The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-06-01
Tribute to Louisiana.

Tribute to Louisiana.
Louisiana is centenarian. On April
30, last Monday, she celebrated her
one hundredth anniversary as State.
The history of the section is full of
color and picturesque interest. The
French settled at New Orleans in
l7l8, but the cast of political dice in
Europe threw the territory under
Spanish ownership some years later:
and then reversal of the dice threw
it back to France. 1t was thus that
the United States fonnd it when JEFF
ferson came to the presidency-mixed
in its racial elements, and jealous of
our use of the Mississippi and of our
trade depots in New Orleans.
Jefferson saw the complications that
must follow, the ceaseless pickering
that must mark all intercourse between
US and New Orleans unless we owned
it. The first plan was to buy the city
alone as trade market and port of
entry. But Jefferson was quick to see
that this would not settle the question
of river navigation, and that it would
leave the town as constant invitation
to the spirit of adjacent lawlessness.
The thing to do was to buy out all
French interests in the south, and ex-
tend the control of the United States
as far as French rule then held sway.
Jefferson realized not only the desira-
bility but the absolute necessity of
this, and SO, with The assistance of
Robert Livingston, our minister to
France, and James Monroe, made spe-
cial envoy to help with the plan, what
is known in history as the Louisiana
Purchase" was negotiated and con-
summated, the United States paying
Napoleon SIS, 0OO, 900 for the tract out
of which was later carved nine States.
This purchase was the red letter in
Jefferson's administration; setting out
to buy city, he bought territory
enough for another nation. The whole
country stood amazed at the transac-
ton, and his enemies sought vainly to
make political capital of his act, de-
claring the purchase to be ''unconsti-
tutional." Mr.. Jefferson's frank adj
mission that it was without "constitu-
tional warrant" and his request that
congress make everything legal by
proper ratification, silenced his oppo-
nents, while the public at large ap-
plauded his act and his frankness.
This happened one hundred years
ago, or in 1903, and was commensurate
ly celebrated by the St. Louis exposi-
ton.
1t was not until 1911, eight years af-
ter its purchase, that Louisiana was
permitted to write a constitution and
apply for statehood. In 1872 the
statehood was granted and another
star was added to the rapidely increas-
ing number on the national flag.
Since that time the history of the
section has been an integral part of
the national annals. In spite of the
French and Spanish blood tinges, the
people are Americans, deeply imbued
with the American spirit and loyalty.
In 1915 the battle of New Orleans
made the city world cynosure. Dur
ing the civil war it was the scene of
some thrilling episodes and occurrences.
When the bill ratifying the purchase
of the province went to congress, only
twenty-five votes were cast against it,
and all of those by Mr.. Jefferson's po-
litical and personal enemies. Every
year that has gone to the rounding out
of Louisiana centennial as State has
been vivid vindication of this great
est of Jefferson's policies.
Tennessee's congratulations to the
Pelican State, and may the next hun
bred years mark for her as much of
loyalty and progress and domestic
happiness. Memphis Commercial-Ap-
peal.