Washington telegraph. [volume] (Washington, Ark.) 1839-1871, 1862-07-30
THk PURCHASE OF LOUISIANA


with the utmost care, upon the fertile banks
OF the Mississippi, French Colony. This
| territory SO valuable to France, now at
tne mercy OF England, and would be immedi-
ately captured. Without loss sof time, Napol-
con sold 1t to The United States. 1t was Sc
we're sacrifice for him to make, but cruel ne
cessity demanded it."-4bbon's Napoleon.
1t has not been ten years since the above
was written. 1t is all the mention made OF
this event by an American historian, in two
heavy volumes. So little significance did it
havo in his mind And yet subsequent events
| have developed this transaction, into Of
the most important political movements of
modern history. Those who are fond of ira
cling the finger of Providence in the history of
nations, moulding the deeds prompted by hui
mon ambition, and thirst for national aggran-
disement into the ultimate good of mankind;
and using blind human agencies in the pro-
duction of results far different from those in
| tended; may find here much food for reflection
and may begin to see even little more clearly
| into its plans than Through glass darklv."
1t was after the hollow, and transient peace
OF Amlens. The British Government alarmed
by the French Revolution, and lin common
with European Monarchies, trembling for
Monarchy and the Feudal institutions which
| secured the privilege of caste for the nobl es.
had combined with those monarchies against
France to put down the revolution and res tore
the Bourbons to the throne After many bat
| ties the peace Of Amiens was concluded 4
new Ministry came soon after into power
which renewed the war without provocatior.
| They seized French ships. upon the waters to
the value of three millions of dollars, before
the declaration of war reached Paris. They
detained all French passengers as prisoners
Napoleon foresaw that the war would be bloody.
inscriptions, unrelenting Legitimacy must
be sustained. the Bourhons must be restored.
hereditary light must be recognized, or Ea-
ropo must flow with blood
Napoleon, ever averse to war; and filled
with enthusiastic visions of the glory of
France, to result from wise civil policy, and
| the encouragement of the arts and sciences
under liberal government, had awaited him
self of the brief interval to devise and set
upon foot vast schemes for the happiness of
the people and the glory Of his country. He
had purchased of Spain the wild region Of
country in which we now live, extending along
the gulf from Florida to Mexico, and nclul-
ing all the rich alluvial lands west of the Mis-
sissippi. He intended founding here an extern
sive French Colony to be for Frauce what
the East Indies are to England.
The speedy rupture of the peace Of Amiens,
defeated all these plans, and dissipatcd these
hopes. England with her navy swept the wa
terry surface Of tho globe. The Atlantic and
the Mediterranean were at her mercy. Not
French fishing smack could venture out sight
of land. All exposed points OF the French
coast were exposed to bombardmcnt. Napol-
con must conhne himself to the continent and
abandon at once all hope of colonial posses
sions. Louisiana was ripe for pluckins. The
English had only to reach forth and take it,
1t was useless to the French. 1t was offered
States was then under the control of the Re-
publican party Jefferson, the President, was
himself, French Red Republican, and a pro-
pagandist of the French principles. His sym
pathies with France, mingled with his patriotic
desire of securing the mouth Of the Mississippi
! led him to violation of the Constitution, and
the purchase of the territory.
We should never cease to congratulate our
sslves on the event. 1t was the crisis of the
New World. 1t was more than that. 1t de
cided the existence of slavery, and perhnp,
has kept alive in the Western Confident, those
| - nd ,vbi cL
the allies were determined to crush in France.
We need reflection to conceive the magnitude
IF this event, which seemed at the time to be
only an accidental result of the necessities of
france, and the thirst for territory which has
| ever characterized An orleans.
Had Francc been able to retain Louisi ana
! slavery would never have been introduced
| The pendulum of equality had there swung so
| far as to include the African race. Had the
purchase been delayed a few months, the terri
| tory would have been seized by the British. -
| Slavery would have beer introduced only to
| infict upon it, at later day, the present
| curse which broods over Jamaica. In either
case the whole United States would have been
| enclrcled by q GORDON OF territory vi P'"eti"
nations hostile to slavery, and possessed OF a
teeming tropical soil, which would have rem
| dered them Independent of her products. The
| possession of the mouth of the Mississippi by
foreign powers, would have crippled her COM
merce. Slave labor being less productive
would have gradually disappeared until SO
weakened, that the few Southern States OF the
Atlantic coast and the eastern valley OF the
| mississippi, could have neither resisted TIC
| tide of fanaticism, nor maintained themselves
upon separation. The benchcent lnstisp'ioh
of slavery, by which the African race redeem
ed from savage nakednes. and bloody heather
| superstition assumes its highest and happest
normal position in society, and adds its indus
try to the wealth of the world, would have
sunk for generations, perhaps forever. Cotton
would have no longer enabled us to control the
commerce of the world, for England or France
would one of them possess that which they
] now so ardently seek a mean. of enfran-
| chisement from a calling commercial thral-