. LU iiM AN'' : jlvj <
omfi..flnti:
on thjeN'i,
CESSION
OF
louisiana,
TO THE
united states,
DELIVERED ON THE 12th may, Is04, in st.
I Michael's church, Charleston, south-
carolina, AT the reqjjest of a number
OF the inhabitants, and published
by their desire.
BY DAVID RAMSAY, M. D.
I CHARLESTON:
printed BY W. P. youl^c, franklin's head,
no. 41, broad-street.
M.JDCCCI V.
Oration, &c,
FELLOW CITIZENS,
Our lot is call in one of the four great di-
vifions of the globe, in which nature feems
to have meditated an improvement on her
former works. Her operations are remarka¬
ble for their appropriate grandeur and magni¬
ficence. The American continent ftretches
towards the fouth 21 degrees beyond the moft
fouthern promontory of the continents of the
eaft. Its internal fcenery correfponds with
the immenfity of its outline. The Andes,
are 7000 feet higher than any other mountain
on the face of the earth. The lakes of Cana¬
da, are of greater extent than many of the
inland feas of the eaftern heroifphere.—
Europe would be drained of half her waters,
in furnifhing fupplies for fuch immenfe rivers
as the Miffiffippi, St. Lawrence, La Plata,
and Amazon, thelaftof which, is the largeft
river in the known world. The molt diftin-
guiflied tranfatlantic cataradls, bear no com¬
panion with the falls of Niagara. The
forefts of Europe, Afia, and Africa, are loft
a in
4
in the magnitude of thofe of America. The
Elephant of the eaft is far inferior, in point
of lize, to the Mammoth of the weft. We
cannot fuppofe that this extraordinary phyIl¬
eal grandeur of America, was created without
defign; and what defign fo probable, as to be
fubfervient to fome correfponding exalted
{fate of man ?
May we not, therefore, indulge a hope,
that the inhabitants of a country fo eminently
diftinguifhed by the Author of Nature, are
deftined to form political alfociations of a
large fize, and that thefe will enjoy an un¬
common portion of happinefs ?
We are now met to celebrate an event,
which gives an air of probability to thefe
pleafing conje&ures. Louiliana is ours ! If
we rightly improve the heaven fent boon, we
may be as great, and as happy a nation, as
any on which the fun has ever {hone. The
eftablifhment of independence, and of our
prefent conftitution, are prior, both in time
and importance; but with thefe two excep¬
tions, the acquifition of Louifiana, is the
greateft political bleffing ever conferred on
thefe ftates. Confidering it in its mo ft inferior
point of view, merely as property, it is of in¬
calculable value. It gives us from two to three
hundred miles of additional fea coaft, with
feveral excellent harbours. The land on
both fides of the Miffiflippi, for two or three
hundred miles, below our fouthern limits, to¬
gether
5
gether with the exclufive poffefiion of this
noble river, from its fource to its mouth,
and an exterifion of our weftern territory, for
its whole length, flretching indefinitely acrofs
the continent, till it touches the Pacific
ocean.
Though in this immenfe region, a confi-
derable part is barren and unhealthy, yet the
greatelt proportion enjoys a falubrious air ;
and is fo fertile, as to be equal to the fupport
of a population, far exceeding the many mil¬
lions which inhabit Great Britain, Ireland,
France, Spain, and Portugal—I had almoft
faid all Europe. In it, forelts, coeval with
time itfelf, lift their towering heads. Thefe
abound with excellent timber, adequate to
the building of navies, far fuperior to all that
are now afloat on the ocean. Prairies, or na;
tural meadows of inexhauftible fertility, fre¬
quently extend for many leagues, in which
there are neither trees, nor the roots of trees,
to impede the plough, while their native graf-
fes are capable of maintaining millions, both
of wild and domeftic animals, for the fupport
and comfort of the human race*
Every produ£lion of the United States,
may be railed to advantage in Louifiana,
While its fouthern parts produce the fugar
cane in great perfection, and would, doubtlefs,
yield coffee, and moft of the other produc¬
tions, both of the Eaftand Weft-Indies. In¬
deed, fuch is its variety of foil, and extent
qf climate, flretching, nearly, from the nor,
A-% therrx
6
thern tropic, to the north frigid zone, that it
is highly probable, all the valuable native
commodities, of every part of our world,
might be advantageoufly cultivated in differ¬
ent portions of this widely extended territory.
