Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-10-09
FREE NAVIGATION OF rHE MIss1ss1pPI.

1t has been said, and often repeated with
emphasis, within the last eighty years, that
the free use OF the Mississippi must be secured
for these States at any hazard and at any cost.
Soon after the Revolutionary war broke out,
the attention of the country was drawn to this
subject. The Louisiana territory, at the COM
mencement of the Revolutionary war, belong
ed to Spain: it included the eastern shore of
the Mississippi for some distance above New
Orleans, and the western bank as far the
forty ninth degree of latitude, with an indef
mite extent Of territory toward the West.
AS early as 1873, Mr.. Jay, then Minister to
Spain, was directed by Congress to negotiate
pending treaty, on the express condition
that 'sthe United States should enjoy the free
'snavigation of the river Mississippi into and
s'from the sea-" In 1880 Congress reiterated
those instructions, and Mr.. Madison of Vir-
ginia, Mr.. Sullivan, of New Hampshire, and
Mr.. Duane, of New York, were directed 10
prepare letter to our Ministers IN France and
Spain, setting forth its views A year LATER,
at the instigation OF South Carolina and Geor-
gia, who had been alarmed by he progress of
the English forces after the capture of Charles
ton and the defeat OF Gates at Camden, Con-
gresS resolved to recede from its demand, and
to secure the treaty without this guarantee.
fortunately, Spain was not swift in her move
ments, and the negotiations led TO no definite
results. From this time, however, for twen-
y
especially in the West, and the first danger of
Secession came from the fear there entertain
ed of the purpose OF the Government to allow
them TO be cut off from the free use of that
great highway to the seas.
In 1900, Napoleon, by the secret treaty of
St. lldephonso, secured the retrocession of
Louisiana to France SO that, after lapse of
forty years, she came in possession of it once
more, with all of its original boundaries. This
treaty, when made known, by no means qui-
eted the apprehensions of the West. Mr.. JEFF
ferson, then in the Presidential chair, wrote
to Mr.. Livingston, our Minister to France,
s'Ihe cesSIon of Louisiana and the FloridaS,
''by Spain, to France, works most sorely for
ssthe United States.'' One year later, in 1903,
James Monroe was sent an envoy extraor-
binary to cooperate with Mr.. Livingston for
the purchase of Eastern Louisiana and the
FloridaS, with the island and city of New Or
leans. After various negotiations, Napoleon,
who was fearful that the whole territory might
fall into the hands of England, directed NJ
Marbois, his confidential agent, to offer to the
American Commissioners the whole province.
They were utterly unprepared for this /; the
widest views of the authorities at home had
never embraced such a purchase such a
possession. They were in much perpleXity.
A decision must be made at once. An Eng
lish fleet was already preparing TO cross the
ocean and assail New Orleans, which, of
course, would give to that power the possess
sion of the whole vast domain. No commu-
nication could be sent to America, no new
authority could be received. The RESPONSE
bilIty rested upon themselves alone. Like
men OF strong patriotic feeling and practical
common sense, they concluded that to exceed
the letter of their instructions was the best,
the only way, to keep their spirit. They con-
seDted to treat upon this broad view of the
subject; and, finally, the treaty was compile
ted on the 30th of April, 1903.
When the treaties were signed, Livingston
said f: ''From this day the United States take
sstheir place among the nations of the first
crank the Eng lish lose all exclusive inter-
'seSts in the affairs of America" Napoleon
said This accession of territory strength
s'ens forever the power of the United States
sand l have just given to England maritime
ssrival that will sooner or later humble her
pride.''
Such were the steps by which the way was
for final and formal transfer of the
territory to the United States. At New Or
leans, on the Goth of December, 1903, the flag
of France and that of the United States met
midway on the flagstaff, and their meeting
was greeted by the booming of artillery and
the music of trumpets; then the former de-
scended forever, while the Stars and Stripes
rose upward, amid the shouts OF the Ameri-
cans who witnessed the scene. A similar
scene was presented in St. Louis on the 10th
of March, 1904, when the formal transfer of
Upper Louisiana was consummated.
>Such were the steps by which the heritage,
sought earnestly for thirty years, was finally
won. And now, after the lapse of sixty years
of quiet possession, the people of these United
States are asked to allow that long sought pos
sessiOn-which has cost them SO many mill
lions OF dollars; which has grown in import
ance each year, as the tide of emigration has
rolled fuller and stronger into the fertile val
ley which the Mississippi drains-to be snatch
ed from them by the hands of Rebels against
the Government that has shielded and foster
ed them. They are asked to submit to the oc-
cupance of the mouths of that magnificent high
road of commerce by hostile power and to
pass and repass-if that boon be ever allowed
for more than five hundred miles through
foreign land. The audacity of the demand is
equalled only by the blindness and folly of
those who make it.
The great West, IN the days of Its earliest
infancy, looked the great question full in the
face, and was ready to pay or to dare any
thing, in order to secure to itself forever the
free navigation of the Mississippi. And now,
in the days of its vigorous manhood, will 1t
stand calm and passive. while the long covet-
ed possession is snatched forcibly from its
grasp? He who can imagine this, for sim
gle moment, must have a marvellous degree OF
credulity, and attribute to the West blind
ness to its own rights and interest which that
shrewd young giant has never yet manifested.
The Rebels may make themselves perfectly
sure that the voice of the West will be clear
and emphatic, and that the voice of the coun-
try will respond to it fully. The Mississippi,
with all Of its banks, in all of its course, must
be the possession of these United States, now
and forever, to have and to hold against any
and every claimant whatsoever.
Gen. Scott has pronounced Gen. Mcclellan
to be the only man in the Federal army capa-
BILE of manGuvering 100000 soldiers in the