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

suggestion seriously and nothing came of the
proposal at the time.
Then Don Juan Ventura Morales, Spanish gov
ernor of New Orleans, preparatory to turning the
Louisiana Territory over to France, closed the
port to the Americans and the western settlers
looked upon this as prophetic of what Napoeon's
policy Of strangling American trade and check
ing farther American expansion was to be. What
Jefferson thought of 1t is reflected in the follow
ing letter to Robert Livingston, American min
lister to France I'll 500
'The cession of Louisiana and the Floridas by
Spain to France works most sorey in the United
States. There is on the globe one single
spot, the posseSsor of which is natural and
habitual enemy. 1t is New Orleans, through
which the produce of three-eighths of our terri
tory must pass to market, and from its fertility
it will ere long yield more than half of our whole
produce, and contain more than half of our in
habitants -. Spain might have retained it
quietly for years. !. Not so can it ever be
In the hands Of France. . +. Every eye in
the United States is now fixed on the affairs of
Louisiana"
He then went on to instruct Livingston and
Robert Pinckney, American minister to Spain, to
obtain West Florida from Spain and New Orleans
from France. Congress was also fully aware Of
the necessity for action and it backed up Jeffer-
son by appropriating January 2, 1903 the
sum of 100000 for the purchase of the desired
territory. Jefferson also appointed James Mon
roe as minister extraordinary to Paris to aid Liv-
ingston in the negotiations but when Monroe
started for France in March, 1903, Jefferson was
not at all sure that he would succeed.
In the meantime, however, events had been
taking place in Europe, and also In America
which were destined to make Napoleon play
squarely into Jefferson's hands. Although peace
had been declared between France and England
in 1902, Napoleon's belligerent attitude toward
England was rapidly bringing about a state of
mind which meant another war. Then too Ma
poleons plan of colonial expansion was going
none too well. The rebellion of Toussaint Lover
ture In Santo Domingo had been crushed but at
fearful price and this made Napoleon realize
the difficulties of carrying out his ambitious
project for re-establishing French commercial
domination In the New world
With war with Great Britain imminent Ma
poleon knew that his problem was greatly in
creased. He was quick to see that England, mis-
tress Of the seas, could easily seize and hold
Louisiana Livingston had not had much sue
cess In his preliminary negotiations for the pur-
chase of New Orleans with two of Napoleon's
ministers. Talleyrand and Marbois But Eas-
ter Sunday. 1903. the First Consul announced an
astonishing decision to his ministers He would
sell not only New Orleans but the whole Louisi-
ana Territory to the United Statesl
To them he said: "The English have success
lively taken from France. Canada. Cape Breton,
Newfoundland. Nova Scotia and the richest parts
of Asia. They shall not have the Mississippi
which they covet have not a moment to lose
to put it out of their reach think of ceding 1t
to the United States. Irresolution and delibera-
ton are no longer in season. renounce Louisi-
ana. To attempt obstinately to retain 1t would be
folly. Have an interview this very day with Mr..
Livingston I require great deal of money for
khis war;"
day or two after this Monroe arrived In
Paris and Talleyrand told the two American
ministers of Napoeon's astonishing proposal.
They could scarcely believe their ears when Tai
leyrand told them Of Napoleons decision They
suspected a trick. But when Talleyrand con-
WINGED them that the offer was sincere, they were