W e have reafon to believe, that in it,
there are valuable mines of gold and filver;
but it is certain that fait, iron, lead, and plaf-
ter of Paris, articles of much more impor¬
tance, are in great abundance.
When this country, hitherto untrod by
the foot of either chymift or botanift, fhall be
carefully explored by our Waterhoufes,
Mitchiels, and Bartons, fuch additions will be
made to our prefent ftock of knowledge, in
natural hiftory, as will both delight and be¬
nefit an admiring world.
In other countries, and under the dire£tion
of other governments, the energies of nations
have been called forth—thoufands of lives
have been facrificed—Teas have been crimfon-
ed with human blood in the attack and de¬
fence of a few acres, or of barren rocks, fuch
as Malta and Gibraltar; but we have gained
poffeffion of this invaluable country, with¬
out one drop of blood, and without the impo-
fition of any new taxes; and, at the fame time,
with the confent of its inhabitants, and with¬
out giving offence to any of the powers of
Europe. Hiftory affords no example of' the
acquifition of fuch important national bene¬
fits, at fo moderate a price, and under fuch
favourable circumitances.
All
7
All this immenfe country is ours in truft
for poftevity. With fuch an ample reverlion,
what reafon has any fingle man, to he afraid
of matrimony? Or what ground is there for
any married man to be alarmed at the |>ro-
fpe&s of a numerous family? Here are plan¬
tations enough, and enough, for our children
and our children's children, for centuries to
come. Though thefe muff be purchafed by
future occupants, yet in our national capacity,
we the people of the United States, are both
the fellers and buyers. The purchafe monev,
when paid, will only be transferred from the
left to the right hand of the fame body poli¬
tic. When depofited in the treafury of the
union, it will not be drawn out for the ag-
grandifement of our rulers, or of a privileg¬
ed order of men, but for public benefit. Such
is the amount of vacant land in this extenfive
region, and fo rapid will be its population,
under the aufpices of our mild and equal
government, that the proceeds of fales, at no
very diftant day, will be fo great, as not only
to re imburfe the firft cofl of the purchafe,
but to afford a furplufage for the endowment
of feminaries of learning—opening roads—
inland navigations, and other objects of na¬
tional confequence.
The day would be too fhort to enumerate
all the natural advantages, of our newlv ac¬
quired territory. This view of the fubjedt,
though highly important, muft be difcontinu-
ed, that your attention may be drawn to other
confiderations of infinitely more confequence.
The
8
The ceffion of Louifiana to the United
States, will give them power and confequence
in the fcale of nations—increafe their prof-
peCts of peace and union—advance their com¬
merce and manufactures—give additional
fecurity to their free conftitutions, and in a
variety of ways promote and extend human
happinefs,
To view the fubjeCt correCtly, in relation
to thrfe objeCts, we fhould compare our prefent
fituation, as fole proprietors of this country,
with what it would have been, if the defigns
of the French for colonifing Louifiana had
been carried into effedt. In the hands of that
wonderful man, who prefides over France,
New-Orleans would have been the fulcrum
of an immenfe lever, by which he would have
elevated or depreffed our weftern country in
fubferviency to his gigantic projeCts. Our
rights of depofit at New-Orleans, and of the
free navigation of the Miffiffippi, would have
been confidered as terminating with the termi¬
nation of the government of Spain, which had
granted thefe privileges. As a matter of
favor our weftern citizens would have been
allowed a free trade with New-Orleans in
French veflels, and with the exclufive privilege
of trading with the colonies of France, Spain^
and Holland.
Had this plan been purfued, which i$
highly probable, the ftandard of difcord
would have been planted between the Atlantiq
and the weftern ftates. From the operation
of
9
of obvious caufes, the union of our rifing
empire would foon have been fevered. Our
neareft neighbours, would have become our
enemies. The French poffeffing the lock and
key of the Miffiffippi, would have had ma¬
nifold inducements to fupply our weflern
citizens with merchandife, free of import.
