ith Spain,
allowing such deposits and exports to be made at the city of New
Orleans. This privilege was entirely withdrawn in October, 1792,
the territory appurtenant to such privilege having been in the
meantime transferred to France. The situation thus created was
extremely delicate. There was presented to the Government on the
one hand the injury to western settlers through the loss of
their trading outlet, and on the other the perplexing question
of affording them relief by means of diplomatic agreement, or in
some other method. The abandonment of our settlers to their
disheartening fate was of course not contemplated.

It can not be denied that the conditions plainly pointed to
cautious and deliberate negotiations as the way of prudence and
safety. It very soon became apparent, however, that delay and
too much deliberation did not suit the temper and spirit of
sturdy Americans chafing under a sense of wrong and convinced
that they were entitled to prompt assistance. The inhabitants of
our territory bounding on the east side of the Mississippi, in a
memorial addressed to the President, Senate, and House of
Representatives, after reciting their discouraging conditions
and expressing their faith in the Government's disposition to
extend the necessary aid, closed their memorial with these
significant words: "And so far as may depend on ourselves, we
tender to our country our lives and fortunes in support of such
measures as Congress may deem necessary to vindicate the honor
and protect the interests of the United States."

The settlers in the States "west of the Allegheny Mountains"
also, in a memorial to the Government, clearly indicated their
impatience and readiness for extreme action, declared that
prompt and decisive measures were necessary, and referred to the
maxim that protection and allegiance are reciprocal as being
particularly applicable to their situation. They concluded their
statement with these solemn words: "Without interfering in the
measures that have been adopted to bring about the amicable
arrangement of a difference which has grown out of the
gratuitous violation of a solemn treaty, they desire that the
United States may explicitly understand that their condition is
critical; that the delay of a single season would be ruinous to
their country, a