The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-02-05

DEBATE
On the OIL "to enable the heotle of the fe:-
rttory Of Orleans TO form a constitution
ana STATE government, and for the adj
pussfon 81 such state into the Union, ON
an equal footing with the original states ;
and for other PURPOSES"
(MR. PofNDExTER's sPEKcH)
(coNcLuDED.)
should indeed rejoice TO find, that in this
instance, AS IN the baseless impeachment in-
stituted by the gentleman against the illus
triouS Jefferson. he should be once more ex-
hi5itedt to laughing audience, solitary unit
on your journals IN favor of principles SO
ahhorrent, 20 every good citizen. But. sir,
permit me to analize the case which il is said
VIII be productive of this great national ca
ianity. Previous to the adoption of the fe
deral consti ution, while Louisiana was a Spa
nish province. the fee navigation of the ri
yer Mississippi was an object which engag-
ed the a enrion and occupied the labors of
the ablest statesmen known in the councils
OF The country.
In the celebrated debates on the ratifica
ton Of the constitution, in the Convention of
Virginia, 1t was urged as a reason against
the adoption of the new form of government.
that the commerce of the Mississippi would
be less secure than under the confederate
on. In answer to these suggestions, which
we supported with great zeal and ability.
the distinguished Character. who W fills
tn exalted sa'ion of Chief Magistrate.
stated, that "nei'her The old confetieracy
nor the new Constitution, involves the right
to give the navigation of the Mississippi"
1t was admitted by a To- be essential to the
wetfarf OF ever, section of the u. States, to
MAINTAIN the right to navigate freely this
great outlet to the PRODUCES of the Western
ota es Soon alter he new government was
es doished, negociai ions were commenced to
secure his in:portant Obj ct, and by the q, h
art. Gle of the t,eat, conc iuded on the 9th
day OF October, 1875. between the U. States
and Spain 1t was ,tIpulated, thai 1.-The na
VACATION OF the Mississippi. in its whole
breadth from its source 10 the Ocean. shall
be tree only to his subjects, and citizens of
the United States, unless he should extend
TINS privilege to the subjects of other powers
by special convention" And in the 22nd
article of the same treaty it was agreed,
that IN . consequence of the stpu at ons
contained IN the fourth article. His Calho-
TIC majesty will permit the citizens of the
United States, for the space of three years
from tins dne, to deposit heir merchan.
q &c and effects in the port of New O, cans
and to exp TT them from thence without Law
ing any other duty, than a fair price for tue
hire OF the stores, and his majesty prom,s
es el'her TO continue tnis permission it he
hnds during that time that it is not prejudi-
ciel to the interest OF Spain, or if he should
noi agree to cor.inue ittbere, he will assign
to them On another part of the banks of the
mississippi an equivalent establishment"-
ne subject remained in this situation un
I'll the year 1902, when the Spanish autho
ratIes at New Orleans after the country had
been transferred to France by the treaty of
ot. lldefonso. prohibited the deposit of Ame-
rican "merchandize and effects" at New
Orleans, without assigning on another part
OF the banks of the Mississippi an equivalent
establishment. The circumstances were
communicated to Congress by President
Jefferson, and special envoy nominated,
with view to OBJ ain the Country on both
sides the Mississippi, by amicable negocia-
ton.
WI, sir, what was the conduct of gem
tlenen whose political opinions correspond
with those of the gentleman rom MIssachu-
sets, OH hat occasion We were told that
It would at do 20 trust t. the tardy process
or negocla ION III mater which involved
so materially, the interest OF the nat on
immediate war was recommended, and he
wise measure adopted by President Jeff, r.
son was loudly condemned. A eloouent
gentleman from Penn yIvania. then a meo
Der ofthe other Hous,, (Mr Ross) asser,ed
that to the free navigation of that river we
had an undoubted right from nature. and
from the position of the Western country"
that " hostility in its most offe nsive shane
mad been offered by those who disclaim ali
right to the soil, and The SOY ereiguty OF that
country--an hostility fatal TO the happiness
OF the western world; qUiy nor seize then
what rs so essen ial TO us as a nation ~.
And in subsequent part OF the remark, ,
made by the same gentleman, he adm, n,sh.
es the government in these emphatic terms.
plant yourselves on the river, fortily IL,
banks, invite those who have an interest az
stake to defend IT. do justice to- yourselves
when your adversaries deny it,, and leave
the event 10 him wlo rules the fate OF ma.
TONS. HE disaffection of the western
states was then predicted, by the same pro-
phetic spirit which now warns Us If eastern
maicontents. New Orleans was then the
goal OF their affections. The counti, must
be instantly conquered, or The Union would
DE dlsmembered. But the wisdom of the
Statesman, who then filed the Executive
char, foresaw different result. The dig
mined and honorable appeal, which was
made to the justice and true interests of the
french nation, terminated in the pure base
OF Louisiana. This event, SO highly advan-
tageous to the nation, diffused general ioy
throughout the United States but the he
roes, whose valor would have hurried them
into premature and unjust war to accom-
plish this end, found no difficulty in expel-
ing from their minds the idea, that this coin-
try was " so essential to us as a nation. =