The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-01-12

ever fraudulent, would operate to Con ;rol nI
vary the plain letter and intent of the
treaty. as appearing ON the face of it, then
upon the gentleman's own acknowledge
ments, no title to Florida could have passed
TO the v. States under the treaty of 1885,
For the gentleman has unequivocally admit
ted that Florida was not coded by Spain 20
france by the treaty of ST. Ildefonso, and
france, 1t Is admitted on all sides by the
treaty OF 1908, only cedeu to the u. Sta es
Louisiana, as fully, and the same manner
she acquired 1t from Spain by the treaty of
D. lIdefonso; nor, Sir, can l admit that
France has acquired legitimate tile to the
crown and colonies of Spain which must al
so appear before the gentleman can avail
himself OF his argument. What, Mr.. Presi
dent is the nature of this tie. Was il ob
Gained 6oaajf fer fair and full conside-
ration No. sii. but by the most abomnib,e.
perhdy, corruption and duress, of which the
pages OF history furnish an example.
| was not the, Old monarch compelled to
resign ms crown to Ferdinand the 9Th, and
was not that Prince a prisoner of Bonaparte
ava, whiie In this condition., and for aught
we Know, the baycnet at his breast, or the
cup TO MS lips, constrained 30 resign h
crown to the Emperor If FrauceS Sin,
what sort o. t,le is this9 Upon the eterAaI
principles OF justice, upon the nrinciples of
the common law and common sense. an in
strument thus obtained is not obligatory on
the party executing H.
but nave the people of Spain acquiesced
NO, sur; the instant publicity was given to
the transaction they became Ignorant, and
with one voice rose, resolved to resist this
usurpation. To this hour they have not sub
mitted
but the gentleman has said that Spain
IS no longer able 10 hold Florida: that fo>
reign emissaries will take it if the u. S.
90 net and thai it may be lawfully taken
law OF occupancy.
That title may be acquired by occupan-
cy'is not to be doubted. l. is the mode b,
winch eilie to property was originally ac-
CURED; ont to obtain title IN this way, the
country must be vacant, uninhabitcd aud
net claimed by a.o;her proprietor But in is
INSTANCE is the territory. vacant-r uninh =
lolIed--tr abandoned by its proprietors-
NO, sir--i he territory is either in the d s
session OF Spain and claimed by her, or IF
the revolaionists, and it either be in Dos
session. by the law of occupancy. you have
no right 70 disturb them. Clearly then. sir.
upon The principles and admissions OF he
honorable gentleman from Vermont, the u.
States have no title to Florida
And now, sir, with the indulgence Of the
oehatS wiiiproceed 10 considcras briefly
a possible the nature ofths title as derived
under the treaty of ST. Ildefonso. Here it
VIII be granted. meet he question fairly
ms presume, is the title relied upon,
oi This bill
In order fully to understand this subiec,
1t IS necessary to enqni,e into the print;nai
cause OF the war of 1856. The Eastern
o,'undary OF Louisiana, i believe, was the
chie' Gauss OF that war The French wye
IN ,he possession of The Mi, issippi & claim
as part OF Louisiana, not oniy the country
70 t"e west OF that river. but east as far s
the Allegheny NJ ,untain ance. hav mo-
TINS claim, aRd icing in possession ofCan..
ia, conceived the project of uniting Lou,si-
ana win canada. To accomplish her pur-
pose, She established line of post, .rom
the Lakesto the Ohio. and Commence e".
loroachmentS upon the then British culoDi :
hese entertainments she was pressinr So
lar thar Great Britain perceived it wonId
De necessary to repel them. This brought
on tne war OF SO, which, af er a bloody
eonhiC' OF several years, terminated disas
tronsiy to France and her allies, and reNLi
ed IN the establishment of the Mississinni
me 1oerVilie and the lakes Maurepas and
fonchartrain, as the boundary of Louisia
ma giving to Great Britain all the territory
on the east OF that boundary, except the
| r, ~ Wv" VI ANCW orIednS, and tn
France all upon the west, including The
island and town of New-Orleans.
n more paIticular examination Of tbr
| results OF this war is importan'. By 1t France
lost canada and most OF her West India
Islands spain, the ally of France. los,
Cuoa' by the prelimin nary articles Of peace
between q. Britain, France and Spai,,
signed at Fontainbleau and dated the Sd
November, 1862 France renowned ali
pret.nsions to Nova Scotia. and coded and
guaranteed to his Britannia Majesty, in iull
rlgh'. Canada, " tn all its dependencie =
The OH article stipulates, ain orde, to r.
establish peace on the most SOLD aod lasti. o.
! foundations, and TO remove eVer., subject al
dtshWte, with regard to the limits Of the
british and French territories on the CON -
nent OF ~. America; II is agreed that foPtle
iulure, the Confines between the dominions
OF his Britannia Majesty and those of his
most Christian majesty, (French Knp-) in
that part OF the world, shall be irrez,orgb/,,
fixed by line drawn ot1hg the r,idd2e Of
me 6hSsissihm from Us source, A. far &
the rjter BerOiHc, and from thence so a
line drawn along the niddle of fh;s ,jyer.
ind NJ the hdkes Maurehas and Poncb1,-
IRAN 70 me sea and to- this purpose, the
most christian king cedes in full rieht and
guarantees to MS Britannia majesty, ihe ri
yer andh Ort If Alo6iLe, (now West Flori-
day and every thing that ne p,ssesscs o..
ought 10 have possess, on The IN (.ast)
side OF the river Mississippi, crccht mr.
fo7on Of ~ Orleans ami ne isia1d IN Which