The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-11-20
The Purchase Of Louisiana.

threatened by the dangers and
complications of an international
struggle across the water. Ma
poleon was engaged with plans
hostile to England. France had
obtained from Spain a secret
cession to what was known as
the Louisiana Territory. The
British governmentWas coyetous
Of American territory and was
interested in limiting the expan-
sion of the United States to the
westward. The United States
government had become serious
ly concerned over the question
of commercial outlet to the Gulf.
Spanish officials at New Orleans
were imposing restrictions which
materially hampered the com
merce of the Valley and which
we're the occasion of bad feeling.
Marbois was Napoleon's Min
lister Of the Public Treasury.
Napoleon needed money for his
war budget. But of stronger
influence with him was a policy
which might cripple England.
Under such conditions, Presi-
dent Jefferson opened, through
Mr.. Livingstone. the American
Misister to France, negotiations
for the purchase of so much ter
ritory as would control the
mouth of the Mississippi. The
inspiration for this diplomacy
was the increasing clamor of the
people in the great Valley
against the interference with
American commerce on the riv-
er. To aid Mr.. Livingstone,
Mr.. Monroe: afterwards Presi-
dent, was sent as special Am
bassador.
Napoleon met the negotiations
with a counter proposition. Ac-
cording to Marbois, who became
the historian of the transaction,
Napoleon said, in a conversation
on the 10th of April, 1903, speak
ing Of the proposed cession,
with special reference to the de-
sire of the British: "They shall
not have the Mississippi, which
they covet."
Twenty days later the treaty
had been consummated, and the
great Territory of louisiana had
been ceded to the United States
for $4,000, and the assump-
ton of certain claims amount
ing to about So, 100000 more.
It was in commenting upon
the accomplishment of the pur-
chase that Napoleon remarked:
"This accession of territory
strengthens forever the power
of the United States. >"
The secret treaty of St. Ilde-
fonso, by which the territory
passed to France from Spain,
was made in 1900. It was known
to the government of the United
States, but the actual transfer
from Spanish to French authori-
ty had not taken place. The
trouble from which American
commerce suffered was with the
Spanish officials at New Orleans.
President Jefferson, however,
knew that the solution of the
difficulty must come through
negotiations with France.
It is an interesting fact that in
1902, there sailed out of the
Mississippi 158 American YES
sells. of 1888 tonnage. This
was the American commerce en-
dangered. It was the arbitrary
order issued on the 16 of Octo-
Der, 1902, by the Intendant
Morales, ''suspending the right
of deposit" at the Port of New
Orleans, which created the out
burst of Indignation along the
Mississippi, which prompted
President Jefferson to enter up
on the negotiations for the pur-
chase of the territory.
According to Marbois, Napole-
on realized in some degree the
magnificent territory which he
was transferring to the United
States. He realized, however,
that it was impossible for him to
hold the territory without send
ing a feet and a strong force.
He understood, also, that this
transfer of Louisiana territory
to the United States would be
the strongest blow he could deal
to England.
Napoleon met the offer of the
United States to purchase the
mouth of the river with this
answer to his Minister MarOOlS:
"Irresolution and deliberation
are no longer in season. l re-
nounce Louisiana. It is not New
Orleans only I will cede; it is the
whole colony, without any re.
servation. I know the price of
what l abandon. I renounce it
with the greatest regret. To at
tempt to retain it would be fol-
ly."
The Treaty of the purchase
was signed on April 30, 1903.
The transfer at New Orleans
took place a few months later.
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