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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est filmA A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenent le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivsnts illustrent le mAthode. errata I to i I peiure, on A n 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 f I m. tH%5,p#^; J 4 «^ ■jV- :'/'. ^ Mi** HISTORY i OF L O U I S I A N A M ik THE SPANISH DOMINATION. k BY CHARLES GAYARRt .;*• ^■ NEW YORK: WILLIAM J. WIDDLETON, PUBLISHER. * 1866. r ■'ji 4» ' i r t B* 4 Bnterti) according to Act of Congress in the year ISMf BirciIARLESOAYARRi, In the rVrk'* offire of the District Court of tlie United States for the South«m Littriat >f New York. r »■-■. >< ■*■ '^.#. « ■llpk. I :; TO GEORGE BANCROFT, m %it ixM WHO ENCOURAOBD HIS LABORS, AND li# f ^e listortsn WHOSE FAME IS THE PRIDE OF HIS COUNTRY, THIS WORK U GRATEFULLY AND RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED ■* BY THE AUTHOR. S'jf ■W ♦ % % W' ' ,:?'# ■' ^ -*.4 i-*i. ,*°. 4r .4' ..# % m '*^ * . ♦ ♦ m .*> I CONTENTS. 4- 4 «s -♦•♦- *■ CHAPTER I. O'BEIIiLV'S ADMINISTRATION. 1769 to 1770. O'Reilly's Administration — Organization of the Government — Oath of Office — O'Reilly's Proclamation — ^Duties and Juris- diction of Public Of5cers— O'Reilly's Legislation— Its Effects on the Laws previously Existing — O'Reilly's Instructions to Oommandants — O'Reilly's Enlightened Views on the Com- mercial Wants of the Colony — O'Reilly's Liberal Policy — Raising of the Louisiana Regiment — Inauguration pf the Ca- bildo— Concessions of Vacant Lands — Regulations for Grants of Land— New Orleans — Ifs Annual Revenue — Commercial Regulations-~>Tho Capuchins and the Nuns — ^The French Black Code re-enacted — O'Reilly's Administration appro- ! ■' by the King — O'Reilly's Character, . . . .• . CHAPTER :i. ^ unzaoa's administration. 3 1770 to 1776. UnzagiTs Administrltion — Commerce of the Colony— Disastrous Hurricane — ^Religions Quarrels — ^Father Dagobert^^haxacter of Father Dagobert — Character of Father G6uoveaux — ^Ar- rival of Spanish Capuchins — Father Cirilo's Despateho* on ihe Clergy and Inhabitants of Lonisiana-^The Clergy of Louisiima in 1772— The Clergy of Louisiana in 1773 — ^Upza- Pag€ •# 'Ac # 1?s : '^# VI CONTENTS. ga'B Despatch on the Quarrels of the Clergy — The Colony reconciled to the New Government — Its Interference between Debtors and Creditors — Power of granting Lands where Vested — Defensive Besoiircos of the Colony — Unzaga desires his Recall — Unzaga recommends a Better Organization — End of Unzaga's Administration, Pa^e 43 :- ; >"» n I CHAPTER III. OALVBZ' ADMINISTRATION. 1777 to 1783. aiir6's administration. 1784 to 1786. Galvez' Administration — Encouragement to Commerce and Agriculture — Joint Despatch of Villars and D'Aunoy — George Morgan's Letter to Galvez — Galvez provides for the Defence of the Colony — ^Views of Spain as to the American War in 1777 — Galvez gives Assistance to the Americans- Captain Willing's Expedition — ^New Facilities granted to Commerce in 1778 — Spanish Coloiiists from the Canary Islands — The English Trade excluded from the Colony — The Confiscation of Noyan's Estate — Other Colonists from the Canary Islands — Ravages of the Small-Pox and of Hurri- cares — Spain declares War against England — Galvez' Mili- tary Prepai;jitions — Galvez' Address to the Louisianians — Galvez rfeady to attack the English — Departure of the Expedition- — Fort Manchac carried by Storm — Siege of Ba- ton Rouge — ^Baton Rouge and Natchez taken — ^Naval Ex- ploit of Vincent Rieux — Good Behavior of the Militia — Good Behavior of the Blacks and Indians — ^Rewards granted by the Spanish Court — An Epic Poem by Julien Poydras — Galvez attacks Mobile — Surrender of Mobile — Galvez pre- pares to r^itack Pensacola — Sounding of the Pensacola Chainnel — ^The Spanish Admiral refuses to eirter it— ^Galvez causes the Channel to be sounded — Heroism of Galvez — Siege of Pensacola — Blowing-up of a Redoubt — Capitulation of Pensacola — Insurrection and retaking of Fort Panmurfr — Retreat of the Insurgents from Natchez— Distress of the In- *• i^ m ^ t ff l^'.. OOKTENTS. VU surgonts — Martin Navarro's Oiroular— Anitwer of the Oolo- nista — PrivilegeB granted to the Colony — Father C>r"o made a Bishop — Treaty hetween Spain and oiber Powers— M'GilUvray the Half-Breed Indian — His Propositions and Disclosures to Spain— A Gongress of the Indian Nations — Treaty of Spain with the Indians — ^Regulations for the Indian Trade— Extraordinary Severity of the Winter of 1784— Oalvez Viceroy of Mexico— The Ghoracter of Galvea — Dcatli ofGalvez, P«g« 1(J.) GHAPTER IV. mir6'8 administration. 1786 to 1789. What is a Juez de Residencia ? — Census of 1785 — Arrival of Acadian Families — Respite granted to Debtors — Commerce of the Colony — Miro's View on the same Subject — ^Navarro's • Views on the same Subject — ^Navarro's Recommendations on the Subject — Royal Order as to the Natchez District in 1786 — Miro's Bando de Buen Gobiemo — Arrival of Irish Priests — N.avarro's Fears of the Americans — Defenceless State of the Colony — ^Encouragement to Emigrants — Commercial Distress of the Colony— Navarro's Advice to his Government — ^Na- varro's Fears of American Ambition — Epidemics in the Colony — Miro conciliates the Indians— Cost of Indian Friendship- Schemes to dismember the United States — Plans of Mird and Gardo^tti — Wilkinson's Visit to New Orleans — Wilkinson's Memojdi^^George Morgan, Leader of Emigrants — ^Mir6 and Wower"*©'Arg6s— M'ro's Views on American Emigration — Miru advocates Commercial Franchises— rMiro's Instructions to Grandprc — Oath imposed on Emigrants — Great Fire in New Orleans — Public Education in 1788 — Spanish Intrigues with Wilkinson — WiUrinson's Letter to Mirit — Major Isaac Dunn— -Alexander Leatt Bullit and Harry Innis — ^Daniel Clark, Wilkinson's Agent — Wilkinson's Flatboais — Spanish Loan to Wilkinson — ^M'Gillivray's Letter to Mirc>— Intrigues in Cumberland District-' Census of Louisiana in 1788 — ^Na- varro's Memorial — Spanish Intrigues in the West — Colonel Morgan's Memorial — Gardoqui's Letter to M^or Dunn — Hr-tl M* # % « ( ' I? r . vnii CONTKNTO. rag« Oliver Pollock and Jumeg Brown— -Innndattons in Louisiana — Wilkinson's Intrigues — Col. Marshall and Ool. Muter — Caleb Wallace and Benjamin Sebastian — Intrigues in the Kentucky Convention — Action of Wilkinson in that Body — Wilkinson communicates his Views to Spain—Wilkinson's Advice to Spain — Wilkinson's Apprehensions of Detection — English Intrigues in the West — Wilkinson dupes Colonel Connelly — Wilkinson denounces the French — Wilkinson's Devotion to Spain — Gen. St. Clair's Letter to Major Dunn — Wilkinson and James Brown — Gardoqui and Major Dunn — Wilkinson denounces Colonel Morgan — Peter Faulus, Dorsey and Paulin — ^Wilkinson's Letter to Gardoqui — Miro's Deal- ings with Peter Paulus — Miro's Despatch to his Government — Miro's Instructions to Wilkinson — He rccommendb to re- M'ard Wilkinson, 167 CHAPTER V. miro's administration. 1789 to 1791. Governor Sevier's Letter to Gardoqui — Dr. James White'a Let- ter to Miro — Miro's Answer — Districts of Miro and Frnnkland — Miro and General Daniel Smith — Mir6 and Gardoqui at Variance — Miro rebukes Colonel Morgan — Colonel Morgan'a Apology — Surveyor-General Thos. Hutchins — Pierre Foucher and New Madrid — The Holy Inquisition — Father Antonio do Sedella — The Cathedral in New Orleans — The South Caro- lina Company — Moultrie, Huger, Snipes, Washinattb; — Wilkinson's Advice to the S. C. Company — Sebastian^Rg- ging Remuneration — Continuation of Wilkinson's Intrigues — G. Nicholas, S. M'Dowell and Payton Short — Continuation of Wilkinson's Intrigues — Wilkinson's Wish to become a Spaniard — Moultrie's Letter to Wilkinson— Mir6'B Letter to Wilkinson — Mir6's Contemptuous Language — ^A Lesson to Traitors — ^Mir6's Distrust of Wilkinson — Sebastian, a Spy on Wilkinson — Mir6 praising Wilkinson — James O'Fallon's Letter to Miro — ^Plat of the South Carolina Company — O'Fallon's Credentials — Scheme to set up an Independent Government — Wilkinson's Opinion of O'Fallon — Miro'g I" jf-;. . ^ m IT- CONTENIS. IZ P«g« Gantioas Redenre— Mir6 and the Bouth Onroli'iii Com- pany — Miro's Suggestions — Spain and the Half-Uroud M'Uil- livray— Tlio Cabildo's Memorial to the King — Apprehonsiont of an English War — NcgotiationB between "pain and the • United State*— Failure of Mir6'B Schemes — Revenue of Louisiana in 1790 — Miro's Departure — Spanish Domination growing popular 257 CHAPTER VI. oabondelbt's administration. 1792 to 1797. Oarondelot'g Administration — Factions in the Colony — Capture of Wm. i^iigustus Bowies — Life of Wm. Augustus Bowles — M'Gilliv ray's Death — M'Gillivray's Character — Extension of Commercial Franchises — Jacobinism in Louisiana — Caron- dolet's Defensive Measurob — Fortifications at New Orleans — P anjsh Alliance with the Indians — Carondelet's Policy and Views — Interference between Debtors and Creditors — Caron- delet favors the Natchez District — Emancipation of Indian Slaves — Great Conflagration in New Orleans — Address of French Jauobins — Intrigues of Genet — Milituy Resources of the Colony — De la Chaise's Address — De hi Chaise's Death — Renew{d of Wilkinson's Scheines — Etienno de Bor6, the First Sugar Planter — Carondelet's Proclamation- -'^jo Caron- delet Canal-'— Encouragement to Emigrants — A Slave Con- spiracy—The Madrid Treaty of 179i>-— Spanish Inirigues in the Wc^, Power, the Agent >* Carondelet — ^C^urondelet's PropoBimns— Carondelet's Appeal to Wilkinson — I'ailure of Carondelet's Schemes — War declared against England — Gayoso and EUicott — Gayoso's Subterfuges — Excitement in the -Natchez District — The Committee of Public Safety — Gayoso's Concessions — Intendant Rendon's Despatch — Tak- ing of the Balize by the French — ^Improvements in New Orleans — First Appearance of Yellow Fever — Bishop Penal- vert's Despatch — General Victor Collet — The New Orleans ' Fortifications— The Inhabitantf* of the Illinois District — General Collot's Arrest — The End oi Carondelet's Adminis- .' •!] tration, . . 313 # a Ml M i ; •' »v COifTEIfTS. CHAPTER Vn. OAYOSO'S ADMIXISTRATION. 1797 to 1799. CASA CALVO'S ADMINISTRATION. 1799 to 1801. Pagt Gayoso's Administration — Gayoso's Bando de Bueh Gobierno — Illustrious Strangers in 1798 — Duke of Orleans and his Brothers — Oapcain Guion at Natchez — Formation of the Mis- sissippi Territory — Count Aranda's Prophecy — Reflections on General Wilkinson — Ohan£'e in Gen. Wilkinson's Views — Daniel Clark appointed Consul — Intendant Morales and his Measures— Morales quarrels with Gayoso — Morales' Despatch — Morales' Complaints — Morales and Willimson — Fine im- posed on Carondelet — Gayoso's Death — Census of Upper Louisiana — Casa Calvo appointed Governor — Bishop Penal- vert's Complaints — Designs of the Americans on Louisiana — Bonaparte and Xouisiana — Pontalba's Memoir — Treaty of St. Ildephonso, 386 CHAPTER VIII. SALCEDO'S ADMINISTRATION. 1801 to 1803. Rufus King's Despatch — Mr. Madison to Mr. Pinckney — Treaty between Spain and France — Livingston's Despatch to Rufus King — Revolutionary Spirit in the Colony — Dread of the Americans — Morales' Proclamation in 1802 — Mr. King on the Cession of Louisiana — Livingston to Talleyrand — Livingston to Madison — Treaty of Amiens- Mr. Madison to Mr. Living- ston — ^Mr. King and Lord Hawkesbury — Livingston's Exer- tions in France— His Views on the Cession of Louisiana — Mr. Livingston's Negotiations — Livingston and Joseph Bonaparte — Daniel Clarke and General Victor — Talleyrand's Aj9sur- ances — The Right of Deposit at New Orleans — Madison's Despatch on Colonial Officers — The President to Congress— The President to Monroe- — Debates in Congress — Mr. Ross in ?il i»l CONTENTS. ,*■ Pagt SI P»g€ f the Senate — The House of Bepresentatives to the Senate — Mr. Boss's Besolutions — Mr. White's Speech in the Senate — Mr. White in the Senate — Mr. Jackson in the Senate — Mr. Oooke in the Senate — Mr. Morris in the Senate — ^Mr. Clinton in the Senate — Mr. Breckenridge's Besolutions in the Senate — Mr. Griswold's Besolutions in the House — Mr. Bandolph's . Motion in the House — Mr. Madison's Despatch to Livingston — Livingston's Propositions to Talleyrand — Credentials to Monroe and Livingston — Mr. Livingston's Energetic Address — Mr. King and Mr. Addington — Livingston's Dealings with Talleyrahd — Talleyrand shrugs his Shoulders — Barb6 Mar- bois's Walk in the Garden — The Struggle of the Diplomatists — What is Louisiana worth ? — The Negotiation fairly opened — The Way to make a Bargain — Barb6 Marbois' Diplomacy — Bonaparte and his Advisers — M. Marbois in Cabinet Coun- cil — Decres in the Council — Bonaparte in the Council — Treaty of Cession to the United States — Diplomatic Hand-Shaking — Bonaparte's Prophecy, ...... . . 447 t. . 386 OHAPTEB IX. SALCEDO'S ADMINISTRATION. 1801 to 1803. as le he on ig- er- tfr. irte lur- m's s — sin Importance of the Cession — Talleyrand's Way of Explaining — Was West Florida ceded ? — French View of the Question — Spain's Protest — Mr. Madison on the Protest — Casa Irujo to Mr. Madison — Madison to Pinckney — The French Charge on the Protest — The President's Message in 1803 — Debates in Congress — Mr.^White in the Senate — Mr. Pickering in the Senate — Mr. Tracy in the Senate — Mr. Breckenridge in the Senate — John Quincy Adams in the Senate — Mr. Gris- wold in the House— Arguments of his Opponents— Thomas Bandolph in the House— Mr. Griswold in the House — Mr. Dana in the House — ^Mr. Thomas Bandolph in Beply— Mr. John Bandolph in the House — Besolutions adopted — ^What Bills finally adopted v^ 527 ,f.«^ •! » V % XU CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. SALCEDO'S ADMINISTRATION. t 1801 to 1803. Morales and Gasa Irujo in Oonflict — Intended Reorganization of the Colony^ — The Colonial Prefect Lanssat — Fears of the Colonists — The French coldly received — Laussat on the State of the Colony — Laussat on the Right of Deposit — Laus* gat's Proclamation — Address of the Planters — Address of the Inhabitants of New Orleans — Spanish Commissioners' Pro- clamation — Laussat's Despatch to his Government — Laussat's Discontent — Quarrels between Burthe and Laussat — News of the Cession to the United States — Possession ^ven to the French — Laussat's Proclamation — ^New Organization of the Colony — Withdrawal of the Spanish Troops — Laussat's Ver- sion of what happened — The First Mayor of New Orleans— Laussat's Preparations — Laussat's £mbarr?>ssment — Laussat and the Disaffected Militia ^— Laussa>'s Distrust of the Spaniards — Laussiat's Excitement — Review of Laussat's Course — Splendid Festivities— Claiborne and Wilkinson's Joint Commission — The Americans take Possession — Clai- borne's Proclamation — Situation of the Colony in 1803 — Louisiana an Incumbrance to Spain — Concluding Remarks, . Paga 576 APPENDIX, 629 « ^: I % iT Iff 'If. .r ■# HISTORY OF LOUISIANA. SPANISH DOMINATION. «,* * 4«» CHAPTER I. O'eEILLY's ADMESnSTRATIOlf.' 