Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-24
PROVE TOO MUCH.

Some of the leading anti-annexation
papers at the North are presenting the
argument that we have enough vexatious
problems to solve at home without reach
ing out to the islands of the sea for adj
ditional ones and the Providence Or. -
Journal in trying to break the force of
that argument. says:
when Thomas jefferson annexed
Louisiana, the anti-expansionists might
just as well have asked: "Why not get
better government in Some sections of
the United States before beginning on
the rans-Mississippi wilderness?
Not bit of it. The Journals appeal
TO the Louisiana case is most unfortunate
for its own cause. Primarily. the pur
chase of Louisiana grew out of the taking
away from US of the right of deposit of
merchandise at New Orleans. and the
clamOr raised i'm the western portion of
the United States for some governmental
action on the subject. The people Of
Kentucky were especially nfamed cover
the matter There is no question that the
maintenance of peace and order and the
promotion Of better government in some
sections of the United States" were lead
ing considerations with Mr.. jefferson in
making the purchase. Read what he
says, as bearing on this point, in his
annual message of October II, 1SOSs COM
municating the purchase to Congress.
We quote:
Congress witnessed at their last ses-
sion the extraordinary agitation produced
in the public mind by the suspension of
our right of deposit at the port of New
Orleans, no assignment Of another place
having been made according TO treaty
They were sensible that a continuance
OF that privation would be more injurious
to our nation than any consequences. that
could flow from any mode of redress, but
reposing just confidence in the good faith
of the government whose officer had
committed the wrong, friendly and rea-
sonable representa- tons were resorted to,
and the right of deposit was restored
Previous, however. to this period, we
had not been unaware OF the danger to
which our peace would be perpetually ex-
posed whilst so important a key to the
western country remained under foreign
power
Had the anti-annexationists of Mr.. JEFF
fersons day propounded the question
suggested by the Journal would not the
above deiverance of the sage of Month
cello have been AN all sufficient answer
to it? We think so.
And. by the way, Mr.. Jefferson In the
same message, incidentally enunciates
the doctrine, since reaffirmed by others
Of the early school of craftsmanship, and
sustained by the Supreme Court, that the
United States cannot acquire territory,
save for the purpose of making a State
or states of it. with" he says, "the wis
dom Of Congress it will rest to take those
Interior measures which may be neces-
sary for the immediate occupation and
temporary government of the country"
Qouisiana) and 'for its incorporation into
our Union
The fact is, that every time the impe-
ralists appeal to history and to the
fathers of the republic, they prove too
much for their own good. They cannot
find in the writings or the utterances,
or the legislation inspired by the founders
of the republic or any Of Their disciples,
anything TO sustain any proposition they
have laid down The entire record Is
against them. and every reference they
make TO it proves to be a case of ones
being hosted by his own petard.