Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-01-19
AN INrEREs TING HISTORICAL RE
MINISCENCE.
TIE EARLY FRENCH SETTLEMENTS IN THE
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY.

lErOn the Preliminary Sketch OF the History Of Ohio
in chase's Edition Of the Ohio statutes.l
In the year 1873, two French mission
aries penetrated from Canada to the
Mississippi, and may be regarded as the
first discoveries of that mighty river
They descended the stream thousand |
miles 10 its confluence with the Arkan
sas, and asceri1ined. as we'll from il>
general course, as from the information /
of the indians, that it; mouth must be far
vast of the English c. lonies on the At.
lantic coast. The missionaries were
sagacious men. They saw with WHAT
facility line of communication could be !
established, touching the ocean at the
north and at the south, and extending the |
French dominion over a region Of won
der'ul extent aud unparalleled fertility. |
On their return TO Canada, they did not
fail TO urge, in strong terms, the immedi-
ale occupation of the country they had
raversed
NJ de La Sale, the commandant of
fort Frontenac, on lake Ontario, a man
of all enterprising and adventurous spirit,
regulated by sound Judgment and great
sagacity, was induced by their represen
taiion to undertake an exploring expedi
ton. With small party he made his
way TO The Mississippi, through lake
Michigan, the Chicago, and the Illinois.
On the second expedition he descended
The Mississippi 10 lis mouth, and look for
NAL possessions of the country in the
name of Louis XIV. He also erected
forts, and established settlements at va.
rious points. Fully satisfied of The vast
Importance of prosecuting the system of
col nization thus commenced, he pro-
c-eded TO France and commuui;st ted
his ideas 10 the French government
The ministers of Louis listened readily
10 scheme, which not only promised an
| immense acceSsIoR or valuable territory,
but seemed likely to create permanent
and efficient barrier TO the western exten
sion of the English colonies. An ex
pedition was fitted out, for he purpose OF
planting colony, at the mouth of The
Mississippi, and the command was given
to La Sale. This expedition lied, and
lis illasIrious. but unfortunate command
er perished. victim to the treachery OF
his own followers.
This disaster, however, did not quench,
or abaie the ardor of the French in the
prosecution of their great plan. A Sec
ond expedition sailed from France, under
the command of NJ. d. Iberville. This
officer discovered the mouth of the Miss
issippl, and explored the river for severaI
hundred miles. Permanent establish
menls were made at different points; ard
from this Time, the French colony west Of
the Alleghanies, though occasionally
harrassed by the English and the Span
iardS, steadily increased in numbers and
in strength.
Before the completion of the first quar-
ter Of the eighteenth century, the colony
had been divided into quarters, each
having its local governor, or comman-
dant and judge, but all subject TO the
superior authority of the council general
of Louisiana. One of these quarters was
established northwest of the Maumee,
and on the lakes. Sill however, the
communication with Canada was through
lake Michigan. The nearer route,
through the Ohio river aud lake Erie,
had not been discovered. This discovery,
however was made not long afterwards.
Before 1850, French post had been
fortified at the mouth of the Wabash; and
communication was established through
that river and the Maumee with Canada.
A bout the same time, and for the purpose
of cnecking the progress of the French,
the Ohio company was formed, and made
some attempts so establish trading houses
among the Indians. This event, how
ever, only hastened what it was designed
to prevent. A third chain Of forti6ca-
,ions was established, extending from the
confluence of the Monongahela and the
Allegheny To the sonrces of French Creek
and 10 Lake Erie. The French were
now in actual occupation of the whole
valley of the Mississippi; and the Eng
lish government became seriously alarm
ed. Negotiations took place, in the course
of which England proposed to limit her
American Colonies on the West, by a
line drawn from Lake Erie through
French Creek 10 its mouth, end thence
direct TO the nearest mountains of Vir-
ginia. These negotiations availed moth
ing and the contending parties referred
their controversy 10 the arbitrament of
war. The events OF the contest which
ensued, do not belong TO this sketch, but
its issue decided the momentous question,
whether the vast central valley of North
America should bear, through all COM
ing time, the impress OF English or French
civilization. By the treaty of 1863,
France ceded 10 Great Britain all her
possessions in North America east of the
Mississippi.