1769 to 1770. In a preceding work on the Frencli domination in Louisiana, I have related the cession of that colony to Spain in 1762, the attempt of that power to take posses- sion of its new domain in 1766, the insurrection of the colonists in 1768, who drove away the Spaniards, the arrival of O'ReiUy at New Orleans with overwhehning forces, to avenge the insult offered to his Catholic Majesty, the trial and punishment, on the 25th of October, 1760, of the leaders of the insurrection, and the final and com- plete occupation of the province by the Spaniards. The object of the present work is to record the history of Loui- siana, as a Spanish colony, from 1769 to December 1803, when again her destinies were changed, and she was trans- ferred to the United States of America. O'Reilly, having secured the obedience of the new sub- jects of Spain, and hating, by the terror which the blood he spilt had inspired, guarded against the repetition of any attempt, similar to the one which he had so severely m M 3 o'reilly's administration. repressed, showed bis sense of security by sending away the greater portion of his troops ; and, retaining only about 1,200 men, he proceeded to the immediate organi- zation of the province in its military, judicial, and com- mercial departments. It will be recollected that Louis XV., in his letter to Governor D'Abbadie, after the ces- sion of Louisiana to Spain, had expressed the wish that Louisiana should preserve the laws, institutions, and usages to which it had been so long accustomed, and had de- clared that he expected from the friendship of his cousin, the king of Spain, that, for the welfare and tranquillity of the colonists, that monarch should give to his officers in that province, such instructions as would permit the inferior judges, as well as those of the Superior Council, to administer justice according to the old laws, forms, and usages of the colony. Such, at first, had been the intention of his Catholic Majesty, but it was changed l>y the events which occurred in the colony in 1768 ; and, on the 25th of November, 1*769, O'Reilly issued a procla- mation,* in which he infoimed the colonists that, consi- dering the part which the Superior Council had acted in the late disturbances, his Majesty thought proper to abo- lish that tribunal, and to establish in Louisiana that form of government and that system of administration, which had always succeeded in maintaining tranquillity and subordination in the domains of his Catholic Majesty, and which had secured for them a durable prosperity. Perhaps the king of Spain, who could not decently have disregarded the wishes expressed by the king of France in relation to his royal donation, was not backward to avail himself of the opportunity offered to him by the colonial insurrection, to refuse the continuance of the French organization, and to remodel it in the Spanish • American State Papers, vol. i., p. 363. Miscellaneous. I I I •«* * 5 away g only organi- id com- t Louis blie ces- sh that L usages had de- cousin, quillity officers mit the Council, , forms, een the iged T)y 8; and, procla- t, consi- icted in to abo- at form which ty and lajesty, sperity. ly have Franc^i rvard to by the of the Spanish '*^^ '# OBGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNILENT. 3 style. It was natural for the statesmen of Spain, to think it sound policy to assimilate their new acquisition to their other possessions, and to efface aU that might tend to keep up or revive in the colony the recollection and regrets of the past. Thus O'Reilly, in his proclamation, announced that a Cabildo would be substituted for the Superior Council, and be composed of six perpetual regidores, two ordinary alcaldes, an attorney-general Syndic, and a clerk, over which body the governor would preside in pei-son.* The offices of perpetual regidor and clerk were acquired by purchase, and, for the first time, at auction. - The pur- chaser was declared to have the faculty of transferring his office to a known and capable person, from whom he was permitted to require in payment one half of its appraised value ; but one third only could be received on any subsequent mutation. Among the Regidores were to be distributed the offices of Alferez Real, or Royal Standard Bearer, of Principal Provincial Alcalde, of Alguazil Mayor, or High Sheriff, of Depositary General, and of Receiver of Fines. The ordinary Alcalde and the Attorney-General Syndic were to be chosen, on the first day of every year, by the Cabildo, and were always re-eligible, during the two first years, by a unanimous vote, and subsequently by a bare majority. At such elections the votes were openly given and recorded. The ordinary alcaldesf were, individually, judges within the town of New Orleans, in civil and criminal cases, in which the defendant did not possess and claim the pri- vilege of being tried by a military or ecclesiastical tri- bunal, in virtue ofthefuero mUiid/r^ or fuero eGclesiastico.% * Martin's History of Louiniana. ; f Ibid. X Fuero means privilege — ^for instance, such as the fuerot, or privileges grantee #' It ^|H WWi 'm ' H^ffi [ m H *• m wm '. : 11 hi l-i '■^ #?. ORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ■■% :& t' l« These alcaldes, in their chambers, and without any writ- ten proceedings, took cognizance of, and summarily de- cided upon, all judicial matters in which the value of the object in dispute did not exceed twenty dollars. In other cases, they sat in a hall destined for this purpose, and their proceedings were recorded by a notary and a clerk ; and when the value of the object in dispute exceeded ninety thousand maravedis ($330 88c.), an appeal lay from their decision to the Cabildo. This body did not examine itself the judgment ap- pealed from, but chose two Regidores, who, with the Alcalde who had rendered it, revised the proceedings ; and, if he and either of the Regidores approved the deci- sion, it was affirmed. The Cabildo sat every Friday, but the Governor had the power of convening it at any time. In his absence, one of the Alcaldes presided, and, immediately after the ..,. adjournment, two Regidores went to his house and in- formed him of what had been done. The ordinary Alcaldes had the first seats in the Ca- bildo, immediately after the Governor ; and, below them, ;;he other members sat in the following order: the Alferez Real, or Royal Standard Bearer, the Principal Provincial Alcalde, the Alguazil Mayor, or High Sheriff, the Depositary General, the Receiver of Fines, the Attor- ney General Syndic, and the Clerk. The office of Alferez Real was merely honorary, no other function being assigned to the incumbent but the ^, bearing of the royal standard in a few public ceremonies. The Principal Provincial Alcalde had cognizance of offeuces committed out of the town j the AJguazil Mayor executed personally, or by his deputies, all process from the different tribunals. The Depositary General took to particular provinces, to corporations, to the nrilitary, or to the ecclesiastical body, .r 4- Sif' ORGANIZATION OF TIIE GOVERNMENT. W chai'ge of all moneys and eflfects placed in the custody of the law. The ftinctions of the Receiver General of * Fines are pointed out by his official denomination. The ^ Attorney General Syndic waa not, as may be supposed from his title, the prosecutiQg officer of the crown. His duty was to propose to the Cabildo such measures as the interest of the people required, and to defend their lights. This was a sort of imitation of the Roman tri- A bune, and shows that, even in those days, and under that form of government which was reputed, not only abso- lute, but also tyrannic, the people, contrary to the general belief, were admitted to have rights, which were to be advocated and defended. Such at least was the theoiy, if the practice was different. The Regidores, or municipal officew, received fifty dollars each, annually, from the treasurj^ The Principal Provincial Alcalde, the Alguazil Mayor, the Depositary General, the Receiver of Fines, and the Ordinary Al- caldes were entitled, as such, to fees of office. In certain cflses, there was w. appeal from the highest tribunal of the province to the Captain General of the island of Cuba ; from him, to the Royal Audience in St. Domingo, and. thence to the Council of the Indies in Madrid. The other officers of the province were a Captain General residing in Cuba, and to whom the Governor of the colony seems to have been subordinate ; a Governor, ^lothed with civil and military powers ; an Intendant, who had the administration of the revenues, and of all that concerned the naval and commercial department ; a , Contador, or Royal Comptroller ; an Auditor of War and Assessor of Government, who was the If^al adviser of the Governor ; an Auditor of the Intendancy, who was the legal adviser of the Intendant. There being in those days, in Louisiana, a scarcity of men learned in the law, , ,j|-j •*»|5'vJ k # ■K 4 . ~t. , m ^J! n 6 ,f ORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT. J*' says Judge Martin in his History, the Auditor of War frequently acted as the counsel, not only of the Goveraoi*, but also of the Intendant, of the Cahildo, and of all the ^ other public functionaries. There was a secretary of the governor and a secretary of the intendant, a treasurer of the province, a general storekeeper and a purveyor, a surveyor general, a harbor master, an interpreter of the French and English languages, an Indian intei-preter, and three notaries public ; besides, a collector, a comp- , troUer, a cashier, an inspector, and a special notaiy for the custom-house. Every officer who received a salary of more than three hundred dollars a year, was appointed by the crown ; inferior offices to these were in tjie gift of the governor, or of the intendant, in their respective depart- ments. The governor exercised judicial powers in civil and criminal matters throughout the province, as did the intendant with regard to all that appertained to the I'e venue and the admiralty; and as did the vicai* general in the ecclesiastical department. These officers had, it seems, exclusive jurisdiction in their respective couils. Tlie two former were assisted, as I have ali-eady said, by un auditor or assessor, whose opinion they might, on their own responsibility, disregard. It was one of the powers of the governor to make grants of land. In every parish, says Judge Martin in his History, an officer of the army or militia, of no higher grade than a captain, was stationed as civil and militaiy commandant. His duty was to attend to the police cf the parish and * preserve its peace. He was instructed to examine the passports of all travelers, and suffer no one to settle within his jurisdiction, without the license of the gover- nor. He had jurisdiction over aU civil cases in which the value, of the object in dispute did not exceed twenty dollars ; in more important cases, he received the petition . If 'I'afei "« ^ '*«• i* ■» OAl-H oF OFFICE. ;1. .%^ and answer, took down the testimony, and transmitted the whole to the governor, by whom the record was sent to the pi'oper tribunal. He had the power to punislT daves, and arrest and impiison free persons charged with offences, .'•nd was bound to transmit immediate in formation of the an*est, with a transcript of the evidence, to the governor, by whose order the accused was eithei discharged, or sent to New Orleans. These parish com- mandant? acted also as notaries public, and made in- ventorien and sales of the estates of the deceased, and attended to the execution of judgments, rendered in New Orleans, against defendants who resided in the country parishes. The Spanish language was ordered to be employed by all public officers in their minutes ; but the use of the French was tolerated in the judicial and notarial acts ^f the commandants. The public officers were bound to take the following oath : "I, ***** appointed . . . (here followed the desig- nation of the office,) . . . swear before God, on the holy cross and on the evangelists, to maintain and defend the mystery of the immaculate conception of Our Lady the Virgin Mary, and the royal jurisdiction to which I ap- pertain in virtue of my office. I swear also to obey the roval ordinances and decrees of his Majesty, to fulfil faithfully the duties of my office, to decide in conformity if with law in all the affairs which shall be submitted to my tribunal ; and the better to accomplish this end, I promise to consult pei-sons learned in, the law, on every occasion which may present itself in this town ; and, finally, I swear never to exact other fees than those fixed by the tariff, and never to take any from the poor." This last clause of the oath is worthy of being recom* H ^ M n 't » •%. # , ^. ■¥h.^ 8 k> o'reilly's peoolamation. 1 1 * n mended to the attention of officers acting under more liberal institutions. • These were the principal features in the organization of the new government. On the 25th of November, 1769, O'Reilly issued a proclamation making known a set of instructions which he had caused to be prepared by two of his legal ad- visers, Don Jose Urrustia and Don Felix Del Rey, who acted 3o conspicuous a part in the prosecution against Lafreniere and his accomplices. These instructions were an abridgment or summary of the rules to be followed in civil and criminal actions, and of the laws of Castile and of the Indies, to which they referred, and to which they might serve as an index. This compendium was * Intended as a guide to all the functionaries and to the ])ulilic. It contained also an enumeration of all the offices in the colony, and a definition of all the functions^ and privileges thereto appertaining. In the preamble to his proclamation, O'Reilly said: -^"Whereas the want of jurists in this colony and the little knowledge which the new subjects of his Catholic Majesty possess of the Spanish Laws, may render a strict observance of them difficult (which would be so much at variance with the intentions of his Majesty), we have thought it useful and even necessary to have an abstract made of said laws, in order that it may become an element of in- struction or information to the public, and a fonnulary in the administration of justice, and in the municipal government of this town, until a more general know- ledge of the Spanish language be introduced in this province, and until every one be enabled by the perusal of those laws, to know them thoroughly. Wherefore, under reserve of his Majesty's pleasure, we order and ?^; command all the judges, the Cabildo, and all other '4$ w m " -T'" if 'fr f ^ DrmS AND JURISDIOnON OF PUBLIC OFFICEltS. 9 » public officers, to conform strictly to what is required ^by the following articles." This document* is given at length in the Appendix, and is in every way worthy of an attentive perusal. It will be found, with the excep- tion of a few objectionable provisions, to be remai'kable for wisdom and humanity, and it would not require much investigation to discover worse legislation in these om* days of enlightened morality and progressive knowledge. The Article 20, of Section I., concerning the Cabildo, runs thus : "The electors, in the two jurisdictions, being re- sponsible for the injury and detriment which the public may sustain, by the bad conduct and incapacity of the elected in the administration of justice and the manage- ment of the public interests, should have for their only objects, in the election of ordinary alcaldes and other officers, the service of God, the king, and the public ; and, in order to prevent an abuse of that great trust, theii' choice should be directed to those persons who shall appear to them most suitable for those offices, by the proofs they may possess of their affection for the king, their disinterestedness, and their zeal for the public welfare." With the omission of the word hinffj this article would not be found inapplicable to present circumstances, and might be fitly recommended to that generation of elec* tors who hold now in their hands the destinies of om* coimtry. Ai*ticle "1 said: "The OabUdo is hereby infoimed that it must exact from the governors, previous to their taking possession of their office, a good and sufficient * American State Papery voL i., p. 86S. MiaoellaoeoiUk -»- # t :# V" \ : ! I' I l» •VI . ■> ?! ^^1 I :ii ■'f r ,» M = i;^i It i<: 10 DUTIES AND JUUI8DIGTI0N OF PUBLIC OFFIC£I{S. surety, and a full aasuranco to this effect — that they whall submit to the necessary inquiries and examinations dur- ing the time they may be in employment, and that they shall conform to whatever may be adjudged and deter- mined against them. This article merits the most serious attention of the Cabildo, which is responsible for the consequences that may result from any omission and neglect in exacting the aforesaid securities from the goveruoi-s." Considering the age in which it was framed, and the source from which it emanated, this article deserves to be noticed, on account of the check which it intends to impose on the exercise of the executive power. Tlie section 11, on the ordinary alcaldes, is not without interest. The 4th article of that section says : " The alcaldes shall appear in public with decency and modesty, bearing the wand of royal justice — a badge pro- vided by law to distinguish the judges. When admi- nistermg justice, they shall hear mildly those who may present themselves, and shall fix the hour and the place of audience, which shall be at 10 o'clock in the morning, at the Town Hall ; and, for the decision of cases in which no writings are required, they shall sit in the evening between 7 and 8 o'clock, at their own dwellings, and in none other." Art. 13 and 15 read thus: Art. 13 — "The ordinary Alcaldes, accompanied by the Alguazil Mayor (High Sheriff), and the escribano (clerk), shall, every Friday, proceed to the visitation of the prisons. They shall ex- amine the prisoners, the causes of their detention, and ascertain how long they have been imprisoned. They shall release the poor who may be detained tor their ex- penses, or for small debts ; and the jailor shall not exact from them any release fee. The alcaldes shall not set at 4 ■# « * ■f % A^^ ^' BtJTIJJB AND JURISDICTION OF Pt'BLIC 0FFICEU8. 