The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-01

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the French republic, as assignees of
Spain, II will not be necessary to re-
sort TO the Spanish government. Should
the whole or any part OF the cession be
found not on the French but on the
Spanish government, YOU VIII proceed
to join Mr. Pinckney in the requisite
negotiations with the latter. Although
the United States are deeply Interested
In the complete success of your mis-
sion. the Floridas, or even either of
them, without the island of New Or
leans, on proportionable terms. will be
| valuable acquisition" Sad to say,
the secretary of state here weakens to
the limit of being content with the
barren sands and sunken marshes" of
one of the Flordas. Livingston writes
to Madison on March .. on being noti-
fled of Monroe's appointments: II shall
do everything in my power to pave the
way for him. and sincerely wish his
mission may be attended with the de-
sired effect 1t will, however. cut off
one resource on which | greatly relied,
because I had established confidence
which it will take Mr. Monroe some
| time to inspire. Enclosed is a letter
addressed to the first consul himself,
Monroe's appointment" The letter or
paper to which Livingston refers was
a cogent and ardent appeal to Bona
parte for justice; for the payment of
| just debts. for the right to buy Florida
or some places of transhipment. He
closed with a feeling appeal to SOL
dier's humanity: THE savages on the
east side of the Mississippi are numer-
| pp - nf
money are annually expended by Spain
in purchasing their friendship. Should
their supplies be withheld through ne
glect or misapplication. universal
massacre of all the planters will ensue.
| Their detached situation renders it i'm
possible to protect them
In his general instructions to Living
| ston and Monroe dated March .. Sec
retary Madison lays down their essen
! tial feature in Art. l: France cedes
| TO the United States forever the terri
tory east of the Mississippi. compre-
hending the two Floridas. the island
of New Orleans, 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 as appertain to eth
er West or East Florida: France re-
serving herself all her territory on the
west side of the Mississippi" 1t will
be observed that while our government
holds on to New Orleans and grasps
The sand banks and sunken marshes"
with a trmer hand, it lays no claim
to. but even entirely abandons to
France the whole of the west side of
the mississippi This prepares us to
accept as veritable the remarkable in
structions OF, April IS, 1903, which Sec
retary Madison afiirms the president
thinks proper should now be given"
After directing Livingston and Monroe
to sound the dispositions of the Brit
lsh government and invite it's concur
renee in war, the official despatch pro-
ceeds: Notwithstanding the Just re-
pugnance of this country to a coalition
of any sort with the belligerent policies
of Europe, the advantages to be de-
sired from the cooperation of Great
Britain in war of the United States,
at this period, against France and her
allies, are too obvious and too Import
ant to be renounced. And notwith-
standing the apparent dsinclinatior of
the British councils to q renewal of
hostiHties with France, it will prob
ably yield to the various motives which
VIII be felt, to have the United States
in the scale of Britain against France
and particularly for the immediate
purpose of defeating a project of the
latter, which has evidently created
much solicitude in the British govern
ment."
On the same date second letter is
sent to our minister in Paris by direc-
tion of Mr.. Jefferson, breathing war
against France: Among these ar
rangements, the president conceives
that common interest may recon-
mend candid understanding. and q
closer connection with Great Britain,
and he pEesumes that the occasion NAV
present itself to the British government
III the same light He ACCORDINGLY
authorizes you, or either of you. in
case the prospect of your discussion
with the French government should
make it e%pedient, to open a confiden-
tial communication With ministers of
the British government and to confer
freely ana fully on the precautions and
provisions best adapted to the crisis,
ana IN which that government may he
disposed to concur" and so forth.
The date, April is, must be borne
IN mind because it will soon appear
that these instructions were given
aiter the purchase treaty had been
virtually made.
Still continuing out of touch with
events in Europe, ON April so, 1909.
'he very day of the signing OF the
great treaty, Mr.. Jefferson writes 10
John Bacon, from Washington: "Al-
though / am not sanguine in obtaining
.
yet / am confident in the policy of
putting off the day of contention for 1t,
TIL we are stronger i'm ourselves. and
stronger in allies, but especially ill
we nave planted such population on
the Mississippi as will be able ia do
their own business, without the neces-
sity of marching men from the shores
or the Atlantic 1900 or 1000 miles
thither to perish by fatigue and change
of climate.
returning now to what was happen-
ing IN France and to Liyingston's eX-
iraofdinary eNertlons and activities,
we md IN that minister's memorable
midnight despatch, dated, Paris, April
10 lSoS' and finished at 3,o'clock in the
morning, the authentic official history
or the Louisiana Purchase treaty This
'"N3' ''eat anu comprehensive state
,meht tells the whole historic story.
Ihe great treaty, was in it's essential
clements the work of three days. on
Aprll H. Talleyrand asked Livingston
whether he wished to have the whole
oi louisiana ON April II, Monroe
arrived. Livingston saw Talleyrand.
VINO tried to biuf him. On April l3,
TWO conferences took place between
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