The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-10

termine to move TO this government be per-
fectly assured, my dear sir, that every ex-
ertiOn on my part shall be made to soOth
the evening of his life and make it as COM
Portable as possible
4 have just received information Of my
having been continued in the government OF
this territory for three years, succeeding
the 18th of May next.
The bear chose TO AXE up her winter
quarters at Kaskaskias, but L expect her
soon TO arrive, together with other c%uriosi-
ties which you so profusely heaped upon
Il go to Detroit in about ten days. When
l return will have the pleasure again TO
write to you.
Present me in the most respectful man
ner TO Madam and Mr.. de Lussin, and be-
lieve me to be, truly your friend.
(Signed)
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
Up. 81 shall certainly attend to your re-
quest relative to the Creek Indians.
The HOnbl. Colo. de Lassus, etc, etc"
DE Lassus was a Frenchman in the serv-
ice Of the King of Spain. The government
Of his adoption had just transferred by Sc
cTet treaty 10 the government of his nativ-
ity the great province Of the upper part OF
which he was the official head.
CONDEMNED BONAPARTE.
In the light of such conditions, the free
dom with which General Harrison wrote is
the more remarkable. 1t reveals how close
and confidential must have been the rela-
tionship between these neighboring repre-
sentatives of the governments at Washing
ton and Madrid. General Harrison con-
demned Bonaparte Tor Beunaparte, as he
wrote it, unsparingly. Undoubtedly he had
learned from previous intercourse the real
sentiments of De Lassus. 1t is probably
also true that he reflected the feeling OF
the Jefferson administration toward the
first consul. Accepting as confirmed be-
yond all doubt the cession of Louisiana to
France, General Harrison forecasted what
he believed to be the policy of this gov
eminent to make common cause with Great
Britain upon France to undo the secret
treaty of San udefonso and to prevail upon
Bonaparte to permit Louisiana to be re-
tanned by Spain.
The action Of the Spanish intendant at
New Orleans in shutting the port to Ameri-
can vessels was the chief cause Of irrita-
ton on the American side and the immedi-
ate provocation for President Jefferson
sending James Monroe abroad as a special
envoy. Yet General Harrison, in this letter
to De LassuS, acquitted the Spanish gov
eminent of responsibility for this hostile
act and charged 1t upon the "Corsican
Beunaparte."
The letter is a revelation of official senti-
ment and policy at Washington just pre-
ceding the Louisiana purchase. 1t gives
light from a new source upon diplomatic
negotiations which have been the subject
of controversy.
The treaty transferring the Louisiana
Territory 10 the United States was signed
at Paris April 80, 1903. By reference to the
letter it will be seen that General Harrison
wrote in the month preceding.
The personal suggestion Of American resi-
dence for your most respectable father
is not the least interesting feature of the
correspondence, made, as it was, when in
ternational relations respecting the Louisi-
ana Territory were approaching a crisis.
Ii is impossible to believe that the Ameri-
can Governor of Northwest Territory did
not have the full concurrence of his gov
eminent in the approaches he was making
to the Spanish Governor OF upper Louisi-
ana.
From this letter it does not appear that
President Jefferson had any idea Of the
purchase of Louisiana at the time he sent
to Madrid Mr.. Monroe formerly our min
lister in Madrid) as envoy extraordinary TO
represent the conduct of the intendant of
New Orleans" There was no such thought
in the mind Of General Harrison, and yet
the American Governor of adjacent terri
tory clearly was in the confidence OF the
administration at Washington.