11 liberty any of the piisoners detained by uidor of the Go- vernor, or of any other judge without the expi-eas consent of said authorities." "Art. 15. The Governor, with tJie Alcaldes, the Al- guazil Mayor, and the escribano, shall, yearly, on the eve of Christmas, Easter, and Whitsunday, make a gene- ral visitation of the prisons, in the manner prescribed by the Laws of the Indies. They shall release those who have been arrested for criminal causes of little importance, or for debts, when such debtors are known to be insolvent, and shall allow them a sufficient term for the payment of their creditoris." These articles are imbued with a spirit of Immanity and Christianity highly creditable to the legislation of Spain. The section 3d defines the attributions of the Alcalde Mayor Provincial, and shows that the celebrated institu- tion of the jSmita Ilertna/ndad was established in Loui- siana. The 4th article of this section shows gi'eat regard for the comfort and protection of travelers and strangera. It says : " The Alcalde Mayor Provincial shall see that travelers are furnished with pro^Tsions at reasonable prices, as well by the proprietors as by the inhabitants of the villages through which they may pass." The 5th article says: "The principal object of the institution of the tribunal of the Sauta Herraandad (holy brotherhood) being to repress disordei-s, and to prevent the robberies and assassinations committed in unfre- quented places by vagabonds and delinquents, who con- ceal themselves in the woods, from which they sally to attack travelers and the neighboring inhabitants, the Alcalde M yor Provincial shall assemble a sufficient num- ber of members or b' thers of the Santa Hermandad, to clear hif; jurisdiction of the i> rpetrators of such evil deeds, ■# «^. r K* L I n ; I in I * 1 1 ik :H ;if' HI '> .1 ^ *<^- *-.■ T i If DUTIES AND JURISDICTION OF PUBLIC OFFICEBS. by pursuing them with spirit, sei^ng, or putting them to death." Section 7th concerns the Procurador General. The article I. is as follows : " The Procurador General is an officer appointed to assist the people in all their concerns, to defend them, preserve their rights, and obtain justice on their behalf, and to enforce all other claims which relate to the public interest. "In consequence thereof, the Procurador General, who is appointed solely for the public good, shall see that the municipal ordinances are strictly observed, and shall endeavor to prevent everything by which the said public interest might suffer. " For these purposes, he shall apply to the tribunals competent thereto, for the recovery of debts and revenues due to the treasury of the town of New Orleans, in the capacity of attorney for said town. He shall pursue these causes with the activity and diligence necessary to dis- charge him from the responsibility he would incur by the slightest omission. " He shall see that the other officers of the Council or Cabildo discharge strictly the duties of their offices ; that the Depositary General, the Eeceiver of Fines, and all those who are to give sureties, shall give such as are good and sufficient ; and in case said sureties should cease to be good, he shall demand that they be renewed conformably to law. "He shall be present at, and shall interpose in the division of lands, and in other public matters, to the end that nothing unsuitable or injurious shall occur." It must be admitted that this whole section is replete with a feeling of liberality and a regard for the interests of the people, which is supposed to appertain only to » republican government. ■€■■ #■■ ■\ i, * 'i ,,« # "^W 't.. "''■■*■ '■S*«^ ^:: ■^ # .■'*' "'■■^ m^^ DUTIES AND JUTUSDIOnOlT OF FUBLIO OFFICERS. 13^ t The section 10) whicli treats of the jailor and the prisons, breathes not that spirit of ferocity, which is generally believed to be akin to the subject, and characteristic of that age, as well as the attribute of the presumed tyranny of Spanish legislation and officials ; but, on the contrary, it seems to have been framed under the mild influence of liiodem philanthropy. The provision which prohibits jailors from exacting any fee from the poor, and from receiving any gratuity, either in money or goods, is wor- thy of commendation. It may not be inappropriate to quote the whole section. Art. 1. "The jailor shall be appointed by the alguazil mayor, and approved by the governor before entering on the duties of his office. He slxall also be presented^ to the Cabildo to be inducted into office, and to take an oath to discharge faithfully the duties of the said office, to guai'd the prisoners watchfully, and to observe the laws and ordinances established in this respect, undei the penalties therein declared. Art. 2. " The ^aid jailor must not enter upon the duties of the said office until he shall have given good and suffi- cient sureties in the sum of two hundred dollars, as a warranty that no prisoner detained for debt shall be released without^an order from the judge competent thereto. Art. 3. "The jailor shall keep a book, in which he shall inscribe the names of all the prisoners, that of the judge by whose order they have been arrested, the cause for which they are detained, and the names of those who may liave arrasted them. He shall reside in the prison intrusted to his care, and, for each considerable fault committed by him, he shall pay sixty doUars, applicable one half to the royal chamber, and the other to the informer. . Art. 4. " It is th6 duty of the jailor to keep the prison ■'I ^1 % ■^ -k'" 14 O'Reilly's leoislation. n\ ' F^< clean and healthy, to supply it with water for the use of the prisoners, to visit them in the evening, to prevent them from gaming or disputing, to treat them well, and to avoid insulting or offending them. Art. 5. " It is likewise the duty of the jailor to take care that the female prisoners are separate from the men ; that they be kept in their respective apartments, and that they be not worse treated than their offence desen'^es, or than is prescribed by the judges. Art. 6. "With regard to his fees, the said jailor shall confine himself strictly to those which are established ; he shall take none from the poor, under a penalty of the value of the same. He shall not, without incurring the same penalty, receive any gratuity, either in moiley or in goods. He shall avoid entirely either playing, eating, or forming any intimacy with the prisonei's under the penalty of sixty dollars, applicable, one third to the royal cham- ber, one third to the informer, and the remaining third to the poor prisoners." Persons of noble birth, the military, the municipal and other civil officers, lawyera, physicians, women, and cer- tain other individuals, were exempted from imprisonment for debt. The section on criminal trials haslsome remarkable features, among which the art. 14, which says : " The accused, being convicted of the crime, on its being fully established on trial by sufficient proof, or by some other proof in conjunction with his own confession, may be condemned to the penalty provided by law for the same. The said condemnation shall also take place, when two witnesses of lawful age and irreproachable character shall depose that, of their certain knowledge, the accused has committed the crime ; but when there shall appear against the accused but one witness, and other indications or con- jectures, he shall not be condemned to the penalty pro- 44 H I I ■ft ^' * the ■■■'* o'reilly's legislation. 16 vided by law ; but some other punishment shall be inflicted as directed by the judge, with due consideration of the circumstances which may appear on the trial. This state of things requires the gi*eatest circumspection, as it must always be remembered, that it is better to let a criminal escape than to punish the innocent." This provision concerning condemnation on the testi- mony of one witness, whatever may be said as to the propriety of its policy, is certainly more humane than the law by which we are now governed, and which may send a man to the scaffold on the bai:e testimony of ano- ther. It will also be observed that the well known axiom that "it is better that guilt should go unpunished, than that innocence should suffer unjust punishment," is not confined to the common law of England. It may, more- over, not be amiss here — ^to reipark, in a parenthesis, that the boasted privileges of English liberty existed in some parts of Spain, although destroyed since, long before they were dreamed of in that noble land from which we have borrowed so much of our judicial and political organi- zation.* The whole chapter concerning appeals is characterized by the desire of bringing lawsuits to a speedy terminar tion — a thing not to be expected, according to public opinion, from ^ Spanish Legislation. It must be confessed, however, that some of the penal- ties inflicted, savored of the peculiar temperament of the age and of the exaggerated devotion to the church and the throne which marked the Spanish character at the time ; for instance, art. 1 of section v, on punishments, decreed that : " he who shall revile Our Saviour, or his mother the Holy Virgin Mary, shall have his tongue cut out, and his property shall be confiscated, applicable one * See art Navarre, in the Encycloptedia Britanniea, vol. xr., p. 748. ^ ^> m' . m- ■■■4, t% '^k 16 o'bbilly^s legislation. ■#■ H half to the public treasury, and the other half to the mformer." Art. 2d. said : " He, who forgetting the respect and loyalty which every subject owes to his. king, shall have the insolence to vilify his royal person, or that of the queen, of the hereditary prince, or of the mf antes (princes of the blood) or of their sons, shall be punished corpo- rally, according to the cu*cuinstances .of the crime ; and the half of his property shall be confiscated to the profit of the public or the royal treasury, if he have legitimate children ; but should he have none, he shall forfeit the whole, applicable two thirds to the public treasury, and the other third to the accuser." Art. 3. "The authors of any insurrection against the king or the state, or those who, under pretence of defend- ing their liberty and ligl^ts, shall be concerned in it, or take up arms therein, shall be punished with death and the confiscation of their property. The same punishments shall also be inflicted c«i all those who may be convicted of high treason." The Art. 4. contains a remarkable feature. A plebeian, using opprobrious language to the detriment of any one, was condemned to pay a fine of 1200 maravedis ; but should a nobleman have committed the same offence, the penalty for him was 2000 maravedis. This distinction seems to have ori^ated from the impression, that such an offence ought to be more severely punished in one of gentle than of base blood, on account of its being more heinous in one who, on account of his rank, ought to have been more correct in his deportment. The following articles show at least that the new government was imbued with puritanical severity, and was disposed to check by eictreme punishment all infrac- tions against morality. Art 6. said : "The married woman convicted of adul- * *«**. # .A # o'bEILLY'b LEGISA^IION. 17 teiy, and lie who lias committed the same with her, shall be delivered up to the husband, to be dealt with as he may please ; with the reserve, however, that he shall not put one of them to death. Without inflicting the same punishment on the other. Art. 7. " The tnan who shaU consent that his wife live in concubinage with another, or who shall have induced her to commit adultery, shall, for the first time, be exposed to public shame, and condemned to a confinement of ten years in some fortress ; and, for the second time, shall be sentenced to one hundred lashies and confinement for life. Art. 8. " The same punishment shall also be inflicted on those who carry on the infamous trade of enticing women to prostitution, by procuring them the means of accomplishing the same. Art. 9. " He who shall be guilty of fornication with a relation in the fourth degree, shall forfeit half of his pro- perty to the profit of the public treasury, and shall, more- over, be punished coi'porally, or banished, or undergo some other penalty, according to the rank of the person and the degree of kindred between the parties. If the said criine be committed between parents and their off- spring, or with a professed nun, the same shall be punished with death. Art. 10. " He who shall commit the detestable crime against nature shall suffer death, and his body shall after- wards be burnt, ana his property shall be confiscated to the profit of the public and royal treasuries. Art. 11. "The woman who shall be publicly the con- jubine of an ecclesiastic shaU be sentenced, for the first ime, to a fine of a mark of silver, and to banishment for me year from the town or from the place where the )ffence may have been committed. The second time, she hall be fined another mark of silver and banished for A t m 'm- im «*• M .! I > > I ^»1 i ■ 1 r If w ;i u wt^ ". u I., ■p: Hr S'- n. * '!^ 18 ITS EFFECTS ON TSE LAWS PREVIOUSLY EXISTING. two years, and, in case of relapse, site sihall be punished by one hundred lashes, in addition to the penalties afore- said* . Art. 12. "If fornication be committed between un- married persons, they shall be admonished by the judge to discontinue every kind of intercourse with each other, under the penalty of banishment for the man, and con- finement for the woman, during such time as may be ue- cessary to operate a reformation. Should this menace have not the desired effect, the judge shall put the same into execution, unless the rank of the parties requires a different procedure — ^in which case, the said offence shall be submitted to the consideration of the judges collect- ively, to apply the remedy whicb their prudence and zeal for the repression of such disorders may suggest. They shall punish all other offences of debauchery in proportion to their degree, and to the injury occaaoned thereby." Ever after the promulgation of this document, it is to be supposed that all judicial decisions were grounded on the laws of Spain. At a later period, however, it became a question, which was debated in the courts of justice of Louisiana, how far the French laws had been repealed by O'Keilly, and whether he had the authority to abolish them, as the extent of his powers had never been exactly known. But now the question is set at rest, as it is,ascertained that O'Keilly was clothed with unli- mited authority,f and that aU he did in Louisiana was fuUy^ confinned by the king and the council of Lidies. In a communication addressed to his government, on the 17th of October 1769, he had saidj, "it seems proper * Nd penalty waa decreed agamet the eccleaiastio by the civil authorities, be caupe he probably had the privilege of being tried oply by the tribttnals of hja holy order. ■ ^ • t. f See the Letter of the Marquis of Grimaldi to the Count of Fuentes. at iho court of Versftillea, Oayarr^'a Louisiana, 8 ^ * ; l«v' ! t 'i i . : i 'i ff^ 4 20 o'jftBILLY'a INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMANDANTS. dmaten haT)py, and to endear the government of the king to his subjects by its gentleness and benefits. This end will be accomplished by the impartial administration of justice, by a strict compliance with the orders of the Governor General, and by an enlightened exhibition of firmness and humanity on all occasions. * ♦ * « * # * * « " It shall be made known to all the inhabitants that, by the laws of his Majesty, which shall go into operation in this province on the 1st of December, lYBO, it is not permitted that Indians be held in slavery ; wherefore, from the date of the notification of these presents, no one shall buy, exchange, and barter, or appropriate to himself Indian slaves. They shall neither sell, nor in any way part with, those they now have (unless it be to set them free), until they hear further from his Majesty on this subject. M. de Me^eres shall make out an exact list of the Indian slaves "who are within his jurisdiction. Said list sbaU contain the names of the owners, the price which they ask for every one of their Indian slaves, and the exact filiation of said slaves. This wiU obviate any future abuse on a subject which has "^o strongly excited the solicitude of our laws. * * « # * * * « "I have remarked a considerable number of tradei's in the census of Natchitoches. These men can have no other object in view than an illicit trade. Therefore I charge M, de Mezi^res, most particularl/, to cause to depart those named Menars, Poeyfarre, Dartigo, Durand, Duvivier and ViUai's, of whom I knoTV enough to desire that they be dig^missed from that post, and be forced to remain in this capital (New Orleans), or be eicpeUed altogether from the province. * * * » * « » » * * '* M. de M6zi^res shall cause the inhabitants to make * f '■m •%t O^BiilLLT's IN8TRU011ON8 TO COMMANDANTS. 