The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-06-09
THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE.

1t is common TO assert that the LOUIS
President jefferson. The fact is that it
was arranged for without his knowl-
edge by Livingston and Monroe, who
had been sent to treat with Napoleon
for an entirely different purpose. and
Jefferson approved It with great reluc-
lance. He even went so far at first as
TO say that he could not approve it be
| cause it would make waste paper OF
the constitution"
After it became plain that the people
wanted treaty ratified Jefferson assented
to it and planned to secure an amend
ment TO the constitution ratifying it.
jefferson said that in buying the land
he had exceeded his powers, as a strict
| c~onstcuctionist of the constitution, and
| that it HHas like using for investment
the money of a ward, of whom he was
| The guardian, without warrant OF law.
| He dded: If the act should be disa-
vowed, l must get out Of the scrape as
I can
| The Louisiana Purchase added a do
! main 10 the United States larger than
| that Of the country as it then existed.
In 1903 the area of the United States
was 81, S44 square miles. The territory
added to this, by the purchase of Louis
lana, consisted of LII, 931 square miles.
It included $500 square miles in
is now known as Alabama and $500
/ square miles in Mississippi, comprising
land on the Gulf of Mexico, all of what
is now known as Louisiana, Arkansas,
Mississippi (not including the $500
| square miles already referred to- Iowa,
Nebraska. the Dakotas, Minnesota west
of the Mississippi, all of Kansas but
the southwest corner, the Indian Terri
| tory. and those parts of Colorado, Wy
omiEg and Montana east of he crest OF
the Rocky Mountains. The price paid
for this vast area was 90, 900. 900 francs.
or about 49, 900, 900.
In 1900 Spain had retroceded all this
territory to France by q secret treaty
which provided that France should new
er Cede il to any other power than
| Spain. The southern border Of the
United States at that time was the
northern border of Spanish Florida.
which ran west TO the Mississippi. We
held no lam west of the Mississippi;
We wanted access TO the sea: we con
trolled the east bank of the Mississippi
ony To the Florida line. Spain had
agreed in 1895 TO let US lave access to
New Orleans as a place of deposit" for
DIX produce. This agreement was to
last three years with the right of re-
newal. Spain declined 10 renew it.
The Spanish governor, or intendan(,
as ne vas known at that time, was
named Morales. He not only shut the
Americans out of New Orleans, but re
fused to designate another place of
deposit" The West was at once reused
into a rage. The federal government
finally felt itself called upon to make a
demonstration against Spain. The war
department sent three regiments OF the
regular army to the Ohio. The people
OF Mississippi began to take up arms
and finally Spain yielded.
Morales received orders TO give the
Americans their former privileges. and
good feeling once more ruled between
the people of Louisiana and those of
the United States. Trade increased and
a reat rivival of immigration followed.
This tide of immigration grew SO rapid
~ tina: Spain became alarmed for its
own position in Louisiana and The flu
ture Of the Catholic church. n the
king gave orders that no more lane and
privileges should be given to the citizens
of the United States. This provoked
another storm. 1t ~prOsI-ated commerce
and made welcome tn JUNIORS that
France was about to taxi the unit
Napoleon forced Spain 80 give Louis
ana back to France ard then shut
Americans out of New Orleans. Jeffer-
son sen Livingston and Monroe to
France TO secure a treaty. if possible.
which would give Us the East bank
OF the Mississippi. or. at any rate, the
guarantee OF free navigation on the
river.
Napoleon was in straits. His army,
sent TO San Domingo to secure a base Of
supplies for q force of 5000 men to
hold Louisiana against attack b. Great
Britain. had been wiped out by yellow
ever. Wa was coming on with Eng
land. Napoleon needed money and
could not spare troops to hold Louisiana.
He preferred thar the United States
should have the territory rather than
England. His treaty with Spain said
he should not cede the land to any 9TH
CT country. He did not cede il: ne sold
Il.
Napoleon told the American Commits
s.oaers they could have it for 60 900. 900
francs. Livingston az once saw the
possibilities Of the case and. without
authority. concluded the negotiations
for It and sent the documents home.
Jefferson and his advisers were utterly
2sIonished and Secretary Madison re-
buked Livingston for exceeding his
powers The treaty with Napoleon was