The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-12


law al once TO meet the exgencles OF the age in which
we live2
In the discharge of our public duty, and in dealing
with the high concerns OF this people, can, as rule
of direction, look with confidence the policy and
wisdom Of the llusous founders of the republic. lie
US consult their history when foreign interference at
tempted to obsruct their natural territorial right OF outlet
and the value they placed upon that right, and the
kindred one OF unrestricted communications
Mr. Jefferson, when Secretary OF State under Washing
ton the injury and embaIrassmentnay, the impos-
sbilityo permitting the Spanish government to inter
cep right OF way TO the Gull OF Mexico. from our
southern boundary, the 3st deg OF north a,tude as es
4 tablished under the defnltve treaty OF 1888.
The Instructions he drew up in 1892 sor the United
States commissioners appointed 10 negotiate with the
court OF Spain, respecting the navigation OF the Mssis
spp, exhibit the comprehensive genius OF that great
statesman He not only insisted on this as right under
the treaty Of 1853, by which yielded TO the sub.
jects OF England, and passed to us when The political
sovereignty changed, but that II right based upon
broader and more unquesonable groundsand that is on
The law OF nature and of nations. 1t will be remember
ed. too, that we conended for the right OF navigating that
river below southern boundary, and when Spain held
Louisiana on the side, and Florida on The other.
II we appeal said Mr. Jefferson, 10 the law OF nature
and OF nations, as we feel written in the heart OF man,
what sentiment is written deeper characters than that
the ocean is free TO all men, and the rivers 10 IN
babants Is there man. savage or civilized unbiased
by habit who does not feel and attest this truth Ac-
coIdngy, IN all tracts o country united under the same
political society, find this natural right nvarablyac
knowedged and protected by laying the navgaba rivers
open all their inhabitants When they enter the limits
10 descend the stream is IN any obsructed 1t is act
OF force by stronger society against a weaker, con
demned BY the judgment OF mankind" This great de,
sideraium, then, of opening highway for trade, held
indispensable as clvlzing and enriching element, en-
gagged the attention Of early statesmen, who pursued
with steady and unnching purpose, showing they re-
garded IT vital 10 the permanent prosperity OF the
country.
The difficulties growing out OF conlroveTted right
to navigate the Mississippi the gulf satisfied our
statesmen that the matter could be eectually put 10
rest by acquiring the sovereignty OF New Orleans and
other dependencies The agiatons and conflicts in Eu-
rope bad secretly changed the relations which Spain bore
10 that teroy she had become suppanted in It's SOW
eregnty in virtue OF the cession OF by secret treaty IN
1900 10 The French republic
During the exile Of Canot, he referred, in answer
addressed by him to Baieul, project foot in the
French Directory to obtain cession Of Louisiana IRON
the Spanish government
HINTS OF the progress OF this affair had reached our
Minister at the Court OF ST James. In June, 1901, MIR
Madison, Secretary OF State, drew the attention OF our
Minister al Madrid, Mr. Pnckney to the subject, as one
that would deserve and engage his early and ygant
inquiries, and may require delicate and crcumspect
management"
In September of that year our government despatched
instructions 10 Minister 10 France, MT Livingston.
requiring him. If the cession from Spain 10 France
had revocaby taken place, certainly" would take
place, tha, nothing should be said or done which would
unnecessarily iae our future neghbos, or check the
beray which they may be disposed TO exercise In rea
ton the trade and navigation through the mouth OF The
Missssipp;" and, in the next place, that efforts should
be made 10 induce France TO make the United
States the Fordas il nclnded in the cesson 10 her from
Spain or al least West Fionda through which several
OF rivers particularly the Mobile river, empty them
selves into the sea"
Among the mos, remarkable incidents OF that day, and
in striking contrast with our diplomacy of the present
time is the fact that whilst our government at The centre
and lis diplomatic agents in Europe, tracking oui
the devious nvouons Of the negotiating powers respect
ing the splendid province Of Louisiana, and endeayoring
to the prze the British government, late as
May, lS02 had received mumaton whatever, as Lord
Hawkesbury stated 10 minister from the governments
ot France Or Spain relative TO any convention or treaty
for the cesson OF LOUISIANA or the Flordas 10 the mean
time our ne Soations bad been steadily going with
the French government and Congress passed act ap
proved the 10th oil February 1903, making provisional
appropriation Of two millions OF dollars, "for the pur.
pose Of deirayng any extraordinary expenses which may
be Incurred Ia the intercourse between the United States
and foreign nations And the i7th October, 1903, Mr.
Jefferson al called session OF both houses adyerted 10
this appropriation and announced 10 Congress that "the
enlightened government Of France" had seen with just
dscenmeDt the importance both nations OF such liberal
arrangements as might best and permanently promote the
peace, interest," and friendship oil both and the property
and sovereignty OF all louisiana which had been restored
to them" had, on certain conditions, been transferred ia
tue United States by instruments bearing date 30th April
last Z and that "whllst ibe property and severe gny o
the Mississippi and its waters became an independent
outlet or the produce OF the western Saies and
controlled navigation through their whole course free
from collision with other powers, and the dangers 10
peace IRON that source The fertility OF the country s
climate, and extent promise, in due season, important
aids TO our treasury ample lson Tor our poster
y, and vide spread field for the blessings Of freedom
and equal laws"
While the great in progress for acquiring
Louisiana for outlet 10 The Gull OF Mexico, and be
fore its consummaon, Mir Jefferson had devised plan
for minute and scientific exploration OF the territory
the West, extending from the Mississippi TO the Pacific
On the 18th January, 1903, IN communication TO Con.
gress he recommended that intelligent officer be de-
spatched with few to "explore the whole line
even 10 the western have conferences with the
natives on the subject OF commercial intercourse get ad
zion among them for traders others admitted
agfee convenient depostes for interchange OF
cles, and return with the information required in the
course OF summers" that nation owed il 10 their
interests 10 "cxpote this the only line OF easy
ncaion across the continent and so directly travetsng
our own part Of IT, that "the interests OF commerce
placed The principal object within the constitutional pow
advance the geographical knowledge Of our own continent
cannot but be an additional gratifcation."
Here Is the foundation laid by that great statesman OF
the project now before Congress voted the necessa.
" appropriation, which resulted in The expedition oi
Lewis and Clarke, who ascended the Missouri 10 the
falls, passed the Rocky mountains descended by differ
enl streams until they struck the Columbia river, and
followed IL until they reached the Pacific ocean On the
81 March, 1853, Congress passed law authorizing the
Secretary OF War, under the direction Of the President
TO employ such portion OF the corps OF Typographical
engineers aud such other persons as be NAV deem
saTy," make such explorations and surveys as he
may deem advisable 10 ascertain the most practicable
and economical route tor railroad from the Mississippi
river 10 the Pacific ocean, Thus after the lapse of hal
a century since that usous patriot originated the pro.
ject Of Pacific road Congress walked up TO ts mpor.
iance-yet only far 10 order preliminary explora.
! lion Il is well known to the Senate and the counry
that was then opposed 10 explorations as useless be-
ievlng had information enough OF the praccabiItty
OF several routes, and that then earnestly urged tbe
passage Of a railway bill Had 1t been done ii is moi
doubted that al this time the execution Of the great work
itself would be under way Let us for moment glance
= LAT nur cnndition under IeH.r.onsa