The Portland Gazette

MISCELLANY.

A NEW NATION!!

From the Philadelphia Democratic Press.

Mr. EDITOR—I send you for publication, some extracts from a manifesto which has been published by the French Officers who have established themselves on Trinity river, in the province of Texas. It would seem from the tenor of the principles announced, that they have taken possession as Sovereigns, with intention of erecting an independent power. They have constituted a Military Form of Government, and declare it as their intention to justify their occupancy of the territory, by force. It will be recollected, that many of those were the persons to whom Congress granted a tract of land in the Alabama territory, on terms so very favourable. They have sold out their titles to speculators, and with the proceeds have been enabled to possess themselves, without leave or license, of the tract they now occupy. The United States claim the province of Texas to the Rio del Norte, under the treaty for the purchase of Louisiana. The new colony is consequently included in our territorial jurisdiction, and their proceedings are in hostility to our laws.

Champ d'Asile, Province of Texas, May 11th, 1818.

Re-united by a sense of the sad calamities, which have torn us from our homes, and scattered us suddenly in different countries, we have resolved to seek an asylum, where we may be able to recall our misfortunes, that we may draw from them useful lessons.

A vast country presents itself to us—a country abandoned by civilized men, and where are only to be seen, some points occupied, or traversed by Indian tribes, who, contented with the chase, leave without cultivation, a territory as fertile as extended. In the adversity, of which we boast, far from its humbling our spirit, we exercise the first right granted to man by the author of nature, in establishing ourselves on this land, to fertilize it by our labours, and to demand from it the products, it never refuses to perseverance.

We attack no one—we have no hostile intentions. We ask peace and friendship with all who surround us—and will be grateful for the kindness, which will be extended to us.

We will respect the religion, the laws, the manners and the usages of civilized nations.

We will respect the independence, the customs, the mode of life of the Indian nations, whom we will not restrain either in hunting, or in any other point of their existence.

We will maintain with all those to whom it will be expedient, social relations, and good neighbourhood, as well as commercial pursuits.

Our deportment will be peaceful, active and laborious—we will be useful to the extent of our power—and will render good for good.

But if it be possible, that our situation be not respected, and that persecution may follow us to the deserts where we have sought a retreat, we ask it of all reasonable men, what defence would have been ever more legitimate than ours? It will be that of the most entire devotion. Our resolution is taken beforehand. We have arms. The care of our preservation has imposed it on us, to furnish ourselves with them, as men in our situation always have done. The land on which we have placed ourselves, will behold us prosper or bravely die. There we will live honourably and free, or will find our tomb—and just men, will grant a testimony of esteem to our memory. But we have a right to look for a more happy result—and our first care ought to be, to merit the general assent, in tracing the simple regulations, which will be a guarantee of our dispositions.

We will name the place where our colony is situated. Champ d'Asile This denomination, in recalling to us our reverses, will also recall the necessity of fixing our destiny—of setting up anew our household gods—in a word of creating a new country.

The Colony, essentially agricultural and commercial, will be military for its preservation.

It will be divided into cohorts:—

Each cohort will have a chief, who will be required to keep a register of the persons who compose it, and to preserve it in order.

A general register, formed from that of the cohorts, will be kept by the direction of the Colony.

The cohorts will be collected in the same place, that they may be the better protected from insult, and that each one may live tranquilly under the protection of all.

A Colonial Code shall forthwith be made. to guarantee safety and property; to prevent and to repress wrongs—to secure the peace of just men, and to curb the evil intentions of the wicked.