The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-28
WEST FLORIDA.
THE TITLE TO THE PUBLIC LANDS IN
THE FLORIDA rARusBEs-IN
WHOM 1T RESTS.
CLINTON. La. December Q. 1873.

ChINToE, La, December o. 1873,
Editors Southern Waterman.
Being Informed that you intend reproducing
IN the WafchHuf, OF this week, my Ooininuni-
cation published In the New Orleans DEMO
URAT u the first instant relative 10 the tlort-
da parishes Of Louisiana, ! desire TO thank
you for the solicltude you manifest Tor the
promotion Of an object so clearly redounding
to the welfare OF the communities from when
your journal derives ita principal support;
and to extend through your columns. my
thanks to the New Orleans DEMOCRAT Tor Its
prompt courtesy In spreading before its nl-
marutis readers my imperfect summing up OF
the history and wrongs ot the people 81 the
little republic pf West Florida. and for its
brief and pungent editorial advocacy ~ our
claim for restitution.
After calm pertIsa Of my article I also
desire to offer word IN equalization Of The
closing paragraph. The Tubing. April "A,
1912 b. act uf Congress extending the limits
or Louisiana" In cited W prove i,fofmuhtg
and by no means to convey the Idea of eriini
nal greed I'm view ut the circumstances no true
lover Of the fenown Of bis country can attach
crluinalty to an act undoubtedly adopted
as a precautlon necessary for the safety and
preservation Of the richest jewels OF the Re
public. Mr.. Madison having resolved tn up-
pose force 10 force In defense OF our national
rights against Great Britain. and to commit
Just cause into the hands OF the Almighty
Disposer of events. foresaw, with his custo-
mary sagacity. that our weakly little Repub-
lie would prove buta slender reliance to hold
The navigation of the Mississippi unrestricted
against the inroads Of the British power, and
maintain the connection between New Orleans
and tho great West, and that In the march
Of events the time was come when the hege-
muny Of the great Republic must be extended
over the little proletatiat. 1t was done, as
stated by act OF Congress Of April IA, Isi2,
extending the limits " the State OF Louisiana
over it, Had IL not been done when II was IL
Ii by no means Improbable that Paokenham.
while feeling for the vulnerable point oil at
lacking New Orleans, might have selected the
lakes In the rear of the city the Amite and
the Manehae-as the line OF operations But
concedlng the sagacity and patriotism Of tho
TnltiHp at n time when the common peril pre-
cudsd hagglng on bargaining or detinitive
adjustment Of terms. only adds. weight TO our
protest against the keeping OF cur domain,
which we held by conquest from Tho Spaniards
and by years OF peaceable and independent
possession.
Since preparing my communication TO tho
New Orleans Democrat my friend and neigh
bor Henry Hawfurd. ESQ, has kindly fur
nished me vol. |, Martins Digest. IN which
find an act Of Congress, approved by Mr..
Madison. February 10. 1911. entitled, IAN act
TO enable the people of the Territory Of Or
leans 60 form d constitution and State gov
eminent, aud for the admission Of such State
into the Union. on an equal footing with the
original States. and for Other. purposes" In
This act IL ia explicitly provided, "rhst the
said convention shall provide by an ordinance,
irrevprahe, without the consent Of the United
States. that the people inhabting the said
territory do agree and declare, that they do
forever dieclaim oil right or title 10 the waste
or unapproprlatnd lands within tho said ter
ritory. and that the same shall be and re-
main at the sole aud entire disposition OF the
United States" II this solemn disclaimer
was imposed as prerequisite to their admiE-
ion TO the Union upon the people OF q terri
tory every foot of which had been indlsputa
bly, bought and paid for. how much more was
such a disclaimer required OF us who held q
domain by conquest, not n foot of which had
been bought or paid for by the United States2
The people of the Florida parishes were no par
ties TO that disclaimer since 1t was only after
the adoption Of q constitution by the people
of the Territory Of Orleans, and their admis
gion Into the Union aa sovereign State,
that the act of April II. 1919, extending the
limits OF Luuisiana over theso parishes was
passed and approved. In relation to the dis
claimer, let me add. In conclusion, that
heard fifty years ago. from some Of the most
prominent actors in the West Florida revolt,
that no such relInqushment Of their right
had ever been formally made by tho people Of
the republic OF West Florida. nor by any com
petent authority speaking for them. On the
Faith of those declarations, and on the eternal
principles OF equity and natural right, ] am
engaged to-day In urging tho claim OF tho
people of tho communities which composed
the republic OF West Florida for the restitu-
tion Of the domain they took out Of the hands
of the SpanIardH with the sword In 1910.
A claim appealing more irresiatibly 10 tho
honor and gratitude Of the republic can hard
Is be conceived. III. SKIpwoRrH.