Alexandria Daily Advertiser

UPPER LOUISIANA-

At a meeting of the representatives of the people of Upper Louisiana (elected by the freemen of their respective districts) held on the 14th September in the town of St. Louis, present twelve members being a majority of the whole number (seventeen) expected to meet, after taking the oath of allegiance to the United States, and making a few observations on his appointment and the reasons which called them together, the president, C. Gratiot, said,

"According to this invitation, we have now met here under the auspices of a free government, of which we are proud to call Louisiana an integral part, in conformity with the constitution for the United States, under which we feel happy to live. Nay in more strict compliance with the duties imposed on us as citizens, by the same constitution, we for the first time have here formed ourselves into a deliberative body. We for the first time are exercising the rights of freemen, to petition to the government the redress of grievances. Oh! Would to God our first communication to Congress, instead of being an application for redress, had been an expression of thanks, although from the known justice of Congress, I am confident we shall ultimately have thanks to return them.

Let then gentlemen, our first steps in this new career be as dignified as the occasion which induced us to assemble together, is solemn and important.

Congress at the time of enacting the bill alluded to, were not in possession of sufficient information with respect to this country, to venture to give us such a form of government as we are conscious we are entitled to, and as I hope they will not find us unworthy to live under. We are calumniated in Congress. The Speaker has allusion to the speech of Mr. Lucas, a member from Pennsylvania, in which he says, "the people of Louisiana have not been consulted in the act of cession, but have been transferred by a bargain made over their heads. It was a proof, continued Mr. L., this act had not been received with approbation by them:--that when they saw the American flag hoisted in the room of the French, they shed tears-- this was proof that they were not on friendly terms with our government as some gentlemen imagine." On the very floor of Congress our gratitude to a government absolute in principle it is true, but whose truly paternal benevolence we had uniformly experienced, and which as virtues go hand in hand, should have been construed rather as a certain pledge of our attachment to the principles of a free government, was tortured into a satisfactory proof of our not being ripe to enjoy the benefits of a free government.

Rumours very injurious to our general character, representing us a set of covetous, rapacious land-jobbers, who, by false, ante-dated, counterfeited deeds, had monopolized the greatest quantity of the vacant lands of the district of Louisiana, were at the same time artfully circulated through all parts of the United States. Not an inhabitant of this district was on the spot at the time to contradict those unfounded accusations. Is it then to be wondered at that Congress under those circumstances, should have acted with respect to us with unprecedented severity?

But Congress may have it now in their power to be truly informed of the real state of things, not only from the representations of the generality of the inhabitants of the district of Louisiana, but likewise from their different officers in this country since the taking of possession by the United States.

Before I conclude gentlemen, give me leave to observe to you, that invested as we are all with the confidence of the inhabitants of the district of Louisiana, it will be more particularly incumbent upon us, both in the course of the discussion which is to take place, and likewise after our separation, and when we shall have returned to our respective districts, to enforce among all descriptions of inhabitants, by our example and our advice, a due respect not only to laws of the United States in general, but more particularly still to the very law, the repeal of which, we now propose soliciting from Congress.

It is probable that his excellency William Henry Harrison, and the honorable the judge of the Indiana territory, will arrive here during the session of this assembly, and I am sure that you will join with me in the propriety of receiving them with that cordiality and respect which are due to the high authority that sends them, and to their own well deserved reputation, and that by affording them every information in your power, should they condescend to consult you on the subject, you will facilitate by every possible means the introduction of the laws of the union, in this territory, and thereby deserve the eternal gratitude of its inhabitants."