The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-01-11

The most important expansion il
the United States is nearly a century
old. 1t was on April 30, 1903. thai
the treaty was signed by which Spair
ceded the territory of Louisiana to
the United States. Six months later
formal ratification Of this treaty was
signed by Napoleon Bonaparte for
France, and by Thomas Jefferson fol
the United States.
The Mississippi River, the great
stream which divided the Uuit.d
States at ore time from the territory
Of Louisiana, has borne upou It's
bosom the ambitious and devoted ex-
plorers and pioneers of three uatiuns.
Spain entered the territory of Loui>i-
ana from the South, when De SOTO
and his followers, in 1911, explored
the vast territory. France appeared
in Louisiana from the North; III 1913
Marquette and Joliet descended the
ready Mississippi aud LA Sale made
his explorations in 1852. From the
East came the hardy pioneer Of an-
other race. The descendents Of En-
glishmen in America soon became
Americans in truth, and the Missis-
sippi knew them.
In 100 the French, under Iberville,
founded colony in the territory of
Louisiana. European complications
kept Louisiana politics and develop
ment in the background. By the
treaty Of Utrecht the whole province
passed into the possession Of France.
It's boundaries nominally extended
over the whole valley Of the Missis-
sippi and as far west as the Rocky
Mountains. New Orleans was found
ed in l7l8.
In 1852, by a secret treaty, Spain
acquired the province from France,
but did not take possession until
1869. In 1853 ali of Louisiana east
Of the Mississippi was ceded to Great
Britain. Thus the European powers
parceled out American territory, ig-
norant that they were playing iuto the
hands Of destiny which had decreed u
great American Republic.
This territory ceded to Great Bri-
tain became "a part of the Uuited
States after the Revolution and the
treaty of 1883. This gave to Ameri
cans broad path to the great com-
merce bearing Mississippi. Spain was
jealous of the country east Of the
Mississippi. The great river Was but
. narrow boundary between the two
powers, and Americans were aggres-
siye. Spain's French subjects gave
trouble also. Napoleon had plans for
a great empire in America and in
1900 he bought Louisiana from his
Catholic Majesty, the King Of Spain.
The ambitions Of the great First
Council did not come to fruition on
American soil. Becoming involved in
difficulties with England and appre-
hensive Of war, he decided to save
New Orleans, which was threatened
by the British, and damage his enemy
across the channel, by ceding Louisi-
ana to the United States. This
treaty, so important to America, was
made in 1903, the consideration for
tbe cession of Louisiana being Sl2,-
100000.
Upon the signing the ratification OF
abe treaty Napoleon is said to have
flung down his pen with the exclama-
>ti0n:
81 have signed away an empire!'
In the negotiations with the French
Government Robert R. Livingston aud
James Monroe represented the United
States. In an interview with then
the French Minister, Barbe Marbois
said:
s'We should not hesitate to make 8
sacrifice of that which is about slip
ping away from us. War with Eng
land is inevitable. Shall we be able
With inferior naval forces to defeno
Louisiana against that Power?'
Before the arrival of James Monroe
in Paris. Napoleon said to Marbois
II renounce Louisiana. 1t is no
only New Orleans that | will cedc; il
is the whole colony without any rescr
vation. know the price Of what
abandon, and have sufficiently prove
the Importance that | attach to thu
province, since my first diplomatic &c
with Spain had for its object its re
covery. | renounce it with thsgreat
est regret. To attempt obstinately |,
retain it would be folly. | direct yc'
to negotiate this affair with the envoy
of the United States. Do not eve