The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-12
The Cession of Louisiana.
An Extract from Mr.. Blaine's Forthcom
ing Book.

The Tribune prints an extract from the
introductory chapters of Mr. Blaine's forth
coming history, "TSenty Years Of Con-
gress.' The extract covers the cession #
Louisiana TO the United States, and tells
how First Consul Bonaparte sold the great
Mississippi region to the United States to
prevent Its seizure by England portion
of the extract is as follows:
1t seems at this day scarce crediiable that
the scquisition of Louisiana by jefferson
was denounced with bitterness SURPRISING
the partisan rancor with which this genera
ton Is familiar. No abuse was too malig-
nant, no cpl het loo coarse, no imprecation
too savage for the assailants of the great
phiiosophic statesman, who laid the founda-
tions so broad and deep for this countrys
growth and grandeur. President of feeble
republic, contendng for prize which was
held by the greatest military power of Eu-
rope, and whose possession was coveted by
the greatest naval .ower of the world Mr.
Jefferson through his chosen aud trusted
agents so conducted his important negotia-
tions, that the ambition of the United States
was successfully interposed between the ne
cessities of the one power and the aggres-
siye designs of the other, ready to side with
either of those great powers against the 9TH
er for the advantage of his own country.
Not undertaking the dangers of war, and vet
ready TO engage in it for the control of the
great waterway to the Gulf, the President
made the greatest conquest ever achieved
without antecedent war, and at cost so
small that the total sum expended for the
entire territory does not equal the revenue
which has since been collected on its soil in
a single month in time of great public peril.
The country thus acquired forms to-day the
States of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri,
Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, west
of the Mississippi, Colorado, north of the
Arkansas, and Oregon, besides the Indian
Territory and the Territories of DAKOTA, Wy
oming Montana, Idaho and Washington
This coup d'etat of the First Consul was an
overwhelming surprise and disappointment
to the English Government Bonaparte was
right in assuming that prompt action on his
part was necessary to save Louisiana from
the hands of the English. Twelve DAYS af-
ter the treaty ceding Louisiana to the United
States was signed the British Ambassador at
Paris lord Whitworth) demanded his pass
ports. At DIVER he met the French Ambas-
sador to England, General Andreassv who
had likewise demanded his passports. Lord
Whitworth loaded General Andreassy with
tokens of esteem and conducted him TO the
ship which was to bear him back to France.
The consequences that would have followed
England's acquisition of Louisiana must
have proved in the highest degree embarras-
sing if not disastrous to the Union. Had
England seized Louisiana, as Bonaparte
feared, the Floridas, cut off from the other
colonies of Spain, would probably have fallen
into her hands by easy and prompt negotia-
tions, as they did, few years after, into the
hands of the United States. England would
thus have planted her colonies on the three
land sides of the Union and on the ocean
side her formidable navy confronted the
young republic. No colonial acquisition
ever made by England on any continent
would have proved so profitable to her COM
merce and so Strengthening to her military
position as that of Louisiana This fact was
clearly seen by Bonaparta when he hastily
made the treaty ceding it to the United
States. That England did not at once seize
it, in disregard Of Bonaparte's cession, has
been source OF surprise to many historians.
The obvious reason was that she dreaded the
complication of a war in America when she
was also to assume so heavy burden in the
impending European contest, The inhabi-
tants of the Union in 1908 were six millions
in number, of great energy and confidence,
large portion accustomed to the sea and able
to send swarms of priyateers to prey Cd Brit
ish commerce. Citizens of an Independent
government would be even more formidable
than were rebellious colonists in the earlier
struggle with the mother country, and act
Ing in conjunction with France, could have
effectively maintained the contest. Consd-
erstions of this nature doubtless induced the
Addington Ministry to acquiesce quietly in
treaty whose origin and whose assured re-
suits were in every way distasteful and even
offensive to the British government.