Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-11-20
THE ACQUISITION OF LOUISIANA.
Why France Coded 1t to the United
States : JeHersons Peaceful
Triumph.

|
in their dreary marches through the un
| known wilderness of almost unexploreG
country, it would be well to review from
| ''Blaine's Twenty Years in Congress" the
acquisition of the Vast, unknown tract
then called Louisiana.
Mr. Blaine says in substance: A great
European struggle, which ended twelve
years before our Revolution began, had
wrought important changes in
the political situation of North
America. On one of the results
of the "seyen years war" was the cession
Of Florida to Great Britain by Spain in ex-
change for the release of Cuba, which the
English and colonial forces had wrested
from Spanish authority, the preceding
year.
England held Florida for twenty years,
when among the disasters brought upon
her by our own revolution, was its retro
eession to Spain in 1888. France gave up
Canada and Cape Breton, acknowledged
the sovereignty of Great Britain in the or
iginal thirteen colonies as extending to the
Mississippi, and by 4 separate treaty, sur
rendered Louisiana, On the west side Of the
Mississippi, with New Orleans, on the
east, to Spain. This country, which the
effeminate Louis XIV surrendered to Spain,
was of vast but indefinite extent. Spain
continued in possession of it until 1900.
when through the diplomacy of Bonaparte,
the entire territory was retroceded to
France
The formal transfer of so great terri
tory on a distant continent, was necessarily
delayed. and, before the Captain General
of France reached New Orleans in 1903,
Spanish authorities had become so odious
to the inhabitants that there was constant
danger Of open revolt.
Senator Ross Of Pennsylvania, moved in
the United States senate, that the govern
ment be instructed to seize New Orleans.
But the prudence of president Jefferson re
strained every movement that might in
volve US in a war with Spain. Meanwhile
Mr.. Robt. R. Livinsszae:,, os.r minister at
Paris, was pressing the French govern
ment for concessions touching the free
navigation Of the Mississippi. Mr.. Liv-
ingston was re-enforeed by Mr.. Monroe,
sent out as special envoy by president JEFF
ferson. The instructions OF Mr.. Madison,
then secretary OF state, to NJ. Monroe,
show that the utmost he expected was to
acquire from France the city Of New Or
leans and the Floridss. Though Mr. Jef-
ferson did not know the terms of the treaty
between France and Spain, he knew in
Stinctively that they deeply concerned the
interests Of our country He saw that by
the commercial disability upon the western
section Of the country its progress would
be impeded. He determined, therefore,
to acquire the control of the left bank of
the Mississippi to its mouth, and by the
purchase Of the Floridas TO give to Georgia |
and the Mississippi territory, unobstructed |
access to the Gulf
But events beyond the ocean were work
ing more rapidly for the interest of the
United States than any influences which |
the government itself could exert. Before
Mr. Monroe reached France in the spring |
Of 1868, another war clo@d Of portentious
was hanging over Europe /
Fearing, that in the threatened conflict, |
England, by her superior naval force, |
would deprive him Of Louisiana and thus
greatly enhance her strength on the Anne |
rican continent, Bonaparte, by a brilliant |
plomatic stroke, placed it beyond the reach
of British power. He said Il know the |
full value Of Louisiana, and have been de- |
sirous of repairing the fault of the French
who lost it in 1868. But the
English wish to take possession Of it, and it |
is thus they will begin the war. They al
ready, have twenty ships of the line in the
ruff of Mexico. The conquest Of Louis
ana would be easy. | have not amoment
% lose in putting it out of their reach
Mr.. Monroe and Mr.. Livingston had no au-
hority to negotiate for so vast an extent of
5erritery; but the former was fully possess
ID Of president Jefferson's views on the
subject and he felt assured that his instruc-
ions would have been ample if the con
lition of France had been foreseen when
le sailed from America Communication
With Washington was impossible. Under
he most favorable circumstances an ans
yer could not be expected in less than
hree months. By that time British ships
would probably hold the mouths of the