21 to their parochial church all the repairs which decency and the security of the edifice require. This is the first duty of every good Christian, and . no one has the right nor the power to refiise his contribution thereto. M. de Mezi^res shall make known to every inhabitant the equity of this contribution, and shall have recourse to compulsory means, only when it shall be absolutely necessary, to enforce the fulfilment of so essential a duty." It is impossible not to smile at the following passage : "Having been informed by the curate of Natchitoches that, during divine worship, the church is filled with dogs, I request the commandant to prevent the repetition of this breach of decency." He also gave a set of instructions to the commandants of the Coast — -that is, all the petty governors at the diiferent posts on the banks of the Mississippi.* In the 16th Article, he said: " The greatest vigilance shall be exercised to oppose the sojourning of men of bad morals in those posts, in order to prevent that any damage or scandal result thereby to the inhabitants ; and should there be such men as above described, when the com- mandants shall fail to change their vicious behavior by admonitions and corrections, then it shall become the duty of said commandants to arrest them, and to send them to the Governor General, with an account of the causes of complaint laid against them." ^ ' The 49th Article said : " The ^aforesaid commandants shall take special cai^e, that the inhabitants carry on no trado with the English vessels which navigate the Mis- sissippi, nor with any of the settlements situated on the territory of his Bntannic Majesty, and thE,u the king's subjects do not go out of the limitB of this pi'o\ince, 94 ih* ■■■f i-. i * T«liientea particulars de la 0^Should any subject a<^ his Cai^qlic "»•*♦' ifV'U' '"> ■ h » ■ ([til .■* t * 24 o'bIILLY's IN8TUlfCTI01*8 TO COSIMANDAMtS. # *■ hi; Majesty commit any excess or trespass in the territory of the English, or oft'er miy insult to those of that nation who navigate the Mississippi, the commandant shall do prompt justice, and shall give fall and immediate repa- ration, on the just complaints of the English officer, but without failing to observe the formalities prescribed by law." Article 4 : '* The officer in command shall, as much as in his power may be, prevent the Indians who dwell on the king's territory, from inflicting any vexation or extortion on the English who navigate the Mississippi, and from crossing that river to give any offence to the subjects of his Britannic Majesty, and, in every respect, he shall predispose the Indians to be peaceful and humane towards the English and the other nations of savages, and, to that effect, he shall tell them that the principles of our religion and the fidelity of our friend- ship never permit us to tolerate, that any injury be done to such as are our friends and allies like the English." It is to be remarked, that O'Reilly proscribed that system of monopolies which the French had adopted in their commercial intercourse with the Indians. Ar- ticle 7 of the document to which I have referred shows it, and is also a striking proof of the solicitude of the Spanish governor to secure the welfare of the abori- gines. "No trader," it said, "shall be ^armitted to introduce himself in the villages of the Inlians who dwell on the territory of his Majesty, imless the com- mandant is satisfiec^ with his morals and the correctness of his deportment ; but said commandant shall not be at liberty to refuse a permit or license to any one who may be known to be an honest man, and, under no pretext, shall }^e tolerate, authorize, or grant any exclu- sive privilege or monopoly. He shall uniformly recom- mend to all the traders, to make known to the Indians «!!»«' » ' O^BULLY^li 1N8TBUCTI0N8 TO COMMAND^r^TS. 25 the gentleness and equity of our government, and the felicity which it thereby imparts to the subjects of his M^eaty." In Article y, he went en saying: "The comman- dant shall acquaint the In of hostile tribes." Alt. 10. " The commandant shall take care, that all the Indians who may come to St. Louis and St. Genevieve be well treated, and be paid an equitable price for the hides they may bring to market, and for whatever other things they may have for sale, and that, in the barters or pur- chases they may make, they be served with good faith. .,5;i * Airestar y traer preto & cualquier trataute 6 pr6fago que por bus malo? finoa espareiese entre eUos desoonfianzas de sn verdadero padre, ni de la nacion qua in?rece, entre todas las del mundo, el renombre de magoanima, piadosa y jntticiera, y, en pmeba de elld, iminifestard la orden del Rey, para que ni aun de las nacionea enemigaa se Bufra en ras estados esclavo Indio. %■■ 26 o'rEILLY's INSTltUCTIONS TO COMMANDANTS. i :!.!' u. 'i; ' jiri :0 til ■i *' In this way, they will derive more benefit from their trade with ns ; they will provide themselves with what then* wants requii'e, without its being at the expense of the king ; and the English will not reap all the profits of a commerce which ought to be in our hands. The advan- tiiges of treating the Indians with equity and benevolence have been made apparent in this town, where, since my arrival, on the occasion of the distribution of the annual presents to them, the chiefs of every nation came to com- pliment me ; and now a number of Indians are daily seen here, with their canoes loaded with provisions, hides, and other things, which they offer at public sale for their just value ; and then, they themselves buy in the shops what they want, and return home perfectly contented." These articles of O'Reilly's instructions show that the Spaniards were not disposed to pursue in Louisiana, towards the Indians, the cruel policy which was attributed to them in their other American domains. The rest of O'Reilly's instructions, on all the subjects which they embrace, are marked with foresight, prudence, liberality, and firmness. They conclude with saying : " The com- mandants shall have for invariable rales: to keep up the strictest order and economy in all that appertains to the royal treasury, to cultivate the best harmony with the English, to maintain tranquillity and contentment among the inhabitants, to provide for the increase of commerce and its being carried on in good faith, and to take care that the Indians be well treated." Immediately after his arrival in Louisiana, O'Reilly had taken an enlightened view of the wants of the colony, as appears by a communication of the 17th of October, 1769, which he addressed to the Spanish government, and in which he represents tih^e necessity of favoring commerce, because, without it, the colony could not subsist : " This province," he said, "wants Hour, wine, oU, iron instru- #■ # m E o'keilly's enlightened views. ..^ 27 ments, arms, ammunition, and every sort of manufactured goods for clothing and other domestic purposes. These can only be obtained through the exportation of its pro- ductions, which consist of timber, indigo, cotton, furs, and a small quantity of corn and rice. In Spain there would be no market for the timber of the colonists, which is one of the most important sources of their revenues. Of all our colonies, the Havana is the only place where this kind of produce could be disposed of. According to my con- ceptions, the importation of it into that city would be advantageous both to the king and to the island of Cuba. To the king, because he would preserve for the use of his royal navy the cedars which are now employed to make sugar boxes, and because, with the Cuba timber, he could have the lining of his ships and many other works done at a much cheaper rate ; to the island, because its inhabitants could cause their sugar boxes and the other works required by them, to be made in Havana at less cost with the Louisiana planks. " By granting to this province, as formerly to Florida, the benefit of a free trade with Spain and with Havana^ its inhabitants would find in that very city of Havana a market for all their produce, and would provide them- selves there with all the articles of which they stand in need. The t«tablishing of sugar mills would be increased, by thus aflfovding to the planters of Cuba an outlet for all the rum ma>mfactured by them, and which is lost for want of consumers. The consumption of this article would be considerable here, and every barrel of it would put two dollars into the king's treasury, through the ■export duty paid in Havana. But, for the better regula- tion of tJiis trade, and to make it reciprocally advanta- geous, it seems to me proper and necessary, that the timber, furs, indigo, cotton, com and rice of this province should pay no entry duty in Havana, and that no other # -<*"■" -^4.. m- %' 28 ON THE COMMERCIAL WANl'S OF THE COLONY. n 1 i: V new excise or export tax be imposed on any of the arti- cles whicli may be exported from Havana to New Orleans. "It would also be proper, that the vessel^ belonging to this colony be received in Havana , and the ports of Spain on the same condition and footing with Spanish vessels, but with the understanding that no vessels, except they be Spanish, or belong to the colony, shall be ad- # mitted in this port, or employed in transporting goods, and that this be recommended to the special care of my successors. "From Catalonia there would come ships with red wine ; here they would take a cargo of timber and other articles for Havana, and they would load with sugar. " I found the English in complete possession of the commerce of the colony. They had in this town their merchants and trad€rs with open stores and shops, and I ^5, can safely assert that they pocketed nine tenths of the money spent here. The commerce of 'France used to receive the productions of the colony in payment of the aiiicles imported into it from the mother country ; but the English, selling their goods much cheaper, had the gathering of all the money. I drove off all the English traders and the other individuals of that nation whom I found in this town, and I shall admit here none of their vessels." ^ In a despatch of the 1st of March, 1*770, O'Reilly took ,^ credit to himself for having reduced the annual expenses l|of the colony, from $250,000 to $130,000, by the eco- nomical retrenchments which he had introduced into the administration of the province, and applied to the salaries of its officers ; and he informed the government, that the religious wants of the colony would require the permanent employment of eighteen priests. In the same despatch, he said: "I visited and examined in person the most #■ # Mi: * "9F*f - -f: # 4- o'keilly's liberal policy. 29 populous parts of this province, by proceeding from tlds capital to Pointe Coupfee, which is one hundred and fifty miles up the river, and I took care, as I progressed along, to convene the inhabitants in every district, at the most convenient place for them, where I listened to their grievances and provided a remedy thereto, by referring them to the arbitration of their best informed neighbors, without having recourse to the judicial tribunals, and, in this way, I gave those people a very favorable opinion of the government of his majesty, and I succeeded in ob- taining that the arbitrators named by the respective parties be acceptable to them, on account of their being chosen among the men enjoying the best reputation ; and by these means, I have procured that the new govern- ment be grateful to the inhabitants. " I thought it my duty to acquiesce in the prayer of the inhabitants in almost every district, that a surveyor be appointed to measure the lands and determine their limits, but I reduced the salary of that officer to half of what it was formerly, and I decreed that, for the fdtxire, it be paid out of the sale of the crops of the inhabitants, at the price fixed for their commodities at New Orleans. " So far, the concessions of land in this province had been intrusted by his most Christian Majesty to the Go- vernor and to the ordaining commissary, and the concur- rence of both was necessary thereto ; but I have thought it advisable, that, for the future, the Governor be the only one authorized by the King to make such concessions; andy for the apportionment of the ]ands belonging to the royal domain, I have appointed a council of twenty-four persons, known for their practical sense and information^ and for thdr sound judgment." O'Eeilly, with striking liberality, and, no doubt, also from motives of sound policy, appointed almost none but tVenchmen to the command of the several posts, even the If' ^i i;'! ,i',m h '■vi- 30 * EAISING OF HIE LOUISIANA REGIMENT. most distant, and, therefore, all the instructions which he gave them were originally drawn in French. They were afterwards translated into Spanish; and sent to the court of Madrid for ics approbation. In conformity with the orders of the king, a re^ment was raised in the colony under the name of " Regiment of liouisiana," and Don J. Estecheria was appointed its Colonel. But this officer having not as yet arrived, Un- zaga, who was to succeed O'Reilly as governor of the province, undertook to organize the regiment, and assumed its command provisionally. O'Reilly sent commissions to all those whom IJlloa had, in his despatches, represented as well affected towards Spain, and those commissions were eagerly accepted. There was no want of a keen desire to gird on the sword of command, under a govern- ment which granted so many privileges to the wearers of epaulets. The pay of the Spanish troops being greater than that formerly allowed ^ to the French, a cei*tain number of disbanded French soldiers, who had remained in the colony, were tempted to enlist, and the " regiment of Louisiana" was soon complete. It is an admitted fact, that the Creoles of those days were remarkable for their great size, for the stateliness of theii* bearing, for those peculiarly striking lineaments v».iich constitute the nobility of the face, and for the elegant symmetry of their forms. O'Reilly is said to have been so much st^'uck wi^h this characteristic distinction in the Creole officers of the regiment of Louisiana, that he regretted his inability to take with him some of them to Spain and to Charles III., as a fail' specimen of the new subjecte acquired by his Catholic Majesty. The arrival of the Spaniards in New Orleans had pro- duced a considerable increase of population, and the provisions which they expected having been unaccount', ably delayed, the colony was threatened with famiae ( ■.,., M ■¥ ^■^ A INAUGURATIO>T OF THE CABILDO. 