The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-08-25
MR.. BLATNES NEW BOOK.
How First Consul BOnaparte SOLD
the Great Mississippi Region "a
the United States to Prevent It's
Seizure by England.


Introductory chapter Of Mr.. Blaine's
foi ithcoming history, Twenty Years of
Congress"
Events beyond the ocean were work
ing more rapidly for the interest of the
United States than any Influences the
government could exert Before Mr.
Munroe reached France, in the spring
OF 1903. another war-cloud Of portentious
magnitude was hanging over Europe,
The treaty of Amiens, which proved
only truce, misconstrued and violated
by both parties, was about to be for
nally broken. Fearing that in the con-
fet to come, England, by her superior
naval force, would deprive him Of his
newly acquired colonial empire, and
greatly enhance her own prestige by
securing all the American possessions
which France had owned prior to 1863,
Bonaparte, by dash i'll diplomacy ~
quick and as brilliant as his tactics Oh
the field Of battle, placed Louisiana be
yond the reach of the British power,
After returning to II. Cloud from the
religious service Of Easter Sunday, April
10, 1903, he called two Of his most trusted
advisers, and in tone of vehemence
and passion said:
II know the full value OF Louisiana
and have been desirous Of repairing the
fault Of the French negotlators who lost
it in 1863. A few lines of treaty mus,
have restored it TO me, and now l must
expect 10 lose il. The English
wish to take possession of IT and it is
thus they will begin the war. They
have twenty ships Of war in the gulf of
Mexico. The conquest of Louis
lana would be easy. have not mo-
ment To lose in putting it out of their
reach. The English have success.
lively taken from France the Canadas,
Cape Breton, Newfoundland, Nova SEQ.
tin, and the richest portions Of Asia. But
they shall not have the Mississippi which
they covet."
The discussion went far into the
night. The two ministers differed wide.
ly in the advice which they gave the
first consul. One was in favor Of hold
ing Louisiana at all hazards: the other
urged its prudent cession rather than it's
inevitable loss by war. The ministers
both remained at st. Cloud for the night.
At daybreak the minister who had al.
naparte to read dispatches from London
that moment received, and which GER
tainly foreshadowed war; As the English
were making military and naval prepa-
rations with extraordinary rapidity. At
ter reading the dispatches the first con
sui said;
"Irresolntion and delibe ration are 20
longer in season renounce Louisiana
1t il not only New Orleans ] will cede
it is the whole colony without any res.
eryati0n. l know the value of what |
abandon. ! renonnce il with the great
est regret. To attempt obstinatelv to
retain it would be folly; direct you to
negotiate this affair with the ENJOYS Of
the United States. DO not even wal,
the arrival Of Mr. Monroe. Have an in
terview this very day with Mr.. hying.
st1n. Ent re.
quire great deal Of money for this var.
| will be moderate. | want 500 ,OOO, 600
for Louisiana"
The minister who WAS opposed t. the
sale interposed, in subsequent inter
view, some observations upon what
the Germans call the sonsas 10 whether
they could be the subject ofa contract
or sale" Bonaparte replied with undis-
idealogy Of the law Of nature. But ] re-
Qulre money 10 make war on the rich
est nation in the world Send your
maxims to London. am sure they will
be greatly admired there. >
The First Consul afterward
added perhaps it will be objected that
the Americans will be found too power
ful for Europe in two or three centuries;
but my foresight does not embrace such
remote fears. Besides We may hereafter
expect rivalries among the members of
the Union. The Considerations. which
are called perpetual, only lasts till one
of the contracting parties finds 1t TO his
interest 10 break them"
Louis Napoleon embodied the sub
stance Of these views in his Ideas
Napoeonnes;" and sixty years after the
First Consul spoke the words quoted
his nephew believed the time had come
and the Mexican invasion, based on the
assumed destruction OF the American
Union, was undertaken. The destruc-
ton which followed was not OF the Union
but of the unhappy Aus,rian Prince
who represented his policy, aud later o
the Emperor himself.
Two DAYS after this conversation Mr.
Monroe opportunely arrived, and OF
the goth Of April the treaty ceding Lou
isiana to the United States was formally
signed and sealed Mr.. Monroe ant
Mr.. Livingston had no authority to
negotiate for 40 vast an extent Of terri.
tory; but the former Was fully possessed
of President Jefferson's views, and fel
assured that his instructions would have
been ample if the condition Of Franc,
had been foreseen when he sailed from
American. Communication with Wash
ington was impossible. Under the mos
favorable circumstances an answer coult
not be expected IN LEES than three
months; and by that time British ship,
would probably hold the months OF tho
Mississippi and the flag OF st. Georg'
would wave over New Orleans. Messrs
Monroe and Livingston realized tina
hesitation would be fatal; and the!
boldly took the responsibility Of pufchas
| ing a territory Of unknown and almos
! unlimited dimensions and Of pledglni
| the credit OF the Government Tor "A s,iil
which, rated by the ability to pay, Wa
| larger than similar pledge for hv'
hundred millions Of dollars. The pric
/ agreed upon was eleven million tw,
! hundred and fifty thousand dollars IL
| d per cent. United States bonds, the IN
teTest of which was made payable j
London, Amsterdam and Paris
and the principal at the treasur
| in Washington in sums Of three million
per annum, beginning fifteen years al
ter the bonds were issued.
In a separate treaty made the sain
day, the United States agreed TO pa
20,0OO,0fO francs additional, 10 be ~
piled by France to the satisfaction G
certain claims owed TO American citizens
thus the total cost Of Louisiana wa so,
40, 900 Of francs. or, in round numbers
sl5, ,OO0,O 900.
II seemu at this day scarcely creditabl
that the acquisition Of Louisiana by Jei
ierson was denounced with BITTERNESS
SURPRISING the partisan rancor Will
. which this generation Is familiar. ~
abuse was too malignant, no epithet to-
coarse, no imprecation too savage, fo
the assaiants of the great philosophi
statesman, who laid the foundations -
broad and deep for his country's growtl
and grandeur. President of
feeble republic, contendin,
for prize which was held by the great
est military power Of Europe. and wnos
possession was coveted by the grea es
naval power of the world. Mr.. Jefferson
through his chosen and trusted agents
so conducted his important negotiation