The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-29
The Louisiana
Purchase

was so favorable to the United States
that it was unanimously adopted by the
congress of the confederation Jan. IA, 1854,
and Immediately proclaimed. The foreign
relations of the confederation govern
ment, during the eight years of its fee
bic existence being conducted by the
many states acting as one state, were
successfully managed. After the peace
Franklin comments much on the con-
tinuing cordially of the court of France.
Both Vergennes and Luzerne, his most
trusted minister, in numerous letters,
published and unpublished, express their
great qualification that the United States
was able to secure from England such
satisfactory terms George Ill, with un-
concealed reluctance, fixed his signature
to Englands ratification April 9, 1884.
During the period from peace to good
government under the hero of the Revo-
luton, who is also the hero of ages,
the most significant events in our terri
torial history occurred in Kentucky,
Tennessee and Lower Louisiana. Spain
refused to accept the British and Amer
lean construction Of the treaties of 1882
and 1888, which were identical. Having
acquired West Florida before the ces-
sion by conquest, she continued to hold
the disputed Natchez district until 1875.
Controlling both sides of the lower Mis-
was denied the Western Americans living
on its banks and its tributaries. The
latter thought it was their d-given
highway to the sea and to civilization.
John Jay, our secretary of foreign af
?, fairs after Livingston, finding that Spain
would not yield this point without war,
was willing in 1856 to waive the free
navigation for twenty-five years; but
congress, wiser than Jay, declined to
don their treaty rights, congress was in
no position to enforce them. The first
line of policy pursued by Gov. Estevan
Miro, who succeeded the gallant Galvez
in 1855, was to array all the Indian tribes
within reach against the WeSternerS,
and then through these savage allies to
promote the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Spain.
Following that successful soldier and
able administrator, Galvez, to his new
elevation as viceroy of Mexico, we find
that with the aid OF his beautiful and
benevolent Louisiana wife he ruled mild
~ but absolutely over the MeXicans for
ten years, gaining thereby extraordinary
popularity and lasting renown. Galvez
built costly palace on the rock of Cha
-pultepec, which grew to be a castle or
fortress of formidable strength. 1t was
captured by Gen. Winfield Scott just be-
fore that hero entered the City of Mex
leo in 1871 The memory of this merito-
riOus Spaniard has been perpetuated by
the Texas city that has risen so recently
from it's watery grave. His death, at
thirty Eight, was greatly deplored.
Events on the Mississippi.
Recurring to events on the Mississippi
it appears extremely probable that the
first suggestion of a union of Indian
tribes and Spaniards to bring about a
separation of the Western territories
from the rest of the state came from the
Greek Indian chief with the Scotch name
of McGillivray This ambitious savage
of fascinating personality was the son of
a Scotchman of high mentality and a
high-bred Indian princess. Uniting some
of the worst and best qualities of his an
cestOrs this warrior, while not a states
man of the forest like Pontiac, or a
gentleman in war-paint like Tecumseh
had high capacity to kill and a prophetic
'foreknowledge of things to come. He
saw. before Amanda Navarro and Miro
did, that Spaniards or Americans must
dominate this continent He was an
expert in treachery and a human blood
hound in pursuit. James Robertson,
his brave Tennessee antagonist. describ-
ed McGillivray and the situation when
he said: 1.-THE Spaniards are inspired by
the devil: the Creeks by the devil and
the Spaniards; and the worst devil in
human form is the Creek chief McGil-
livray." This enterprising savage gath
cred the Creek, Choctow, Chickasaw, and
many other Indian chiefs into an assem-
blage at Pensacola, which he called con-
gress. This meeting was dignified by the
attendance of Gov. Miro. The highest
Spanish officials and their families at
tended with the chiefs social or public
entertainments. where the painted saw
ages eXcelled the whites in their flatter-
les by insisting that all the beautiful Ia
dies present were sisters and had de-
seconded from heaven! McGillivrays zeal
was made active by bride or a pension
of $50 per month, and other chiefs came
= in for the usual presents. After spend
ing S300,000 to win over the aborgines,
we are prepared to believe that all who
had received rich presents We're ready to
declare on all occasions, whether drunk
or sober that they had Spanish hearts"
in their breasts and scalping knives in
their hands for the Americans.
The civil and military governor of LOU
isiana, while adroitly placating and unit
ing the Indians, did not neglect religious
and other less important concerns. In
his proclamation of 1855 he exhorts the
faithful Catholics to attend the celebra-
ton of the holy mysteries; to abstain
doors and prevent the slaves from dane
ing on the public squares before the end
of evening service; he forbids females of
color to wear on their heads any plumes
or jewelry, but to have their hair bound
il kerchief; inhabitants of the city are
forbidden to leave it either by land or
water without a passport; the verbal
sales of slaves are forbidden. During
this year the revenues from exports and
n,,lo
$4,000. In February, 17S7, Navarro the
intendent of the province, wrote to Spain:
, 1.-THE powerful enemies We have to fear
in this province are not the English, but
the Americans, whom we must oppose
by active and sufficient measures And
this official wisely adds by way of advice
which was not followed: 1.-The only
way to check them is with a proportions
ate population, and is not by imposing
commercial restrictions that this popu-
lation is to be acquired, but by granting
a prudent extension and freedom of
trade" The trade with the Indians was
largely increased by means of loose
liberality towards them but the mort
bund CHARLES III, of Spain, was dispos-
ed to draw the line of virtual prohibition
on up-river Americans. While the COM
merce of the developing regions of Ten
nessee and Kentucky was expanding
yearly the Spanish duties, intentions and
eXactions were doubled. New customs
officers and military forces had been
placed at Natchez and New Madrid.
UnbearabIe Trade Restrictions.
Trade restrictions and inpositions upon
river traffic We're fast becoming unbear-
able Conhscations of vessels and car
goes and the imprisonment of officers
and crews were not infrequent The
victims Of these recurring outrages. if
so fortunate as to escape from custody.
wandered back to their settlements mem