Attempts on our part to prevent this illegal
trade would have required fuch an hoft of
revenue officers as to leave little or no income,
to the public treafury. Our countrymen,
would ceafe to be carriers, of fuch of their
own commodities, as grew on the weftern
waters. DiftinCt interefts, marked by a ridge
of mountains, would have feparated one half
of our citizens from the other.
With this gloomy pi&ure, give me leave
to contraft our prefent profpe&s. Being, as
we now are, exclufive owners of the Miffi¬
ffippi in its whole length; the Weft-India
iflands mull depend on our granaries for
their daily bread. Such of the powers of
Europe, as have colonies in our neighbour¬
hood, will be obliged to court our friendffiip.
The congrefs of the United States will regu¬
late all intercourfe between the Weft-India
iflands and the continent of North-America,
with the paltry exceptions of the Floridas,
Canada, and Nova-Scotia. This will afford
the moft ample and eafy means of defence—■
of a defence, which though it cofts us nothing,
will ferve us more effectually than fleets and
armies.
If
10
If the French had colonifed Louiflana, all
this power and influence would be gone, the
i< ; ccs of our country divided, and one
h;ilf of our citizens fet in hoftile array againft
the other. United, as this northern continent
now is, in our hands, from the lakes of
Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, we have
the uncontroled power of making fuch ar¬
rangements, refpectjng the valuable native
commodities of thefe ftates, as will give a
new fpnng to our agriculture, commerce and
manuiafctures.
The inhabitants of Louifiana will be chief-
Iv agriculturifts; and purchafe their farming
lutnfils, and mod other domeftic articles.—>
Wiiat a field of enterprife will this open to
our eaftern brethern, whofe cheapnefs of na¬
vigation—whofe fkill in handicraft trades,
will entitle them to a decided preference in
trading with their new fellow-citizens ? Here
will be a great and growing demand for the
manufactures and fhipping of New-England,
to fupply the wants, and carry off the pro¬
duce of this extenflve territory.
Of all branches of trade, that which is
carried on between different parts of the fame
nation is molt beneficial. Agriculture, com¬
merce, fhip-building, and manufactures, fup-
port, and are fupported by each other.—
They are feparate links of one great chain,
which binds all together, and each of which
adds to the ftrength of the whole. Too long
has this country been commercially dependent
on
11
fori Europe. Notwithftanding our perfeCt
neutrality, do we not all, at this moment, fuf-
fer in confequence of the war between France
and England ? It is high time we had a com¬
merce of our own, as independent, as poffible,
of the ever changing politics of the old world*
This independence will be greatly promoted
by the reciprocal wants and capacities of dif¬
ferent portions of our now, widely extended
empire. One extreme of the union abounds
in fhipping, overflows with inhabitants, and
is ripe for manufactures ; while the other en¬
gaged in the cultivation of a more fertile foil,
finds its ihtereft in purchafing manufactures,
brought to their doors. A domCfkic com¬
merce of this kind will cement our union^
and make Us really independent.
Peace with all the world, and efpecially
in our own country, is the true policy of tbefe
ftates. This is now much more probable than
it ever could have been, while we had a
ftrong French colony in our neighbourhood.
The day that France made the ceffion we now
celebrate, fhe relinquifhed all profpects of in¬
terfering in our government. If Buonaparte
bad had any hoftile defigns on thefe fates,
he would as foon have given up Ere It or
Toulon, as Louifiana. ,
Within the limits of the ceded territofy,
we know, of more than twenty independent
tribes of Indians. As long as powerful na¬
tions of Europe had accefs to thefe untutored
lavages, the peace of our frontier fettlements
b was
12
was expofed to a variety of Contingencies. In
the two laft wars, in which this country was
involved with France and England, the blood
of our inhabitants, fhed by favage hands,
flowed in a thoufand ftreams. In every pe¬
riod of American hiftory, the nations of Eu¬
rope, regardlefs of morality and religion,
have always availed themfelves of the aid of
the aborigines in deftroying each other, and
alfo, the colonies of rival nations.
