1804.] Obdfervations on Remarks on the Coffien of Louifiana. 
the only means to prevent fuch another 
dilemma.—They did fo; but the govern- 
ment infead of endeavouring to alleviate 
their fituation by remitting the duty on 
fiijis, or, which, perhaps, would have 
been the beft plan, by reimburfing them 
in proportion to the dead ftock on hand, 
fatished itfelf with affuring them, that 
every attention was paying to their in- 
tercfts in its negociations with Spain, 
refpeéting the tree navigation of the Mif- 
Uilippi. Things continued in tris ftate 
for tometime, till defpair urged the people 
to take up arms to refift more effectually 
the paying of the duty upon ftills. But, 
though they certainly aéted unconftitu- 
tionally, yet I never heard that they had 
any other view in their infurreétions, 
than to ftimulate the Federal Govern- 
ment to obtain for them a market, ora 
remiffion of the duty upon ¢tiils. The 
former obje& could only be accomplithed 
by the free navigation of the Mifhiffippi ; 
and the latter, though it might have been 
a jut and conciliatory meafure, yet it 
would only have afforved a partial and 
trifling relief, It would have argued too, 
in the minds of fome people, fear and 
weaknefs on the part of the government, 
which might have emboldened other paris 
of the States to make fitnilar demands, 
and ultimately caufed complete anarchy. 
Nothing, however, appeared in the pro- 
clamations of the infurgents, nor d:d any 
hint or difcuffion take place amongft them 
in their private or public capaciiy, which 
could atuthorife your Correfpondent to in- 
finuate, that they wifhed for a feparation 
trom the Federal Union, and to ft upa 
government of their own. I never heard 
this project laid.to the charge of any of 
their chiefs, of whom lawyer Brenken- 
ridge, of Pittfburg, was ene. 
Suppoling one motive for this purchafe 
of Louifiana was, as your Correfpondent 
fays, ‘* to prevent a fchifm in the United 
States, which, by the very means taken 
to avoid it, is rendered abiolutely certain 
at a future period ;” it certaimy was wife 
and politic in the government not to run 
the rifk of an abfolute {chifm at the pre- 
fent day ; and if it fliouid hereafter take 
place, no blame can attach to govern. 
ment on that account. Why ‘your Cor- 
refpondent fhould, from his mode of rea- 
foning, prefer a {chifin at prefent, to one 
in future, I am at a lofs to ecnceive, un- 
Jefs I were to conjeétuie, that it might 
be gratifying to him to jee the ‘ weak 
and impolitic government”* hampered, in 
tne fame manner as Wafhington’s was, 
with infurreétion; when, no doubt, it 
923 
would be a favourable occafion to lay the 
{chifm at its doors, for not forefeeing and 
preventing it by the very meafure which 
it has fortunately adopted. This ¢er- 
tainly would have afforded a chance of 
fetting America again{t the preten: ad- 
miniftration, and might have digulted the 
latter into a relignation of thofe offices 
which wou!s be filed by the favouries of 
fome gentiemcn. Perhaps your Corre- 
fpondent means, that the attempis ata 
{chifm will be more formidable in. future, 
than they could have been at pre‘ent. 
If a feparation fhould generally appear 
defirable at a future period, in the name 
of common fenfe, humanity, policy, and 
mutual intereft, let the Federal Govern- 
ment itfelf, if it fhould be conftitutional, 
decree that feparation: but at all events, 
let it acknowiedge the independence of 
the Weftern Country, in cafe it be claimed. 
—But, at prefent, it is not able to pro- 
tect itfelf; and fuppofe a fchifm had been 
attempted, had not Louitiana been pur- 
chafed, it would have been the impericus 
duty of the Federal Government to have 
endeavoured to preventit by expoftulation 
afd remonfrance; and, if thofe means had 
failed, to have ufed force, becaufe the 
Weliern Country would have become a 
prey to fome other power, and might 
have been a thorn in the back of the 
Eaftern States. 
Your Correfpondent muft certainly be 
miftaken in affe:ting, * That the expence 
of the purchafe, viz. fixteen millions of 
dellars, muft ultimately fall upon. the 
northern and fouthern divifions, and 
therefore it is no wonder that they have 
firenuovfly oppofed it.” If my mer:ory 
be correct, the fecretary of the trealury, 
Ajibert Gallatin, ftated, that there would 
be no occafion fur new taxes to pay the 
intereft of this fixteen millions ; and as the 
principal was not to be difcharged till 
after the expiration of a certain term of 
years, there was every rea(on to believe, 
from fair and found calculation, that the 
increafing revenue, arifing from an in- 
creafing popuiaiion and trade, and from 
the progreffive fale of Congrefs lands, 
would, before the expiration of that term, 
atford more than an amply futhicient fur- 
plus todiicharge the principal.—But fup- 
pofing that not to be the cafe, and that 
new taxes mutt be laid to difcharge both 
intereft and principal, ftill the North 
Wetern territory, Kentucky, the South” 
Weftern territory, and Louifiana, will 
costribute, in proportion to their popula- 
tion, towards paying thofe taxes, with 
the other ftates of the Union, 
4X2 I¢ 
