New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-09
FROM MIR. BIAINE'S NEW BOOK.
THE CEssloN OF LOUISIANA.

PREVENT ITS SEIZURE By ENGLAND.
For the following extra;t from the Introductory
cbanter of Mr.. Blaine's forthcoming history,
4Twentv Years of Congress-" THE TRIBUNE is in
debtsd to Mr.. Charles n. Thomas of No. $50 Mas
sau-st., general agent fol- the sale OF the book;
Events beyond the pecan were working more
rnidly for the interest of tie United States than
any inilnences the Government itself could exert.
Refore Mr. Monroe reached France IN the spring OF
1903, another war-cloud VI portentous magnltuuo
which proved only truce, mscOnstrued and vi0-
lated by both parties, was about to be formally
broken Fearing that, in the conflict to come, Eng
land by her superior naval force. would deprive
him of his newly acquired colonial empire, ana
greatly enhance her own prestige Ivy securing al,
the American possessions which France had owned
nrior TO 1853 Bonaparte. by dash in diplomacy as
Quick and as brilliant as his tactics on the field OF
battle placed Louisiana beyond the reach OF british
novsr After returning to ST. Cloud from the rellg-
ions services of Easter Sunday, April 10 1908, lie
called two OF his most trusted advisers and In tone
OF vehemenee and passion said:
been deslrous OF repairing the fault OF the french
nepotiators who lost it in 1853. few lines of q
treaty have restored It to me- ana now owl. must te ex
possession Of It, and it is thus they Will begin the
war. rLey have twenty ships Of war N the
Gulf of Mexico. The conquest OF Louisiana
would be easy have not moment to lose in put
ting il out of their reach. The English have
successfully taken from France the Canauas, cape
Breton Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and tile rcnst
portions of Asia. But they shall not have the Mis-
sissippi which they covet.D
Tie discussion went far into the night. The two
ministers differed widely in the advice which they
cave the First Consult One was In favor OF holding
Louisiana at all hazards; the other urged IT'S pru-
dent cession rather than its Inevitable loss by war
The ministers both remained at ST. Cloud Tor the
night At daybreak the minister who had ADVISED
the eession summoned by Bonaparte to read
dispatches from London, that moment received,
and which certainly foreshadowed war; as the
English were making military and naval prepara-
tions with extraordinary rapldty After reading
a4ci,a ha EIr.fl
IrTesolution and delberatlon are no longer IN
season. reuounce Louisiana. 1t is not only New
without any reservation. I know the value of
what l abandon | renounce 1t with the gravest
regret. To attempt obstinately to retain 1T would
be folly: direct you TO negotiate this affair with
the envoys of the United States 10 not even wait
the arrival of Mr., Monroe. Have an interview this
very day with Mr.. Livingston; But re-
onlre great deal of money for this war. will be
moderate want fifty millions for Louisiana"
The minister who was opposed to the sale inter
upon what the Germans call the souls as to
whether they could be the subject Of contract or
SALE" BonapaIte replied WITH undsgafs 20 ssr
of nature But / require money to make war on
the richest nation in the world Send your maxims
there The First Consul afterward added: q Per-
haps it win be objected that the Americans will be
found too powerful for Europe i'll two or three cen
mute fears. Besides may hereafter expect rival
ries among the mem ers of the Union Inc Con
feleratlOnS
till one of the contracting parties finds 1t TO his in
terest to break Them
Lonis Napoleon embodied the substance OF these
views in his Idees Napoleonnes;" and sixty years
after the First Consul spoke the words quoted his
nephew believed the time had come; and the Next
eau invasion based on the assumed destruction OF
struction which followed was not OF the Union, but
of the unhappy Austrian prince who represented his
policy, and later of the Emperor himself
Two days after this conversation Mr.. Monroe op-
portunely arrived. and the Both OF April the
treaty ceding Louisiana to the United States was
formally signed and sealed. Mr.. Monroe and Mr.
Livingston had no authority to negotiate for vast
an extent of territory; but the former was fully
possessed of President JciersOn's views and felt
assured that his instructions would have been anu
ple il the condition of France had been foreseen
when he sailed from America. communicating
with Washington was impossible. Under the most
favorable circumstances an answer could not be
expected in less than three months; and by that
time British ships would probably hold the mouths
wave over New. Orleans. Messrs. Monroe and Liv-
ingston realized that hesitation would he fatal;
and thew boldly took the respon sibllity OF pur-
tied dim tensions aud OF pledgng the credit OF the
Government for d sum which rated by the ability 10
paw, was larger than similar pledge to-day for
i've hundred miiOus OF dollars. The price agreed
upon was eleven million two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars in six per cent United States
ponds the interest of which was made payable III
London, Amsterdam and Paris, and the principal at
the treasury in Washington IN sums of three mill
ions per annum. beginning fifteen years after the
bonds were issued.
In a separate treaty made the same day. the
United States agreed to pay twenty million francs
additional to be applied BY France to the satsfac-
tiop of certain claims owed to American citIzeEs
Thus the total cost of Louisiana eighty millions
Of francs. or in round numbers, fifteen millions OF
dollars.
1t seems at this day scarcely credible that the &C
Qnistion of Louisiana by Jefferson Was denounced
with bitterness SURPRISING the partisan rlncOr
With which this generation Is familiar. No abuse
was too malignant, no epithet too coarse no iInpre-
cation too savage for the assallanis OF the great
hn ha Mai
broad and deep for his countIy's growth and gran
deur. President of feeble republic contending
for piize which held by the greatest military
power of Troupe and whose possession was coveted
by the greatest naval power OF the world, Mr..
Jefferson, through his chosen and trusted agents so
conducted his important negotiations that the aii-
bitou of the United States WAS successfully inter-
posed between the necessities OF the one power and
The aggressive designs Of the other. Ready to side
with either of those great powers against the other
for the adv antags Of his own country not under
rating tine dangers OF war; and yet ready TO engage
IN II tor the control Of the great waterway to the
Gulf,-the President made the greatest conquest
ever achieved without aDtecedent war, and at a
cost so small that the total sum expended for the
entire territory does Dot equal the revenue which
has since been collected its soil u single month
IN time of great pIbc peril. The country thus ac-
quired forms Today the States of louisiana. Arkan
sas. Missouri. Iowa, Kansas. Nebraska, Minnesota,
vest OF the Mississippi; Colorado, north OF the
Arkansas and Oregon, besides the Indian Territory
ana tue territories OF Dakota, Wyoming Montana,
This coup a. etat OF the First Consul was an over
,Mne,Imang surprise and disappointment to the Eng
nsh 6oyernnaent. Bonaparte was right In assuming
that prompt action on his part was necessary 10
save Louisiana from the hands of tho English
Twelve days after the treaty cedina Lodisiapa to
the United States signed. the British ambassa-
dor at Paris Lord Whitworth, demanded his pass
ports. Al Dover he met the French ambassador TO
England. General Andreassy, who had likewise de-
pAndcd his passports Lord Whitworth loaded
General AndfoaAsv with tokens Of esteem and con-
Quoted him to the ship which was TO bear hin back
20 france. According 60 en- eminent Historian the
two ambassadors, In the presencs OF great con-
course OF people, sgitated. uneasy, sorrowful.
the warlike passion subsidized and men were seized
with dread Of the consequences Of desperate con-
6ict. At this solemn moment the two Nations
seemed TO bid each other adieu, not to meet again
til after . tremendous war and the CONFUSION OF
the world"