The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-02
GROWTH OF THE UNITED STATES.
How tho Greater Part Of ThisCountry was
Acquired and What 1T Cost.

How the Greater Part Of This Country Was
Acquired and what 1t Cost.
Whom l~ndependence was established, the
bounds OF the new country were extremely
indefinite. The limits of the 3 states were
known with reasonable exactness, though
there were ut the outset disputes both be-
tween the states and between the United
States and the European governments
whose possessions lay alongside ours. The
first great acquisition OF territory was that
Of Louisiana. which Spain had coded to
France. and which the Emperor Napoleon
sold to the Uuited States for Si5,0OO,OC In
1903. when Mr.. Jefferson was president.
Mr.. Jefferson did not believe that the con-
stitution permitted the United States To
/ annex foreign territory and wished that
an amendment should be adopted TO sane
ton H.. but the amendment failed after The
annexation had been accomplished. ana
Mr.. jefferson stifed his scrupies.
Louisiana. as acquired from France, IN
Guided the territory bounded on the east by
the Mississippi river from its mouth TO It's
source. on the north by the line Of the Brit
ish possessions, IN the west by the Pacific
ocean 10 the south line Of Oregon. The
other boundary follows the north line OF
California, Nevada and Utah rs far east as
the Rocky mountains and thence in a gen
eral sOutheastwardly direction so as 10 IN
olude part OF Colorado and most Of Kansas
and the Indian Territory and all Of Arkan-
sas and Louisiana to the gulf Of Mexico.
Florida was for many years the object OF
c%ovetousness on the part Of our government,
--ls.I .f.f,..N noun "a mart and NOW the
whole as included In The Louisiana pur.
chase. The United States finally obtained
IT from Spain IN 1919. when Mr. Monroe
wa president. What was known as West
Forida-including the part OF Alabama In
which Mobile is situated-had already been
seized and held forc.bly Texas, originally
= part of Mexico. set itself up as an inde-
pendent republic To 1886. It's population
consisted largely Of bold and somewhat
reckless adventures from the southern
states. In one year Texas had established
independence after a sharp war with Next
&C and a few months afterward applied for
union with this country.
The question remained open until, having
ogitated American politics for many years
and having cost Mr.. Van Buren, the Demo
cratic nomination for president in lS44. il
was finally settled In 1915 Texas was an
nexed and admitted as a state Of the Union
by a Joint resolution approved by President
Polk. California. Nevada. Utah. Arizona,
New Mexico and the western part Of Col
orado were acquired by conquest They
were ceded to the United States at the close
Of the Mexican war. during Polk's admins
tration ~ 1913 Nevertheless nearly So
100000 was paid to Mexico in settlement OF
certain claims az the price of the territory.
Excepting West Florida, already referred
70, this is the only territory gained by the
sword a strip Of land in southern Arizona
was not in the Mexican cession. but was
bought in 1853. Pierce being president az the
time. for SlO.OO0,00 Thus the country be-
came possessed Of all its present territory
between Canada on the north and Mexico
on the south Alaska was purchased Of
Russia during Mr.. Johnson's presidency in
1867. and the sum of $4,000 was paid for
it. ~Itstotal area isalmost the same as that
of all the territory obtained of Mexico by
conquest and purchase.-Cincinnat Com
mercial Gazette.