The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-01-18

.."''Ns ~ % ~ hiSiusie inc Whoie populatir
4 between the iazoo x the iber,ilie, whers,
irhcy unite with the river Mississippi, an0
IRON these points respectively east to tn.
,boandar. ime of the state OF Georgia, waui,
sFeaty contribute to the future convent
ence md prosperity of the people who re-
side III that country.
! AZ very early period after the treae
OF l163, between France and Great Bii.
tam, b; which the latter became possess
ca ~ the fiorisas, the jurisdiction Of the
province 81 West Florida was extended
rSh, by 4 hne drawn from the mouth OF
tue Nazoo, due east To the river Cha.a-
houchy. The government Of Spain. also,
when that power succeeded, to the posses
son OF the country, by conquest, in the
year lfo1, Continued To- exercise authority
oNer Vt, I'm the sane extent whicil1the Brl-
t'sh government had previously done, until,
by Slle treaty concluded between the u.
States and spain. on the 9Th day of Oct0-
Der, 1875, the Southern boundary ct the
Cnited otiteS was declared tgse4tend &c
the thirty hrst degree of noeshS Multitude
lhe government OF the United s,sat hes by the
trcatvloi 1908 with France, haSSuF acaui-
red Loa;sima in the extent dat France
chen he'd 1t and that it had in the hands OF
SPAN prior to the treaty of St. Ildefcnso,
there decs not seem to be reasonable
doubt. rs to the claim of the United States
| g the untrf east nftJe Mississippi as far
fN nc river Perdido, which lies between
Moniic and Pensacola.
| Your committee, therefore, conceive that
| ~ rs much as the entire tract of couttr,
| "merb possessed by Great Britain, under
| &c name Of West Florida, and Subsequent
y transferred TO Spain, as finimg "A part
- Louisiana, has fallen under tie dominion
Vt the United states, it ought, in strict pro
pr1ety, to DC restored to it's ancient limits,
IS the measure corresponds with the wish
-, and Is calculated to promote the perma-
rent welfare OF the people whose interests
are Immediately concerned. Vt is assurcSlly
the incumbent duty IF the general govern
ment t. make such a partition of it's terrific
ries, OH the waters of the Mississippi, as
viii combine with local advantages a due
egard to national policy These essential
ooJecCs Cannot, in the opinion Of your COM
Diues, be secured without suitable divisi-
% the sea coast, acquired by the pur-
chiise 81 Louisiana. It must be obvious, that
c9nter on the state to be formed of the
'erritory of Orleans, the whole extent of sea
board from the river Pcriido to the Sabine
'ty, would give to il an influence over the
;nmmerce or the western country, which
hight he productive Of the most mischievous
consequences; for, although the legislative
| authority OF the state could impose no tax
otate, yet there are many important regula-
| IONS which would materially affect the ma
vgat.on Of the numerous rivers fswing
through tins country into the Gulph of Mex
ico, falling within the legitimate range Of
state powers. Among these may be ennme-
rated the Incorporation If navigation com
| panies, and appropriations of the public re-
venue Tor the purpose of opening Canals
nus, by atfording every faciit, TO the trade
passing down the river Mississippi 20 New
Orleans, and by interposing veXatious ob-
struCtons to the commerce of those rivers
empIytng into the bay of Mobile and he
lakes, that city will become the emporium
OF all the bulky articles of agriculture, which
Constitute, in time If peace, he great ex-
port trade OF the western states and terrific
ries. The direct tendency OF such mono
'oiy, would be to raise the commercial I'm
portsnce Of New Orleans at the sacrifice Of
me hest interests of those vino ii.habi; Tie
vast fertile and extensive ~ gion vatered ID,
the Tennessee, the Tombigbce and Aiaba-
ma rivers, and their tributary streams, be
Ndes many other important rivers, affort.iny
outlets thT' ugh the Mississippi territory int
me lakes Maurepas aAd Pontchartrain.
guard against these contingencies, and
10 unite pe'f,le whose angtr,ge, manners
principles and usages are assimilated. Won.
committee recommend that ali that trac
y Country ct which possession has been ia
ken by virtue If the presidents procIamati
m, bearing date the 9th dag of October.
1910, DC added to the state to be formed ~
the Mississippi territory, whenever the
same Shall be admitted into the union AZ
suCh.
Your Committee cannot forbear to expires
their decided opinion, that where no constr
'utionaI oIihcuity occurs, the formation ~
new states, on the southern extremity of tue
- nlted states. ought not TO be delayed. +,
bind togcthcre every portion of the American
people by the indIssolublc cord Of affection.
ana to perpetuate the integrity OF the Union,
are considerations paramount to all others
which can be presented to the view OF the
national legislature. Let MS, therefore, ex-
tend toevery section Of our beloved Country.
Just equality Of rights and privileges, that
each may cIjoy civil, political and religious
liberty, subject to the control of independent
local authorities, while the fostering hand
OF the federal government shall protect them
III the enjoyment Of these blessings, from
domestic ieuds and external violence.
Under these impressions your Committee
submit the following resolution:
Rcaofved, that il is expedient to admit all
that tract Of country bounded north by a
Inc drawn due cast from the river Ytzoo,
where it unitcs wit! the Mississippi, to the
river Chatahouchy, and down said river to
the tlirty-first degree OF latitude thence a.
long said degree oflatitudc to point oppo-
site the river Perdido; thence to the conhu
cncc Of said last mentioned river with the