81 rhe prieo of flour ran up to twenty dollars a barrel; fortunately, there arrived from Baltimore a brig, with a cajgo of flour belonging to one Oliver Pollock, who tendered it to O'Reilly on the terms which that officer might himself determine. O'Reilly refused to avail himself of this liberal offer, insisted on Pollock's specify- ing his price, and finally agreed to take the whole load of flour at fifteen dollars the barrel. The Spanish governor was so well pleased with Pollock's behavior on this occasion, that he told him he would report it to the king, and assured him that he. Pollock, during his lifetime, should enjoy, for all the merchandise which his brig could caiTy, a free trade with Louisiana. A very valuable privilege, forsooth, if it had been long enjoyed ! But it is not in evidence that such was the case. The new CabUdo was solemnly inaugurated, and began its sessions on the first day of Decembei, 1*769. It was composed of Francois Marie Reggio, Pierre Fran9ois Olivier de Vezin, Charles Jean Baptiste Fleuriau, An- toine Bienvenu. Joseph Ducros, and Denis Brand. Jean Baptiste Garic, who had been clerk of the Superior Council, had bought the same office in the Cabildo. Reggio was alferez real, De Vezin principal provincial alcalde, Fleuriau alguazil mayor, or high sheriff Ducros depositaiy general, and Bienvenu receiver of fines. On the 1st of January, 1Y70, the Cabildo elected as ordinary alcaldes St. Denis and De La Chaise. One was a descendant of the celebrated St. Denis, whose name is so chivalrously connected with the histoiy of Louisiana, and the other was the gi'andson of the royal Commissary De La Chaise^ who had come to the colony in 1728, and W4B a brother-in4aw to VUlere, whose tragical death had so recently taken place. These facts seem to prove, that the horror produced by the executicm of Lafreniere and iaa companions was not so gi'eat as reported by tradition, *. '>3« ''''mp-'' '?"■ «" s^s c ■ — -Jtl, -__ — — „ ]£ •: i fT.-^Zf^fgmmamm -v ."I ' }>■ ■ *f>; I ... In ! ,1 fit!,. r ' m 32 CONCESSIONS OF VACANT LANDS. and tliat the Spaniards did not think themselves so hiited as they have been represented to be, since they iiitnisted so many important offices and the command of* the most distant posts to almost none but Frenchmen. It cannot certainly be denied, that, on their part, it denoted at least confidence and liberality. Don Luis de Unzaga had been designated to succeed O'Reilly, who had been sent to Louisiana only for tem- porary purposes. As a preliminary step and a prelude to a transfer of his powers to that officer, O'Reilly, immediately after the organization of the Cabildo, ceded to him the presidency of that body, in which he ceased to appear. About the middle of December, 1769, he had gone up the Mississippi, to visit the establishments at the German Coast, the Acadian Coast, Iberville, and Pointe Coupee. In all the parishes through which he passed, he convened the inhabitants, as he mentions it in one of his despatches, which I have already cited, and invited them to makr known their wishes and wants, promising to satisfy them to the utmost of his powers. On his return to New Orleans, O'Reilly published a set of regulations concerning the concessions of vacant lands: "Divers complaints and petitions," said be, " which have been addressed to us by the '.nhabitants of Ope- loussas, Attakapas, Natchitoches f ,nd other places of this province, jomed to the knowle Ige we have acquii-ed of the local concerns, culture, anc means of the inha- bitants, by the visit which we have lately paid to the German Coast, to Iberville and Poiute Coupee, with the examination we have made of the reports of the inhabit- ants assembled by our order in eush district, having convinced us that the tranquillity of the sa^d inhabitants and the progress of caltivation required a new regula- tion, which should fix the extent of the grants of land # 4 . <\ REGULATIONS FOR GRAKTB OF LAND. 33 to l)ft livireafter i)[iade, a3 well as determine the enclosures to be put up, the lands to be cleared, the roads and bridges to be kept in repair by the inhabitants, and specify what is the sort of damage done by cattle for which the proprietors shall be responfeible— for these causes, and having nothing in view but the public good ani the happiness of every inhabitant — after having advised with persons well informed ir; these matters, we have regulated all these objects in the following articles."* Affcer having ordered, that, for the future, grants of land should not exceed a certain extent, and, having entered into many minute regulations, he says: Art. 12-— "All grants shall be made in the name of the king, by the Governor General of the province, who wiU, at the same time, appoin^; a surveyor to fix the bounds thereof, both in front and in depth, in presence of the ordinary judge of the district and of two adjoining settlei-s, who shall be present at the survey. The above mentioned four persons shall sign the proces-verbal which shall be made thereof, and the surveyor shall make three copies of the same ; one of which shall be deposited in the office of the Escribano of the govern- ment and Cabildo, another shall be delivered to the Governor General, and, the third to the proprietor, to ba annexed to the titles of his grant. "In pursuance of the powers which the king, oiir Lord, (whom God preserve !) has been pleased to con- fide to us by his patent issued at Aranjuez, on the 16th of April, 1769, to establish in the military and in the police liepartments, in the administration of justice and in the colonial finances, such reguMions as should be most conducive to his service and to ^e happiness of hi? * American State Papers, toL i, p. 8Y6. MiaceUaneout. # ^*# ■fi *-m: jiusauiusmmm •# H NEW ORLEANS — TI9 ANNUAL REVENUE. '■ f.l subjects in Louisiana, under the reserve of his Majesty's approbation, we order and command the governor, judges, cabUdo, and all the inhabitants of this province, to conform punctually to all that is required by these regulations. "Given at New Orleans, the 18th of February, 17 TO." It will be observed that O'Reilly, who had come to Louisiana as the delegate of royalty itself, and who was invested, as such, with unbounded powers of legislation, prescribed the manner in which all future concessions of land should be made by the governors of Louisiana, and determined with precision the extent of those con- cessions, which were not to exceed certain limits. Hence it follows, that it is questionable whether some of those immense grants of land wliich were made at a later period by the governors of Louisiana had the requisite validity, except it be shown that the limitations assigned by O'Reilly to his successors, in the name of the king, had been subsequently repealed or modified. By an ordinance of the 22d of February, 1770, O'Reilly provided a revenue for the town of New Orleans. An annual tax of forty dollars was to be levied on every tavern, billiard table, and coffee house, and one of twenty dollara on every boarding ho'ise ; a duty of one dollar was to \8 charged on every baiTel of brandy brought to the town; and O'Reilly graciously accepted and sanc- tioned a proposition liberally made by tiif) butchers, to pay an annual contribution of three hundred and seventy dollars into the coffers of the town, to meet municipal expenses. In makii^ this offer, these butchers expressly declared, that they (fid not mean to justify thereby any alteration on their part, now and thereafter, in the price of meat— which alteration, they said, ought never to take place wii^ont extreme necessity. It was estimated that, .# m- COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. 85 mth. all these branches of revenue, the annual income of the town would amount to ♦wo thousand dollars.* As the town was put to con5«Merable expense, to keep up the levee which protected it against inundation, it was authorized to collect an anchorage duty of six dollars from every vessel of two hundred tons and upwarfls, and half that sum from smaller ones. On both sides of the public square or Place d'*armes^ froiL Levee to Chartres and Cond6 streets, there was ii large space of ground facing on St. Peter's and St. Anne's streets, with a front of three hundred and thirty-six feet on both these streets, and eighty-four feet in depth. O'Reilly granted to the town, in the name of the king, the whole of that space of ground, which was soon after- wards sold to Don Andres Almonaster on a perpetual yearly rent.f It is still owned by his daughter, the baroness of Portalba, who has lately covered it with buildings of an imposing aspect, by which she has con- siderably embellished the great commercial emporium to which she is indebted for her birth and wealth. O'Reilly expressly prohibited the purchase of anything from persons navigating the Mississippi, or the lakes, without a passport or license. J It was, however, permitted to sell fowls and other articles of provisions to boats and vessels, provided the fowls and provisions were delivered on the bank of the river, and payment received in ready coin. Persons violating this prohibition were liable to a fine of one hundred dollars, and to tiie confiscation of the articles so purchased, one third of the whole being the reward of the informed # * Qn« c on todos los exprcsado* rdmoa podran stoender los proprioa de I« oiQdod & 2000 p<>M« ftiertes. — See the Beeorda of th« d«Ub«ratioiM ili Idbo CqupoU of th« Indieft on O'Reilly's acta in Louiailtna. f Martin's History of Louiuapa. ( Ibid. # « '#, ^' 86 THE OAPUCHINB AND THE NUNS. m No chntige was effected in the ecclesiastical organiza- tion of the province. The old Snperior of the capuchins, the reverend father Dagobert, remained in the undis- turbed exercise of his pastoral functions, as curate of New Orleans, and in the administration of this southern part of the diocese of Quebec, of which the Canadian bishop had constituted him vicar general. The other capuchins were maintained in the curacies of th "r respective parishes. It may be remembered that, in 1726, the Ursuline Nuns, by the agi*eement which they had made with the India Company, had bound themselves to take charge of the Charity Hospital in New Orleans. Displeased proba- bly with this kind of service, the Nuns had, in the course of time, obtained from the Pope a bull releasing them, it seems, from their obligation, which had become merely nominal, being confined to the daily attendance of two nuns, during the visit of the king's physician.* After having noted down his prescriptions, they withdrew, contenting themselves with the easy task of sending from their dispensary in the convent the medicines he had ordered. The Catholic king, to show his regard for this religious corporation, decided that two of the Nuns should be maintained at his own expense, for each of whom sixteen dollars was to be paid monthly to the convent out of his royal treasury. Don Joseph de Loyola, who had come to Louisiana with Ulloa, in 1766, as intendant died in 1770, and his functions were discharged ad interim by Don Estevan Gayarre, the royal comptroller, or contador. Don Cecilio Odoardo arriving with the commission of auditor of war and assessor of government, Jose de Ur- rustia and Felix del Rey, those two learned men in the law, who had been the advisers of O'Reilly, and who had * M&rtin's History of LonioiMia. W ^4 Jr %: •^■^ TIIE FRENCH BLACK COPE BE-ENACTED. 37 been discharging the duties now imposed on Odonrdo, departed for Havana. Bob6 Desclozeaux, who, on the death of Michel de la Rouvilli^re, in 1759, had acted as commissary general iid interim, remained in New Orleans by order of the king of France, with the consent of the king of Spain, to call in and redeem the paper money which had beei^ emitted by the former colonial administration, and of which a very considerable quantity waa still in circulation. When Louisiana was ceded ♦.o Spain, there were pend- ing in France several appeals from the judgments of the Superior Council. On the 6th of April, 1770, the king of France, through his council of state, declared that he could no longer take cognizance of said appeals, because, when parting with Louisiana, he had also parted with the firet and most glorimisof his rights^ that of rendei^ing justice in that proviuGe^^whereioTe he ordered that all the cases which inight still be on the dockets of any of his courts, be transferred to the tribunals of Spain, by which they were to be decided. O'Reilly thought it necessary, by a special procla- mation, to re-enact the Black Code which Louis XV. had given to the province. This seems to confirm the opinion, that the French laws were considered by the Spanish government as virtually abrogated by the pub* lication of the ordinance subjecting the colony to the laws of the Indies. A short time after, O'Reilly having completed the mission for which he had been clothed with extraordinary powers, and temporarily sent to Louu siana, delivered up the government of the province to Don Louis de Unzaga, and deported, on t^e 29th of October, 1770. Judge Martin, in his History of Louisiana, says : " Charles III. disapproved of O'Reilly's conduct, and he received, on his landing at Cadiz, an order prohibiting ^o. (*■ '""■1 m ill '! m 88 o'reilly's administration afpboved by the kino. his appearance at court." This assertion seenis to rest only on the very fallible authority of tradition, and is certainly irreconcilable with official documents on record.. Thus, on the 28th of January, 17T1, the king of Spain sent to his Council of the Indies a communication, in which he informed them, that he submitted to their con- sideration oil the acts of O^Roilly's administration in Louisiana, which he fully approved, but on which, never- theless, he wished to have the opinion of his faithful council. The answer was : that the council, having care- fully examined all the documents to which the king had called their attention, could discover in the acts of O'Reilly nothing which did not deserve the most decided approbation, and which was not a striking proof of the extraordinary genius of that general officer. Would such ftn encomium have l>een bestowed on hin\, if he had been even suspected of having excited the slightest royal displeasure ? Not only all his acts, but also all his sug- gestions were sanctioned, wi^h one solitary exception, which seems to give still more force to the sweeping commendation expressed, as to every thing else, by the king and his council. This exception is relative to the 6th article of section 5 on punishments, in which O'Reilly said. "The married woman convicted of adultery, and he who has conmdtted the same with her, shall be delivered up to the husband, in order that he may do with them what he pleases, with this reserve, however, that he shall not put one of them to death, without inflicting the same punishment on the other.'' The coun-'^ cil declared that this article, " The perusal of which had proved sufficiently disgusting to them, should be con- sidered*, as of no effect, and as having never been writ- * 8e oonaideraM coiao Boapenso y no etarito el art 6, que dice ; "La muger c&sada que adultere y el adultero sean entregado* al marido para que jiaga de ellos lo qae quiera, coa tal que no pueda matar al uno ain matar al otro." El cunl caustf bastante repugnancia al ticmpo de leerse. w t If. 0*tlEIL&TV dUBAODCIt. 39 ten.'' Thifl article, however, had not been devised hy O'Reilly, but was borrowed from book 8 of the " Nu vo Reoopilacion de Castilla" (new digest of the laws of Castile). It is besides well known that O'Reilly remained high in favor at court, until the death of Charles III. The motto on O'Reilly's coat of arms was : " fortitndine et prudentid ;" and he seems not to have been deficient in the possession of both these virtues. But there is hardly an instance, when blood shed in a political cause, whatever may have been the just and apparent neces- sity of it at the time, did not, sooner or later, rise from the earth, to cloud in the eye of the world the fame of the author or adviser of the deed. This has become an histoiical truth, and is confirmed by what O'Reilly's memory has suffered, in consequence of the execution of Lafreniere and his companions. He was not, however, the blood-thirsty tyrant that he was represented to be, and never, except on this occasion, in the whole course of a long public life, which was exposed to the scrutiny of those who hated him as a foreigner, and envied him as one of the king's favorites, did he ever give the slightest cause to accuse him of not having been always attentive to the dictates of humanity. His talents as a military man, and as an udministrator when discharging the functions of a civil officer, cannot be the object of a doubt, and it must even be admitted that they were of a superior order. AVTien in Louisiana, he was no more than thirty-four or thirty-five years old. There he left a reputation of strict morality and military precision. Fond of pomp, and somewhat ostentatious in all his tastes, naturally gay, and animated with strong sociable dispositions, he, nevertheless, was not addicted to pleasure, and he de- voted himself entirely to the business he had on hand. He was exceedingly prompt, exact and active, and he ij;?