Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-03


and in the exercise of tie religion which they
profess" This article was prepared by the first
Consul himself. The words he used on this occa-
sion, recorded in the journal ofthe negotiation, are
worthy OF being preserved. May the Louisian-
ians know that we separate ourselves from them
with regret, and that we siipua,e in their favour
all that they can desire, and may they rccoilect
that they have been Frenchmeu, and that France !
in giving them up, has secured for 'he, advanta- |
ges which they never would have obtained under |
the government, however kind, of an European |,
mother country. May they cherish for as, then,
sentiments Of affection, and may common origin,
parentage, language, as well rs common customs,
pe.petuatc our irlendshp."
The 9Th article contained stipulation in favor
ofthe Indians, (which said Mr. Monroe, it
becomes us to make. though this people will ever
remain ignorant OF tire take oil their inter-
ests." II thus: % The United States promise
TO execute the treaties and articles which may
have been agreed upon between Spain and the in
digenous nations"
The 7th article expressed a reservation which
was then deemed important for the commerce Of
France and Spain. TWAS OF s the faculty OF car
ryng from the ports OF those two kingdoms. or
from those Of their colonies, into the ports OF Lou
isana their merchandise and products during the
space of twelve years, without being subjected
to other or heavier duties, than those which are
imposed on the inhabitants OF the United States"
II is believed that not single French vessel has
ever prohtted by the terms OF this article. in con.
sequence OF the rupture Of the peace OF Amiens,
which occurred at the epoch when the treaty of
cessou was signed. The war lasted for nearly
twelve years, during which time the commerce
OF Louisiana. which had hitherto been enjoyed ex-
clusively by the French under the Spanish flag,
passed into the hands OF the English and the Amer
leans, and the loss Oh st. Domingo completed the
separation.
The sth article, which secures for the French
vessels the treatment usually extended to those of
the most favoured nation, has engendered discus
t:ons, of which il would be useless 10 anticipate
the issue.
Src fha NAL attn ,I,t;o eft
oTcession.
Two important conventions which were signed
the same day as the treaty, were thereto annexed,
and recognised as possessing the same force, and
entitled TO the same performance, as il they had
been inserted in il. The first was relative to the
payment of the price OF the cession. This matter
had formed the subject of an act distinct FROM the
treaty, because embarrassment had been expert
enced at the idea Of announcing that the sove-
reignty of the domain was abandoned at the same
time thatthe benefit derived from its posses
sion was battered for equivalent in money.
For the rest, the necessity Of the cession being
acknowledged, il vas easy tojus,ify its conditions
The motives which occasioned it, had been in
dicated by the First Consul himself, aud are here
assigned.
During the space Of century, the establishment
and administration Of Louisiana exacted advances
from the French anu Spanish governments for
which they never received any indemnify from its
commerce. The churches, the Notifications, the
forts constructed upon the banks Of the Mississippi
and Of other rivers, and considerable number OF
pubic ednces, were erected at the expense Of the
wopowers. Magazines and arsenals had been
Dnil,; funds had been advanced for the promotion
of commerce and Of agricplture;and mass of other
expenditures had been incurred for the advantage
OF the colony. The documents Of the cesSion made
TO Spain in 1861, contained arrangement hts relative
10 the movable property that ceded. What
follows is extracted from letter OF Louis XIV. TO
NJ. D'Ahadie. " My wish is especially that an in
ventory doubly signed by YOU and the commissary
OF his Catholic Majesty be made of al! the artille
~, effects, magazines, hospitals, vesselsS which
belong to me in the aforesaid colony, in order that
after having surrendered the possession of the
vessels and editices to the aforesaid commissary.
process verbal may be made to estimate all the eff
fects which will remain III those places, the price
OF which will be reimbursed by his Catholic Ma
jesty on the footing Of the aforesaid estimation"
The same reimbursement is exacted in letter
written on the 18th October, 1902, by the King of
Spain 20 the Captain General, for the purpose Of
ordering him to deliver the province of Louisiana
70 the commissary Of the French Government.
These reservations were inconsiderabe, il must
be confessed; besides, they nothing more than
stipulation OF form. But the First Consul re-
gardeh the matter OF remuneration in different
point OF view. This valuation in money OF a So
vereign right, which formerly so familiar to
the princes OF Europe, being necessary clause
an the proceeding, he was anxious that the burden
Of complying with it should not be imposed on
the country which was ceded. 4 price whatever
il might be, could not be stipulated for blessing
such as independence and would have furnished its
iuStVe. a SUN was palu ny t!e united states, not
simply as in the preceding cessions and retro ces-
sipns. for movable property, but as the price of
the vast territories they were about to acquire and
the great increase OF power which would accrue
IN consequence TO the general union. The ces-
sion occasioned no injury TO France. but was OF
immense advantage TO the United States
The First Consul thought that he had made
high valuation, when he insisted on fifty millions
OF francs. But the French plenpotentary, with
ont consulting him. Judged this estimation too mod
crate. and as soon az the price became the object of
conference, said that he had fixed ii at eighty
millions, and that il would be useless TO propose a
reduction
The American plenpotentiarie at first objected
to this sum, as they were not invested with spe-
eiai powers to consent 10 the payment Of the price
demanded "Our fellow citizens" said Mr.. Lii
vingston, entertain a great aversion to public
debts; how then shall we, without mourning their
displeasure, impose upon them the enormous con-
trihu,on Of fifteen millions OF dollars?" But NJ.
de Marbois persisted in his demand, and support
ed it by various arguments, tending to show that
this SUN was far from being adequate comtyen-
sation for the real value of which those immense
regions would be 10 the United States. The two
plenipotentiaries finally acquiesced, on condition
that twenty millions of francs should be deducted
from the eighty, and employed inpayng what was
due from France to the inhabitants Of the United
States for captures illegally made. The proposal
meeting with no opposition, This matter was COM
pctely settled.
The mode Of proceeding TO payment at first pre-
sented some difficulties Ii was, however, finally
performed thro' the medium OF banking houses es-
fsbished in London and Amsterdam, (the French
SankeTs having refused 10 engage in pecuniary
a.fair OF such mporianceD with the greatest pune
lily and good-faith.
When il was announced 10 the FRS, Consu,
rho had watched with lively interest the pro-
GTess Of the negotiation, that The so rnillions of