The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-01-17

extended from the Mississippi to The
Pacific OCEAN, was eeded to Spain OF
the third of October, 1862. Spair
held possession about fifty years. B,
treaty with the United States, Spair
had secured to the United States 8
landing place in New Orleans for al
goods and produce exported or i'm
ported from or to the upper coun
try. Frequent disputes arose between
the parties, which, at times, created
apprehensions of a war. To preyen
these disputes the Spanish Governor
closed the port of New Orleans against
the United States. This caused grea
excitement, and proposition was
made to Congress to declare wal
against Spain and take possession o.
all Louisiana. A more pacific meth
od, however, was adopted The ex
element which preceded the election
of Dir. Jefferson engrossed the public
mind for little time, and this ques.
ton was partially forgotten.
Spain, by treaty dated October 1st
1900. privately conveyed the Louis
lana Territory to France. In this
treaty it was stipulated that if France
parted with the Territory, Spain
should have the first offer of posses.
sion.
The United States, finding them.
selves without an outlet for their CON-
mercs in this direction, the inhabi.
tants of the upper country became
very much excited, and the people from
all quarters beset Congress with theil
complaints and grievances. AS soon
as the people inhabiting the States
and Territories in the valleys of the
Mississippi and its tributaries became
aware that France had possession ol
New Orleans their indignation knew
no bounds; as they supposed she had
taken this position in the spirit of de-
fance to the United States, and with
the old desire of crippling and embar-
rassing their growth and commerce.
The Spaniards, however, considered
themselves masters of Louisiana, SO
long as the formalities of the eession to
France were not fulfilled. By the
terms of the treaty, Louisiana was to
be delivered up in its present state, %
to the French. This present state
was believed to be the exclusion of the
Americans from the port of New Or
leans, and that France would soon
take possession of the Territory with
a large army, preparatory to deter
mined and permanent obstruction OF
the navigation of the Mississippi.
Mr.. Jefferson had information OF
the ccssion of Louisiana to France,
early in 1902, and wrote Mr.. Living
ston, United States Minister to France,
in April, 1902, informing him how to
act inthe premises.
The views of the President were,
that if France took possession OF
New Orleans, the United States must
become the allies of Great Britain, and
antagonistic to France. He then sug
gested, that if France considered Lou
isiana as indispensable to her inter-
ests, she may still cede to the United
States the island of New Orleans that
this cession. would, in great degree,
remove the causes of irritation, and at
any rate, would prevent the necessity
of resorting to arrangements with
Great Britain.
The cession of Louisiana to France
was first communicated to Congress
by the President, in his annual mess
age in December, 1902. Resolutions
were Immediately introduced. author
izing him to take possession of such
places, in or near New Orleans, as he
deemed fit !; and to call into service the
militia of the adjoining States, to act
with the national troops.
Mr.. Jeferson's policy, however, was
strictly pacific. In order to carry it
out. he, on the 10th of January, 1903,
James Monroe minister
plenipotentiary to France. to act with
Mr.. Livingston in the purchase of New
Orleans and the Floridas. which he
erroneously supposed were conveyed
to France with Lonisiana. The NOM
nation of Dir. Monroe was confirmed
by the Senate, and Congress appro-
priated two millions of dollars for the
objects of the mission.
The instructions of Messrs. Monroe
and Livingston only asked for the ces-
sion of the city of New Orleans and
the Floridss and that the Mississippi
should be divided by line that would
put New Orleans within the Territory
Of the United States /; thus securing the
free navigation of the river. Mr. Mon
roe sailed for Paris on the Sth Of
March. 1903 Bonaparte was then
Erst Consul of France. He supposed,
when informed of the instructions TO
Monroe and Livingston, that these
ministers were authorized, If necessa-
70 In enter infn more extended stinr-