-'|y- ■^. • » .■■ :!:f3 40 o'rEILLy's cnABAOTEB. required the same qualificationa in lis subt>rdinates. By a proper and systematic distribution of his time, to which he inflexibly adhered, he could get on, with astonishing ease and rapidity, through an immense deal of labor, and he left nothing to be done by others which he cbuld do himself. He emphatically was a man of action, a lover of the camp, as his predecessor, Ulloa, was a man of study, a lover of meditation and scientific speculations. It was said that he endeavored, as far aa possible, to see every thing with his own eyes, andy when he had to trust others, he never failed to descend into the minutest details of the duties which he expected them to fulfil. Not only was O'Reilly exces- sively urbane in his social and official intercourse, but distinguished also for the exquisite refinemeat of those courtly manners which have now almost ceased to be a reality, and the recollection of which wiU soon fade away into vague and dreamy traditions. But he was of an irritable temper, and liable to fits of haughtiness on the slightest appearance of what he supposed to be premeditated contradiction or opposition. Preserving all the vivacity, excitability, and sprightly wit of the Irish temperament, lie was rem^kably animated in con- versation, and seemed to have a relish and a turn of mind for a good joke. He cultivated with sedulous attention the society of some families with which he -jeemed to be highly pleased, and which he always treated with deferential courtesy. Escorted by a few dragoons, his carriage was frequently seen driving at a rapid pace up the Coast, where he used, in his moments of leisure, to visit a family residing a lew miles from the town, and in which he found himself in an atmosphere reminding him of that of the best European society. One day, when, according to his habit, he had provoked a keen encounter of wits with the lady of the manor, • jk u # ^- o'reilly's CHAAAOIEE. 4t being stung by a sbarp repartee, his lAsty temper betrayed lum, and he forgot himself so far as to say, with a tone of oommand: "Madam, do you forget who lam?" " No, «ir," answered the lady, with a low bow, "but I have associated with those who were higher than you are, and who took care never to forget what sW$^ due to others J hence, they never found it necessary to put any one in mind of what they were." Nettled at this proud answeir. Count O'ReDly departed instantly, but returned the next day with a good-humored smile, and an apology befitting a gentleman of his rank. Finally, he became a much valued friend, where at first he had merely teen a guest, and, to complete the description of his character, it may be sufficient to add, that, whatever may have been some of his errors, he won esteem and affection wherever he was intimately known. ^*J t IN m ,l.|l:.l«l ■■ H L'f iris: CHAPTER n. UNZAGA's ADMmiSTRATIOir. 1110 to 1776. The departure of O'Reilly for Spain was soon followed by that of the royal comptroller, Don Estevan Gayarre. ITiis officer had applied to the court for leave to return to Spain, and to be put on the list of retired pensioners, on account of his many years of service and of his im- paired vision. On the 22d of September, 1770, the Mar- quis of Grimaldi wrote to the royal comptroller a lett^ in which he informed him that the favor for which he had petitioned (his return to Spain) was granted, and requested him, on his arrival in the Peninsula, to give information of it and of the state of his health to the government, in order that his majesty might determine on calling him to some other employment or allow him to retire, with the pension to which he was entitled. In consequence of this communication, Estevan Gayarre left the colony in the beginning of 1771, carrying away with him more than one document,* showing conclusively the good understanding which had always existed between Aubry and the Spanish authorities, during all the phases of the revolution of 1768, and a certificate in which the French governor testified, in warm terms of acknowledg- ment and eulogy, to the important services rendered by the comptroller both to the kings of France and Spain- He was succeeded in office by Antonio Joseph de Aguiar ; * See the Appendix. i raoiot le ha lonra 'able 'inna' il del UUZAGA's ADMUflSTBATION. 43 his son, Don Juan Antonio Gayarre, who had, under him, acted as chief officer in the comptroller's office (1" offi- cial ue contadoria), and who on the 23d of September, 1768, notwithstanding he was then only sixteen years of afjC, had been, on the eve of the insurrection, appointed commissary of war by the intendant Joseph de Loyola^ in which office he was subsequently confirmed by O'Reilly on the 5th of January, lYTO, remained in the colony to serve under Agu'iar. The old contador and companion of Ulloa died in Spain at the close of the century. To complete the sketch which I gave of his life and charac- ter, when depicting that of the other actors who appeared on the stage at that eventful period of the history of Louisiana, and also to illustrate the manners and feelings of another age, it may not be inappropriate to give here a short c^ *-j from a letter which, in 1796, he wrote from Cor ui Gallioia, to one of his grandsons in Loui- siana : " My son, I may say that I have already one foot in the grave. I have little of earthly goods to bequeathe, or to dispose of, contenting myself with leaving, at my death, what wiU be necestoy to bury me in seven feet of 'ground, with the little but honorable exhibition of military pomp, within whieh have shrunk all my vain hopes in this mise- rable world. Yea, such is this world I Its ffitting glories fade away — and there remtuns nothing but the alternate lassitude and self-torment of thought. Therefore a pure and sound mind ought ever to have its eyes fixed on heaven."* * H^o mio, yo est9y yi eon el pie en la sepultnrs y tengo no efeotos de ooiiside- raoion de qce testar ni disponer, oontentandome yd con que, i mi fallecimiento le halle lo neoesario para enterramle en siete quarlas de tierra oon la oorla y ■lonrada pompa militar con que boIo lie fundado la eaperai^sa yana de eate mise- ■able mundo. Lo que es el mundo 1 Cesen glorias pasadaa— Del peoaapiiento inaa veces fatiga y otraa tonnento ; el spiritu bneno siempre h& de eatar minluido il cielo. .# mm ;^^ 44 COMSIEBOE OF THE COLOmT. '.jF?*i-^r Don Luis de Unzaga, wliom O'Reilly Ijiad designated as his successor, was colonel of the regiment of Havana, and waf. subsequently confirmed as governor of Louisiana, by a royal schedule of the 17th of August, 1112^\ with a salary of $6000. When he entered upon the duties of his offiije, he found that the commerce of Louisiana had greatly decreased under the ill-advised policy of Spanish rescric:ions ; for, it will be recollected that, by the royal ordinaice which UUoa had caused Aubry to publish in 1766, the trade of the colony had been confined to Seville, Alicant, Carthagera, Malaga, Barcelona, and Coruna, and that no vessels were to engage in this trade, restricted as it was, but those that were Spanish built and commanded by Spaniards. Even these vessels, when sailing to or from Louisiana, were prohibited from entering any Spanish port in America, except in case of distress, and then they had to be submitted to a strict examination find to heavy charges. It is true that, i' ' 768, an exemp- tion from duty had been granted by the king to the conmierce of Louisiana on foreign and Spanish goods, either when exported from the six poiis already men- tioned, or when imported into New Orleans; but the exportation of specie or produce from Louisiana was burdened with a duty of four per cent. The colonists had lately obtained a very slight and insufficient mitiga- tion of the evils of which they complained, and it con- sisted in a permission granted for the admission of two vessels from France annually. > , j This oppressive system was exceedingly foolish, as it could benefit neither the colony nor the mother country. Which of the goods they most wanted for their consumption could the colonists have procured to ad- vantage, in Seville, Alicant, Oarthagena, Malaga, Bar- celona and Coruna, the only ports they could trade to? And if procured, how could they have paid for them? ■:fe.!( PF OOMMSBCE OF THE OOLOITT. 45 Importations are paid witli exportations ; and what could they have successfully exported to those ports, that would have defrayed the costs of transportation ? Was it their indigo? But it could not have encountered the com- petition of the indigo of Gnatimala, Caraccas and other Spanish possessions, to which it was greatly inferior m quality. Was \t their fiirs and peltries ? But these objects were little car«^d for in the warm climate of Spain. Was it their rice and com ? But this they raised in too small a qufa,iitity, and wanted altogether for their own home consumption. Was it their timber and lumber, which was their most important branch of revenue ? But what cargo of the kind would have sold sufficiently high in Spain, to cover the bare expenses of transportation across the Atlantic ? Moreover, setting ' all these considerations aside, how could the merchants of New Orleans compete with the English, who had engrossed the contraband trade of the colony, through the facilities afforded them by the privilege of navigating the Mississippi ? Their vessels were constantly plough- ing the r^er up and down ; and, under the pretence of going to their possessions of Manchac, Baton Rouge and Natcheis, the English contrived clandestinely to supply the inhabitants of New Orleans and the planters above and beio .t that town with goods arid slaves. They took in exchange whatever their customers had to spare,* and extended to them a most liberal credit, which the good faith of the purchasers amply justified. Besides, they had very large warehouses at Manchac, Baton Rouge and Natchez, and a number of vessels constantly moored a short distance above New Orleans, opposite to the spot now known as the city of Lafayette. To these places the inhabitants of Louisiana used to resort, and to ■m- * Martin's Hktory of Louisiana, p^ 26, toL S. *■ it; * Bm\ M' ^^ % 46 ■:% OOMMEBOE OF THE COLONY. csny on ^eir contraband dealings^ whiek were hardly, if in any way, checked by the Spanish authorities. Encouraged by this tacit connivance, the English had gone farther, and had contrived to convert into floating warehouses two vessels, the cabins of which they fitted up as stores, with shelves and counters. These ingeni- ously devised shops were kept moving up and down the river, stopping, like our present line of coast steamboats, at every man's door, and tempting him and hia family with the display of their goods and trinkets. Thus, in this indirect way, the English having monopolized the trade of Louisiana, this colony had, in a commercial point of view, become for its owner an entirely worthless possession. Without this infraction of the unwise provisions of the commercial and revenue laws of Spain, it is difficult to iraa^ne how the colony could have subsisted, and, therefore, Unzaga acted judiciously for the province and for Spain, when he disregarded the Chinese-like regulations which he was commanded to enforce, and when he winked at their violation. The poor merchants of New Orleans, whose occupation, like Othello's, was gone, were permitted to indulge in im potent clamors, and in slyly whispered insinuations that the Spanish governor had some reason of his own, besides the alleged one of supplying the wants of the ^colony, for the indulgence which he extended to British traders. But tljieir complaints were as unnoticed as the idle wind, and things went on as usual, without even any show of attempted interruption. This year (1771) the Marquis of Grimaldi informed 'Unssaga^ that h^ majesty had consented to what, he, Unzaga, had ap^Hed for, that is, that eleven capuchins from the province of Ohantpagne in France be permitted to come to Louisiana^ and had gi*anted the prayer of the f M s €• 1^ coa^ thr anc rose the ofo wer Wei m ?ii 1' , l. :%f^ ''Ml DI^ASTBOVS HTJBBICAliX. 47 Ursidine Nuns — that a church be built as an appendage to their convent ■;:■,;;«.;;;,.;■/ ..,.. v:v-^^^l lu the beginning o£ 1112, Colonel i^techeria arrived, and assumed the command of the regiment of Jjouisiana. There came also from Spain, at the king^s expense, a priest with two assistants, ho were sent to instruct the rising generation in the Spanish language, and from Har vana, four young women, ^ho took the veil in the con- vent of the Ursuline Nuns of New Orleans^ and who were destined to teach SpanipL to yoiing persons of their sex. The winter of IT* 2 was made remarkable for its ex- treme severity, an^jl, all the, orange tre^ perfehed, as in immdlios^,/.::; If the winter had been Siberian-like, the summer which followed phowe'^ ^-""^l^ tropical in all its character,? and the country was vLiited by a hurricane, which was much more furious and destructive than all those which had yet been seen, and which, beginning on the 31st of August, lasted to the 3d of September. Strange to say, however, it was hardly perceptible in New Orleans, where the weather retained its serenity, i^though it was severely felt in the immediate neighborhood of that town. The sea was driven over the islands along the coast of the gulf, and m^ed in mountainous waves, not through, but, as it were, over the passes of the Rigolets and Chef-Menteur, to meet Lake Pontehartrain, widch^ rose to a prodigious height. As the wi^i blew from the sea, all the vessels at the Bali^ withthe exception of one .that foundered, and was lost with all on board, were lifted up like feathers by the joint frqry of the war- ring el^nent^, and blown over into the mi^st of those swamps of reeds which line the mpuths of the Mississippi. Along tib sea-coast, from I^ake Boigne^ to P^nsacola, the wind ranged from SouthrSouth-East; but farther west, it blew with still neater violence fi^om North-IjForth'East and F m W'-»:.,. ' i p% 4A DISASTROUS HUBRICANE. East. Judge Martin relates, in his History of Louisiana, that a schooner, belonging to the British government, and having a detachment of troops on board, was driven westerly as far as Cat Island, under the western part of whicn she cast anv,hor ; but the water rose so high, that she parted her cable, and floated over the island. The wind swept with such irresistible power through the woods, that they were almost entirely destroyed within a radius of about thirty mUes from the searshore. At Mobile, the strong hand of the hurricane seized .the vessels, boats, logs and every thing else that were in the bay, and scattered them about the streets of that town, just as a boy, in a mad freak, flings round his playthings. There was such an accumulation of logs in the gullies and hollows about the town and in its lower grounds, that it supplied the inhabitants with fuel during the whole of the ensuing winter. The foaming sea seemed to have been lashed into nothing but spray, which, rising up to an immense height, was carried inland by the wind to the distance of four or five miles from the shore, where it descended in thick showers. For thirty miles up a branch of the Pascagoula river, called Cedar Creek on account of the number of cedar trees with which its banks were shaded, the tempest prostrated almost every tree, as if myriads of axes had been emulously at work with destructive rage. Some had been torn by the roots and fantasti- cally tossed about, others were broken into splinters, and, among the few that remained standing, some were stripped of every limb, or twisted together, trimks and branches, into a shapele^ mass. The awful scene of desolation looked lite 'U»^ work of a million of in- toxicated 'demons, p! jjie of the most astonishing effects of this hurricane remains to be related. Within four weeks after it had been over, such of the mulberry i ""* -Jii^' • ^ # fv^ ^^^ ^' BKLIOIOUS QUARBEL9. 