The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-12-08
The louisiana Purchase

more than willing to begin to talk terms
Marbois who was the head of Napoleon's
treasury and had an eye to Its needs went to
Livingston and said that the First Consuls price
was 100,000000 francs Ga little less than S20,-
00O,000). Livingston told him that this huge sum
was impossible and that the United States did
not want Louisiana but that it would give s10.-
100000 for New Orleans and the Floridas So
Marbois wanted to know what the Americans
would give for Louisiana. Livingston refused 10
commit himself. saying that he would have to
consult with Monroe. ~
Then Marbois said that II they would offer
60OOO,O00 francs "a little less than s12OO0.0O0)
and assume claims which Americans had against
the French treasury for some 20,0006O0 francs
more, he would take the offer under Amusement.
Again Livingston said he would have to consult
Monroe. SO the negotiations dragged on for
some time, complicated by the fact that Monroe
i'll and scarcely able to play his part in
them. AT last they began to reach a basis for
agreement and the two American minister's I'M
able to communicate with their government be-
fore 1t should be too late took upon themselves
the great responsibility of accepting Marbois'
terms.
On April 80, 1903, Marbois, Livingston and
Monroe signed the covenants by which the Unit
ed States bound itself to pay directly to France
the sum of S11250,0O0 and to assume debts
at S375O,OO0, making the total of S15OOO,o0o. 1t
is said that after they had affixed their sigma
lures Livingston remarked, 1--WE have lived long,
but this Is the nobest work Of our lives. From
this day the United States takes its rank among
the powers of the EARTH"
The curious thing is that they could not real
lie that they had bought something of "a pig in
a poke" in that the boundaries Of the Louisiana
Territory were not clearly defined so they had
t1o cltcb naffa ~ he q .
territory which they had acquired for their coun-
try. Neither could they realize that no other
American purchasers of territory would ever
qure so much for so little for they got this vast
domain for less than SIS square mile. Within
a hundred years SIS would not buy a square
inch of some of that land
In other respects IT strange transaction.
Livingston and Monroe had far exceeded their
authority in buying Louisiana and, a matter
of fact, Napoleon had no right to sell IL without
the consent of Spain and his own assembly.
Spain Immediately made protest that the sale
was illegal-a protest which she did not care to
maintain too stoutly. considering the nature or
the First Consul. Many Frenchmen were also
bitter about the sale for they saw their second
attempt to establish New France in North
America go gimmering.
Even In this country there considerable
criticism. OF course, the westerners were de-
lighted. But the Federalists in the East, recall
ing how Jefferson had denounced Washington
and Adams for using powers not expressly dele
gated to the President In the Constitution, were
quick to denounce Jefferson for doing the same
thing. And the President assuming RESPONSE
bility for what his ENJOYS had done and dubious
of the legality of the purchase. made the historic
admission that he had stretched his powers un-
til they cracked"
But in October congress ratified the covenants
and the next month Laussat arrived In New Or
leans to assume authority over that city and
Louisiana Territory preliminary to turning both
over to their new owners The Spanish flag came
down and the French Tricolor took its place, to
stay there for only 20 days. then to give way
forever to the Stars and Stripes.
g by Western Newspaper Union