The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-10-08
IDe Gnqalrer.
RICHMOND. OCTOBER s, 1911.
20 ruE EDITOR OF TIE KNouIRHn.

the President, IN relation tn our disputed
Territory, and the disposition whicn you
have Constantly evinced ~ correct those
misrepresentation, have induced me To
transmit to you copy OF Judge foulmin's
address TO a small portion " the inhabitants
at the vicinity ot Mobile convened Il few DAYS
ago about - miles above the town. The
Judge mad been previously authorised by
Governor Claiborne To administer the oatn,
ut Office TO Judge and some Justices OF the
peace for the parish conprenenting Mo-
bile. nccting was tor that pur
pose.
"rhe Mobile Censinek" which you have
probably seen VI heard OF, has been tor a
few weeks past asleep. The editor being We.
ny sick. Nothing new at Mobile or pSnsa
cola. Governor Foich, ii IS sad. mas lelt
the last mentioned place Tor the Havanuah."
AFFAIRS ON THE MOBILE RIVER
On SATURDAY the SIS, OF August last the
Hon Harry Ioulmn. one ot the Uni;ed
States Judge, or the Mississippi Territory,
having been specially authorized by Co.
werner Claiborne to administer the oaths of
Office, to parish judge, and Justices OF
peace tor the parish vi Pascaguoia. attend
ed for tina purpose ut the otd tort on the Mo-
bile river ION the spot whereat it is said the
French first established the mselves III Loui-
siana,) and alter administering the necessary
oaths,---delivered he following address,:
l deem il my duty, Gentle.nen, when
thus performing the service Cuuhded TO rae
by the Governor OF the Ierritory ot Orleans
to take brief view OF the conduct of tae
Government of the United States with re-
gard to that part OF the { ountry. To whicn
theis title has been denied and The pnssessi II
of which has for considerable period OF
time been withheld from thcm. Il Nil ena-
bic you mure clearly TO understand The prln-
CipleS and spirit OF the federal admia ~
ton and to discern an uniformity aud CON
sistenc) OF conduct, winch has been extreme
~ obscured by uniounded rumours and by the
practices OF subordinate agens falsely pre-
tend to act under the sanction Ut the Anne
rican Government 1t is probably question
naDic. whether ON the Conclusion of the
treaty with France tor the purchase OF
I. uisiana, the teJerai admins ration were
full, aware of their claim any land cas-
of the island oil Orleans; but Whet her at IN at
time or at any subsequent period they be
came fully appraised Of their ute, Inc rights
OF Territory certainly did not impose upon
the American nation, the obligation of going
10 war for It. AS tar as the people OF the
United States were concerned, there was an
obligation 10 hope tor their highs becanse
the value OF every acquisition. whether it
respc lndividuoiS r o-iriy, .s alw. VS.
to be considered in connection with the ex
pei ce OF the me ans Of obtaining L. As far
as particular portion OF the American peo-
pie more immediately to be benefited by
IN acquisition were concerned, The Go
vernment was under no obligation to wage
war ior il, because the nation was origl-
naly bound by ties whatsoever 10 SUCH -
portion ct the people TO obtain any rights to
the County, and 'snrn Con, eqn, q they
had gratuioUsl' ID ned the Make. right,
additional duty instantly and a, any expence
to the nation OF realizing it, enjoyment.
As far as the people OF the disputed Ter
= ritory were concerned, tne UnIted States
had asked no allegiance from them and had
Drc'HIsed no protection to them. Having
by olrth or by voluntary choice become Spa
n. IA ubJ &C. it was time enough for them to
ella m the rights when called upon t. dis.
charge the duties of American Citizens
The system OF policy pursued by the Uni
ted States with regard 10 the disputed part
OF Louisiana, has been similar to that, which
was previously put sued under the detinI
tive treaty with Great Britain, B. arose as
we'll frou a sense OF the impropriety If
having recourse TO the sword Ill com
PEELED by the most manifest necessity, as
well as from a conviction OF the folly of an
infant nation needleSsly retarding its progress
to manhood and prematurely exnaustmg us
Fnet gleS Years elapsed before Great
Britain agreeabiy tn treaty relinqulshed the
Western posts. There was no dispute as
10 the rights of the Uuited States, there
was nothing in the 81 uaton OF the British
Government which impaired its indepen
denCe and created difficulty in the adjust
ment of any COntroyer les WITH her 1t as
even Supposed that the possession OF those
posts waszempioy ed II manner highly un
friendly to the United States, and that the
Indian warfare derived from that sour Ce. a
stimulus and support. The txisting ad
ininis,raton was reproached with ieebleness
anu with an indifference to the welfare OF
the Western frontier. But Washing ,
too calmly pursued the policy which was
founded on reg rd to the General Inter
esq OF the American empire. lie reiraned
from war, and ne rights OF the Country
were finally obtained withou. the etfuslon OF
blood.
The spirit and Conduct Of the American
government, though administered by differ
ent men. has been the same ia relation to
the question concerning the extent OF Boui-
siana. IL was tirst attempted TO bury the
question in negotiation which should rem
der a decision upon il needless and when
the embarrassed situation of the Spanish
monarchy, the prey OF internal faction aud
the victim OF foreign Intr que, rendered 1t
impractlCable TO bring any negotiation 10
an end, the u States deemed It better pa