The Arkansas advocate., 1835-08-14
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l P0sSlDIe after the members are elected, m order that an act may be passed for the election of members to q Convention to form State Constitution, have examined the subject, and consider it to be my duty to submit my views 10 the public From the almost unanimous expression of public i oPlhion, m favor of such q step, would feel myself bound to adopt 1t, if considered ihat the General Assembly had the power t5, pass the proposed act. Ny principles, in- terests, and feelings, all urge me to a eonl- plance with the wishes of the people, Nothing but sense of duty could induce me to refuse their request; although I do not believe the consequences of my refusal Will be as serious as some have apprehend- ed know ] differ from many whose 1 opinions highly respect, and from whom l regret to dltief upon any subject. ] antiei. pate the imputations which will be cast upon tf4e, and the eensuTes and Fesentments 10 which l expose myself; but, when itis con- i sldeFed, that l have placed few months, perhaps weeks, o1 public office, inthe scale 1 against the hope ol all future elevation from the people of Arllansas. think it may be easily determined on which side interest and improper motives would have placed me- It my convictions are erroneous, and the public interest suffers in c6nseouence. all that Is left 10 me, Is to take the fruiis of fay own error. am, however, not the obsti- nate man my enemies describe me to be and although may not convene the Iegis- iatufe, do not wish my views to be e9H- sldefed as aaalterable. lis paper is WFit- ten in order 10 elicit free, filli, and candid discussion upon subject which l consider of the utmost importance. ] wish to ob- tan and 10 weigh the arguments of every able statesman and politician ia Arkansas :: but let the subject be discussed by them as patriots, and not as parizans. And f, upon farther investigation, 1 am safisfied. of my error, and ind that the Geaefal Assembly have aoc the power 10 Iegislate upon the sahject of forming a State Government, l l here pledge myself, 10 lend inc Legislature my most heartY and cheerful cooperation. am now addressing the pubic as 2 fellow eIilzen, and 9gish the people to give to any ! observations such weight only as they fad them upon reflection to merit
 The power to form q Constitution and State Government, which is claimed for the l people of Arkansas, Is founded upon the third article of the treaty between fhe Unit ed States, and he French Republic eediag Louisiana 10 the Union. + Is in these words : "ffhe 7aha5itaata of the ceded ter Htofy shall be incorporated in the Union ol the Onlted states, and admitted, as soou as possible. according to the principles of the federal constitutions 10 the enjoyment of all the rights, advantages, and iinmaaities of citizens of the United States" From q consideration of this article, I have arriy- ed at the conclusion that tie sdpulatons Icontained 10 ith have beeh long since comDli- ed with, on the part of the government of the United States. What are the stipalat- 2 tehs They are, first, that the inhabitants et the ceded territory shall be incorporated in the Union of the United States. How was thls to be complied with? My opinion Is, that t was compiled with by incorporat- iag or including the province of Louisiana, atier inc ratification of the treaty, within the boundaries and junsdieiiouof he Union, and then organizing the 'sinhabHants' into a Territorial Government, and extending over them ihe protection of the constitution and laws of the United States
 4he treaty contains no stipulation as to the formation or admission of q SfQte, and Ii grants no power 10 the 'snhabitants" to be formed into States. France did what she, as foreign power, had only he right to do. She provided for the protection and secur- ty of the inhabitants" whom she was cedlng away. They were too few, or too much scattered over an extensive Province 10 be formed into Siaie; and, as the formation and admission of States into the Union de- pended entirely upon the growth and settle ment of the country, by .4mer5caa cttizeas, the division and formation of the ceded country into States was matter of domes- tic policy alone.
 1 vast portion of the ceded country was an uninhabited wilderness, and for France to have stipulated for the americaa citjzeas who were thereafter to settle it, would have been an interference with the rights of the United States, which never would have been submitted 10 by the American negotiators, nor by the government. In so extensive . country, the United States had the right, atter the purchase, to erect and establish as many States as policy and expediency might dictate; and as they must necessarily be composed of .4mericdn citizens, France could have had no interest in the matter.
 Already have two States been formed and admitted into the Union, which were DOT lions of the Province of Louisiana and this Territory, which is also portion of the