In gaining the affeftions of the lavages, the
French were pre-eminent. Figure to your-
felves what would have been the fituation of
our frontier fettlements on the weftern waters,
in cafe of a war with France,- while her emif-
faries had the numerous tribes of Indians in
Louifiania, firmly attached to her interefls,
and ready, when called upon, to make war
upon our difperfed and defencelefs inhabi¬
tants. Thefe Indians are now all our own—
included within our-limits, and fo far depen¬
dent on us, that no other nation can interfere
with them. The ceffion of Louifiania has
wrefted the fcalping knife, and tomahawk from
their hands, and laid the foundations of per¬
petual peace, by giving us every defirable
opportunity for introducing among them the
bleffings of civil and focial life. They are
now thrown on our humanity and generofity.
Myfterious Providence! We, the people of
the United States, who, lefs than thirty years
ago, were the fubjetts of the Britifh King,
are now the independent proprietors of this
foil;
foil; and that portion of it, which we origi¬
nally poffefied, is more than doubled by a re¬
cent ceffion of territory, in which are nume¬
rous tribes of Indians, whofe anceftofs own¬
ed this whole country for time immemorial,
before any one of ours had fet his foot on
American ground. Trufting in the virtue of
my countrymen, and warranted by the pre-
fent and paft exertions of our rulers, I am
confident that thefe haplefs natives will have
no caufe to regret, but abundant reafon to re¬
joice in the change which has taken place.
The voice of every good man fhould be raif-
ed in favour of our red brethren. The com¬
mon Father of them, and of-us, calls upon us
toumpart to them the fuperior bleffings which
we enjoy. The competition of rival nations,
bidding againft each other for their friendfhip,
is now no more. We have the whole field to
ourfelves, and a glorious field it is; in which
we may, and I truft will fow the feeds of
knowledge, of virtue," of ufeful arts, of civi¬
lization, and religion; and that thefe will
grow up and flourilh till they yield a plentiful
harveft of human happinefs. To transform
favage warriors to peaceful farmers—to con¬
vert their tomahawks and fcalping knives into
plowfhares and pruning-hooks—to turn them
from the worfhip of evil fpirits to the worfhip
of the true God—from the abfurd rites of
Pagan idolatry to the mild principles, and
practical virtues of chriftianity, is a godlike
work. For the execution of it, the extenfion
of our boundaries gives us facilities we never
b % had
14
had before, and which, I truft, will be im¬
proved for the beft of purpofes.
The ceffion of Louifiana, gives addition¬
al fecurity to our free conftitutions. Had the
French colonifed Louifiana with their accuf-
tom~d energy, the no ft determined democrats,
in our country, muft have confented to the ef-
tablilhment of a large Landing army. With¬
out it, we could not have defended ourfielyes
againft fuch powerful neighbours. To main¬
tain an army, fufficient for that purpofe, we
muft have had heavy taxes, and an extenfive
executive patronage. Thefe would, gradu¬
ally, have' undermined our republican forms
of government, and paved the way for the
concentration of power in the hands of an he¬
reditary monarch. Free, as we now are, from
ail apprehenfions on the fcore of powerful
neighbours, the militia of the country, with a
fmall regular force, and a few frigates and
fihips of the line, are amrly fufficient to pro¬
cure for us fecurity at home, and refpe&abifity
abroad. Safe from all danger, each citizen
of thefe ftates, may repofe in confidence un¬
der his own oak or pine tree, while there is
none to make him afraid.
Such citizens enjoying the fruit of their
labor—paying only moderate taxes,and bound
by no laws, but fuch as are enabled by their re-
prelentatives, muft be fools or madmen, to
wifh for a revolution; on fuch citizens, know¬
ing their rights, appreciating their happinefs,
and difperfed over our extepfive country, the
arts
*S
^rts of turbulent, ambitious men, will have no
con fideraflle, permanent effefl. Thefe may-
pperate on fmall Hates, where a fingl.e dema¬
gogue may be perfonally^known to rood of
the leading characters; but would fall like
pointlefs .tirrows, (hot from broken bows,
when intended to debaucn the minds of the
inhabitants of an empire, con filling, chiefly,
of ipdependent farmers, and ftretching acrofs
the continent of North America.
