Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-09-14
A CELEBRATED TREATY.
BY T. c. HARBAUGH.

about that wonderful acquisition OF
territory, from which have been
formed some of the greatest States of
the Union.
The inner history of that purchase is
replete with interest, and we learn
that Napoleon got rid of the land, not
because Re had the good of this country
at heart-for he had not, III reality
but from motives of statccraft, for
which he was famous.
In 1863 France ceded to England the
whole of that region east of the Missis-
sippi, except Florida, and all west of
that river to Spain.
This Was the end of French territor-
ial dominion IN North America, and
had been brought about by the Seven
Years War. which cost thousands Of
lives and millions of money. The ces-
sion to Spain enabled her to control
more than one-half of the Western
Continent
The Spanish crown held on to Louis
ians until lSOr, when, by the treaty OF
San Ildefonso with Charles ~, the
territory was ceded back to France.
1t was said by rumOr at the time that
the cession by Spain to Napoleon
would include the entire navigation OF
the Mississippi and place us, in many
ways at the mercy of the French.
The American people, and especially
President Jefferson, grew very uneasy
under the circumstances, and our min
listers at Paris, London and Madrid
we're instructed to defeat the scheme,
If possible; but the instructions were
sent too late, owing to the slowness of
6, - hal hnar
confirmed and France had a powerful
fOOtbOld on our shores.
Defeated in his first designs, Jeffer-
son turned to another point. He had
resolved to attain the free navigation
of the Mississippi, down which so much
of our produce would be compelled to
pass TO the sea. In point of possession,
Spain still controlled the mouth of the
great river. She refused Us the right
of deposit at New Orleans, and there
was danger of armed collision between
her soldiers and our people.
Affairs were approaching o crisis,
and Mr. Jefferson instructed Robert
Livingston, our minister at Paris, to
obtain from Napoleon, if possible, con-
cessions giving us the right of the free
navigation of the Mississippi and the
right of deposit at New Orleans
Further than this, Jefferson did not
look at the time. He had no idea of
Ncquiring that vast territory enbraced
IN what was then known as '.LOuls-
lana"
By-and-by, James Monroe was sent
over to assist Mr.. Livingston, and
these two diplomats were told to nego-
tate for the acquisition of New Orleans
and the FloridRs, for it was believed
that they were about to fall INTO Napo-
Icons hands. Indeed, tine treaty of
San Ildefonso was but imperfectly
understood.
Now, see how cunning Napoleon
was. In the first place he WAS at war
with England. He hated that country
with all his nature. She was the
natural enemy of France, and he stood
ready to steal a march on her, and to
cripple her in any manner possible,
Napoleon believed that England
would attempt to take this new terri
tory of Louisiana, and thus obtain an
other foothold on the Western CONT
nent. He saw the danger which would
menace France if this was done.
He said to one of his advisors:
n 4Gn AAhC9 VI u ChNy AhNS
Louisiana TO me and now L must expect
to lose it. The English wish to take
possession of it, and it is thus they
twenty ships of war in the Gulf OF
would be easy. must put it beyond
the reach of England. She shall not
have the Mississippi which she covets. -
1t was night when Napoleon, con-
fronted by two of the shrewdest dip plo-
mats of France, made use of these
words.
He had summoned them to his
chamber to consult with them on the
crisis. One of the ministers was in
favor of holding ,on to Louisiana and
the other leaned towards Napoleon s
views.
The discussion lasted far into the
night. Every point was argued, and
the question wss looked at from every
side. In the early morning dispatches
from London arrived and were read to
Napoleon by the Minister who sided
with him.
War was imminent The dark cloud
WAS breaking over England und the
Continent.
"It shall be donep' cried the first
consul "Do not wait for The arrival
of MIR. Monroe, who is coming to help
Mr.. Livingston, but serd Tor Living
ston at once. | renounce Louisiana.
1t is not only New Orleans thai I Will
cede, but the whole colony. 1 know
the yalue of what l abandon. l re-
nounce it with the gravest regret l
viii balk our old enemy, England, at
the very start. But want good
deal of money for this war. ] must
havr fifty millions for Louisiana.
Mr.. Monroe reached Paris on the
18th of April, 1903. The negotiations
for Louisiana commenced Immediate
ly.
Marbois was the minister who rep
resented France. In less than two
weeks = treaty was signed which gave
us O vast domain, the true extent of
wk'ch was not known, hardly guessed
at, 1t the time.
The territory ct Louisiana cost us
in rcund American dollars fifteen mil
lois.
1--WE have lived long" sale NJ, Eiv-
ins,Ft n to Maj bois, wnen they had
signed the treaty, "but this is tie
noblast WORK of our lives. From this
day tue United States Ike their place
among the powers Of the first rank;
the EneiSh lose all exclusive influences
IN the afairs of America"
And NAPOLEON when he heard of tae
signing o, tbs treaty, said. with q
smile, - his minister:
""Thls accession OF territory strength
eng SCreYe- the power of ,Ie United
Stat :, a2l I have just Piven to Eng
lar = maritime rival that viii sooner
or to humEle rer pri le."
The vaa tie next thing to piophesy,
for. few years later, an 80 ne of tho
Ssey ground ceded by Napoleon to the
United States, Andrew jackson fouSht
and won the celebrated battle OF New
Orleans
We took possession of our new &C.
qIikition as soon as leasib'e. A preat
many pt ople +, md fadlt wit J-fierson