Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-01-21
oRowrA I'D rAn uNlrep srArrs.
How tho Greater Fart Of This Country Wa
Acquired and what II Cost.

How tho Greater Fart OF This Country was
Acquired and what 4, Cost.
when independence was established. tho
bounds Of the new country were extremely
indefinite. The limits OF the ~ states were
known with reasonable exactnoss, though
there were " the outset disputes both he
tween the states and between the United
States and the European governments
whose possessions lay alongside ours. Tho
first great acquisition Of territory was That
OF Louisiana. which Spain had coded to
France, aud which the Emperor Napoleon
sold to the uuited States for SIT, 0O0, 900 IN
1893, when Mr.. jefferson was president.
Mr.. jefferson did not believe that the con.
stitution permitted the United States 70
annex foreign territory aud wished that
an amendment should be adopted 20 sane
ton IL, hut the amendment failed after tho
annexation had been accomplished. and
Mr.. jefferson stlfed his soruples
Louisiana, MS acquired from France, in
cludcd the territory bounded on the east by
the Mississippi river from its mouth 10 its
source, ON the north by the line OF the Brit
ISL possessions, on the west by the Pacific
ocean TO the south line Of Oregon. The
other boundary follows the north line Of
California, Nevada and Utah rs far east rs
the Rocky mountains and thence In gem
cral enthusiastically direction so as 20 in
eludc part Of Colorado and most Of Kansas
and the Indian Territory and all OF Arkan-
sas aud Louisiana to the gulf Of Mexico
Florida was for many years tho object OF
covetousness ON the part Of ourgoyernmont,
which claimed now part and now tho
whole as included IN the Louisiana pur-
chase Tho United States finally obtained
1t from Spain Ia 1919, when Mr. Monroe
was president What was known as West
| Florlda--inoludng the part OF Alabama In
/ which Mobile is situated had already been
seized and held forcibly Texas, originally
part OF Mexico, SIT itself up rs M ind1-
pendent republic In 1885 Its population
| consisted largely OF bold and somewhat
| reckless adventurers from the southern
! states. In one year Texas had established
independence after shnrp war with Next
co and fow months atterwari applied for
union with this country
The question remained open until, having
agitatod American politics for many Year,
and having cost Mr. Won Buren, tho Demo
cratic nomination for president IN 1874, Il
was finally settled in 1876 Texas was am
ncScd and admitted as u STATE OF tho Union
by Joint resolution approved by President
! Polk California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona
New Mexico and the western part OF Con
orado were acquired by conquest They
Hcre coded % the United States AZ tho cot
Of the Mexican war, during polk'sadminis
tration In 1873 Nevertheless nearly SO,
100000 was paid 60 Mexico In settlement o.
certain claims rs the price OF the territory.
Excepting West Florida, already reierret
TO, this IS the only territory gained by th,
sword. Astiip OF land in southern Arlzonl
was not IN the Mexican oession. but WA
bought in 1858, Pierce being president at th,
time, for SiOOlO,OO0, Thus the country be
came possessed Of all It's present territo!
between Canada on the north and MtXici
on the south, Alaska was purchased o
Russia during Mr. Johnson's presidency It
1857, and the sum OF s1,aOO,Q 600 was paid ia
81, Itstotal area is almost the snmo as tina
OF all the territory obtained Of Mexico D.,
conquest and purchase Cincinnati Com
mcrclal Gazette.