The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-11
LOUISIANA AND THE JUBILEE.


tory of the United States OF to-day, not
counting Alaska The confederated col
onies owned not u foot OF land along
tho Gulf OF Mexico and not an acre west
Of the Mississippi River.
OFF the granite hills Of New England,
and out OF the sandy pine barrens OF
Virginia and the Carolinas, hardy and
enterprising men had pushed their way
over mountain and thorny wilderness,
and had looked upon and movodi into the
more beautiful and fertile regions OF the
West. until they had squatted all along
the eastern banks OF the Mississippi
and had settled in the rich valleys OF all
its eastern tributaries. Year after year
the tide Of emigration poured into these
Western settlements from the Eastern
seabord until these pioneer colonies
began TO swell into the magnitude of
States States rich in wealth, popula-
tion and products. but shut out from
commerce. for on the east the Alio-
ghenies interposed barrier between
them and the Atlantic. and the half hos
tile Spaniards owned and held all west
of tho Mississippi with the mouth OF
that river and ali the Gulf coast from
Yueatan TO Key West. These Western
populations grew clamorous for com
mercial outlet. All their rivers flowed
into the Mississippi their keclboats and
broadhorns could float down with their
products, but the mouth Of the river
was closed by unjust eXactions and
restrictions So great became tho ne
cessity for free outlet through
tho Mississippi. that whom the
United States Government was
unable. perhaps unwilling. to grant
relief TO these Western settlements. the
unity OF tho country was threatened.
and tho West was in danger OF slough
ing off, and either forming new gov
ernment. or attaching itself to Spain
Fortunately. while Thomas Jefferson
was President, France came into pos
session OF the Spanish territory along
the Mississippi. and ut an opportune
moment in 1903 Louisiana was pur-
chased by the United States; not only
the Louisiana Of to-day. but all that vast
territory. now mapped with States. west
Of the Mississippi, stretching over the
plains and mountains to the Pacific,
and away up TO tho claimed but
unsettled line of tfty-four forty.
It included. east Of tho Mississippi
tho broad strip Of Gulf coast from the
Perdido river to the Mississippi at
Natche1. and covered the mouths Of the
great river and righttnlly included
the whole State Of Texas, which John
Quincy Adams. Secretary Of State,
voluntarily gave away in the treaty Of
San lldefonso.
This was the first acquisition Of ter
ritory added to the old thirteen States
il was made to free the commerce OF the
West and to give the growing empire
Of tho Mississippi valley way. forever.
to the sea
The present State Of Louisiana came
into Union as the first born of this new
era. the representative Of this immense
ACQUISITION She absorbed the name Of
the territory and took possession Of the
mouths Of the Mississippi as trustee
and guardian for the other States.
Louisiana occupies a peculiar an ey-
traordinary position toward the other
States Of the Union. not only by the
mode and manner Of her acquisition
under treaty. but by her extraordinary
attitude as q sovereign State exercising
jurisdiction over the great outlet to the
commerce Of the Mississippi Valley
Her laws and corporations control the
trade which pours out and in the great
river. The eyes OF the nation and of the
world are constantly turned toward her
The great West, from tho Alleghenies
to the Black Hills. is virtually interested
in the government Of Louisiana; the
transfer. handling and sale Of
their products. and return supplies.
are all affected by good or ill
government in Louisiana. And yet
the Western States, as well as all the
other States, have stood passively BY, as
though il we"e no concern Of theirs, and
permitted thieves and robbers without a
shadow of right t. set up a government
by the bayoncts Of the common country,
and rule this State to their injury and
our ruin in defiance of constitutional
law and OF those inalienable rights SO
solemnly declared one hundred years
ago. What State Of all the thirty seven
should claim more honor at the Centen-
nial celebration than louisiana; but,
alas she is mockery and a shame to
the great Republic. 1t is q sorry word
to say. but she gives the lie to the utter
ances of the Declaration OF Indepen-
dence The government established
over her does not derive it's ''just powers
from the consent OF the governed
She gives the lie to the theory Of repre-
sentative government.
Look at the jubilee parade al the
opening Of the Centennial Exposition
New York was represented by her
chosen Governor and his staff, Pennsyl-
yania came with her own Governor