The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

National Intelligencer.

AMERICANS!

The event, for which we have all looked with so much solicitude, is at length realized—LOUISIANA is a part of the union—The acquisition is great and glorious in itself; but still greater and more glorious are the means by which it is obtained. In them are developed the energy and justice of a republican government, and its perfect competency, with the least practicable injury to others, to redress the wrongs and to secure the rights of the nation it protects. Never have mankind contemplated so vast and important an accession of empire by means so pacific and just, and never, perhaps, has there been a change of government so agreeable to the subjects of it. May the example go forth to the world, and teach rulers the superiority of right to violence!

To the firm and temperate conduct of the legislature, to the enlightened and energetic measures of the Executive, and to the commanding and supporting sentiment of the nation, we owe this splendid era in the annals of our country. The virtues and talents of those who produced it will receive the admiration of posterity: ours they already possess.

This, fellow-citizens, is an appropriate occasion for joy. Cold must be the heart, that is not animated by the completion of this event. Every doubt has vanished; the country is ours. Our brethren in the west are exulting in the new ties that unite them to us.

LET US TOO REJOICE, that we are free, that we are happy, and that this great event promises to make them as free and happy as ourselves.

The following official papers were received last evening, by the Natchez mail:

Natchez, December 31.

The following letter was received by the last Mail.

New-Orleans, Dec. 20.

SIR,

I have the pleasure to inform you that on this day the city of New-Orleans and its dependencies were amicably surrendered to the United States.—and on this occasion I pray you to receive my sincere congratulations.

Accept assurances of great respect,

from your obedient servant,

WM. C. C. CLAIBORNE.

Hon. Cato West, Secretary of the M. T.

PROCLAMATION.

By his Excellency WILLIAM C. C. CLAIBORNE, Governor of the Mississippi Territory, exercising the powers of Governor General and Intendant of the Province of Louisiana.

WHEREAS, By stipulations between the governments of France and Spain, the latter ceded to the former the Colony and Province of Louisiana, with the same extent it had at the date of the above mentioned Treaty in the hands of Spain, and that it had when France possessed it, and such as it ought to be after the Treaties subsequently entered into between Spain and other states; and whereas the government of France has ceded the same to the United States by treaty duly ratified, and bearing date the 30th day of April, in the present year, and THE POSSESSION OF SAID COLONY AND PROVINCE IS NOW IN THE UNITED STATES, according to the tenor of the last mentioned treaty; and whereas the Congress of the United States, on the 31st day of October in the present year, did enact that until the expiration of the session of Congress then sitting, (unless provisions for the temporary government of the said territories be concluded by Congress,) all the military, civil and judicial powers exercised by the then existing government of the same, shall be vested in such person or persons, and exercised in such manner as the President of the United States shall direct, for the maintaining and protecting the inhabitants of Louisiana in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property and religion; and the President of the United States has by his commission bearing date the same 31st day of October, invested me with all the powers, and charged me with the several duties heretofore held and exercised by the Governor General and Intendant of the Province:

I have therefore thought fit to issue THIS MY PROCLAMATION, making known the premises, and to declare, that the government heretofore exercised over the said province of Louisiana, as well under the authority of Spain as of the French Republic, HAS CEASED, and that, THAT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS ESTABLISHED over the same; that the inhabitants thereof will be incorporated in the Union of the United States, and admitted as soon as possible according to the principles of the Federal Constitution, to the enjoyment of all the rights, advantages and immunities of citizens of the United States: that in the mean time they shall be maintained and protected in the true enjoyment of their liberty, property and the religion they profess; that all laws and municipal regulations which were in existence at the cession of the late government, remain in full force, and all civil officers charged with their execution, except those whose powers have been recently invested in me, and except also such officers as have been entrusted with the collection of the revenue, are continued in their functions during the pleasure of the governor for the time being, or until provision shall otherwise be made.

And I do hereby exhort and enjoin all the inhabitants and other persons within the said province, to be faithful and true in their allegiance to the United States, and obedient to the laws and authorities of the same, under full assurance that their just rights will be under the guardianship of the United States, and will be maintained from all force or violence from without or within.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

Given at the city of New-Orleans the 20th day of December, 1803, and of the Independence of the United States of America the 28th.

WILLIAM C. C. CLAIBORNE.

Extract from the orders of General Wilkinson, given at the Camp of the American Troops on the left bank of the Mississippi, near the City of New Orleans, Dec. 17, 1803.

Parole Columbia.

THE operation before us, however ample or safe, will require much self denial and restraint, to preserve that regularity, decorum and order, which we owe to our reputation, to the rights and sensibilities of those whom we are to cherish, and to the character of our Country: the General, therefore, claims most earnestly the co-operation of the gentlemen of his command, for the maintenance of an uniform system of rigorous subordination & discipline, without which the confidence of government may be abused, the beneficent views of the executive of the United States defeated, and the honor of the whole corps indelibly sullied.

In the course of political events we behold a polished people (strangers to our manners, our laws and our language.) cast into our arms. Be it our pride and our glory, to receive them into the great family of our happy country, with cordial embraces, and by the generous hospitality and solid sympathy which are every where due to the stranger, let us dispel the apprehensions of the timid, banish the suspicions of the credulous, and confirm the confidence of all, in the clemency, the wisdom, and the justice of the American Republic.

The general will applaud the meritorious soldier, who receives the Louisianian as his brother; and he flatters himself the sentiment will be universal, but should he be disappointed, he will expel from the corps and mark with infamy the wretch, who may resist the impulses of the richer and more magnanimous emotions and affections of the human heart.

The persons and the property of the inhabitants of every rank and every species, are to be held in sacred respect—and whoever may dare to injure the one, or violate the other, will be brought to speedy and condign punishment.

The articles of war are to be read to the troops at morning parade to-morrow.

Certified to be conformable to the original.

By order of the General.

D. WADSWORTH.

Aid de-Camp, pro tem.