The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-01-19
10 1909 she speaks Of a .e,rotessioa to


i'm the hands of Spain.
| The w.rd rstrocede is Introduced with
great propriety as expressive Of the limits
that Louisiana had in 1862, and as it then
had in the hands of Spain, because when
She re-purchased in 178S, she placed her
self in the precise situation that she was in.
in relation tn this tract. before she sold to
lGreat-Hritain, and the arguments will be
iuii as strong it we suppose France sold to
Great Britnn without the cons n, of Spain
in this case it is clear Spain never was
Invested of any part OF Louisiana as it was
! in l762, and therefore she might we'll and
very properly make use of the word retro
cede, in the same extent that it then had in
the hands of Spain, tor she most certainly
held ut that time the whole, but it is further.
answered. and most conclusivelv too. that
this argument is predicated upon disiointed
: sentence which is inadmssible, and the fair
way is To Connect that with the words which
Immediately follows and thar IL had when
France Possessed IL, which completes the
sentence, for If the extent of this country
was different in the hands of Spain, from
what 1t was in the hands of France. the
argument would staad thus--Spain has ONLY
part, although she has the whole. and
therefore she rctrocedes part only but France
possessed the whole, coded the whole to
Spain IN lT62, repurchased in 1900. to tina
same extent she formerly held it, therefore
Spain only intended % retrocede a part
this would nullify the whole sentence which
is totally inadmissibe by any known rule of
construction, when the clause or sentence is
capable of sensible construction, il this be
admitted (Which is the facD that when
france held Louisiana, it did include the
country East of the Mississippi and West of
the Perdido, and if it be true. that when
Spain retrnceded tn France, she owned and
possessed the country, and that by the trea
ty OF 1900, she coded, or retroceded. ifvou
(, please, TO France. urth the same extent
Flat France formerly held it, and as France
formerly held it undivided, the argument is
incontrovertble and conclusive that the
right was In France; if then the right was
in France. l have never heard it disputed
bn' that the words of the treaty of 1903,
between France and the u. States. were
sufficiently expressive : the words France
ceaes 10 he y. States, Louisiana with aH
rs rights and ahftnrfenances, as fuRv and
q" me same manner as they hare been &C
cured by the French r-tn6Hc in ytrfue n
me before mentioned treaty with Shain. are
suthciently strong-I have now, sir. given
you all the light that time and circumst,n-
ccs have enabled me at present to give. il
is likely that this subject NAV behereafter
mich better PORTRAYED, by those more :
VIC duo ucttcT informed.
Upon he subject of our foreign relati-
ons. nothing occurs to me, that to YOU would
be new. From the presidents message Won
VIII collect the probable points to be pur
sued. You will also have BY this mail the
documents accompanying that message"
KNOXVILLE, Dec. II. 1910.
DEAR SIR,
In PROPORTION Il airet tha IN
habtsnts of the western country, should enio,
the blessings in store for them, MANY of which
are to be affected by the operations Of the gene
raj government, tending to procure the uninter
fuPled privilege OF ENJOYING those advantage.
which are necessary to flow from the possession
and US of those n.turai channels leading to 9
communication with the Ocean in the sRortes
practicable routes, so do appreciate the pur
, chase OF Louisiana, and under that pure base an
prove the act ofthe President of the IT, S. taking
possession OF ihat tract of country situate o
the Mississippi and west of the river Perdido-
II as certainly forms part of the Territory o.
LOUISIANA as purchased by the u S. from Frlnce
ss oist the sun affords light-the manner in
"hi'h the President has proceeded in taking
possession mas been regular, mid, wise, f;rm
Just ana Pohttc m my oPiniOn-Your statemen,
"ii'S American claim TO that trac and vnur re-
guiar deduction of title in and from one power To
another until 1t was purchased by our govern.
meht, together with your interesting remarks in
eiuc'dauon OF the claim and title of the II G
thereto, AS contained in your acceptable letter M
the 18TH inst. which had the honor IN receive
by last maui, tender you my thanks for-I was
shX ious 10 see such an examination on the eub
)eci, and should have solicited it had not re-
ceived tt shall give extract from vo,,r Let
Ter place IN the newspapers of our state.
nave no eouDt Out your fellow citizens will ,I,,I,
appreciate your rast eXertions in support of thei,
tights and your immediate constituents confidcrt
~ rely that your best exertions in supnort nj
measures calculated to promote their interest,
VIII not be withheld. The heads of the nuner,us
streams running INTO the ocean, through the chan
mel OF the Mobile Bay which now is ours. are ;ust
at our doors-The Spanish possession and tie o.
normous duties heretofore imposed on Amrricar
exports and imports amounting to TWENTIETH
per cent on the floating trade in that Quarter
are now at an end, and l trust that the amer
can government and the people will take esoecia
care that they shall never again be imposed on
| Is--There is an end al so to further transfer,
OF that delightful country A permanent ren,t,
lican form of government, the ONLY sdes;rahI,
kind, will hereafter be mildly adm;n;.,srn
there-the inhabitants under il win he free an,l
happy 10 establish and preserve such a po-
vernment and such state of things, may be rec
koned amongst the pleasures of American cir;
zens' throughout the Union. am, with sin
cere regard,
| l"urs' WILLIE BLOUNT.
Tie hon. p, NJ. Miller.
WAsHINGToE, Jan. 10.
we learn hat the dispatches from Co