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

Natchez, lately published IN yonr paper, has
Inuuced me 10 trouble you With few thoughts
ON a subject TO which have devoted some at
ienuon; Having investigated the question, I
ain perfectly convinced Of the right OF France
10 ihe province OF Texas. The arguments in
as support, 10 be found IN tie correspondence
cfOGr government with III OF % In are IT.
reSsS,iSie with every impartial mind. IL were
saMcient for us that France uniformly claim
ed, tiat her historians and geographerS that
TIE numerous facts stated by our own writers
lNhO have Investigated tle subject, particular
- Mr. ,toddard Mr.. i5r .cAenridge and Mr.
IlaiIy, have all ccncurred in support of the
-resich right, and conse ,uentiy of ours. There
Is slit further evidence OF its justice which
has never yet been stated, and which learned
al SatchitOChes few years ago. On .I-c
FIT uT ~. Antonio, ia the revolution headed by
Bernardo, several of the most intelligent Ane-
iieln volunteers had The curiosity 10 inspect
the archives kept at that place, and found the
most indobtable proofs of the right OF France
70 lie province OF Texas. Fornstance, amongst
ether documents relative to the local govern
ment of the province, while in the possession
ofFrance, there were rds of grants of land
made 10 individuals, which grants ~ appeared
s..re as much respected by the Spaph,rd, as
7e French grants on the banks of the M.sSis-
sippi These prove the exercise of the French
authority oyei the country, during period OF
InaIyyearS; all authority afterwards recoGniz-
sd Nv the Spanish officers, after Spain became
the fightfni owner of Louisiana. could name
several individuals OF responsibility, who saw ~
ed representative fthe new state OF Mississip-
nj, is one OF them-fO him appeal with
deBce aud believe he could lame many more
whose curlositiiy led them - make the same
examination,
The French had 1T least four or FIVE forts and
settlements through the country, at u time whe n
they were tie only white men who had attempt
ed to reside IN il. The tort on tle bay of ST.
Bernard, the fort called lie Dout at the head
Of the SABINE, &c. are well knowI--the archives
before mentioned proved the existence of one
on the Rio Graude--ih the neighborhood of
whch considerable grants Of land were made
SV the French authorities in Louisiana. a this
Oeriod the Indians were the deadly enemies
OF he Spaniards, hut on the contrary on good
terms with the French. 1T was under The aus
nices OF The Governsr of Louisiana, and with
the assistance OF ST. Dtnnys, that the SpauiardS
were able 10 ESTABLISH the mission or idalso,
which, nader the preteXt OF spreading the gos-
pei among the heathens, was insldicusly con-
verted into the means OF introducing Span
ish settlement into this province.
The French never TOR moment abandoned
or rel qfshss ~ LOUISIANA thex condeT r
themselves SIS the rightiul possessors-for, in
fact, neither could be said 10 have more than
that Kind Of possession, which has been cons-
dered by European nations as establishing "a
Tnong themselves a right to different portions
of America. Many of the liabilities OF Texas
TO this day are traced up to French grants
When Louisiana was delivered to Lausat, il
was matter ct earnest discussion how far the
French project still Persistiug in the right of
France 20 the whole country first settled BY
ereDchmen, over which France had long eXer-
cised jurisdiction, and into y hich the Spaniards
iiad only been admitted by her consent. On
the transfer 20 the United States, this point was
left to be settled between US and Spain.
$ Our government has persisted, and stu per-
ssts in tile same preten;.oDs. am unable to
see hGsr our government can wave them. Nj
ilougl. our constitution permits the acquisition
Ola territory, yet tits very questionable wlieth-
or there exists any " here tie pOrcr OF disY0s-
ing Of territory already acquired. That there
is 10 such power where the terrtoTy is iHabit-
ed ly Americans, 1 hold ~ be a clear point.
rs respect the taking possession Of the coun-
Try which thns clearly belongs too under pre-
ssift circumstances, We are reminded of the
Temporary boundary agreed upon by Wilkinson
aud Herrera. This has not been ratiiedby ei-
ther nation, OF even noticed in any way IL
syis in fact nothing more than saying this" 1t
you VIII 20 80 further, VIII stop here, and by
This means 'ge Shall avoid coming 80 blows"
The TWO military commanders we're for sever
al DAYS encamped on opposite sides of d narrow
river, the Sabine, which seemed to be the only
obstacle 10 their encountering each other. ii
Was rouc!L 5ed TO withdraw each towards is
own home. am one OF those who always tho't
that our interests suffered by this pause on the
part OF our commander; and stu believe that
there was Just much reason for stopping on
the 1'eclic, on the Colorado, or On the TRINITY,
as there was for hating on the Sabine, which,
until this accident, was never thought OF as
boundary. But how long is it since this tempo-
Tary Arrangement was made Ifit is TO last
forever, surely il cannot be called a temporary
arrangement and is il is to last as long as
Spain may choose, isnOt this making It last for
ever
For tits reason and for others Of not less
weight, J am decidedly opposed TO tie pro-
jecf of exchanging TEXAS Tor East Florida
Would the whole Of this sandy desart be an e
qu.valsDt for the sp ildtiOns committed by
Sgain amounting 20 or millions of dollars
~ q have pursued "A course 90 extreme ieHity
towards Spain bat the jiwe Iuult come at LIST
wien It viii be necessary for Us to 90 Jnstice
towards ourselves. no expect any thing from
Spain, after having been bdihed tor so long
time, ~ little short 0f weakness
with the writer from NatcniiOchcs, 4 hear
tiiy concur iu ihe policy OF taking possession OF
\ exds, which we iHey do al t'iis moment, win
ont resortiug 10 violence, as II IS vel known TO
Is. without Eingle post ~ soldier TO Keep pos
srsaou Suppose Spain should to morrow &C
uuIcsrs in uGr sight 20 it, could she give us
possessiouy h0--she could only say 10 rs,
8. taae it.' tOr al her iHterAa! provinces, TIE
tsa0.a c0uair. south ~ the RIO Crdude, nave
Drown of. ifc woke cf which We have album
dant testimony lntiie famous letter from Val
ladolid, aud iu the astonishing access OF lima.
WHO seems 10 Dee every where received with o.
panstns Yet do not a-rce viih t!le writer,
tllat~c Should take possessi0I % leNas tof we
rvrp1se OF CcuTug Us flOu $40 indians, TO-
siG, ftc exception OF tse CadJo', we fci"e
cn Eci river, within OCT uudEputei te4Etoiy,
tsCFe are Ho indians o. be dIcSGcd. Mo-