Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

From the New-Orleans Union.

We understand that on Saturday last, a patriotic meeting of French citizens was holden, to take into consideration the situation of this province. That a memorial was presented to the assembly destined hereafter, to be forwarded to congress, complaining of innumerable grievances, and boldly and magnanimously asserting the right of the territory to be immediately incorporated into the Union as an independent state. Upon this measure we shall forbear, at present, to make any comments.--The memorial has not as yet been made publick, nor has it been in our power to obtain the most accurate knowledge of its contents.--We shall wait therefore with patience until the committee appointed to obtain subscribers to this new bill of rights, framed by citizen Livingston, and supported by citizens Bore, Tupper, and others, shall deign to submit it to publick inspection. At present we shall be content to appeal to the sober good sense of men of all descriptions, to request them to consider and reflect what are the objects, and what will be the inevitable effect of this measure--a measure which we cannot hesitate to pronounce inconsiderate and premature, fraught with pernicious consequences, and calculated, to disturb the harmony and tranquility which have hitherto been our pride as well as our security.--That the people of Louisiana have a right to remonstrate congress on the subject of any real grievance no man can deny who merits to be the citizen of a free country: but in all cases of popular remonstrances the quo animo is a matter of very serious consideration. In the case of Mr. Livingston's memorial it becomes a question of no little curiosity to determine what are the claims which the people, the very people who have become subscribers to it, really wish that the government of the United States should grant. To say that Louisiana is capable of forming a state at the present moment, according to the constitution of the United States, is saying more, I believe, than M. Bore could prove. As this great question is however determined, and since we are told that it is a truth unquestionable, that we have the right not only in future, but at present, and that congress have violated the treaty of cession, in not having given us before this the exercise of that right, viz. of framing a constitution of government for ourselves and becoming an independent state of the American Union, we may certainly be permitted to inquire how, and in what manner, is this state to be formed? What is to be the extent of its territory? Where is to be the seat of its government; and what will be the annual expense of its establishment? If these questions cannot be satisfactorily answered, we must conclude that the authors of this memorial complain of grievances which they themselves must be conscious do not exist, and demand rights, which if congress were at this moment to grant, they would not accept. In other words we must look for the motives of these sudden patriots, and determine for ourselves whether they are not hazarding the happiness and prosperity of this country, for the gratification of their own private views and individual ambition.