Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-09-30

say, letus take it because it is ours and LEI us
take IL ssos, because a Is not An the possession
OF any other power. The Weakness OF Spain
compelled her 10 abandon 4, To convert il into
desart; let us possess ourselves OF what IS
ours, and tue desart shall bIossoia the
rose"
The taking possession of Texas will. in a ua-
toai point OF view, be an object OF great I'M
portance. We should hold the only port on
the gUlf OF Mexico, west OF the Mississippi;
this VIII secure 10 US the command of the tu-
ture empireof Mexico atuo distant day one OF
the creates in the new world. twill be illBe
Of wealth to the nation, from the vast quantity
of fertile lands which IL contains ats climate,
mere mild ti;ln auy other part of our cosiuuy,
viii yielu us the.oitre, the vine, even the col
tee and 1t IS the only part OF our couatry
wheie the n,erino mas DC expected to produce
"a revenue equal to the cotton or sugar, with
less capital and labor.
The objection very commonly urged, OF oar
extending our territory too iar, is shallow one.
Experience has amply proved that our coiie-
deraticn has gained IN soIidity by tho extcnsi-
on ofOur territory. II this were not tile case,
it is toolate TO deliberate; tie country IS oars
tire only question is whether we shall suAer
Il To slip through our hands Besides, when we
look back little, we may form some comiec-
ture OF what our population Wall be in tweaty
Years froni this time and are we TO forget
that one OF the boasts of the United States, is
that OF aliofdlug All asylum 10 tile oppressed of
the Whole human race? Is, however, this argu-
ment drawn from the extent Of territory. is
minrIely examined, 1t viii he found to pro-
coed frrma want OF acquaintance with that re-
gion which fills up 80 large "A space on the map.
On the west side of the Miz-isSippi. en We
take into view how small port,c;i oft Is fitted
Tor the proposes OF agriculture, our fears on
this score vii, he entirely done ilway. l will
venture 10 predict that iOr hAG csat.Yy at
least there W,li not be more ST5u one Sidfe de,p
on the west side of the Mississippi, ana even
then viii have the wandering Indians on its
back. One state on the western side Of the
Mississippi, besides the 3llSsogrI and tho state
OF Louisiana, is as much IS can possibly be eA-
pected Tor twenty-five years at least. Tai.
calculation is formed from an accurate know
ledge of the surface O The immense tract west
OF the river before mentioned. ! consider it
dcmonstrable, that Texas Is the only portion of
Louisiana. besides what have already exeiail
ed, which can possess Sufficient poouiation
Under twenty-five or thirty wears, for The our.
pose ct even a SECOND grade OF government
By tar the greater part eves. OF Texas con-
SistS OF open plains, without wood. aud badly
watcred, and therefore not asia pied TO 81 eIf-
turai settlements, although have no doubt a
sufficient portion might be carved, of which a
state could be formed Iii The course of twenty
or thirty years, bit scarcely sooner. In length
the province is about fvc-hmdred mile, its
breadth supposed 10 be upwards of seven han
dred: three tonrths of this would ne little
more than nominal possession, ihha bted by
wandering tribes who pick up n Scanty subsis-
tcnce in the open plains or Steppes the Ie-
naming fourth, lying. along the sea coast, is
travcrSed by four fine rivers, whose borders
furnish bodies of fine land, although IN the
space between there is much open country
The vicinity 10 the ocean in front OF Louisiana
on enc side and of Mexico on tine other would
IN time, ensure il population, and would render
II highly important 10 our country, from its 10.
si,ion.
There is another reason Cor taking posses
SION OF tins our own country, which has been
thus abandoned that needs only 10 be suggest
ed To meet the appreciation OF every humane,
enlightened mind. 1t might at this time he e.
rected into territory where, like those no. TIL
wesi o: the Ohio, the introduction of slavery
could be forbidden. The circumstance of one
side OF the Ohio, and on one side OF the Missis.
biied by free whites. will one day be felt as a
most happy and Providential arrangement A
state iii the vicinity of Louisiana and Missis.
sippi, established on this principle, would be
found, fifty years hence to add incaicuiably to
their security, and sureIywc Ought not on great
political topics like the present, 10 limit our
vision TO what merely concerns the present
hour. There are generous saeG, HiS GeTire q pre-
seat enjoyment from the reflection thot tker conn
try UiU be prosperous dNG happy lChsn they shall
sleep ia their tolHJS. 4 government, al least,
ought 10 provide for poSterity well as for
the present but contend that this concerns
as nearly Some cOuntcrpOlSc 10 the Immense
| increase of negro population OH the lower part
| of the Mississippi, ought 20 be provided, at an
| early day. il would not be long before all
! would join in applauding the foresight of oar
| government in adopting such a Dea.uIe,
| should it happily be carried into execution.
AN ISHAEITAS1 Of LOUISIANA,