the discretion Of the Executive. may be
permitted to ask why, il we had no title 10
this territory, the President was urged to
take possession hy force, and ccnsured for
not doing IL. Ii lay recollection is accurate,
all parties agreed we ought to have the coun-
try they only differed as to the mode OF ac-
quiring it, The President, influenced by the
policy which has hitherto guided the present
administration OF avoiding making this nation
n party in the presen, European war, in the
exercise of the discretionary power vested in
him by that ct, did not think proper to seize
upon it by to, ce, but TO wait for the occurrence
oil events 10 throw it into our hands without
struggle.
The expediency of taking possession of
this territory cannot, ii appears to me, admi,
oil doubt. Ii the President had refused or
hesitated to meet The wishes oil the people of
West-Fiorida by extending to them the pro-
lection of the American government, and
they had sought security in the arms of for
cign power, what should we have heard He
would have been charged with imbecili,y and
fear of incnrrlng responsibility. He would
have been denounced as unworthy OF the sta
ton his country had assigned him. Let il be
remembered that the Orleans country is our
most vulnerable part-rcmote from our phy-
steal force--a climate more fatal TO our pco-
pie than the sword of our victorious enemy---
and that an enemy in possession of West
Fl,rila Can with great facility cut off New
Orleans from The upper country. IL the ior-
tunate moment had not been seized, this pro-
vince would have falen into the hands Of