The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-14

nation. The right OF deposit OF goods
at New Orleans, granted by the Span
ish in 1895, had expired. The people
began to petition congress, demanding
navigation rights on the Mississippi,
and declared that "if congress refuses
us effectual protection, If 1t forsakes
us, we will adopt measures which our
safety requires, even If they endanger
the peace of the Union, and our con-
nection with the other states. No pro-
lection, no allegiance" Possibly. this
was the first threat of secession. The
people of the east Joined with them
In their demands and President Jeffer-
son, quick to see the approaching
storm, went to work. The treaty of
1900 ceding the Louisiana province to
France was a secret one, and it was
to Spain, therefore, that jefferson
made his overtures. He sought only
to obtain cession of the territory
east of the Mississippi, thus giving
the United States control of one side
of the river and it's mouth. Spain re-
fused, but did not hint of the secret
treaty of cession to France of Louisi-
ana. But the treaty got out in 1902,
and the recent troubles with France,
which had nearly led to war. with the
fact that England and France were
about to fight. brought matters to a
critical stage. jefferson wrote to Min
lister Livingston, in Paris, THE day
that France takes possession of New
Orleans fixes the sentence which 1t
to restrain her forever within her low
water mark. 1t seals the union of the
two nations who in conjunction can
maintain exclusive possession of the
ocean. From that moment we must
marry ourselves to the British fleet
and nation. This is not a state we
seek or desire"
NAPOLEON WILLING.
He at once sent James Monroe, after
wards president, as a special commits
sioner to France to negotiate the pur-
chase of New Orleans and the Flor
idas, or so much of the latter as France
possessed, under the treaty of 1900. But
Napoleon was face to face with Eng
land, then as now the great naval
power of the world, and he said to his
two associates in the consulate: "They
(the English) shall not have the Mis-
sissippi. which they covet. The con-
quest of Louisiana would be easy If
they only took the trouble to descend
there. ] have not a moment to lose in
putting it out of their reach. / think
of ceding it to the United States. They
only ask of me one town in Louisiana,
but 1 already consider the colony as
entirely lost: and it appears to me that
in the hands of this growing power II
will be more useful to the policy, and
even to the commerce, of France, than
if I should attempt to keep it,"
One of his associates opposed the
step, but Napoleon was firm, and later
announced to them, 1T Is not only New
Orleans that will cede; it is the whole
colony without any reservation" and
he directed that negotiations begin al
| once. James Monroe and Minister
Livingston represented the United
States, while Napoleon designated the
Marquis de Marbois on his part, al
though Talleyrand had share in the
matter. Jefferson had authorized an
| offer of s2,000,000 for New Orleans and
the Floridas, and Livingston. fearing
that this would not be accepted. was
therefore astounded and suspicious
when Tallyrand, before the arrival OF
Monroe, abruptly asked: what will
you give for the whole?" He delayed
answering until the arrival of Monroe
when Marbois soon convinced then
that the French offer was a serious
one. The Americans were overjoyed
| and, having no time to consult the
house government, but realizing the
! importance of immediate action, CLOSED
! the negotiations with all due speed
The price agreed upon was finally fiXec
| at 60,000000 francs, In the form o.
| United States per cent. bonds, II
value 81 ,250, 900, and in addition to this
| our government assumed the payment
| of certain debts due to our own citi
zens valued at 100000 900 francs, or 49,
| $4,000. making the total consideration
paid $4,000, 900. when we consider
that jefferson at one time was will
ing to give 100000 for New orleans
alone We can we'll marvel that so vas
an empire as the whole province should
come to us for the price paid" 1t II
related that when Livingston signed
the treaty he shook hands with Mar
bois and Monroe and said: I'VE hav'
lived long, but this is the noblest worl
of our lives"
A STORM OF OPPOSITION.
The treaty was Immediately sent t.
| Washington for ratification, the paper
arriving there July IA, 1908, and con
gress was convened on Oct Il. !
great storm of opposition arose. Jane
G.. Blaine, in his Twenty Years o
| Congress" says:
'It scarcely seems credible that tn
acquisition of Louisiana by Jefferson
was denounced with a bitterness sur
passing the partisan rancor with whicl
later generations have been familiar
| No ahuse was too malignant no epi