The subscribers, inhabitants of the Territory of Louisiana, feeling the most perfect reliance, and confidence in your Justice, and benignity, take the Liberty of approaching you, on this the solemn anniversary, of the national existence of the Country, of which you are deservedly the head to express to you their sentiments of the past, and their hopes of the future.

of the Governor, whom it has pleased you to sit over them, their warm approbation, their unshaken confidence, and their firm attachment, have been often expressed

The profession sincere and Just. they take pride in repeating. the virtues of his heart, equalled only by the excellence of his Judgment, his unvarying and steady defence, of the Cause of Justice and truth, his unwearied assiduity in public service, and the crowd of envious, and busy detractors, who have only served to illustrate the purity of his Character, and to offer the last test to his political worth, have so endeared him to your memorialists, that his purposed departure from this Territory throws a gloom over their prospects, and causes the same emotion, as when a Child is about to be deprived of the presence of a beloved father—

But your memorialists, deeply regretting the high necessity which calls him to honorable service elsewhere, trust that your fatherly goodness will return him to their wishes, when that necessity is removed, and that more & more enjoying the confidence of his government, his political adversaries, will allow him the rest he merits, sensible that it will be fruitless to attack the solid adamant of his Character.

But, if the exigencies of public Service, should imperiously require the presence of our beloved Governor on a theatre of action distant from this Territory, for such a length of time as you in your wisdom may deem inconvenient for its welfare. And it shall therefore become necessary that a new Cheif shoud be set over us; we then beg leave humbly to represent that Joseph Browne Esqr the present Secretary possesses our perfect esteem, and most entire confidence. That the integrity of his principles, the moderation of his conduct, & Solidity of his Judgment, promise a fair, tranquil, and Just administration. That his acquaintance with the country and its inhabitants, his perfect knowledge of their Languages, His tolerance of hostile opinions, and independence of party, eminently qualify him for the office of Governor—