The New Hampshire Gazette

The federalists are now labouring to prove France has neither claim to nor possession of Louisiana—if so repeatedly exposing their inconsistency could effect any thing, we might oftener condemn them out of their own mouths—last winter they confidently pronounced the occlusion of New-Orleans the work of Bonaparte,—"now the French have Louisiana," said they, "you must look for redress from France, Spain has no command in New Orleans—the whole kingdom is tributary to Bonaparte, and from him we have nothing to hope," —then they recommended taking immediate possession of Louisiana and New Orleans, extol the future importance of the one, and the absolute necessity of the other : in fact, in all this business their inconsistency has only displayed their deep regret at not being able to draw down on the administration the hatred which must inevitably follow the adoption of the measures they themselves proposed. To make the administration detested as that of Mr. Adams they advocated war, proclaimed Louisiana a land flowing with milk and honey, painted in the most flaming colours the danger of French neighborhood, what said they, is expence in comparison to having a powerful French colony on our frontiers, withdrawing both our people and the Indians from their dependence on the union, stopping the mouth of the Mississippi, &c.—but the moment the administration averts French neighbourhood, establishes the freedom of the Mississippi, and pays only 15 millions for these benefits and complete sovereignty of all Louisiana, the federal tune is changed, what, say they now, pay 15 millions for a wilderness! such is the manner in which opposition to government has been manifested—at this moment the chagrin of the federalists at its success is proportioned to the confidence with which they hoped to overthrow the administration, they may "cover themselves with dust and ashes."