The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-09

except a narrow strip on the bank Of
the river, will for the most part con-
sist of barren sands and sunken marshes,
while that retained by France on the west
side of the Mississippi includes the great
est bulk of the settlements and rich
fertile country
On March 2, Madison, anticipating Mon
roe's arrival in Paris instructed him:
Your mission to Madrid will depend on
the event of that to Paris, and on the in
formation there to be acquired Should
the entire cession in view (the FIoridas)
be obtained from the French republic
as ass1gnees of Spain, it will not be
necessary to report to the Spanish gov
eminent Should the whole or any part
of the cession be found to depend not on
the French, but on the Spanish govern
ment you viii proceed to join Mr. Pinck-
ney in the requisite negotiations with the
latter. Although the United States are
deeply interested in the complete success
OF your mission, the Floridas, or even
either Of them, without the island of New
orleans, on prOportionalble terms. will be
valuable acquisition" Sad to say tho
secretary of state here weakens to the
limit OF being content with the barren
sands and sunken marshes of one of the
Floridas.
Livingston writes to Madison on March
ment: Il shall do everything in my
power to pave the way for him, and sin
cerely wish his mission may be attended
with the desired effect 1t will. however
cut off one resource on which I greatly
relied, because I had established a con-
tidence Which 1t will take Mr.. Monroe
some time to inspire. Enclosed is a let
Ter addressed to the first consul himself,
ana sent him before I heard Of Mr. Mon
roe's appointment" The letter or naner
TO which Livingston refers was a cogent
ana ardent appeal to Bonaparte for ms
tice; Tor the payment Of just debts for
the right to buy Florida or some pIacas
OF transhipment. He closed with a feel
ing appeal to a soldiers humanity: .'rThe
saVages on the east side of the Missis-
slppi are numerous and brave: consider
able sums of money are annually ex
pended by Spain in purchasing their
friendship. Should their supplies be with
held through neglect or misapplication.
a universal massacre of all the planters
will ensue Their detached situation
renders 1t impossible to protect them
In his general instructions to Livines-
ton and Monroe, dated March 2, Secre-
tary Madison lays down their essential
feature In article 1: France cedes tn
the United States forever the territory
east OF the Mississippi, comprehendine
the two Flor1das, the island Of New Or,
leans and the islands lying on the north
and east of that channel of said river
which Is commonly called the South
pass, together with such other islands az
appertaln to either West or East Florida
France reserving herself all her TERRITORY
on the west side of the Mississippi" It
will be observed that while our govern
ment holds on to New Orleans, and
grasps the sand banks and sunkeu
marshes With a firmer hand, it lays no
claim to, but even entirely abandonS +o
france, the whole of the west side Of
the Mississippi This prepares us to ac
cept as veritable the remarkable fnstruc
lions of April 49, 1903, which Secretary
Madison. aff1rms "the president thinks
proper should now be given" After d.
fectlng Livingston and Monroe to sound
the dispositions of the British govern.
ment and invite its concurrence in war
the official dispatch proceeds: "Notwith
standing the just repugnance of this
country to coalition or any sort with
the bel1gerent policies of Europe, the
advantages to be desired from the CO.
operation of Great Britain in a war of
the United States at this period against
France and her allies are too ol1yious
and too important to be renowned. And
Notwithstanding the apparent disincIina-
ton of the British councils to a renewal
of hostilities with France, 1t will nrot-
apIy ylelO TO the various motives which
will be felt to have the United States
in the scale of Britain against France,
and particularly for the immediate mr..
pose of defeating project of the latter
which has evidently created much solicit
tude in the British government
On the same date a second letter is
sent to our minister in Paris by direction
OF Mr.. Jefferson, breathing war against
France: Among these arrangements,
the president conceives that a common
interest may recommend a candid under