The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-28

vOO September 3, 1883, was so favor
able TO the United States that
il was unanimously ratified by
the Congress Of the confederation,
January A. 1854 and Immediately pro-
claimed. The foreign, relations of the
Confederation government. during the
eight years Of it's feeble existence. be-
itp conducted by the many states act
ing as one state. were successfully
managed After the peace Franklin
comments much on the continuing cor
dialty or the court of France. Roth
Nergennes and Luzerne. his most trust
cd ministers in numerous letters, pub
lislled and unpublished. express their
great qualification that the United
States were able to secure from Eng
land such satisfactory terms. George
III with unconcealed reluctance. fixed
his signature tn E,ngland's ratification
on April q. 1884.
During the period from peace tO good
government under the hero of the Rev
ol,ition. who is also the hero of the
ages, the most significant events in our
,crritorial history occurred IN Ken
t,uky. Tennessee ANA lower Louisiana.
Spain refused to accept the British and
American construction of the treaties
of 17S2 and 1888. which We're identical.
TIaving acquired West Florida before
The ccssion. by conquest, she continued
to hold the disputed Natchez district
until 17o,. Controlling both sides of the
lower Mississippi. the free navigation
of that river was denied the Western
Americans living on it's banks and it's
tributaries. The latter thought it was
their God-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 with
out war, was willing in 1856 to waive
the free navigation for twenty-five
years: but congress wiser than Jay,
declined to yield. However while re-
fusing to abandon their treaty rights.
congress was in no position to enforce
them. The first line of policy pursued
by Governor iIstevan Miro, who sue
cceded 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 AMI
able administrator. Galvez. to his new
elevation as viceroy of Mexico. we find.
that with the aid of his beautiful and
benevolent Louisiana ife. he rulel
mildly but absolutely over the Mex
leans for ten years. gaining there
oN extraordinary popularity AMI
,aStinS renOwn. GialNeH built Il
costly palace on the rock OF Chap
ultepec. which grew to be & castle
or fortress of formidable strength 1t
vas captured by General Winfield Scott
lust before that hero entered the city
of Mexico in 1874. The memory of this
ncritorious Spaniard has been perpetu-
atcd by the Texas city that has arisen
"ccently from its watery grave. His
.eath at IS, was greatly deDlored.
Recurring to events on the Mississippi
nj, il appears extremely probable that
the first suggestion of Il union of In
dian tribes and SpaniardS to bring
about a separation of the Western ter
ritorieS from the rest of the States,
came from the Creek chief. with the
Scotch name of McCillivray. This
ambitious savage of facinating person.
Ility, was the son of a Scotchman of
high mentality and a high-bred In
dian princess Uniting some of the
worst and best qualities of his ances-
lors, this warrior while not Il states
man of the forest like Pontiac or Il
gentleman in war paint like Tecumseh.
had high capacity to kill ana II proph~
etic foreknowledge of things to como.
le saw. before Aranda Navarro and
Miro did, that Spaniards or Ameri-
cans must dominate this continent. He
was il number one expert in treachery
and a human bloodhound in pursuit
James Robertson. his brave Tennessee
antagonist, described McGilivray and
che situation when he said: "'rhe Span
iards are inspired by the devil the
Greeks by the devil and the Spaniards:
and the worst devil in human form is
the Creek chief McGilivray" The
entNprising savage gathered tn" Creek,
Choctaw, ChickaSaw and many other
Indian chiefs into am assemblage ut
Pensacola which he called II congress.
This meeting was dignihed by the at
tendance of Governor Miro. The high
est Spanish officials and their families
attened with the chiefs social or public
entertainments, where the painted saw
ages eNcelled the whites in their flat
teries by insisting that all the beautiful
ladies present We're sisters and had de-
seconded from heaven. McGillivray's
zeal was made active by a bribe or pen
sion of fifty dollars per month and
other chiefs came in for the usual pre-
Sents. After spending $500 900 to win
over the aborigines we are prepared to
believe that al who had received rich
presents. were 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
Louisiana. while adroitly placating
and uniting the Indians, did not ne
slect religious and other less mpow
ant concerns. In his proclamation OF
17S6, he eNhorts the faithful Catholics
to attend the celebration of the holy
mysteries; to abstain from work on
sacred days; To close shop doors anl
Lrevent the slaves from dancing ON
he public squares before the end OF
evening service; he forbids females OF
color to wear on their heads ans
plumes or jewelry, bur TO have their
hair bound In II kerchief; inhabitants
Of the city are forbidden to leave 1t
either by land or water without "A
passport; the verbal sales of slaves
are forbidden. During this year. the
revenues from exports and imports at
New Orleans amounted to $72,OO In
February, 1887, Navarro, the intendent
of the province, wrote to Spain "Thc
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:
"The only way to check them is with