New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-29
NAVIGATION OF THE mIssIssIPPz.

had been planted on the banks OF the MisslssPpi,
until, in the deirium OF Secession, a battery was
last year erected at yicksburg, to intercept the
descending trade The news of this battery 3D.
ing used for objects hostile to the up-ri7er boat
men. spread over the North and West with Light
ming speed and the gathered thunders of thai
excited region came muttering back upon this
perpetrators of the outrage, giving token OF toe
wrath which would assuredly overwhelm them II
il were continued. This wholesome indication ef
public opinion had its proper effect OF speedily
abatinR the nuisance. But as the free navigation
of this great highway may yet be INSTRUCTED BY
some coming folly of the Cotton Confederacys
which now claims to hold its outlet, il viii be
instructive TO look little into the history OF
former attempts at obstruction made by foreigu
nations in possession of Louisiana. Until the
purchase of that country by the United States,
the free navigation of the Mississippi was bone
of contention between Spain and ourselves. Tbs
whole valley Of the river was traversed By Span
ish. French, and British emi:saries, whose study
il was TO SOW dissensiOn among our people, 10
ALLEVIATE them from their own Government. to
induce them TO leave the Union and place them.
selves under the protection of England or Spain
in other words, 10 induce the West to separate
from the East.
These disturbing elements began their work
very soon after the Revolutionary war Lad closed,
aud during the administration Of Miro as Cover.
nor of Louisiana AL our people living on 90
near the river were clauorous against the hid,
derances set UP by Spain against their reaching
New.Orleans to dispose of their produce, and
Spain was just as jealous of American enterprise
going beyond New. Orleans and making foraS
into Mexico. Louisiana was, in fact, held BY
Spain simply as barrier to Mexico. This facs
appears all through the correspondence between
the Province aud Grown. The Spanish oficiai
clearly foresaw the colossal power which this
Government would soon acquire. Amanda, tia
Kings Minister, used this prophetic language:
This Federal Republic Is bonn psmy Il may be aowef
express myself Il has acquired the support Of sIe
powerful States France and Spain 10 obtain s Independence
The iay viii when she viii be giant COLOSSUS icIniasS
even counties. She will forget the services she al
received from the two powers and VIII think Only Of hsf
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, The liberty OF cons:encs tn laciliy
Of establishing population upon nueEje ie-Eisor's'
together with the advantages of goTmeni viii attrs't
the sycuarsts su mechanics OF all nsoas f ever ESn
c.. existence Of The very colossus OF which speak The hs
step this natOn after il has become powerful VII be to tsss
possession Of the Fjds In order to have the COMMAND Of the
Gull Mexico aud aeg having rendered dhcn' our commecs
with New spaiu She win aspire to the conquest Of that van
e,p,r. which will be Impossible for us 10 defend sssist
,,s.I,e nrr established on the sac continent and In tss
Iad4 rslghborhood These fesrs are vel founded neg
must be realized in few yeara'
Such. ia 1873, was Spanish fear of the new:
born Republic. 1t was this alone which induced
Spain to hold SO tenaciously to Louisiana, though
sting SO great On annual outlay to maintain tbs
colony Il was q rampant between US and Mex
leo and aa:..ss. he hAld at any cost. Intrigue
with Americans was resoItcd to 10 rePfess
American ambition, or TO induce it to coalescd
with Spanish views, BY causing Kentucky and
all west of the Aleghah,>rd 10 DC detached iiom
the Union aud placed under spanish pro'ec'io1.
Free trade on the Mississippi wcs the coTeteA
bait held out TO the people to abanG"n theif a.
lepisnce. In 1851 Gen. James Wlkinson DE-
scended the river TO New-Orleans with cs<so
Of produce ostcnsbly to secure its free nayigs'
ton. On landing, his cargo was con6seated and
himself taken before Miro, the Governor, msn
of superior shrewdness and ability. intercourse
with Wilkinson satisfied him that he had found
proper emissary on behalf of Spain, and treaty
was entered into between them. Whkinsons
goods were released, permission was gwen MN
to introduce many articles of Western produce
into Louisiana free of the duty which so exss-
perated the Americans, and many attentions asa
hospitalites were layished on him. From ms
time forward Wilkinson became the hired agent
Of Spain to assist in bringing large porsion v
the UpiQu ugder the DOMINION Of tAs a5a"as