REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, TO WHOM WAS REFERRED A MEMORIAL OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MISSISSIPPI TERRITORY, AND THE PETITIONS OF SUNDRY CITIZENS THEREOF, PRAYING TO BE ADMITTED INTO THE UNION; AND, ALSO, A PETITION OF THE INHABITANTS OF WEST FLORIDA, SETTING FORTH THEIR DESIRE TO BE ANNEXED TO SAID TERRITORY

West Florida]

Published by A. & G. Way, Washington City, 1811

About this Item

11pp. Modern half calf and marbled boards. Lightly foxed. Very good. The report of the congressional committee appointed to evaluate the government of Mississippi Territory and the petition of the residents of West Florida (what is now the southernmost portions Mississippi and Alabama) to be annexed to that territory. The United States had supported the bloodless coup of Americans resident in what was then Spanish territory, and annexed the land over Spain's bitter protests. Given the commercial stranglehold New Orleans and Louisiana would have on the region if West Florida were annexed to it (thus giving Louisiana almost exclusive access to the Gulf), the committee, relying heavily on recent census data, recommends that Mississippi be admitted to the Union and that West Florida, as defined in the 1763 Treaty of Paris, be annexed to it. The argument concludes: "[T]he formation of new states, on the southern extremity of the United States, ought not to be delayed." An important step forward in the development of the Deep South. Scarce. SHAW & SHOEMAKER 24296. Seller Inventory # WRCAM41305

Bibliographic Details

Title: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE, TO WHOM WAS ...

Publisher: A. & G. Way, Washington City

Publication Date: 1811