The New Orleans Daily Democrat

A correspondent, Mr. Skipworth, in a review of the early history of West Florida, calls attention to the peculiar and uncertain title by which the United States holds the public lands in the West Florida parishes.

In the historical maps of this country, published at the same time with the census of 1870, and which pretend to show the development of the United States, and how it became possessed of every portion and section of its territory, it will be observed that no explanation is given of the manner in which the territory embraced to-day in these Florida parishes became a part of the United States.

It certainly did not become so by virtue of the purchase of Louisiana from France, since Spain, in deeding Louisiana back to France, was careful to specify its limits; nor did it become so by conquest, as Mr. Skipworth shows this portion of our State was brought into the Union, not by any treaty, not by any war or conquest, but by a simple act of Congress extending the limits of the State of Louisiana.

As this territory once enjoyed independence and a government of its own, the question arises whether its admittance into the Union, by this act, gave the Federal government the ownership of all its public lands. The rest of this country was either purchased or conquered. West Florida, however, like Texas, voluntarily joined the Union, or, at least, did not protest against this union. It was true that there was no treaty or special understanding between the two powers, as in the case of Texas, but it is hard to see how this can change the equities of the case.

Should not West Florida then be placed upon an equality with Texas as far as its public lands are concerned?