The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-12
N. ORLkANs, 29tb Jan.
EXTRACT FROM A SPEECH;

Yellow citisens of the LerisIafipe council and of
the House Of Representatives..
A late event which extends your authority
ver additional tract of Fertile country, and in
PRODUCES into the bosom of our family brave
and virtuous people, affords cause of such sim
cere satisfaction to every patriotic breast, that
cannot avoid rendering you OH the occasion, my
warmest congratulations.
The just and weighty considerations which
induced the president ofthe U. s. to direct pos
session to be taken ofthe territory, vest OF the
Perddo as part of the Territory of Orleans,
are too forcibly detailed, gentlemen, in his pro-
clams;ion Of the 9th oil Oct. % need further il.
1ustration, and presume too fresh in your re
collection to require repetition. 1t is only ne
cessary therefore to inform you, that throughout
the whole the territory in question:, except a
small district around the fort and town of Mo
bile, Ihave exercised the powers of chief ma
gistrate that by an ordinance bearing date on
The 9TH OF last Dec. the county of Feicana was
established, and rs eastern boundary declared to
be the river Perdido that by subsequent ordi-
nances there were created in the county Store
.aaid, the parishes of FeGciana, East Baton
R"nge, st He,eiia St. Tammany, Viloxy and
Pasragoula that parish judges and other ne
cess9ry and civil officers have been duly comn's-
stoned and that good order is preserved
Copies of those ordinances will be laid before
you, and it rests with the Legislature to correct
such defects, as they may be found to contain
Cs
our newly adopted fellow-ctizens prosperous *
happy, under the Influence OF free government
and just laws nor do doubt, gentlemen, your
readiness to do whatever their interest NAV add
wise 1, is of pr'msry Importance that a law
should pass, according to the inhabitants of Fee
EciAna their full share in the presentation to
The general assembly Your powers are compo
Gent, and the president has expressed his earnest
desire, that the period OF their present privston
should not ne prolonged beyond the unavod--
bic necessity ofthe case. 1t is also important
to p rovidet an additional Circuit Court, who's
sessir ahail be holden at Baton Rouge or else
wete e, vested with authority to try capital Of.
II ces, and with appellate jurisdi ctIon from the
several p IRISH courts. There are unuuestion,
bly, other objects, greatly interesting to the good
people of FeliciaGa but the consideration Of
such as are net of pressing concern had better
b. deferred until you shall be in possession of
that local informstion, which their immediate
representatives will be best enabled to commu-
nicate.
The late daring and unfortunate insurrection.
an the parishes of st. John Baptist & S, Charles,
does not appear to have been of extensive COM
cnation; but the result only of previous concer,
between the slaves Of few neigbboring plan,a
4ions. 1t has been speedily and entirely quelled
w have however, to regret the untinely death
oftwo highly esteemed citizens, cruelty massa
cred ani the great and serious loss OF properly
sustained by many of cur planters. This los ,
does not fall within the cases, for which repu
Detstion is provided by The existing l1zps but /
SIN persuaded, gentlemen, you will be snps q
tire present instance 10 extend their Provisions
as far as the public sympathy for private suffer
apg may suggest and just policy warrant
The example which has been made ofthe
principals in this instruction, will hone pro
duce the desired effect the vigilance also which
the event mas awakened throughout the TER
tory w;ll conduce much to our filture security =.
but above all, the prompt, ardent and decisive
movements of the armed force of the u 6 in
this vicinity; of the several goiunteey corbs and
the body OF he militia must have made an inn
preston, that will not for length of time be ef
faced
Tn guard however, more effectuaiIy paipst
occurrences of this kind for the future some fur
ther and stronger preventive to that indiscrimi-
nate importation OF slaves, into this territ ~
from the other states should be devised.
1t IS fact OF notorety, that negroes
OF characters the most desperate; and conduct
the most infrm us-convicts psrdoned on condi
ton OF transport t'on--the refuse of iails, are
frequently introduced -nto this territory. To
dwell on this subject is unnecessary The con.
sequences which from a continuation of this
traffic likely to result may be easily antic-
: Pated.
could not avail myself of an occasion as ia
vorablc as the present, to rene my entreaties
for more energetic militia. system. The best
interest OF the Territory the safety of our ia
miles, and Of our propert unite IN r. comrnen-
ding this snhJect 10 your carly and most serious
consideration. The present lax and disorganz-
ed state of the militia is not attributable to "a
Want OF eXertion on the part oi the officers-
e iaut attaches 20 tbc law that is dc Zee
Rive. do NOT object To the leading principles
oTthe system they are believed to be correct.
and a radical change, would only tend to embar
rass and retsrd the nrOcu ton of order and dis
cjplnc A few amendments ONLY, to the exist
ing iaw are necessary, to effect the purposes for
which 1t is designed. Prescribe the time for re-
gime al, bataion, and company musters, and
direct the latter to be more frequent than here
totore; augment considerably the fines for non
attendance $50 much so as TO make tire wealth.
est OF our cit zens unwilling To incur themO and
provide means Tor their sure and speedy collec-
ton vest the officers wi power to enforce
their orders punish the disobedient and disor
deriy with fines, aud If necessary, with imDrison-
meut and let the exemptions from duty be as
cirrumscribed as possible In word let your
Raw be as rig a. as the principles of free gov
eminent, can be brought To sanction. The faith
til citizens cannot but approve such course
They are aware OF the many casualties, internal
and external to which the territory IS exposed +.
and must be sensible Of the importance of a well
regulated militia
have noticed, Gentlemen, solcitude on the
part OF many respectable citizens for a Sd Bank
IN this city. 1t indeed such an institution pro.
Inises advantages to commerce and to agTicul
tuie, shall be happy to approve an act of incor-
pOratIon (; but It seems to me expedient that the
territory should retain the privilege of subscrib-
ing for portion of the stock, and that the go
Verument shOuid nominate contain r,,robo.. a