The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1811-01-16
CONGRESS.
~ SE.v.4TE.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER ~, 1910.
MR.. POPES SPEECH,

honourable Chairman of the Committee VINO
reported this bill, is not here, TO give IL tnss
support which his talents, iniormaiion' @nd
the importance OF she subject authorized US
TO expect.--His absence has devoi,ed on NE,
as member of the commi,tee, and repre-
sentative OF that section of the union more
Immediately interested in the subject before
us, to explain 10 the Senate some OF The
grounds which induced them to make TINS
report. The first important question which
the proclamation of he President and TINS
bill presents Tor consideration, is whether or
no, the United States have a good title TO the
territory in question. Before examine the
treaty Of ccssion from France to the States
OF sos, the source of our claim, permit 'ne
to enquire what were the limits os Louisiana
in that quarter 10 which This subject leads US
before the treaty and ccssion oi '62--S be-
tween France, SPAN and &. Biilsin Ca ms
subject, however, believe ,hele Is 40 con-
trariety oe opinion - Bel fore ihis period Losl-
isiana extended T.. oil the river Aiississippi
10 the Pcrdido--Flance and Spain, by Tie
treaty of l7l9, established this boundary DC.
tween Florida, now called Fast Fiosiua ana
Louisiana. The ancient limits ot Louisiana,
have been so fully asccr,aincd by kbc ooIu-
ments laid before Congress at different times, !,
and the numerous discussions the sunJcct HAS
undergone, that should Only waste the tims
of the Senate in attempting 10 throw any new
light ON il. shall only refer the Senate 70
one additional evidence, that tins river was
the ancient eastern boundary of this province.
Mr.. SmoIlet, in his continuation OF Tunes
history Of England, states the answer OF tno
British government To the ptoposltion msdc
by France for peace early in the year l7oi.
From which itappears that France then clain'-
ed the river Pcrdido their eastern limit
nor does this fact appear TO have been con-
tested by the British p.inlstcr. IL appears
that previous To the war which terminated IN
1908, Louisiana comprchcnded nearly the
whole county waletcd by the Mssissippi
aud It's branches l 6ndi il stated ir a panAph-
let publishcs. ia Ncw-york, that Erance ny
secret cessiDn, conccmporaheuLs w'th 'ne
treaty called the fa,nily-compact of i76l,
transferred this country To Spain, 10 induce
her to become her ally Ia the war against Il.
Britain (; and although can find no evidence
To support this statement, yet the event OF
that war previous 10 tina, pc iod renders il lt
least probable. II will be remembered that
the arms OF G.. Eri,ain had ,riumphed over
those of France both by sea and land France
had lost Canada and great number OF her
ships Of war--Spain was not then a party In
the war, and, To induce her to become So, It
seems probgblc thai France, under the pres
sure Of adverse ioilUne, cedcd 10 her this
province. But as this statement docs not
CORE spond with the documents Oh our tables
nor the views OF others who have examined
this subject, we are compelled 10 take II for
granted, that the cession Of west LouisIspa
with the Island OF New-Oileans 10 Sp.in.and
Of east Louisiana, since called west Florida,
to G.. Britain, we're madc'a. the same time IN
the year '62. 1t is however we'll knowD,that
France made that cession 10 G.. B,iiain at the
instance and for the benefit OF Spain, 70 ena-
bic her, with the ccssion of FIorda. how CALI
led East Florida, To obtain restitution OF
Cuba. The whole Of Louisiana, not cor-
quercd by G.. Britain, may, with proprety,tc
said to have been given up, orceded 10 Spain.
Let us now examine that part Of the treaty
Of ccssion between the Y. States and Franco
of 1908, which relates to this question by
that treaty, we acquired Louisiana as fully
and in the same manner as II had, been ac-
quired by France from Spain, in virtue Of the
I, eaty Of ST. 1lcclonso of the lst of October,
1900. BY this treaty Spain had rctroccdcd
Louisiana 10 France " with the same extent
it then had in the hands Of Spain, and that It
had when France possessed it, snd such as il
should be afcr the treaties subsequently cn-
tered into between Spain and other states
That this cxtract from that treaty is correct
cannot be doubted as it has never been denied
by Spain. The word +" rctrocedc," in this
treaty has, believe, occasioncd more doubt
with regard 10 the meaning Of this cessIon
than any expression contained in it, but cam
not when the subjec. is properly examined
have the effect con,cndcd for. 1t is said that
as France ccded to Spain, RI l7e2, Louisiana
West of the Mississippi including the Island
of New-Orleans the word rctroccdc must
limit the ccssion to what had been previously
ccded by France to Spsin--but If it be true
that the whole Of Louisiana East and West Of
.hs Ai;..;s.inni was ceded To- Snain in tho