Some peddling politicians may objeCt
46 that the extenfive addition of territory, we
6? have gained is unneceflary," as in their
opinion, 44 we had land enough before." To
this objection, bur increafing' population,
which doubles every twenty-five years, is a
fatisfaftory anfwer. Two centuries have not
elapfed, fince the firfl permament fettlements
were made in Britilh America. One at Jamesr
Town in one thoufand fix hundred and eight,
by one hundred and ten perfons, and the other
at Plymouth, in one thoufand fix hundred
and twenty, by one hundred and one perfons.
From thefe two germs, has fprung theprefent
population of the United States, amounting
in one hundred and ninety-fix years to five
millions.
Much of this increafe, we acknowledge, was
owing to emigration from foreign countries;
but we have a right to expeCt much more from
the fame quarter, on account of the prefent
high ground on which our country Hands.
If the inhabitants of the old world, ventur¬
ed
16
ed to the new, when we were dependent colo¬
nies—liable to be implicated in the wars of
Europe, and expofed to the immediate hofti-
litibs of powerful nations of Indians, we may
expe£t a much greater number of them to join
us, in our prefent fituation, when we are in¬
dependent ftates—detached from Europe, and
free from all apprehenfions on account of hof-
tile neighbours, either civilized or favage.
The addrefs of our extended empire to the
old world, now is : " Come unto me all you
that are heavy laden and I will give you reft."
Thoufands, and tens of thoufands, will obey
the call, and joining their interefts with ours,
make emigration a more plentiful fource of
fupply than it ever was in any preceding peri-i
od of our hiftory.
Judging of the future, by the paft, what
may an infant, born this day, expqCt to fee,
in cafe of his furviving to the age of four-
fcore ? What do your old citizens now fee,
compared with what was the population of this
country in the days of their youth ? If fome
angel, hovering over the chamber, in which
our venerable fellow-citizen, General Gadf-
den drew his firft breath, and fore-feeing his
ardent patriotifm, had pronounced, with an
audible voice, thefe words : " The infant,
" juft now born, will live to fee the population
" of his native country, South-Carolina, ad-
" vanced from thirty-two thoufand to three
M hundred and forty-five thoufand"—nought,
but conviction, that an angel fpoke, would
have
*7
have procured the {mailed credit to the extra¬
ordinary predi&ion; but we, who now live,
and can compare the regifters of our popula¬
tion, at different periods, know, that what
would then have been doubtful, as prophecy,
is now an eftablifhed hiftorical faft.
By the fame rule, a new born infant may
live to fee the population of the United States,
increafed to fifty millions, which is more than
three times the number of perfons, which now*
inhabit Great-Britain and Ireland. Proceed¬
ing to.calculate on the data, which former
numerations of our people have fanftioned,
our population, in twenty-five years, will a-
raount to ten millions; in fifty years to twen¬
ty millions ; in feventy-five years to forty mil¬
lions; in one century to eighty millions; and
by the fame rule, in two centuries to twelve
hundred and eighty millions of inhabitants.
The great grandfons of our prefent children,
without any extraordinary feries of longevity,
may live to fee this amazing increafe of out¬
numbers. What territory can be too large for
a people, who multiply with fuch unequalled
rapidity ?
Frigid, indeed, muff be the intelle&s of
that man, who fuppofes " That the poffeffion
" of the ifland of New-Oileans, and of a flip of
46 land on each fide of the Miffiffippi, was all
44 that the interefts of the United States requir-
46 ed ; and that all beyond, inftead of being a
45 national benefit, is a national incumbrance."
This language might apply to the fubje&s of
a
i8
a decrepit empire, whofe population was fu-
tionary, and the inhabitants of which, were
enervated by floth and luxury; but is very
unfuitable to the citizens of the United States,
in the heyday of youthful blood, who, with
minds free from debaling paffions, and bodies
ftrengthened by daily labour, are capable of
fuch multiplication, as will foon fill this whole
country with an healthful, aQive progeny.
