, 1862-09-06

| OF purcnaSe DuJ upon lnls issue lnere e&lSleu II
the minds of wise and leading statesmen grave
doubts as to the constitutional right of Congress
to make the purchase; and to show how this en-
lightened and astute statesman, the father of the
project, and then the Chief Magistrate of the ma
ton appreciated the national Importance to us o.
this acquisition the doubts were suggested
to his own mind relative to our right to make the
purchase, under the authority given to Congress
in the Constitution-he recommended that all
doubts on the subject should be removed by SC
amending the Constitution as to meet this special
case. But whatever constitutional doubts and
scruples may have existed 4, Ser own mind at the
time of the purchase, these were all lost sight oi
and passed by knowing that he was bequeathng
to his country legacy that has given new homes
to hundreds of thousands of industrious citizens
and placed us in possession of treasure and a
boon, the benefit of which we appreciate the more
as our country advances in development, growth
and prosperity.
Even before the cession was full and complete
he sent in a special message to Congress on the
18th of January, 1903, recommending that steps,
prompt and immediate, be taken by our govern
ment to secure to us a knowledge of the extent
and resources of this acquisition, and suggested
the fitting out of well equipped and well organ
lied expedition, whose labors should end only
when they reached the mouth of the great river
Columbia, whose sources it was their mission to
explore. These suggestions were promptly en-
dorsed and as promptly acted upon; full author
ity was given the President to hasten to the field
a we'll armed and scientific expedition-to make
known throughout its length and breadth the val
ue of the Territory of Louisiana and the country
to its west
The command of this expedition was assigned
to Lewis and Clark then Captains in the United
States army. At this time Capt Clark was the
private Secretary to President Jefferson, (and his
relative and in his entire confidence as to the full
and final objects of his inland exploration. His
long services in the army and on the frontier had
Injured him to danger and privation. Accustomed
as he had been to meet and treat with the Indian
bands then occupying the country between the
Alleghanies and the Mississippi, and having
evinced in the different positions he had been
called upon to assume, capacity equal to his
duties, and sustaining towards the President the
intimate and confidential relations that he did, who
could have been selected to command SO import
ant an expedition that would have brought to the
task greater advantages, hisher recommendations.
or fuller capacity for the accomplishment of the
objects of his hazardous mission?
In his co-laborer and joint commander, Capt.
Lewis, was found man whose services had made
the events of frontier life the daily record of his
history, and who brought in addition thereto a
mind well stored with scientific acquirements-a all
of which it was anticipated would find wide field
for development in the great expanse OF country
they were called upon to explore, map and make
known to the public
With such men to lead, who was not willing
to follow? And under the guidance of such lead
ers, who could doubt that every moment was a
guarantee of successP While this project was de-
tions were being fitted out by England to explore
and discover, by both oceans, new route from
Asia to India, and no sooner was it heralded to
the world that the American government had not
only secured by purchase the immense Territory
of Louisiana, but had organized an expedition to
explore and to claim, by the exploration, the en-
tire country to the west of this Territory, than was
excited the jealousy, ambition, and love of land
aggrandisement of the British government, whose
trading companies then occupied the territory 10
the north of the 10th parallel. They at once sent
out small parties in all directions establishing sites
and posts, and actually taking possession of a re-
gion which was already our own.
Simultaneous with these movements, which
were destined in time TO eventuate in results ol
significant import to the commercial and political
world, were others of equal Importance on the
eastern border of the Rocky mountains, and with
in the very heart of the North American Cont
nent. A small band of pioneers and explorers
under the command of the gallant Pike-whose
labors and services have given name to the New
Eldorado of Pixies Peak, in the interior of our
country-was sent out at the same time 20 explore
and map the headwaters and sources of the great
Mississippi and make known to US that wilderness;
where now bask and smile in beauty, wealth and
prosperity, the States of Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa
and Minnesota. Thus was given by our govern.
ment the first impetus to the explorations of oul
great interior, which, continued as it has been fol
the last half century, has added on the eastern
slope of our continent eighteen States to our Con
federacy, and which has enabled us to build up OF
the Pacific slope line of battement of near ONT
million of souls peopleing two independent States
and a Territory, and which has given us the com
msnd of that great trade that is daily seeking it
way from Asia by our own lines of transportation
to the great markets of Europe. 1t was no short
sighted vision, therefore, that enabled Presiden
Jefferson 10 see the end from the beginning bu
acting in the minor details in the organization o
this expedition in the same spirit of liberalit.
which characterized this first of American states
menin all his movements, he gave to Lewis anC
Clark liberal charter of authority to guide thei
course, believing that their own judgment and ex
perience would prove equalto any emergency thei
duties might demand.
instructions were issued for the departure c
this expedition from st. Louis in 1903, but tn
unsettled condition of the country and unforesee
contingencies delayed their departure until tn
middle of May, 1904. All that money could pun
chase, commensurate with the character of thei
transportation, was placed at their disposal, an
/ the earlier days of May, 1904, found the mem
L.. r IL ,,nr., h,,s;l,, ennaned in al their rer