The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-01-21

oS"SeS po1Q Tor LOUISIANA flffeem mil
Hon dollars and secured indemnify n
the unlawful seizure Of the property q
men citizens. The boundaries of tht
territory, larger in extent than any En-
pre- that has swayed human DESTINY
were unknown to both parties ant
could not be defined. Upon this grant
the United States plants her title to tn,
states Of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri
Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oregon ant
Minnesota and the Territorie. If Ia
kota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho ant
Washington, and portion of the Stat,
Of Colorado.
The elasticity Of the partisan con
science Is exhibited in the conduct q
the American statesmen, who supported
the action Of the officers of the govern
n'ent in acquiring Louisiana. The al,
Eantages OF the transaction to the United
states were manifold and conceded by
the people. and the popular voice favor.
ing the purchase resoun,lctl throughout
the Union. There appeared t. bc one
dangerous obstacle III lie way uf the pol.
ltlcialls who We're ci,c::ye., tor the first
time in the ATTEMPT t. expand the ar..,
OF the republic. The constitution did
not confer i'll express, terms ul,On con-
gress or any department: Oh the general
government the power to acquire foreign
territory. y singular Interchange of
rights il observed in Sac work Of the
trainers Of the Article; Of Confederation
and the Constitution. They provided
in the first for the admission into the
American Union Of Canada and other
colonies Upon certain conditions, but
omitted to give amy authority for the
establishment Of territorial governments
ar the foundation Of new states. The
constitution defines the power If con-
grt'ss in the admission of new states and
the regulation If the territory Of the
United States, but is silent upon the
other matter. The most ardent friends
Of this measure had always been en-
IRENE lmrtisans in contending for 4 st riot
Interpretation OF the Constitution and
Resisting liberal construction Of its pro-
visions. President Jefferson, under
whose administration the treaty was nc
gOtiatctl. considered that an amendment
to the Constitution was necessary to
cl"tlc the government: with the author
ity to execute the great contract. Bat
members Of congress, who entertained
similar views, sanctioned the transaction
by their votes. President John Quincy
Adams says ''tllat the President found
congress- mounted tothc pitch Of lrss>ing
tl,os&. acts, without insiuiring where.
they acquired the authority, and lie
conquered his own <crllp.es - they h:.i
done theirs" Since that date under the
same Constitution, 40 far as this subject
is affected, the Union has been further
enlarged by the annexation Of Florida,
Texas. California, Alaska and other
Countries. The right ~ exercise this UNI
limited authority is t'as;rl upon the con-
stitutional power ITO make tre;,ties,"
and is now seldom, il ever, doubted.
The legislation of Congress. which
was required to carry int" effect the
treaty for the cCssion of Louisiana, was
fought ut every point Ivy a small hand of
Feslcmlists. The proposition was de-
nov,ncesl H. an infraction of the C"nsti-
tuition. and some citizens feared that
this immense increase in the 'loniiniOns
Of til: Union endangered! Republican
institutions. They maintained, that the
lessons taught l,y the experience Of ns-
tio,,s showed that empires were crtctei
upon vast possessions. Time has demon
stratexl that this objection was u,'s1';,n.l.
The direct benefits Of the Louisiana
purchase have been inc;.lc,llal'lt', not only
to the whole country, hut the world.
while som. of the Indirect results have
l,ecm productive of evil. The system "f
African slavery was strengthened when
the States Of Louisiana, Missouri AMI
Arkansas were admitted into the Union.
During the progress of the age, this
fr;vhtful element Of 'lisee'r'l has l'een IT,
moved. and it is highly printable that
There cannot lie discovered to-day with
in the United states one person vii" r.
yr.ts that Louisiana WAS purchased
from France.
4 question, respecting the ln'wer vi
Congress over the Territories which
have keen organized within the confines
of this .l.,,,,ai::, was considered In the
celebrated case Of scott W.. SandfOrsi. hy
the highest tribunal In the land. As
residents Of this section, We are inter-
.,.tcti in the decision. The Supreme
l.,,rt held in 1873 that the clause in the
constitution, authorizing Congress t"
make al n.~xiful rules and regulations
for the government Of the territory "
the United States, is not applicable I"
any territory that has "een acquired
49,, . f,r..ivn nation, by treaty or cOll-