The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-01-27
Historical RcmI,ls
ss3i 81 5ieh Iscemcc.. -s'l'7eET gis3.

se3i 81 iish Iseencc.- ie'I799r e's3
THE EARLY EREScA sETTLENESTs IN THE
-3asa. sa EIssIssirFT1 VALLEY. sa-fact
lFrom tho Preliminary sketch Of the History Of
Ohio tn chasO's Edition OF Tho Ohio sIutOs.l az A
la the year Of 1879, two French mission.
zries penetrated from Canada to the Missis!
siPpi, who mDy be regarded rs the f-st dis
coVerers Of thut mighty river. They de
scended the stream a thousand miles ID it's
confluence with the Arkansasj Ehd dseer-
tuined, as well from its general coufse, as
from the Information of the Indians, that its
Mouth must be far west Of the English col.
oh'cs on the Atlantic coast. The mission
aries were sagacious men. They saw with
what facility line Of communication could
be established, touching the ocean OF the
north ana IL the souih, ard extending the
Frebch dominion vCt region Of Wonderful
extent and unparalled fertility, On their
return to Can da, they did not FIJI 10 urge,
in strong terms, the immediate occupation
Of the country they had trlyerseJ. .-
II. de Ii Sale, tie commandaut of Tort
Frotenuc, on Lake Ontario, man oil an en-
terprising and adventurous split. regulated
by a sound judgment and great sugacity, was
induced by their representation TO under AXE
an exploring expedition. With small
party. be made his WY to the Mississippi,
through lake Michigan, the Chicago, and the
Illinois. On the second expedition he de.
scended the Mississippi'o to itsmouth, and took
formal pt s;essloti Of the country in the
name Of Louis XIV. Ile also erected forts,
and nblisheGsetilei iiienls at various puints.
Fully satisfied Of The vast importance of
prosecuting the system of colonization thus
commenced, he proceeded to France and
communicated his ideas TO the French gov.
crnment. The ministers Of Louis listened
readily toa scheme, which not only promis.
ed on immense accession Of valuable terri
tory, but seemed likely to create a perna-
nent and efficient barrier to the western
extension of the English colonies. An ex.
petition was fitted out, for the purpose OF
planting a colony, at the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi, and the command was given TO La
Sale. This expedition failed, and its ill1s-
trious, but unfortunate commander perished
ed, victim to the treachery Of his 0wu fol.
iU%srs. e
, This disaster, however, did not Cdsnch
or obate the ardur Of The French in the pros.
ecution Of their great plan. A second ex-
petition sailed from France. under the com.
| mand of NJ. d'IberviIe. This officer dis
covered the mouth of tho Mississippi, unt
, explored the river for several hun ndred miles
: Permanent estubIishm nts were made l.
different points; ard from this time, tn
ii French colony west Of the Aileghanies
though occasionally harrasscd by the Eng
/! lish snd the Sp1niards, steadily increased i
i numbers and in strength. .a
: Before the completion of the first quarte
Of the eighteenth century, the colony ha
been divided Into quarters, zach having il
local governor, or commandant and jrd !e
g but all subject to the superior authority O
The council general of Louisiana. One ,
y these quarters was established northwest {
= he Maumee, and ON the likes. Still how
kbu -. ,;tL 4
through lake Michigan. the nearer route
through the Ohio river ami lake Erie, ha
;, not been DISCOVERED. This discovery, how
y ever, was made not long az rwardS. Be
fore 1850, French purt had been fortiie
at the mouth of the Wabash, ond ccmmv
= Dication was established through that rive
and the Maumee with Canada. About tn
same time, and for the purpose of checkin
" lbe progress Vi the French, the Ohio con-
y pany Was formed, aud made some attempt
- to establish trading houses among the Ia
! dians. This event, however, only h .stene
! what it was designed to prevent. A thir
chain of Notifications was established, eI
- tending from the confidence Of the Monor
eaheia and the Allegheny to the sources
= French Creek and TO lake Erie. I'll
:. French were nov in actual occupation
the whole valley Of the Mississippi; aud II
~ ~ English government bscame seriously alaru
'" ed. Negotiations took place, in the cour.
= Of which England proposed to limit h
:" American Colonies on the West, by lii
: drawn from Lake Erie through Creek to
: mouth, and thence direct to the neare
= mountains Of Virginia. These negotiation
or ayailed nothing and the contertiag parti,
~ referred their controversy to the arbtarme
y. OF the war. The events of the contest viii,
ensued, do not belong to this sketch, but
v. issue decided the momentous questio
is whether the vast central valley OF Nor
America should bear, througb all comi
time, the impress of English or French ci
liz ltion. By the treaty Oh 1868, Fran
ceded to Great Britain all her possessions
North America eastlof the Mississippi.