The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-05-06
Senator Culberson Shows That the
Fact Was Never Cues
toned in America.
MANY HISTORICAL PROOFS.
Discovered by France and Coded In
Louisiana Territory to Spain
Early American States
mems Declarations.
The Republic bureau.
l<th ST and peuusyiysn.a Ara

Washington. May 6-in his argument be-
fore the special committee OF the House,
former Governor Francis enumerated tho
States Il the Louisianan Purchase. but
omitted Texas. He remarked that he
would Ike 10 include the great Lone Star
State. but felt that he had not sufficient
ground for doing so.
After the conclusion Of the hearing Sem
ator Culberson OF Texas happened TO NEE,
Governor Francis ar the Capitol. and asked
why Texas had been omitted from the list
Of States In the Purchase.
You need have no fear Of having the
historical correctness Of the statement that
Texas was a part Of the Purchase cues
TONED" said the Senator. II can prove
that it was. beyond all question"
we would be delighted # you would do
So" responded 1r. Francis. Texas is with
US In spirit; we would be pleased Z, know
she is blood kindred"
In response to Mr.. Franc;s's iry1tat;on
Senator Cuiherson has prepared the follow
ing statement as TO the claims OF Texas to
be regarded as a part Of the Louisiana Pur-
chase:
There can be no doubt thai Texas was a
part of the Louisiana Purchase. Tn. terri
tory now known as Texas was discovered
and settled by the French under L.. Sale.
who landed rear the entrance of NIataPorda
Bay in 1855. At that time the nearest
Spanish settlement WAS In the proximity of
Tampico. On this subject Yoakum. in mis-
History Of Texas thus states the histori-
cal facts:
THE Spaniards had not We. penetrated
east OF the Rio Granie, at least below the
Paso del Nnrte. and Ia Sale was still en-
deavoring and hoping TO establish the fact
that he was in the vicinity Of one Of the
mouths of the Mississippi. Texas, to him
and his people. and afterwards his nation.
was part Of Louisiana. He had discovered
the mouth of the great river, tn. coast
thence to the confines of Mexico; had
planted a colony on one OF the rivers. had
stocked 1t with domestic animals and plant
ed II with the seeds OF husbendry. BY all
the rules then. OF national law, apart from
the claim of the Indians. the country was
French. and, If they chose to call It So, Il
part Of louisiana The country was French
by right Of discovery. To Spain II was ut
terly unknown
Discovered by France.
This claim was maintained. among otn-
ers, by Messrs. Pinkrey and Monroe in a
letter to the Spanish Minister OF Foreign
Affairs. In 1906. and by John Quincy Adams.
the Secretary of State Of the United States.
In ISIS. as appears from volume u of the
American State Papers. The same opin-
Ion was entertained by Jefferson, Madison,
Livingston, Jackson and Van Buren,.
After this discovery and settlement OF
Texas by the French. in loss. It was includ-
ed In the grant made by Louis XIV to
Crozat, Marquis du chetel. In 11T2. 1t was
subsequently, ceded to Spain. in 1861. and in
1890 II was retroceded TO France as a part
of Louisiana by the treaty OF San ~fldefon-
SO. BY the first article of the treaty be
tween France and the United States. in
1903, the Colony. or Province. Of Louisiana.
which, beyond all question, included Tex
as, Was ceded by France TO the United
States. the western boundary line of Texas
being the Rio G~rsnde-calied sometimes in
the treaties Of the times Rio Hravc.
by the treaty Of 1873 between the United
States and Spain the boundary of the two
countries west OF the Mississippi River, SO
far as Texas was concerned. was made the
Sabine River rather than the Rio Grande,
ard consequently Texas was thereby coded
TO Spain. In 1874 Mexico. by revolution,
separated herself from Spain and became
an Independent Republic, and the Territory
of Texas. with that of Coahaila. became
one of the Mexican States, under the title
of Coahuila and Texas.
In 1896 Texas achieved her Independence
and became ar independent Republic. and
FL iS4i negotiations were begun for the an
nexat.op OF Texas to the United States.
Question First Raised.
This naturally and Inevitably brought in
10 prominence and controversy tho question
whether Texas was originally included in
the Louisiana Purchase and had at one time
belonged the United States. So far as I
know the proposition was not disputed by
any public man of that time. The Demo-
cratic national platform OF 1874 d.Cla red for
the remuneration of Texas at the earliest
practicable period As early As April 30,
lisa. James X. Polk. in a letter TO Salmon
p. Chase and others of Cincinnati. declared
for the remuneration OF Texas, saving,
eminent itself, in 1879. was satisfied of the
validity of the title of the United States TO
Texas under the treaty OF 1893, and tina In
his judgment Texas Was ,Dwisaly ssdsd 70