40 ti'eea as had escaped its fary, produced a second gro\rth of leaves and fruit. They budded anew, blossomed, and, to complete the phenomenon, produced fruit as plentifully as they had done before. On the lYth of August, lt'72, the King granted to the province of Louisiana, some extension of commerce, in conformity with the suggestions made by O'Reilly in his despatch of the iTth of October, 1769, but the favor, ^er all^ was so restricted, that it did not prove of much importanco to the welfare of the colony. The conflict which had sprung* up between the Jesuits and Capuchins, in 1755, as to the exercise of spirilHal jurisdiction in Louisiana, may not have be4| forgotten. The Bishop of Quebec had appointed a Jesidt hib Vicar- General in New Orleans, but the Capuchins pretended that they had, according to a contract passed' with the India company, obtained exclusdve jurisdiction in Lower Louisiana, and therefore had opposed therein the exer- cise ugh of miavoidable tnrmoil in this valley of tribulations and miseries ? Besides, he knew that God was mercifiil, and that all would turn right in the end. Why should he not have been an indulgent shepherd for his flock, and have snuled on the prodigal son oiter re- pentance, and even before, in order not to frighten him away ? If the extravagance of the sinning spendthrift could not be checked, why should not he, father Dago- bert, be permitted, by sitting at the hospitable board, to give at least some dignity to th'^ feast, and to exorcise away the ever lurking spirit of evil ? Did not Jesus sit at meal with publicans and sinners ? Why then should not father Dagobert, when he went out to christen, or to many at some private dwelling, participate in conviviali- ties, taste the juice of the grape, take a hand in some innocent game, regale his nostrils with a luxurious pinch of snuff, and look with approbation at the meny feats of the dancers ? Where was the harm ? Could not a father sanctify by his presence the rejoicings of his children ? Such were perhaps some of the secret reasonings of the reverend capuchin. By some pedantic minds £ither Dagobert might have , been taxed with being illiterate, and with knowing very little' beyond the l\tanies of the church. But is not ignorance bliss ? Was it not to the want of knowledge, that was to be attributed the simplicity of heait, whic^ was so edifying in one of his sacred mission, and that humility to which he was sworn? Is it not written:: "Biessed'are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the king- doni of heaven.'^ Why should he understand Latin, or so many other musty inexplicable things I Was not i^e fruit of the tree of knowledge the cause of the perdition of mau h Besides, who ev#r heard of a learned capuchin ? Would it not have been a portentous anonukly ? If kiH *■ 1 Wf ■-i\ •^ii«^'M ■^» # 'V. M !*<► n^ OHARACTEK OF FATHER DAOODERT. 5 Nil''- way of fasting, of keeping the holydays, of saying miiss, of celebrating marriages, of christening, of singing prayers for the dead, and of hearing confessions, of it)- flicting penance, and of performing all his other sacerdo- tal functions, was contrary to the ritual and to the canons of the church — ^why — he knew ho better. What soul had been thereby endangered ? His parishioners were used to his ways ? Was he, after fifty years of labor in the vineyard of the Lord, to change his manner of work- ing, to admit that he had blundered all the time, to dig up what he had planted, and to undertake, when almost an octogenarian, the reform of himself and others ? Thus, at least, argued many of his friends. They were sure that none could deny, that all the duties of religion were strictly performed by his parish- ioners. Were not the women iii the daily habit of confessing their sins 2 And if he was so very mild in his admonitions, and so very sparing in the infliction of harsh penance on them, why not suppose that jt was because the Saviour himself had been very lenient towards the^ guiltiest of their sex ? It was the belief of father Dago bert, that the faults of women proceeded from the heai'i and not from the heart, because thxii was always kind. Why th«i hurl thunderbolts at beings so exquisitely delicate and so beautifully fragile-7-the porcelain work of the creators—when they could be reclaimed by the re scratch of a rose's thorn, and 4>rought bkck into the om of righteousness by the mere pulling of a silken string 2 As to the meh, it is true that tibey never hatmted thexionfiissicmal ; but perhaps they had no sins to confess, and if they had, and <^d not choose to acknowledge them, what could he do ?' Would it have been sound policy to hiave annoyed them with fruitkss exhortations, and threat^ied #[em with ^xconunimication, when they would hai!V!^_ bet out (leei and of a stat< mail discc ralre his r« sedttl comp Whei *.c CHABAOTER OF FATHER DAOOBERT. 5A! better to humour them a little, so iis to make good gro# out of evU ? Was not their averuion to confesaiou re- deemed by manly virtues, by their charity to the jjoor and their generosity to the church ) Was not his course i>f action subservient to the inten^t both of ohnrch and sitate, within the borders of which it was oalcnlated to maintain order and tranquillity, by avoiding to produce discontents, and those disturbances which are their natu*' ral results ? Had he not a right, in his turn, to expect that his repose should never be interrupted, when he i as so sedulously attentive to that of others, and so cheerftilly complying with the exigencies of every flitting hour? When the colonists had thought proper to go int^. an insurrection, he, good easy soul, did not see why he should not make them happy, by chiming in with their mood at the time. Did they not, in all sincerity, think them- selves oppressed, and were they not contending for what they believed to be their birthrights ? On the other hand, when the Spaniards crushed the revolution, he was nothing loth, as vicar general, to present himself at the portal of the cathedral, to receive O'Reilly with the honors due to the representative of royalty, and to bless the Spanish flag. How could he do otherwise ? Was it not said ,by the Master : " render unto Csesar the things which are Caesar's ? " Why should the new lord^ of the land be irritated by a factious and bootless op^; don 9 Why not mollify them, so as to obtain as much fi'om them as possible, in favor of his church and of his dearly beloved flock? AVhy should he not be {:artial to the Spaniards? Had they not the reputation of being the strictest catholics in the woi'ld. Such was the character of ^therDagobert even in his youth* It had developed itself in more vigorous and coHor&ate proportions^ as his es^rienee est^ded^ and it had sugg^ted to him all Ids rules of action It- m )w^} '# «t ■ 54 ■i. CHARACTER OF FATHER GENOVEAUX. lilroiigli life. With the same harmonious consistency in all its parts it had continued to grow, until more than threescore years had passed over fathfer Dagobert's head. It was natural, therefore, notwithstanding what a few detractors might say, that he should be at a loss to dis- cover the reasons why he should be blamed, for having logically come to the conclusions which made him an almost universal favorite, and which permitted him to enjoy " his ease in his own inn," whilst authorizing him to hope for his continuing in this happy state of exist- ence, until he should be summoned to the "bourne whence no traveller returns." Certain it is that, what- ever judgment a rigid moralist might, on a close analysis, pass on the character of father Dagobert, it can hardly be denied, that to much favor would be entitled the man, who, were he put to trial, could with confidence, like this poor priest-, turn round to his subordinates and fellow-beings, and say unto them : " I have lived among you for better than half a century ; which of you have I ever injured?" Therefore, father Dagobert thought himself possessed of an unquestionable right to what he loved so much : his ease, both in his convent and out of it, and his sweet uninterrupted dozing in his comfortable arm chair. But the Evil One was hovering round the walls of Eden, and desolation was nigh. A short time afber the ^province had become Spanish, and the Superior Council f had been abolished, father Genoveaux startled father ^ 'Dagobert by his sudden reappearance before him. At first, the humble spirit of the old Capuchin quailed, and his heart sank within him, when he saw one, whose resources of mind, love of power, and indomitable pride he but too weU knew. But it seemed that misfortutle had operated a salutary change in father Genoveaux, uid the outward man much belied the inward one,- if .€>,:. t 'Wi # 3 OHAItAOTEB OF FATHEB GDKOVE^UX 5^ thai also was not altered, for he looked like one ready to kiss the rod of chastisement. His head was bent as it were with contrition, his eyes were lowly fLsed on the gronnd, his hands were m^kly crossed jon his breast. In this posture of humiliation, he informed fath^ Bago- bert that he had returned to serve where he had foimerly ruled, and he begged for admittance, as an humble subordinate, into the holy house from which he had' been ignominiously expelled as a superior. With a rather faltering voice, father Dagobert uttered some words of welcome to his unexpected guest, and expressed assent to his prayer. Keen, no doubt, were his mis- givings, but they were soon allayed by the conduct of father G6noveaux, who not only gave the example of submission, but who also was the very pattern of apos- tolic humility. He seemed to have lost sight entirely of the concerns of this world, and, when not engaged in the few ecclesiastical ftmctions which were assigned to him, and which he discharged with the most exact fidelity, he was wrapped up in prayer or in study- — particularly the study of the Bpanish language — so far at least, as what father Genoveaux did could be ascem; tained, for he came out of his cell as little as he could ; and, by keeping so much out of every body's way, he, by degrees, almost ceased to be considered as a thing of life ; or if so, certainly there could not be a more harm- less sort of creature, or a more insignificant entity in flesh and blood. These were halcyon days, indeed, the enjoying of which was only marred by the news, that Spanish Capii- chins were soon eicpected. How they would agree with their French brethren, was a questicm which excited uq little anidety in t^e breasts of the latter, when, in the beginning of July, 1Y72^, it was positively known that father Oirilo was coming with some few assistants, in the # J^F iS^' ^ B.-'V m '^ * 56 AERIVAL OF SPANISH CA.Pm3HINB. name of the bishop of Ctiba, Don Santiago Hechevama, to investigate into the affairs of the church ap.d the state of religion in the colony ; and, on the 19th of the same month, which was consecrated to the celebratiuu of a holyday, father Dagobert, at the head of his Capuchins, and accompanied by a large crowd of people, went in procession to the Levee in front of the public square, wh^re father, Cirilo and his companions were received mth due honors and with great demonstrations of joy. The next day, the Spanish priests were presented to the Governor, to whom father Cirilo delivered his cre- vtentials, and the letters addressed by the bkhop tx) that ftinctionary. Governor Unzaga expressed still warmer satisfaction than the people at the arrival of these ministei's of peace and instructors in morals and religion, and declared publicly to father Cirilo, that he was ready to make use of all the powers with which he was clothed, to carry into execution the sacred instruc- tions and mandates of his Grace, the bishop of Cuba. On the very day of the anival of the Spanish priests in the colony, father Genoveaux doffed the garb ot humility and submission whicb he had assumed, and proudly raising his head, told father Dagobert, in an insulting tone and very abusive language, that a radical change would soon take place, that ignorance, profane- ness, wickedness and dotage would speedily be driven tout of the convent and of the country, to yield their Usurped power to virtue, learning, religion, active 2eal and pious labor. He ftutber added,' that the avengers of his wrongs had come at last, and that now was the turn of his enemies to tremble. In order to carry his threats into execution, he immediately ingratiated him- self with the Spanish priests, and) being much their superior in intelligence and energy, he became their secret adviser and the prompter of all the manoeuvre % # stancd # FATHER CIRILO'S DS3PAT0HE3 57 dnd attacks from wlur in- stance, as their shirts, breeches, stockings and shoes, they t 'flPt •m im K ; ===sBmam m m ii^ .■'XJ 68 ON THE CLEEGY AISTD XNHABITAlrrS OP LOUISIANA. resemble tlie laity much more than members of their religious order. They say that they have a dispensation from the Pope; but of what nature? I have not seen it yet. Whether it is in existence or not, certain it is that the doctrine which we proicss, commands us to be satisfied with the stricteot nee )Si ies of life and with the extremest poverty. Tbei fore I do not believe in the grant of any such dispensation by the Popes, beyond what may be absolutely requkite to keep soul and body together. But it never could extend so far as to author-- ize every one of these fathers, to have a watch in his fob and a clock striking the hour in his room, and another in their refectory which cost two hundred and seventy dollars. Nor do I believe that they have per- mission from our Sovereign Lords the Popes, to possess so many silver spoons and forks, that it is dotibtfal whether your Grace owns the hke. Not oidy ha\ e they silver spoons of the ordinary size, but they have also small ones, to take coffee with, as if woode"*! spoons were not good enough for Capuchins ! I will not speak of the furniture of their rooms, nor of the luxuries of their table. But be it sufficient to say, that alth<^ngh, since our arrival and on our account, they have somewhat moderated their good living, their table is stiU reputed to be better than any other in this capital. Hence, what was it before ? Very often they do not eat at the )mmon refectory, but invite one another to dine at Iheir private apartments. "This abuse your grace can remedy, as well as that of their having, to wait upon them at table, so many young mulattresses or negresses who fa*e not married. I cannot put a stop to this scandal, having no authority over them. But I infer from a letter written to me by the Superior of our ordei in Oatalona, that there is somo probability of his being appointed to take charge of this youv # m m THE CLERGY OF LOUISIANA IN 1772. 59 province. With the strength whichi might derive from this fact, should it prove to be true, and from your Grace's countenance and support, I would endeavor to make it known that we are capuchins, and to force those who live in violation of our sacred rules and without caring for God, either to reform their evil ways or to go back whence they came. But, for the present, wo can make no innovation, except with regard to the pai"8onage of this parish, because, in this matter, you can order and dispose as you please, inasmuch as father Dagobert han promised the governor that he would obey all the man- dates of yom' grace, and for this reason, it is agx*ecd between us and the governor, that you commission fati'er Dagobert as the vicai* general of this province, until w^ can learn the French language, because, without its know- ledge, it is impossible that we should discharge our func- tions. But in case your Grace, most excellent sir, should be of opinion that said individual ought not to be ap- pointed vicar general, your Grace might, for the present, postpone all nomination to that oflSce, leaving everything as it is, writing to father Dagobert and to me what you wish to be done in this province, and charging us with- the execution of the good intentions of your Grace and of his majesty (whom may God preserve for ever !) And in .order that your Grace, the governor and myself may attain our ends with greater facility, and plant heve, without noise and opposition, the Lord's vineyard, as it ^ is in Havana, I am of opinion that you should state, when " you writey that you ire determined to postpone the nomination of the vicar general, until you have the report of him whom you may send to inspect the affairs of the church iu this province* Thus, father Dagobert, either through fear, or to please your grace, wi31 execute what youv grace will command him to do. It is important to m *# ■jfcps't ♦ 1^^ li i^^m ^^m ^s9 -^^^ ^f^^ ^^ « kffWri^'IA^frJ i ^i^ ^^ m ifmM ^M ^ •?'