The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-27
OUR TERRITORIAL ACQUISITIONS TIE FssT
AND PRESENT

Tie Washington Union, in an editorial On
the subject of Cuba, undertakes to magnify
tie wisdom q the diplomacy Of Mr. jefferson,
in the acquisition Of Louisiana, and to aasimi-
late the relations between this country and that
territory In 1902, to the relations between Us
and CGba at this time. The remarks Of the
writer botray no little ignorance concerning
the diplomatic history OF iLis Government
L9u;saiBa ald the Floridas lag directly a.ong
or borders, separated US from the Gulf Of
Mszioo, commanded the great natural high
way Of the valley Of the West, and the outlet
- ~ FTod1.te, ;nterPosed iEsapera5!e obssa-
cies 20 a sic coasswiso trade from the Calf
shores TO the Atlantic cities, and, in the hands
Of . E1ropcaa Power, would peTpetually pre-
vent Cur natural growth, and lag US Cpe1 to
TIE Iacsi ,cisch;cvons and daG gerous intriercz
calcGiatel 10 destroy the bond Of union be-
tween The Atlantic States and tho great West
Ia none Ct these respects DO we sustain SINH
lar relations TO Cuba. The acquisition Of that
Island IS 10 more necessary 10 cur growth, or
commerce, o1- pre- Perity, the integrity CT our
Union than that Ct Canada, aud nothing Ike
80 impert4n5 70 our safo = in time Of war.
Tie I'M a represents the policy Of acquiring
Lorilana ana Florida as having originated
win AR Jciysrson. and b2cn consummsted by
li3 .@.s5cIn. Any one who VII take The trouble
t. ro-i Lynan's Diplomacy Of The UGited
States" viii ind that, soon after the formation
Of the Union, he possession Of Louisiana and
the Fl2iidas By 6 European Power began to
create uneasincss il the rub!ic mind. especially
in ihe Western country; nat the particular
evil complained q vas, the annoJanccs and
restrictions to which cur trade down tie Mis-
sissipii vas sd jee.e5 by tlia Spanish Govern
I1eIt; and jha., during TIC Administration Of
tie el-cr Adams fo-c.b,a measures were about
berg taken to secure possession Of New Or
io1Hs, wren SFa,1 avarted tie blow by assent
rs 20 ccririu arrangements, doomed satislac.
tory fs- the tiEe.
Ute Onion assumes that Mr.. jefferson. MIR.
Madison, ana Air. Monroe, boldly took the
ground skas the Territory cf Louisiana must
be acquired & Mi hazarGs7 They did no such
thing. Their craftsmanship was not oompre-
hansive and bold e1ou5 h fcr that The pol;ov
OF acquiring tie Territory Of Louisiana never
originated with them, nor was it entertained
By them with any promptitude. The scheme
was in fact thrust upon them; and to the nc
oessisies CT Napoleon Bonaparte, not to the
statesman,hip Of JsfFerson, do we owe the
peaceahlo acquisition of the vast Territory Of
louisiana
In tho long, complicated letter constructions,
sent b. Elr. Madison to Livingston and Men
roe, MaJcb, 1903, the sole object to which
their atte1iion is directed ie, the acquisition of
"New Orleans and Of West and East Florida.
or as mush thereof as the actual proprietor
can be prevailed on to part with ;" and. in the
event Of gEeas difficulty in the negotiation.
should it be deemed necessary, the ministers
were authorized to pledge the United States
to perpetual guaranty to France of the
whole Ct Louisiana lying west of the NIssissip-
pi and along its banks, and to stipuIato to
give to French vessels in ali the territory CO.
ded to this country, the perpetual exercise of
all the privileges enjoyed by American YES
selsD Recollect, these enormous concessions
which in the future would have been produc.
tive Of the worst consequence, were TO be
made to obtain possession not of Louisiana
Territory, but Of New Orleans and the Flori-
dasl We rccolleot, indsed, that during the
negotiations carried on from time to time in
relation to this matter, the Spanish Govern
ment, which by secret treaty had conveyed
the Territory to France in 1900, was solemnly
assured, that the Mississippi would be the per-
petual Limit Of our empire, beyond which there
was no prospect that the American People
would ever 60 Such was the view ct that
time of the great republican leaders, as the
Union styles them.
When our Ministers, according to instruc-
tons, preached the project Of purchase of
New Orleans and the FiOridas to the French
Government, they were met by proposition
from BOnapar.c to sell them the whole of Lou
isiana Territory. To this they demurred-.