Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 3 (of 16)United States. Congress
History
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 3 (of 16)
United States. Congress
Law -- United States; United States -- Politics and government
The gentleman from Virginia says, the principle contained in the third
article of the treaty has been already recognized by Congress, and has
instanced our treaties with Spain and Great Britain respecting the
adjustment of our limits. By adverting to these treaties, it will be seen
that there was then no pretence that we had acquired new territory. They
only establish our lines agreeably to the Treaty of Peace. Certainly
then the facts are not similar, and there exists no analogy of reasoning
between the two cases. The gentleman from Virginia asks whether we could
not purchase the right of deposit at New Orleans? But the argument
meant to be conveyed in this question does not apply. We had the right
before this treaty was formed; nor did we, in consequence of that right,
undertake to admit the people of New Orleans into the Union.
Mr. CROWNINSHIELD.--Mr. Chairman: I rise, sir, to correct the gentleman
from North Carolina in one particular; he has stated that the First
Consul of France signed the treaty ceding Louisiana to the United States
after the declaration of war by Great Britain against France. I believe
he is mistaken, sir, for the Louisiana treaties were signed the 30th
April, and Great Britain issued a declaration of war against France on
the 17th of May. If I am right, the gentleman might have spared himself
the trouble of detracting from the merits of the Executive on this great
occasion.
Now I am up, I beg leave to state to the committee some of the reasons
why I shall give my vote in favor of the treaties.
A resolution is on the table which recommends that provision ought to
be made to carry into effect the late treaties with France, which cede
Louisiana to the United States. Feeling as I do that we have acquired
this country at a cheap price, that it is a necessary barrier in the
Southern and Western quarters of the Union, that it offers immense
advantages to us as an agricultural and commercial nation, I am highly
in favor of the acquisition, and I shall most cordially give my vote in
approbation of the resolution.
What, sir, shall we let slip this golden opportunity of acquiring New
Orleans and the whole of Louisiana for the trifling sum of fifteen
millions of dollars, when one-quarter part of the purchase money will
be paid to our own citizens, the remainder in public stock, which we
are not obliged to redeem under fifteen years? I trust, sir, we shall
not omit to seize the only means now left to us for getting a peaceable
possession of the finest country in the world. The bargain is a good one,
and considering it merely in that light, we ought not to relinquish it. I
have no doubt that the country acquired is richly worth fifty millions of
dollars, and it is my opinion that we ought not to hesitate a moment in
passing the resolution on the table.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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