The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-10
OLD HARRISON LETTER
PART BORNE BY OLD TIPPECANOE IN
LOUISIANA PURCHASE.
New Chapter in History of That Event
importance of Prayed and
Time-WOrn Papers.
W. B. Stevens, in Washington Post.

Jefferson, Livingston and Monroe are &C
corded the credit Of the Louisiana pur-
chase. History tells how the one as Pres
ident, the second as minister to France,
and the third as special envoy or commits
sioner conducted the negotiations with
Bonaparte and Marbois.
Still another eminent American, destined
to become President, bore no insignificant
relationship to this greatest Of peaceful
transfers of territory. Yet his name is
never mentioned in this historical connec-
ton.
When Col. Charles de Hault de Lassus,
the Spanish lieutenant governor, had wit
messed the transfer of sovereignty TO the
United States at st. Louis in 1903 he car
ried away with him the cannon, munitions
and archives. This was under the terms of
the treaty purchase. The instructions TO
the lieutenant governor of Upper Louisiana
Territory were TO leave behind only such
papers as related to the private affairs Of
individuals. These papers included deeds
and concessions and the ordinary records,
personal in character, Of communities.
Historical papers relating to the period pre-
ceding the transfer of the Louisiana Terri
tory are not many. Those that do exist
have been preserved by good fortune rather
than by purpose.
1t is tradition in Missouri that when, full
OF years, Colonel De Lassus was gathered
! to his fathers he left in a mahogany box
a collection Of papers with instructions
that all be burned after his death. If the
tradition is we'll founded, the injunction
was not kept. The contents of the ma
hogany box were not destroyed; they are
still in existence. Some of them are of rare
historic interest and value, but until now
have never been published.
OLD HARRISON LETTERS.
The first information that Louisiana Ter
ritOry had passed TO the possession of the
United States reached ST. Louis through
American channels. 1t was communicated
to De Lassus by William Henry Harrison,
then Governor Of Northwest Territory,
with headquarters at "Old Vincennes.'
The order which babe him remove and
return to Spanish dominion the archives
Of upper Louisiana Territory was not con-
strued by Governor De Lassus to include
correspondence with Governor Harrison
covering several years. These Harrison
letters were preserved by the Spanish
Governor Of French name and descent.
They were transmitted to his heirs. They
are still in existence. They shed light of
no little Importance upon the period of
the Louisiana purchase.
William Henry Harrison's place in Amer
lean history is that of a soldier rather
than that of a statesman. He was elected
TO the presidency on his war record, and
died before he had opportunity to impress
upon the country his qualities as chief
magistrate.
There was, however. a diplomatic end
statesmanike side to the character of odd
Tlppecanoe." These letters reveal ii. They
show that at one Of the crises in the life
or the American Nation this man was per-
forming a diplomatic part with no ordinary
s~hrewdneSs. President Jefferson was con-
fronted with a condition along the Missis-
sippi of the graVest concern. The action
OF the Spanish intendant at New Orleans
IN placing burdensome restrictions upon
the river m had brought almost
open rupture between the American pOpu-
latiOn east and the Spanish authority west
of the Mississippi. Jefferson had Living
ston at Paris conducting negotiations with
the first consul through Talleyrand and
Marbois. He had sent Monroe as a special
commissioner TO assist Livingston. Spain
had secretly transferred Louisiana Terri
tory. by the treaty of Ildefonso, back to
France. France was about to take possess
sion. As between Great Britain and France
the government at Washington hardly
knew where American interests lay. While
these negotiations were in progress Jeffer-
son, through William Henry Harrison. at
Nincennes, was keeping in close touch with
affairs in upper Louisiana Territory. Gen
eral Harrison was in frequent cOrresDOn-
dence with Governor De Lassus. The let
ters he wrote speak for themselves. They
show that from Washington the American
Governor was establishing that relation
ship with upper Louisiana which would
have been of the greatest significance and
Importance had the diplomatic negotia-
tons at Paris failed. The historians of
that period dwell upon the events at Wash
ington and Paris. They tell nothing of
what was transpiring at Vincennes and st.
Louis.
President Benjamin Harrison learned of
the existence of these letters, written by
his grandfather in 1903 and 1904. RecogniZ-
ing their important bearing upon American
of the correspondence which passed, as
these letters show, from Governor De Las
sus TO William Henry Harrison. He had
INVESTIGATION made among the archives at
Washington, but could not find them. 1t is
fair suppositiOn that William Henry Harri-
son regarded this correspondence of such
personal and confidential character as not
to warrant the incorporation of il in the
public official files. Probably William Hen
~ Harrison did not trust to descendants
TO destroy private papers,, but disposed of
them during his lifetime.
II HARRISON-DE LASSUS LETTER.
Yellowed by the century which has
passed, worn and ragged with handling.
but bold and distinct in unfading ink, these
letters from Harrison to De Lassus are
still in existence. Long ago they passed
into the possession of Mr.. A. ]. TulIock,
of Leavenworth, Kan, who for some years
has devoted a part of his spare time to
making a collection of books and manu-
scripts relating to the history of Louisiana
and it's acquisition by the United States.
One Of the letters Of William Henry Har-
rison to De Lassus is as follows:
"Vincennes. March 6. 1903.
MY Dear Sir-I had the pleasure TO re-
ceive a few days ago from the hands of
Colonel DumOulin your favor of the 22d
ultimo. / should have written to YOU be-
fore the receipt of that letter, but l waited
to hear of your return from New Madrid.
THE cessiOn of Louisiana 10 France is
confirmed beyond all doubt, and nothing
but the great misfOrtunes which have be-
fallen the armament of that power which
was sent to st. Domingo and the reduced
state OF Beunaparte's finances have pre-
vented its being taken possession of be-
fore this. More of the circumstances at
tending the cession are still secret, but it
Is believed, and l think truly, that the Min
istry of Spain were much deceived and i'm
posed upon by Beunaparte. IL is very evil
dent that the Prince of Peace knew moth
ing OF the transaction. After the treaty
was actually signed he was heard 10 tell
Iucien B~eunaparte that Spain would never
give up Louisiana, and that Maria had
nothing 10 offer which would prove an
equivalent for that province.
You have no doubt heard of the port of
New Orleans having been shut by the in
tendant of that place 10 American vessels
this circumstance has occasioned much
I nnH