The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-01-17

secret convent n with Spain, is authen,ica-
ted. notify the Treaty ITSELF for that is yet
buried in the archives of the contracting
powers, but by an order of the king of
France. addressed to NJ. L'Aobadie direc-
tor-general and comnandant for his majesty
in Louisiana The second cession is develo-
ped in the dehnitive treaty of 1763 and this
treaty of friendship and peace, between
his Britannic Majesty, the most Christian
king (France) & the king of Spain' proves
decisivey the concurrent opinion of these
three powers as to what had been the ex-
tent OF Louisiana in the hands Of France
AS extracts from the With and XXth arti-
ces will mos clearly show
"VII. In order to re establish peace on solid
and durable foundations, and to remove for ever
all subjects OF dispute with regard to the limits
oftl,e British and French Territories on the con
tment OF America, that for the future the CON.
fines between the domnions of his Britannia
Majesty, IN that part Ofthe world, shall be fixed
irrevocably by line dra wn along the middle
OF the river Mississippi, from its source to the
river Iherviile. and from thence, by line drawn
a'ong the middle of this river, and the lake
Maurepas and Pontchartrain, to the sea 8. for
this purpose the most Christian king cedes, i'm
full right, and guarantees to his Britannia Ma
Jesty me riv,r and port of the Mobile, 6, ereyv
fhi"g svhich he possesses or ought to possess, on
the left side the river Mississippi, except the
town of New-Orieans, and the Island in which
it is sturted, which shall remain to France -
provided that the river Mississippi shall be e.
qualiy free, as we'll to the subjects of Brtainas
70 those of France, in its whole breadth or
length, from its source to the sea, and expressly
that part which is between the said island of
New Orleans, and the right bank OF that river,
as well as the passage both in and out of its
MOUTH
"XX. In consequence of the restitution sti.
he
Majesty cedes and guarantees, in full right, to
his Britannia Majesty, Florida, with fort St
Augustin, and the Bay of Pensacola as well as
all that Spain possesses the continent Of
North America, to the east, or o the south east
OF the river Mississippi; and, in general, every
thing that depends the said countries and
lands, with the sovereignty, property, possessi-
on. ana all rights acquired by treaties or other
wise, which the Catholic King, and the crown
ct Spain, have had, till now, over the said co,in
tries, lands, places, and other inhabitants So
that the Catholic King cedes and makes over
the whole to the said king, and to the crown of
Great Briian, and that in the most ample man.
and to- M"
Here, then, is a Treaty, in which France,
Spain and Great Britain are the contracting
partes--Sand what appears from their Joint
supulations! That by the 9TH art. France
ccdes to Great-Britain all that she owns to
the East of the Mississippi, inclusive of the
Mobile, &c.~~And by the Goth. that Spain
cedes othe same power wiz G.. Brittany all
that she owns TO the E. of the same river,in-
Guiding Fort Augustine, and the Bay of PEN
sacoia, &c. Thus it appears that each of
me COLI racting parties subscribed to the idea,
that Louisiana, - when France possessed it's
extended TO at least the Perddo.
When these two portions of the territory.
viz between the Mississippi and the At.
lantlc, tell ihto the hands of Great-f3r tain.
she took a new course. She m tied the two
fragments into one province, calling the whole
OF 1t by the name of Florida, & subdivided it
into two districts, & for the frs time, the dis
tInctlons and names # East and TVesf Flo
rida occuI in geog Apply. There is no doubt
tnat III the hands of Great-Britain Florida
extended even 10 the Mississihhi--but the
phrase in the treaty of ST. Idelfonso, under
which We claim, is not "as G.. Britain DOS
sessed 1T :" bur as " France possessed it,
lhis remark is made, to clear away all
SORT OF confusion. which may arise or has a..
risen, on his point
Can there be any doubt then, that Ioui..
siana as IL zvaS in The hands of France. ex.
tended q: ifast III the rerdido s--Under this
fhrase or the description therefore, it is
clear that our title Crosses E to the Mis-
ssissippi-~and goes at Lea8t as far as the
Perddo.
hnition-
2. AS it now has in the hands of SPAIN
- hat is, in 1900.
10 clear the way on this head. it is neces-
sary toremark, that by the treaty of '9S, G..
Britain coded TO Spain both the Floridas. as
she had termed them.
ihns Spain, FOR the first time, came acs
tn0Hy into possession of East Louisiana. as
7ve may call it, hough there is little doubt.
that Ut was for her benefit and as an indem
n'ty Tor her losses in the war, as her ally
and friend only, that France had coded it to
". Britain. As soon, however, as il thus
came mo The hands of Spain. what arrange
ment does she make? HShe re.annexes il"
tothe rest OF Louisiana in the same man
ner as 1t had been in the hands of France.
she extends the jurisdiction OF that gov
ernment tot. and subjects the governors or
commandments of the district of Baton Roupe
fehclana, M bile and Pensacola, TO the au-
tlno'i'y o, thr governor of Louisiana, resi-
ons AZ new Orleans; whereas the govern
or OF East Florida is placed wholly without
MS con roul, and Is made amenable direc,lv
to the governor OF the Havannah. And
(contihles Mr.. Clay,) have been credibly
informed that all the concessions or grants
OF land, made in West Florida under the
au hority of Spain run in the name of the
government Of Louisiana."
What then il the inference from tb;e
member of the definition That West Flo
rlda, or at least part of it, not onIv as
" France had possessed it," but as it wac
" in the hands of Spain," formed part of
louisiana