Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-06-14
The Oession Of Louisiana.
AN EXTRACT FROM MR.. BLlINE's FORTH
COMING BOOK.

The Tribune prints An extract from the in
troluctory chapters Of Mr.. Bane's forthcom-
ing history. Twenty Years If Congress"
The extract covers the ce- sion OF Louis lana To
the United States, and tells how First Consul
Bonapsrte sold the great Mississippi region to
he United States to prevent its seizure by
England. A portion OF the extract is as
follows:
II seems At this day scarce creditabe that the
acquisition of Louisiana by jefferson was de-
u .unced with bitterness surp .ssing the
parts IN rancor with which this generation is
familiar. No abuse was too malignant, no
epithet too coarse, no imprec alton too savage
tor the assailants Of the great philosophc
statesman, who laid the foundations 50 broad
aud deep for this country's growth and
grandeur. President of "A feeble republic, con
tending for prize which was held by the
greatest military power Of Europe, and whose
possession coveted by the greatest naval
power Of the world. Mr.. jefferson through his
chosen and trusted agents so conducted his i'm
port ant negotiations that III, ambition of the
United states was successfully interposed be-
tween the necessities OF the one power ana the
aggressive designs Of the other ready To side
with either OF those gres, powers against the
other for the advantage of his own count Y.
Not undertaking the dangers Of " r and yet
rcady TO engage In it for the control of the
great waterway 10 the Gulf. the President
made the greatest conquest ever achieved
wi bout sntecedcnt war. aud at cost -
small that the total sum expended for he
-ntire territory does not equal the revenue
which has since been collected its -oiI in
= single month in time OF great public peril.
The country thus acquired forms to-day the
states OF Louisiana, Arkansas, Miss ,uri.
Iowa. Kansas. Nebraska, Minnesota, west
Of the Mississippi, Colorado, north OF the
Arkinsas, aud oregon. besides the Indian
Territory aud the Territories of Dakota, Wy
oming, Montana. Idaho an Washington
This coup detst OF the First Consul was All
over~ helmlng surprise and disappointment
- the English Government. Bonaparte was
part WAS necessary To save Louisiana from
the md. Of the English. Twelve days af,,r
the trea'y cedng Loul.i,nt to the United
States wa, signed the British Ambassador At
Pari, Lord Whitwosthl demanded h pas
ports. AT Dover he met the French Amba,-
ssior TO EnglanI. General Andrea-,y. who
had nkeSise demanded hi, passports. Lord
Hhitworth loaded General Andrea>,y 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, acquisition of Louisiana must have
proved in the highest degree embarrassing il
seized LOUISIANA, B"naparte feared, the
Forida-, cut of from h. other colonies OF
spain. would probably have fallen int Ia
hands by eas, and prompt negotiations. y, they
did. 4 few years after. into the hani- OF the
Unit, States. Engl,nd would thus have
plant her colonies on the thr, e land SIDES OF
the Union aud on III, oce An size her Formidable
navy confronted the young repub ic NJ colo
MAJ acquisition ever made by England ON any
continent would have proved profitable, to
her commerce and 30 strengthening TO her
military position than OF Louisiana. This
fact was clearly seen by Bonapartc when he
hastily mrdr the treaty cedlng il 10 the United
States. That England did not at seize it,.
in disregard o, Bonaparte'- cession, has been
source Of sur. -; 10 many historians. The
Oh iUus reason ..as thai she dreaded the com
plicaiion Of awar in America when she was
alsn to assume 80 heavy burden in the impend-
Ing European contest. The inhabitants d The
Union in 1903 were SIX millions In number. of
great energy and confidence, large portion
accustomed to the sea aud able to send .warms
OF p9ivateers TO prey on British commerce.
Citizens Of an ndependtnt government would
b. even more formidable than were rebeliiou>
col nlsts in the earlier struggle with the mother
country, and acting in conjunction with France,
could have effectively maintained the contest.
Cons liberation. 81 thi> nature doubles, induced
the Arlington Ministry t" arQuie>ce qui lily in
a treaty whose origin and whose assured re-
suits w-re in every way di>tastrful and even
offensive to the British government