Congress will, doubtlefs, direQ. the ftream
of our increafing population into the moll fui-
table channels, and, probably, for fome time,
confine it to the ea 11 ward of the Mifiiffippi;
but the day will come, though peibaps at
the diftance of one or two centuries, when
our citizens, on the weft of that noble river,
will equal, if not exceed thofe on its eaft fide.
Here a more formidable objeflion is made
by fome, who alledge " that this immenfe
population will divide into feparate indepen¬
dent governments ; or can only be kept to¬
gether by the ftrong arm of monarchy, or def-
potifm, to the deftrutftion of the elective prin¬
ciples, which pervade our prefent conftitu-*
tion." If our focial compact was held
together by no ftronger ties, than thofe which
bind the governments of the old world, this
obje&ion would be folid. If our newly ac¬
quired territory was to continue to be govern¬
ed as a dependancy on the United States, the
ftandard of feperation, would ere long be
ere&ed, and the inhabitants, for their own
convenience, would form political tafTocia-
tions
4d
lions independent of us. Though a colonial
government will be neceflary for fome fliort
time, yet, it is wifely provided, that the in¬
habitants of Louifiana fhall, as foon as con¬
venient, be admitted into the union, with the
fame privileges as the citizens of the origi¬
nal Rates. Do the people of Connecticut
govern the people of Oouth-Carolina, or do
the inhabitants of Georgia govern the inhabi¬
tants of New-Hampfliire P By no means.
Each Rate governs itlelf, in all matters of do-
meftic concern. On the fame punciples, the
inhabitants of Louifiana will foon be on fuch
a footing of equality, that it will be as near the
truth to fay that they 'govern us, as that we go¬
vern them. While, therefore, our perfent con-
Ritution is preferved inviolate, what induce¬
ment can they have to wifh for a feparation ?
In every article of local policy, they will be
as independent of us, as we are of them. In
the grand councils of the nation, they, in
proportion to numbers, will have their full
ihare of weight and influence, in common,
with Virginia and Maffachufetts, the two old-
eft Rates in the union.
In this view of the fubjeCt, our prefent
form of government is the very beR on earth
for a great country ; It combines the free¬
dom and convenience of the fmalleR, with the
Rrength and protection of the largeR. Our
federo-national fyRem is an improvement on
all the governments that have gone before it.
I challenge the greateR admirer of antiquity—■
g the
20
the moft deeply read in modern hiflory* to
point out one, either antieut or modern, that
is capable of communicating equal bleffings to
the inhabitants of an extenhve territory.
When, the Romans extended their domi-*
nions, they never co-extended the rights of
citizenfhip. Itiftead thereof, the new mem¬
bers of their empire became the fubjefts of
their old citizens. Hence, revolts and rebel¬
lions were common. Very different is the
policy of thefe liates. Our government,
formed on wifer principles, and founded on
equal rights, has nothing to fear from an ex-
tenfion of its boundaries. With certain mo¬
difications, the more extenfive the better, as
the fecurity of the component parts will be in-
creafed thereby-—for the flrength of the
whole ftands pledged for the prote&ion of e-
very part. It can never be too large, till the
parts are fo divided from each other, or the
extremes fo far afunder, as not to admit the
convenient meeting of deputies in fome cen¬
tral fpot, for the purpofe of deliberating on
national concerns. This cannot be affirmed
of our prefent moft extended limits. Ar¬
rangements are making, and, perhaps made,
for .tranfporting the mail to Walhington,
from St. Croix and New-Orleans, in ten
days from each. 1 he diftance of thefe two
extreme parts is, therefore, no obftacle to
the inhabitants of both coalefcing, by their
deputies, in one general congrefs.
