Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-12-04

The first consul said: "It Is not only
New Orleans will cede. but the whole
colony, without any reservation. I
know the price of what I abandon, be-
cause I used my official diplomacy
with Spain to get control Of 1t. I re-
nounce 1t with greatest regret. Do not
delay. Go and have an interview with
Mr.. Livingston today. Don't walt for
Mr.. Monroe to arrive. I require great
deal Of money to carry on this war
with England. I am going to be mode
rate in my price because now want
great deal Of money I want 50,000.OOO
francs. I will not negotiate for less.
Make the overture without any subter-
fuge. Acquaint me day by day and
hour by hour as to your progress. The
cabinet in London knows what Is be-
Ing done in Washington, but those
Londoners can't know what I am do
ing. Be as secret as possible. Talk
with Mr.. Tallyrand about the matter.
He alone Is in my confidence"
Mr.. Livingston was distrustful of the
first consul.
He suspected a trick.
He wanted to be on the safe side and
offered 3O,0OO,OOO francs while Napo-
leon called for $4,000. 900.
About this time Mr.. Monroe arrived
on the vessel at Havre.
Mr.. Livingston was 50 timid about
the matter that he wrote Mr.. Monroe,
with his congratulations on his safe
arrival in France, his fears. He felt
sure the United States would have to
fight for New Orleans-because he
thought Bonapartes offer to sell was
bluff.
Marquis de Marbois knew Mr.. Mon
roe very well. He had resided near
congress for years, indeed during the
whole war Of the Revolution.
When these two friends put their
heads together they found out that Ma
poleon meant exactly what he said
He wanted money-and that was an
easy way to get 1t.
Mr.. Monroe looked M. de Marbois In
the face and said, "Do you really mean
to sell?"
Because 1t was not a town-a little
strip Of country-a state-no, 1t was a
vast territory-it meant every acre
from the Mississippi river to the great
Pacific ocean.
M. de Marbois assured him that they
meant to sell at once and without sub
terfuge or delay.
Soon the terms were agreed upon, al
though Spain was as usual, refractory
in agreement.
After many pros and cons, sixty mil
lions of francs were transferred to the
| banking house in Amsterdam and
through the Barings in London.
The terms were as follows:
For the payment of $l1,25O,OOO, bear
ing interest at per cent, these minis
ters agreed to pay interest, semi-an-
nually in London, Amsterdam or In
Paris, while the principle Of the debt
was to be settled off in payments OF
SO, 100000 each fifteen years after the
property was ceded to the United
States.
In less than two months from the day
Mr.. Monroe had sailed from New York
to Havre, the purchase was made and
the territory decided, to the United
States.
Mr.. Livingston rose up at the con-
clusion Of the negotiations and said:
I'VE have lived long, but this Is the
noblest work of our whole lives"
The first consul said to his envoy, u
have just given to England a maritime
rival that will sooner or later humble
her pride"
The very day the treaty of purchase
was ratified by Napoleon, hostilities
began between France and England, to
end at Waterloo-12 years later.
Congress had a squabble over the
purchase, but the senate ratified the
treaty by a vote Of "a to Z.