The Washington herald., 1910-05-29
Rr MARCUS ]. WRIGHT.


the government active opposition has
been made by able men Of all the exist
ing political parties on various grounds.
and many Of the objections then urged
are now repeated by the opponents Of
what is called "the expansion policy"
Of the present day.
One OF the main reasons given by some
of the opponents OF the acquisition Of the
Philippines and Porto Rico is that it is
against the traditions and fundamental
principles Of this government to hold the
people o. these countries under either
military or colonial government. They
say that the acquired provinces must
either be admitted as states and 20 all
the rights OF full citizenship in the United
States. or else shall be given lndepend-
ence.
Let us see what action the government
has taken In like cases with other ac-
quired territory Perhaps the nearest
case in point Of view is that Of the
Louisiana purchase. OF which the United
States took possession on December 20,
1908. The population was composed al
most wholly of French. Spanish, and
Creoles. very few of whom could speak
the English language, or had any intell-
gent idea Of a republican form OF gov
ernment
BY Article 3 Of the treaty OF cession 1t
was stipulated that the inhabitants Of
the ceded territory should be incorporated
into the Union. and the territory ad-
mitted as a state at an early date. ac-
cording to the principles Of the Federal
Constitution and to the enjoyment Of all
the rights advantages. and immunlties Of
citizens of the United States.
Mr.. Claiborne I'm Charge.
After the transfer OF the territory, w.
c. c.. Claiborne entered upon the duties
Of governor general of the province, in
vested with nearly the same powers and
prerogatives which pertained 70 the for
mer Spanish governor general. until Con-
gress should provide a regular form Of
territorial government. Meantime the
former authorities in the several depart
ments Of the civil government continued
TO retain their places until they were
otherwise supplied by Gov. Claiborne.
The various military posts were taken
possession Of by the troops OF the United
States under command OF Brig Gen
James Wilkinson. then commander Of
the army II was the 10th Of April fol-
lowing the possession OF the territory by
the United states when a temporary gov
ernment was organized by the governor
An act Of Congress was approved
Cd for ra q ft,r, of
the whole territory or province into two
territorial governments. The act pro-
vided that all that portion of the terri
tory ceded by France 20 the United States
under the name Of Louisiana. which lies
south Of the Mississippi Territory. and Of
an east and west line TO commence on
the Mississippi River at 33 degrees Of
north latitude and extending westward
70 the western boundary of said CessIon.
should constitute territory Of the
United States under the name OF the
Territory OF Orleans.
Under this act the legislative power
was conferred on the governor and a
legislative council. the latter 10 consist
Of thirteen OF the most III and discreet
persons in the territory nominated by the
governor annually. 10 the President. for
his appointment from among the resident
inhabitants holding real estate therein.
and holding no Office Of profit under the
territory Of the United States" This pro-
viso was very Objectionable 20 the native
American citizens because they claimed
that it deprived them of one Of the rights
guaranteed by the right OF suffrage.
French Are Dissatisfied.
The French inhabitants were dissatis-
fed with the provision. but for a diff
ferent reason They had expected TO ne
speedily admitted to all the rights and
privileges Of an independent state. and
they also deprecated the division Of the
province. because by dividing the people
between the two territorial governments.
tho period Of their admission into the
Union would necessarily be delayed and
would. as they claimed, be contrary to
the stipulation I'm the treaty Of cession.
The territorial government was organ
lied under the provision Of the act Of
Congress on the lst Of October. and the
territory continued under a practical
military government until the Sth Of
April. 1872. when Congress admitted
Louisiana as a state to the Union. 10
take effect the Both Of the same month.
which was the anniversary Of the treaty
OF Paris.
1t may be Of interest to note that
Louisiana was receded to France by Spain
France having formerly held iU by the
treaty OF ST. IldenfonsO. October / l7gO.
After the cession OF the territory by
France TO the United States the Span
ish governor at New Orleans threw OBJ
stacles in the way and postponed action
toward carrying out the treaty OF ces-
sion, and acted IN a manner which led
the authorities Of the United States TO
believe that Spain would resist the treaty
OF cession.
Militia in Readiness.
President jefferson ordered the militia
OF the States of Kentucky and Ohio 10 be
in readiness 10 march on New Orleans.
and 500 militiamen from Tennessee were
moved TO Natchez These preparations
were made known TO the Spanish gov
ernOr al New Orleans, and on the Goth Of
December. 1893 the territory. with impos-
ing military demonstrations, was turned
over TO the authorities Of the United
States. and as before stated became the
State OF Louisiana on April 80. 1872
other acquisitions of territory by the
United States were Texas and Hawaii.
with the consent OF the governed" and
Alaska, which was purchased from Rus
sia for $4,000 on May :, 1867. Imme-
diatcly on the ratification OF the treaty.
Gov Lowell II. RosseaU, OF the United
States army. took possession and estab-
lished military government. This terri
tory Is not contiguous 10 the United