Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-02-01


would have been useless for the ministers to
have told them, that Louisiana resumed Its
original limits and extended to the Perdi-
do? This assertion will not be hazarded
lightly, as il is well known fact, that the
first suggestion Of this kind, was made by
Mr.. Livingston. seven days after the date
of the joint despatch, and twenty days alter
the signing of the treaty! Can it be sup.
posed tina, in long, labored apology for
buying Louisiana in violation OF their in
structions, all recollection OF their having
secured the greater part of Vest Florida
(Which they were authorised to parchase)
had been obHterated by the unimportance
of the acquisition This will be quite IN
credible to those who know the value then
set upon it by the government, who recol-
lect the means taken to acquire it since land
who have not forgotten the interest, the ar
dor, the anxiety, which these very gentle
men put into the pursuit of their object,
after they had been specially and success
lively illuminated with regard to it. lf,then,
their conduct be unaccountable on either OF
these suppositions, where are we TO look
for an explanation of it Is it to the fact,
that the whole of this pretension is all af-
ser-thought, as Talleyrand denomlnated 1t,
and that neither during the negotiation, nor
at the time OF signing the treaty, nor for
some time after that transaction. had our
ministers any belief that Louisiana, as pur-
chased by them, extended eastwardly be-
yond line drawn through the Mlssissip-
pi, the i,erviile and lakes Maurepas and
ponchartrain 10 the sea
Truth, ON this occasion, as on most 9TH
ers, requires no ornaments and ew words.
AT one of the triumphal dinners given IN
consequence of the treaty, and within
few days of its date, our ministers e"gaged
an old French diplomatist (23i IN discus
sion of the very important purchase they
had made. sits importance to you, he said
will very much depend on The limits that
have been given to it by the treaty what
arc they 20 "Those it had in the hands OF
Spain in 1900, & those it had when France
possessed it," was the reply. But this is
vague" said he, ''aud determines nothing
because the province had different limits
under each of these powers at different
times" This remark, founded alike in
truth and in wisdom, first awakened our
ministers to the oversight they had conmit-
ted, in not employing, in great public
transaction, little OF that circumspection
and enquiry which it may be presumed,
neither of them would have entirely omit
ted in business merely private and per-
senal. 70 the fertile mind of Mr.. Living
stUn two remedies suggested themselves;
the one, an immediate application to the
French government Tor an exposition, post
facto, of their understanding OF what they
had sold the other an invitation to his own
government so to coustrue the terms OF the
treaty, as 10 extend the eastern limit OF
louisiana to the Perdido, and 10 take pos
session accordingly. In prosecution OF
this plan, in which his less prompt, or more
prudent colleague declined taking part,
until he had better considered the subject,
(24) he, on the Goth May, repaired TO NJ.
Marbois, for the purpose, generally, OF far
taer explanation, and particularly, to re-
mind him, hat he bad once said, that Mo-
bile made part OF louisiana" From Mr..
Living tons own statement of this inter-
view, II does nol appear, that the new ex-
plaHatlons he sought were at all subservient
TO his purpose The minister had mo pre-
ciise ,aee on tie Subject" disclaimed all OH
cial character in what he had said, and e.
ven did not knew under what Instructions,
with regard to limits, Louisiana had been
received by France.
tl5.) For evidence of the extent with
which rance received ana held Louisiana
under the treaty Of 1t. lldeioDso, see Mr..
Madison's letter IL Mr.. Living ston OF the
3uth Jan. 1854.
(lo) This might have been an oversight
add not worth Mr.. Living ston'S attention,
had not other things conspired to mpr' IS
him with belief, thai there was design
on the part OF government, not merely TO
exalt Mr. Monroe, but to de 50 at his ex-
pence. In letter written 10 friend alter
The treaty, he says in Tie information sent
me OF our joint instructions, the sum to
which might go, was four millions OF dol
lars less than found in the Instructions
brought over by Mr. Monlue."