When the prefent conftitution was under
confideration for the purpofe of adoption,
obje£tor«
£1
cbje&ors faid u it could never anfwer for the
44 united government of the thirteen original
ts Itates." The experience of twenty-eight
happy years has proved the fallacy of thefe
preditlions. From thirteen we have grown to
feventeen Hates; and yet, areas well governed
as ever. What is to hinder our extenfion on
the fame liberal principles of equal rights,
till we have increafed to twenty-feven, thirty-
feven, or any other number of Hates that will
conveniently embrace in one happy union,
the whole country from the Atlantic to the
Pacific ocean, and from the lakes of Canada to
the Gulf of Mexico ? Great God ! All this
country filled with freemen—with citizens of
the United States ! How mull the heart of
every good man expand with joy in the prof-
pe6t of fo great an extenfion of human hap-
pinefs P While the kingdoms of the old
world are tottering to their foundations—op-
prefiive taxes grinding their fubje&s—one
war fcarcely ended, when another is begun—
it has pleafed the Eternal to ereel a reprefen-
tative f/ftem of government in the woods of
America, founded on reafoti and equality,
the only obje£t of which, is the happinefs of
the people. When this government had been
carried on twenty-eight years for the nobleft
purpofes, and with the mo ft extenfive bene¬
fits, it has farther pleafed God to double its
limits, by a ceffion of territory, which brings
the moft defirable portion of our continent
under the operation of the beft conftitution in
the world. Well may the citizens of the U-
c a.. nited
22
nited States rejoice on the great event. Yes;
we have abundant reafon to rejoice on odir.
own account, as being more immediately in-
terefted, and much alio, on account of our op-
preffed brothers of the human race, in all parts
of the world. Here an afylum is not only
opened, but increafed to an extent, fufficient
for the fupport of their countlefs numbers, in
which they may enjoy life, liberty, and pro¬
perty, without oppreffion or difturbance.
If .the fouls of departed good men, know
what is palling on this earth, what muft be
the joy of our beloved Wafhington on this
feftive day P He thought himfelf amply re-
compenfed for all his toils, in feeing the hap-
pinefs of the thirteen original ftates. With
what increafing exultation \ muft he behold
an extenfion of the fame rights, privileges,
principles, and conftitution over an addition¬
al territory, capable of accommodating hun¬
dreds of millions of happy inhabitants, who
will enjoy the fruits of his labours ?
Louisianians ! You are no longer fo¬
reigners or ftrangers, but fellow citizens.—
We give you a moft hearty, welcome into the
union. We claim you not as fubjetts, but re¬
ceive you as brethren, fucceeding, in common
with us, to an ample inheritance of the moft pre¬
cious rights. Rights, which you and we fully
enjoy, though denied to the greateft portion
of mankind. Do you enquire what they are ?
I fhall briefly, enumerate a few of them. You
are free to think, to fpeak, and to a6t as you
pleafe
23
pleate, provided you do not injure yolir
neighbours. Your perfons, houfes, papers,
and efFe&s are fecured againft unreasonable
fearches and feizures. You cannot be held
to anfwer for a capital, or otherwife infa¬
mous crime, unlefs on the prefentment or in-
di&ment of a grand jury. You cannot be de¬
prived of life, liberty, or property, without
due procefs of the law. You are liable to no
.taxes, and bound by no laws, but fuch as are
authorifed by yourfelves or reprefentatives.
In fhort, you are in poffeffion of every right
and privilege that any reafonable member of fo-
ciety would wifh to enjoy. All thefe rights are
not only yours, in your quality of citizens,
but are guarantied by the whole force of the
United States. If fuch are the privileges you
obtain, ^by your incorporation with us, there
can bemo doubt of your hearty co-operation
in fupporting our free conftitution, by which
all thefe rights are fecured, and in tranfmit-
ting the fame, inviolate, to pofterity.
On all the citizens of the United States,
this day impofes neve duties. For the laft
twenty-eight years we have demonftrated to
the world, that man is capable of felf gbvern-
ment—that the reprefentative fyftem is fully
adequate to fecure and promote the happi-
nefs of its members* It ftill remains to be
proved, that it is equal to the happy govern¬
ment of an extenfive country. What a re¬
proach would it be to us all, if our future
political condition fhould be lefs happy than
24
the paft. Our enemies would then trium*
pjiantly fay 44 that, a reprefcntative fyftem only
fuited a fmall country, and a handful of peo-r'
pie, jn the early ftage of fodety." The
reputadon which the caufe ofliberty has gain¬
ed, by our pafl fuccefsful experiment, in
building government on reafon. and the rights
of man, would, in a great meafure be loft.
