St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-10-28

papers we hear and read all shades of
expression of opinion concerning ex-
pansion and anti-expansion. People
talk of it and write of it as though the
| subject had all the newness and fresh
ness of novelty, but it is old as the hills.
Expansion began on April 80. 1903, when
France. in three separate treaties, coded
to this republic the territory Of Louis
lana, and that event has become known
The story of this historic occurrence
forms one Of the most important and
interesting chapters in our national his
tory.
1t is very exclusively treated of in
that remarka Bile book, 1.-THE Public Do
MAN," published under the authority
of the United States, and compiled by
Thomas Donaldson, man of marvellous
research. He deyotes many pages to
an exhaustive history Of the buying
from France of the vast province Of
Louisiana. He epitomizes the events
progressively leading to the COLOMBIA
ton Of that part Of the province which
is now the city of New Orleans as fol-
lows:
In 1871 De Soto reached the Mississip-
pi river.
In 1878 Father Marquette descended
the Mississippi to its mouth.
In 1850 La Sale descended the Missis-
sippi river and took possession of the
country adjacent to it in the name of
Louis XIV. of France, and called it
Louisiana"
In 1899 Lemoine d'Iberville founded
the first colony at Biloxi, but dying soon
after, Henille took command.
In 17O6 thes colonists made a new To-
cation on the site of what is now the
city of New Orleans.
In 1T12, September IA, Louis ". made
a grant to Antoine de Crozat, mer-
chant Of Paris, who had amassed for
tune of 100000 livres in the Indian
trade, the grant being for trading priv
ileges.
President Jefferson, December Is,
1902, notified the congress of the ces-
sion of Louisiana to France, and Of the
action of the Spanish authorities at
New Orleans. Excitement ensued in
the congress, but finally President JEFF
ferson obtained the consent of the SEN
ate to the confirmation of Mr.. Monroe
EARNED with an appropriation of 81, 00O,
0Oo) to proceed to France and, in con-
nection with Mr.. Livingston, minister
Of the United States at Paris, to treat
with France for the cession of New Or
leans and the island Of New Orleans and
Florida.
Mr.. Livingston held to the opinion at
that time that the United States would
never be able to acquire New Orleans
by treaty or purchase, and that it ought
to be taken, at once, by force. Mr.. Mon
roe, upon arrival in France, found
meditating on and in danger
of rupture with Great Britain. Just
before his arrival NJ. Talleyrand had
requested Mr.. Livingston to make an Of
fer on behalf of the United States for
the province of Louisiana entire. This
was an authority he did lot possess. /
The intention of the United States, as
he understood, was to purchase only
New Orleans island, and the Floridas, |
or the western part of them. These |
were conducted under the |
supervision of the first consul. |
He said he wanted money for war, that |
he would cede the whole province of |
and that he wanted $4,000, 900 |
Of francs for it. Secrecy was to be OBJ
served. Mr.. Livingston refused to offer |
more than 80, OO0, 600 francs, and assert
ed that he had no power to treat for the
cession Of the entire province.
It was supposed at that time that in
structions were issued to our ministers
that the treaty of cession by Spain to
France included the entire province of
Louisiana and the Floridas, but it was
found shortly afterward that it ceded
Louisiana only. If France declined to
sell, our ministers were to open nego-
tiations with Great Britain, so as to
prevent France from taking possession
Il the province. N. Barbe Morbois
marquis of Barbe Morbois), who was
hen 1T the head of the treasury OF
France, had conducted the negotiations
With Mr.. Livingston. He had formerly
,een secretary of the French legation to
he United States. and was personally
,nown to Mr.. Monroe.
Mr.. Monroe. arrived April II, 1903. NJ.
the next day. asked imme-
late action. After consultation, the
wo ministers, on behalf of the United
states, offered France $4,000, 900 francs,
With an Offset in the shape Of such