Virginia Argus

A SPEECH

By his Excellency

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE

TO THE

LEGISLATIVE-COUNCIL.

On proroguing them, July 3d, 1805

I have attended in this hall for the purpose of proroguing your session, and thus to close, perhaps forever the political connexion now subsisting between us. The occasion has given rise to the reflections, calculated to excite on my part, a great degree of sensibility. To you, gentlemen, who have participated with me the toil of legislating for a territory situated as this has been ; where a general innovation throughout the whole system of government, presented a variety of legislative objects that required the exercise of a more than ordinary share of talent and discretion; where prejudice and former habits presented impediments to that progress of improvement, which experience had suggested. and reason sanctioned ;-- and above, all, where party spirit, lighted up by restless, and occasionally by unprincipled ambition, was too successful in producing distrust and inquietude ; permit me to observe that to citizens, who neither influenced by any wayward impulse of the moment, or awed by the difficulties in view, attended with fidelity and remained with firmness at the post assigned them by their country, a great debt of gratitude is due, and my sincerity cannot be questioned, when of them I profess much respect, and a sincere regard.

Uncandid men have said, and many have been deceived into the belief, that this country became annexed to the United States under the most favorable auspices and that therefore every dissatisfaction manifested by the people may be attributed to the feebleness or wickedness of the local administration. To what degree of credit this statement is entitled, you gentlemen, well know. But let the stranger be told, that at the period of the cession, the aspect of affairs in Louisiana was not such as to justify an expectation on the part of those intrusted with the government. that their administration would for some time, be otherwise than painful and perplexing.

In a territory whose citizens are for the most part either natives, or descendants of natives of France and Spain, who had long cherished a fond remembrance of the country of their forefathers;-In a territory that had been controuled by the will of arbitrary chiefs, for near a century, and harrassed by frequent change of allegiance ; where the ties of birth, affinity and language --the influence of habit and past favors, had made those impressions, which like causes every where produce, the man indeed must be little acquainted with human nature, who had supposed that in a territory thus situated the principles of the American government. could have been introduced without difficulty, or that the public functionaries could have discharged their duties in such a way, as to have conciliated the good opinion of all.

That the people have experienced inconvenience, must be admitted; but that it was inseparable from the change of dominion. During the first provisional govern ment, probably some errors may have been committed, and these have too often been exaggerated by the malevolent and designing. On this subject, however, I feel no uneasiness, as the errors of a good intention will readily be excused by a generous people : but in relation to the calumnies to which I have been subjected, and their authors, I look down upon them with contempt, from that eminence on which conscious rectitude has placed me,

I believe I may confidently assert that the provisional administration in Louisiana was commenced and conducted with consistency as to the principle by which its acts were governed; a principle of mild and conciliatory justice, resolved on at an early period, as the best policy that could be pursued in a district, where the harmony of the citizens was secured but by slender ties, and where it was the daily labor of some to rend those ties asunder. Armed as that administration was with extensive power, it was, perhaps, difficult to avoid the character of tyranny without being exposed to charges of defect on the other extreme.

Superficial observers, and perverted minds are often unable to view the arm as otherwise than feeble, which, when clothed with power, refuses to exert it. But the principle was fixed, and if occasions did occur that might have justified a departure from it, I nevertheless look back with pleasure to the forbearance that was so happily persevered in, and I feel proud in the reflection that no unworthy spirit of resentment, was at any time manifested by the government or its friends

But whatever, upon the whole, may have been the defects of that administration. this much at least we find to be a fact, that the country has suffered no material injury from them; .that through the favor of heaven and the amiable disposition of the people in general, good order was preserved, private and public rights secured, and the territory advanced in agriculture, commerce, population and real wealth.

Fellow Citizens of the Legislative Council,

I now come to the period at which your labors commenced, and permit me to assure you of my great, admiration of the judgment you have manifested in selecting proper objects of legislation. Your code of criminal law, exhibiting a system at the same time mild and energetic ; the judicious innovations which you have occasionally made in the municipal arrangements of the country; the wise acts you have passed for the convenience, encouragement, and protection of commerce, as well as for. the internal improvement of the territory; and above all, the laudable provision you have made for the introduction of science and literature, and for the education of the rising generation, will remain lasting testimonies of your abilities, discretion and real patriotism. With respect to the laws for the organization of the militia, I have great confidence in their success ; but a sufficient time has not elapsed to give the operation of them a fair trial. Within a period so limited as that of your sessions, and with such a diversity of duties before you, more could not have been expected, and it is a subject of congratulation that so much has been done, and done so well.

Another important change in the nature of our government, now awaits us. The congress of the United States, ever jealous of their engagements, and faithful to the interests of all within their protection, have assigned the period at which Louisiana is to become one of the sovereign and independent states of the American union, in the mean time the right of self government is extended to this district, under the like restrictions which have been laid on our fellow citizens, in the other territories of the United States. This species of temporary government has been found commensurate to the protection of society, and the advancement of the general weal, and is certainly well calculated for the gradual introduction of those representative principles, on which the future constitution of the state (when erected) must necessarily be predicated. But possibly there may be many, whom this new form of government will fail to satisfy, It would indeed, be a presumption unwarranted by experience, to calculate on universal approbation of any measure. The best of men may occasionally differ in political sentiments, and the investigation of their opinions lead to truth, and may be considered one of the salutary incidents of political freedom. But, unfortunately, society is sometimes infested with members who argue, not to enlighten, but to mislead their fellow citizens, and who from motives of disingenuous ambition, or from malice, labor incessantly to raise themselves on the ruin of others.--That there have been, and still are, a few individuals among us of that description, is I fear too true. Under their patronage calumny may recommence its eoris--It may distort the most innocent actions, and pervert error into crime-- It may enter the threshold of domestic life, harrow up private feelings, and produce private distress: But the distrust of the discerning, and the contempt of the good, will sooner or later, drive the authors into obscurity.

Fellow Citizens of the Council,

After the political change, on the eve of which we now are, there remains but one more which this territory is destined to experience, and that is, its complete incorporation into the American Union. We have heard idle reports of various kinds, respecting new territorial divisions, and partial, and sometimes total retrocessions to foreign powers; but these seem to me to be the fanciful chimeras of reflecting minds. My firm belief is. that the Mississippi will cease to flow, ere she ceases to behold Louisiana attached to the empire of American Freedom.--A disposition to encroach on the territories of others, is foreign to the nature of our government; but the perfect preservation of her own, is one of its vital principles. Just to the rights of others, the American nation will preserve her own inviolate, or perish with them.

Fellow Citizens of the Council,

I fear the range I have taken has been too extensive, and that I trespass upon your polite attention. Your duties are closed--I declare your session prorogued, sine die. You will retain my affectionate remembrance, and my best wishes accompany you.

William C. C. CLAIBORNE,

New-Orleans,

July 3d, 1805.