The bappinefs enjoyed under our new fyf¬
tem, in this new worl i, has a airett tendency
to regenerate the governments of the old,
"without the horrors and bluodlhed of revolu^
tions. IF this happinefs increafes, and ex¬
tends with the mcreafe, and extent of our
territory, the advantages to the diftreffed will
be incalculable. The rulers of the eaftern
continent, who hold a great part of their fel¬
low-men in bondage, and who are perpetually
involving them in wars, will relax in their
oppreffions—curb their ambition, and ftudy
the things that make for the peace and happi-
nefs of their fubjetds : This will be their
obvious intereft, when they know, that opr
now extended limits afford an ample afylum
for the poor of all nations, where they may
become independent citizens, on their own
lands, and in the peaceable enjoyment of
every earthly comfort. The fuccefs of the
nobleft experiment ever made for meliorating
the condition of man, in a great meafure, de¬
pends on us. A price is put into our hands,
which, if rightly improved, will caufc thou-
fands, who have never feen America? to blefs
us3
25
us, for our fuccefsfui exertions in the caufe
of liberty.
As fuch important confequences are in¬
volved in the futuie dellinies of thefe flates,
the thought Ihould frequently recur, what
line of conduft is moft Rotable to realife the
happinefs, which the high political iituation of
ou: country feems topromife? This would
lead eveiy one to reform htmielf, fo as to be¬
come a good and uletul citizen, Patriots (
of this (lamp, cannnot fail of making the
government both happy and refpe&able.
Since it has plea'ed the Supreme Difpofer
of events, to give us peaceable pofieinon of
a great additional territory, i< is our houndcn
duty fo to improve the heaven fent boon, that
it "may be extenfively ufeful. A different
line of condufl would be ungrateful to God,
and unjuftto man. In every arrangement,
refpefhng this new country, the greatell good
of the greateft number Ihould be the primary
objefct of attention. To qualify his children
to be worthy members of fo great an empire,
Ihould be the ambition of every parent. On
the vote of the child of the pooreft citizen,
may depend the palling of a law, or the ele¬
vation of a fellow-citizen, to the fupreme ex¬
ecutive authority of the union. If the voice
of a fingle individual can be of fuch moment,
what care Ihould be taken to endow that in¬
dividual with knowledge, and to train him up
in the ways of truth, honor, and virtue ?
None of us can tell, which of our children
may
2 6
may be called upon to the difcharge of dunes
mod important to their country ; for, in our
government, there are no privileged orders,
and the path to honor, and office, is open to
all. The whole of the rifing generation ffiould,
therefore, be educated with a view to the high
deftinies of republican citizens, who, indivi¬
dually, poffiefs a portion of the fovereignty
of a great empire. Such well trained repub¬
licans, poffeffing fuch a country as the Uni¬
ted States, and enjoying a conftitutiori, ap¬
proaching as near to perfeftion, as any thing
human, cannot but be happy.
The tide of joy which, on the prefent feftive
occafion, flows in upon us, muft be increaf-
ed, when we compare- the events of this day
with thofe which took place on the fame day,
of the fame month, twenty-four years ago.
On the twelfth day of May, one thoufand
feven hundred and eighty, CharLflcn bowed
to a conqueror. Its inhabitants ^vere brought
under the yoke—their property wrefted from
them—their perfons infulted—their families
exiled and thrown oa charity of Grangers,
or left to ftarve at home, with fcarcely
any means of fupport, unlefs they tenounced
their independence, and acknowledged allegi¬
ance to its enemies. On the twelfth of May,
one thoufand eight hundred and four, many
of the fufferers in thefe diftreffing fcenes, are
now before me, rejoicing not only in the in¬
dependence and profperity of their country,
but in the peaceable extenfion of its bounda¬
ries,
27
nes, over an immenfe region, compared with
which, the territories of many celebrated em¬
pires fink into infignificance. How immenfe
the difference! How Hriking the contrail!
Thanks to Almighty God, who, in the fhort
fpace of twenty-four years, has raifed us from
a low ftate ol depreflion to an eminence, in
which, if not wanting to ourfehes, we may
enjoy as much political happinefs, -as ever yet
has fallen to-the lot of man.