The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-02-13
Congress Of be United States.
I0USE or REPRESENTATIVES,
JANUARY Is, 1910.

Cn me OH 20 enable fhe feQftc Of hr Terrific
ry V Orleans 10 form Constitution and
Sfafe government, and f2r hc admission Of
such Stare into fhe Ugien, ca an cqHai ./oos-
ing rffh the oriSinei Sfates and for oIh-
aer fsrhOseS."
MIR. PoiSDEXTER--Mr. Speaker-lt is
with extreme reiu' tancc that l claim the in-
dulgence ot the House, To participate In the
discussion at the subject now under consider
tion. should deem, II not only useless but
ineXcusabe TO spass on your time, and dc
lay the hnal question OH the passage ot The
blli before you, but for the novel and cxtraor-
NARY aspect Which has besn given To the de-
bateshy IN Hon. Member from Massachusetts
Mir QUINCY The tendency Of The remarks
made by that gentleman is maniieslly hostile
to The best interests oi the nation, and calcu-
lated TO excite, so far as their influence en-
tends, spirit OF revolt among the people of
the United States. l cannot, therefore, for
bear TO enter my protest, in the only form
constitutionally provided Tor the peculiar situ-
aIon which occupy ON this floor, against the
establishment of principles iraught with such
disastrous consequences. But, Sir, AS vari.
Gus objections have been made to the passage
OF the bill, and as l profess to be friendly 20
It's general objects, shall cndeavor to give
some OF these objections concise cxamina-
tion before lprocecd to notice the observations
of ihe Gentleman from Massachusetts.
IL has been con;ehded by an Hon. gentle
man from nne.,icut, (Mr. Pikin) that in
asmuch as the western limits of Louisiana re-
main underlined, the State to be formed of the
present Territory of Orleans wo.dd extend
its jurisdiction over the province Of Texas, to
IL in I.Np H.,
ence with the sea, SO as to include the Bay OF
81. Bernard, and the whole extent OF country,
supposed by the American government TO be
transferred by the French Republick under
the name OF Louisiana. This circ rcumstance il
is alcdged will enable the government of the
new State TO involve the United States in war
ior the establishment OF tie most western
boundary, to which we have asserted claim.
The gentleman has himself referred TO "a fact
which. in my estimation, furnishes a sufficient
answer 10 this objection. He admits, that the
northern boundary OF the State of Massacbu-
setts was never definitely established until
commissioners were appointed by the govern
ment OF G. Britain and tie u. States, to as
certain wbnt was the true river St. Croix. An
tcriour 10 that event it was uncertain how far
north the jurisdiction of Massachusetts exten-
dcd but the most scrupulous advocates for
state sovereignty never imagined that the
state could decide its own boundaries, and
call upon the general government to suppor,
that decision at the point ol the bayonet.
The difficulty was adjusted by amicable nego-
citation, and the river designated BY the two
nations became the permanent boundary OF
the state. Can the gentleman distinguish
that case from the one which exists az TO the
western boundary of Louisiana by the Sc
c6nd section of the bill, it is provided, that
tho state shall be composed OF all that part OF
the tersitory or country ccded under fhe name
II Louisiana by the treaty made at Paris Oh
the 3oth day of April, 1903, between the u.
States and France, 50 a9zv contained 'vifhin thc
hStfs # he rrritory ef Orleans, except that
part lying west of tie river lbciyilie, and
Inc 10 be drawn along tie middle ~ the lakes
Maurcpas sud Ponchar,raiD, 10 the ocean"
The territory Of Orleans is limited indcfn
ly by the western boundary Of Louisiana; but
bv an arrangement made in the Autumn oi
1906, between the Commander in Chief Of
the American army and the Commanders of
the Spanish forces in that quarter, it was IL
greed that for the present the Spani..ids
should not cross the Sabine, and that the a.
mcfic-n settlements should pot extend to
that river. To carry this arrangement into
effect, the government Of the y. States has
given instructions that the publick lands
should not be disposed Of wsst OF a meridian
passing by Natchi,oches. Beyond that line
am inclined TO believe the territorial govern
mcnt Of Orleans has not yet extended its au-
lbority. 1t follows, therefore, by fair con-
struction cf the section to which have refer
red, that the stats to be formed Of that terri
tory will be confined within the same limits,
until by an act OF the general government
the western boundary OF the cession shall be
finally adjusted. 1t belongs exclusively to
the high contracting parties, to render that
certain, which by the deed Of cessioa is C.
quivoeal, and whatever line they may consent
to establish as the western extremity Of the