Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-03-26

motion; in the course of which il was stated :
that the nett receipt from this establishment
during the past ear was only three thousand
dollars, which would be more than absorbed
by the new routes proposed by the bill.
The question for recommitting the bill to
committee of the whole, as moved by Mr.. |
Hall, was lost, and it was recommitted to |
the Committee of Post-Ofiices and PoS.- |
Roads.
STATE OF LOUISIANA.
On motion Of Mr.. Dawson, the House
resolved itself into committee ofthe whole,
Mr.. Basselt in the chair, on the bill for the
admission of the state of Louisiana (now Or
leans territory into the Union. and for ex-
tending the laws OF the United States to the
same.
The several blanks in the bill having been
filed
MIR. Poindexter observed that it appear
ed to have been the sense OF this House,
when the bill for erecting the Mississippi
territory into state was under Considera-
ton, that the portion of the territory taken
possession of under the Presidents procla
yhation (kn .wn by the name of West-Fiori
day which lies west of Pearl river, should
he added to the state ofOrleans. The con-
stitution had provided that new territory
might be added to the states with their con
sent. As it was not provided by the consti-
tuition which party should first assent, he
presumed it was not material; and, as this
appeared to be the proper moment for fix
ing the boundary, he was induced to offer
the following amendment to the bill.
&c ind be it further enacted, That so
soon as the consent of the Legislature of said
state shall be given TO the same, all That tract
of country lying within the following boun-
daries, to wit: beginning at the junction of
the lberville with the river Mississippi =
thence through the middle of the lakes Mau-
repas and Ponchartrain, to the western juno
ton of Pearl river to Lake Ponchartrain
thence up said river to the Slst degree of lati-
tude; thence along the SAID degree of latitude
TO the river Mississippi; thence down the
same to the beginning; be, and the same is
hereby Incorporated in s. made part of said
state & shall DE governed by the constitution
and laws thereof in the same manner as if
1t had been included within the original boun-
diaries OF said state. Provided HeUertheiesS,
that the title OF the United States to said
tract of country shall be and remain subject
TO future negotiation"
Mr.. Dawson said this question had been
agitated in the select Committee, but it had
appeared proper to them that this addition
of territory should be made the subject of
separate law. If they went so far they must
better that the law accepting the Constitu-
tion should be as simple as possible.
Mr.. Clay, (speaker) could not view the
subject in the same light, he said as the gen
tleman from Virginia and although there
had been division of sentiment i'm the Sc
lect committee, there certainly were some
members of that committee in favor of the
motion. But could the gentleman imagine
any difficulty growing out of making this sec
ton part of the present bill, which would
not equally arise if it were put in separate
bill There could be no difficulty in either
way; and in point of propriety, it appeared
to hlm the course now proposed ought to be
pursued. They we're about to admit a new
state into the Union. Should not the bill,
which recognised it, present the whole lim-
its of the state IN one view, or would it be
better 20 subject eu9uirers to the necessity
of wating through two or three acts to find
out the hcu diary of a single state (! He ho-
ped the motion would prevail.
The motion was agreed to, az to IS.
Mr.. Clay said he observed there had been
no ordinance passed by the convention re-
cognisng the freedom of navi alton of the
Mississippi. He had no idea that under "a
NY circumstances, the Legislature of the
new state would impede the navigation; but
the object was one so dear to the people of
the western country generally, that he
wished to place it beyond the possibility of
doubt.
Considerable desultory discussion took
place on the proposed amendment which
was chiefly objected to by Mr.. Rhea on
the ground that it was totally unnecessary,
&c
The amendment was adopted without
division.
Mr.. Johnson said that as the matter now
stood. the population of the Florida terrific
ry attached to this bill would, although thew
are to compose part of the new state. be
deprived OF voice in the passage of the
hrst laws, which are always the most i'm
portant unGsr new government, and in the
choice OF Senators in Congress, which would
be attended with the greater hardship, as
the population had been tnrepresented for
some time past, and complained of various
grievances. He therefore moved an amend
ment to the bill to divide the territory to be
annexed to Louisiana into two counties
to be called Feliciana and Baton Rouee
each to send one Senator and one Represen-
tative.
Mr.. Polndexter wished the people of that
country to be represented as much as the
gentleman possibly could but how could
congress IN one breath say thew should form
part OF the new stare as soon as its Consent
could be had, and in the next section de
clare, though by the very terms of the Law
they are not part of the state. that the,
shallbe represented in the Legislature o
the state.
Mr. Clay said he had understood that ;
memorial was in me city and would b,
presented to the II use at the first opportu
NIFTY, from the convention Of Orleans, pray
ing the annexation of the territory in uues
snrA fff he.