■ m ....ii^;?-^-: mimmma^-ilmtk %. *.5- f ■■ •*? % 60 THE CLERGY OF LOUISIANA TO ma. M !>ii secure his influence, not oiily because tjie people of tliiis colony, for thirty yeaw i past, have known no other spiritual jurisdiction than that of this father, but also because he has obtained the esteem and affection of all, so that whatever father Dagobert oiders is obeyed with- out reluctance. It seems proper to me thtit your C^iace - should write none but joint letten^ to us botli, becimae fatner Dugobert does not understand the S}»?\ai8h Ian guage, and Gt)d knows to whom lie would give your letters to be read. Thia might produce distrirbaaees, whilst, if I ani the pei-son to communicate the conteii^iv of your ietfcersi to hiin, I wiU take care to impress tiieiu upon him with prude'i.' ajiv' dextr: ity, and procure that your vvTshes be complied ^vitli. In this way, the gover- nor and myself think thai we can obtain all that we p desire without ti on bie and noise. *^If it be discovered that said father does not obey your iBrjtructiojni^, I shall give your Grace due informa- tioi' thereof, in order that you may appoint a vicar gene- ral ; and if you deign to favor my suggestions, you might bestow on him and myself the faculty of granting dis- ^nsatioi particularly with regard to the publications re- quued beforethe marriage ceremony can be performed. The first tilling you ought to do, is to commission some- V body who, in the name of your Orace, would take pos- sesion, in the manner you may determine, of the chnrch ^of the Nims and of the plantation which the capuchins Save, in order to show that your Grace is the head of » this, apostolic see and the administrator of all its posses- sionsu : In this way we shaU know how matters stand, for it is said ih&t the plantation of t^e holy Mhers is under mortgage. What is certain, Is that it yields nothing for wantof proper managentent, and your Grace might, for Sbhe future, make such regulations as would your inordi these same arriva have point if our « >!'!1f m '■^ .«/-•■ ■p- Ml> THE OLEBGy OF LOtTIBIAirA IN 111% 61 |3*eveiit the ndn of those fathers from bfeing entirely afcoomplished.* "With regard to otir parochial and judicial rights and ]>rivilege9, it is sufficient to refer to the governor's letter to our Grace. As to the administration of the sacraments, 1 iiave observed no abuse, but on the contrary, I must say th.'t they are received with great piety— partiijularly the sacrament of marriage. I must state, however, that t^ere is no preaching every Sunday according to the mandate of the Council; but, at the same time, I must admit that, so far as my infoimation goes, sermons are delivered on the principal holydays of the year. The French capuchins keep three books, one in which thej record the baptisms, another the marriages, and in the third, the deaths of the whites and blacks, as they occur ; which practice is to be corrected. I must also remark that these books ought to be kept in Spanish, and the governor and myself (for we shall both be always of the same mind) will look to the reforms which it may be proper to introduce in relation to these boolK. " As to masses pro populo, it is certain that they are not said; for, these priests tak^ no notice of any of the apostolic bulls and letters which have hem issued for these last thirty yeaw. This makes it necessary that your Grace should command them to be complied with, in order thatj with your Grace's authority, we naay correct these Monks, who have been living to this day, with th^: same morals which they brought with them on their firsi arrival in4hese parts* As to religious conferences, they have no idea of any such thing. But J^pass Qver th^ point without any ftu?ther notice, and wiH On^ say, that, if our most reverend proyineial father of C^italona be % t If .^po^Iuiw. sret tyrotaio pojaAj and onghi not to ha,Te silver spoony why should regulations be made to prevent their ruin from' being acobinplifeiheid/kTOl io enable them to retain pbtteMion 6f a pluttaiMu and of ttavet f J»V- .# # m TSE CLERGY OP LOUKIAITA EN" 1772. appointed commissioner for this province, I shall take care that this practice, whici we observe once a week Among ourselves, be introduc ^t among the French. Capuchins. "The confessionals, in their shape and construction, are more decent and better than ours in Spain, and, fkr from changing any thing in them, I would recommend that those which may for the future be made here, be exactly on the same model. What is to be regretted is — ^that ncne of these priests confess in these confessionals, but in the vestry, where they sit in an arm chair, by the side of which the penitent kneels. On the first day of this month, when many ladies came to confession, it was done as I have related, with the exception of the Spanish ladies, who were shriven by us — ^the Spanish ladies con- fessing in the morning, the French in the evening. On witnessing such an abuse, I could ncrt help asking for its cause, and I was answered that it was owing to the heat. But it is not the less a fact, that t shrove my penitents in the morning, in the confessionals of the church, not in the vestry, and, if I felt the heat, surely I had suffered more from the same cause on other occasions and in other places. With regard to the habits of these priests, I know very little; but I have remarked in them an independent spirit, which is not disposed to obedience and subjection. As to their going to balls, I do not see any probability in it, because the youngest of them is fifty years old; but they frequently attend dinner parties, particularly when they perform maniage cere- monies. This is always done, not in church but in private houses, where they usually remain to enjoy all the pleasures of the feast This is contrary to our holy habits, and y«ir trraCe will order, no doubt, that^, hence- forth, marriages be celcHated in church, Except in case of ill-health in the parties^ or for some othef importaoit •^ THE OLERGT OF LOUISIANA IN 1772. 68 cause; and, above all, that no prieat be permitted to accept of any invitation to dinner^ or to partake of any convivialities at the houses of those whom he may be called to unite in the bonds of wedlock. " The report is, that these Capudiins play cards. It is for your Grace to put a stop to a practice, which is so repugnant to the character of a mini<%ter of God and especially of a Capuchin. With regard to the Nuns, I cannot give you any information, unless it is that they live as they have always done, without being cloistered, and as if they were not nuns at all. They have for their ordinary confessor, father Prosper, who is seventy-two years old, but very strong and robust, and capable of directing them. As to any violation^ of rules and discipline, I shall say nothing, and satisfy myseli^. with repeating, that no Pope's bulls and apostolic de- criBtals ever reach this capital. What gives me the greatest concern is, that the slaves live and die in a state of concubinage ; and, what is worse, this is to the know- ledge and with the consent of their masters, who tolerate their living together like man and wife. ' This evil must be immediately remedied. When Count O'ReiUy was here, he prohibited this kind of scandalous connection, and he succeeded in having fdrty of these people married coriim facie EcclesisB; but, sincc^ his ||, departure, it is of this matter as heretofore. The reason which the slaves give for not getting married is, tha% they are exposed to be sold by their masters and to bo thus separated. It seems to me that the most effective way to prevent the commission of such sins, is to impose upon the masters the obl%ation of watcMng over the . morals of their slaves. ** O^r holy fethers hfive no lack of negroes and mulat- tresses, smoe they have eighteen of them in the convent, of both sexes ai^ of different ages, among whom there % ■#■ 64 *»t THS OLBBOT OF LOUISIANA IN 1772. S"*^!.^'" are but two married couples, when eight women and two men are marriageable, and still are suffered to live in a state of celibacy. Besides, there are two boys and two girls, three of whom are the issue of a mulattress, who has the direction of the convent. This woman has a sister, who is in a delicate situation, and yet who is not known to hpvc a husband. 1 felt so much solicitude on the subject, that I procured to see, one day, at four o'clock in the mo "ning, a white man sallying out of the chamber of this mulattress, and I am informed by persons of high standing and of great religious zeal, such as the colonel of the regiment and others, that the young negresses and mulattresses, immediately after having attended us at supper, go out of the convent to meet their lovers, and spend with them the greater part of the nip^ht. K such of them as live under the immediate inspection of the fathers behave in this way, what must it be with those who live on the plantation? It will be necessary to find a remedy to these scandals. I am gf opinion, how- over, that, to expel all these women from the convent, would be to inflict too painful a blow on father Dago- bert. Therefore he might, for the present, be permitted to retain his three black men and three black wenches or mulattresses, provided they aro ascei*tained to be married, or get married — one man au» I his wife to be for the kitchen, two men to wait on us at table, and their wives, to take care of the house. And, as these women nave their dwellings in the yard of the convent, it might be prescribed that, for no motive, and und-^r no pretext whatsoever, they shall be authorized to eater the cham- bers occupied by the friars^ The governor of this pro- vince has no black women nor mulattresses to wait upon Fml Why should they? Your ©race and other per- sonages of exalted ralik require no mulattresses. Why should liie French Gapuc^ing need ai^J I do not hesi- M - r *. TITE OLEROT OF LOr ISUT' IN IIIX 60 tate to say, that, in matters of this kind, the glory and service of God is the only thing to be regarded, without oaring for worldly considerations. Let these women be expelled from the convent, and be sent to the plantation. There, if they cannot be useful (and I am of opinion that they are not wanted), let them be sold, and let those who may be retained, and who may be of age to wed, take husbands. This would be giving the good example, and let it be understood that, if they work on the plantation, they must be supplied with sufficient food and clothing, as justice requires ; and let it not be with them, as it is, if I am correctly informed, with the generality of slaves here, who are furnished by their masters but with one barrel of corn per month, which is less than is given to a horse. This barrel of com is to be both food and clothing to them ; and, as this is im- possible, their necessities drive them into prostitution and other shameftil vices. But if your Grace should determine that any black woman or mulattress may be retuned in the convent, I would suggest the propriety of her being put under lock and key every night, and recommend that the key be delivered to whomsoever you might designate." The worthy friar Cirilo now goes into detfdls, as to the measures which he thinks most advisable to be adopted for the better administration of the temporal- ties of the order, and says : "I think that many other reforms will be necessary in the course of time, but I have mentioned, I believe, aU that was most important to be attended to$ in order to ciire a body which has^ been diseased from ite very crea- tion *, for father Dagobert has allowed a free course to the distemper. It is ^rtain that wh«i he came to the colony, aU tho^e wJio' saw Mm then i»y thAt h^ was poorer than we are, ftnd that he h$d notysg but his Vi (5 ^1 ••# •Jl m' 66 THB OLEBOT OF LOUISIANA IS 111% iM jiiJ •«'■ breviary and his gown, whilst the king has provided as with all our necessaries. But I know that I am a capu- chin ; thatf as such, I cannot even own any of the things I need, and that only their tem^iorary use is permitted to me. For this reason, as well as to save my soul, and in order that I may not have to answer before God for the souls of others, should it become my lot to organize and reform this mission, I would do the work with the most careful precision, and be the first to give the good example in my person ; because, if the said father Dago- bert, who has been Superior so long, had been a true capuchin and had behaved as such, there would have been no necessity for reforms in this convent, or mission. In all sincerity I entreat your grace not to think of me as vicar general of this province^ not that I anticipate the fate of St. Benoit, who was murdered by the very monkn who had elected him their abbot. I do not suspect these to be capable of such a crime, nor do I fear death, because I should be jboo happy to die for the greater glorification of the Lord ; but I think my abilities unequal to the task. I conclude with praying God to enlighten your Grace in this aflGur, as on those occasions in which you have dis- played so much zeal, prudence and gentleness of heart." The governor's letter, to which father Cirilo refers, had been addressed by that functionary, on the 11th of July, to the bishop of Havana, and contained a detailed and minute statement of the ecclesiastical organization of the province of Louisiana. " Under the king of France, her former master, she eiyoyed," said he, "the fullest and most entire liberty. Her inhabitants were subjected to no other authority than that of the laws, and were ruled by no other customs than those of Paris, The principal and almost only act of sovereignty, exercised by the king, oonfflsted in ^pointing the judgesj,, The whole aim of the French government was to people and cause to flourish cat pittb] SUCCi ■'■!*i>« W^ % ,v *?-' x^ THE OUBBOT OF LOVJBIANA IN 1771 6T a cotintiy, which gave the promise, through its fertility, of being converted into an immense and profitable realm, when its primitive wildnens should have been subdue J by the labors of cultivation. In order to accomplish this end, favors and rewards were granted to the colonist:^, to stimulate their exertions. They met with no impedi- ments, provided they were active, industrious, and labo- rious, and they were not controled in their religions sentiments, in order that the disturbances which a con- trary course would have produced, should not retard the increase of the population. The king used to pay out of his treasury a mission of capuchins, who ministered to the spiritual wants of the colony, under the superinten- dence of the bishop of Quebec. This bishop appointed for his vicar general a Jesuit, to whom he delegated the au- thority of granting dispensations with regard to man'iage publications, and the impedin^ents to wed arising from the blood relations of the parties. But the firiar, Hilaire de Gfenoveauic, having been made Superior of the mission of capuchins by the provincial of the provmce of Cham- pagne in France, began to question the Jesuit's powers, which he pretended to be vested in him alone, as the high prelate and curate of this parish. He further asserted thiat the bishop's jurisdiction was limited to mere acts of supervision. This produced the noise which is the natural consequence of disputes of the kind. In the meanwhile, father G«noveaux went to France, and re- turned with the title of apostolic prothonotary, on the strength of which he claimed such privileges, that he added new fiiel to the Jesuit's rage, and their wranglings were renewed. The Jesuit, in his capacity of vicar ge>ne- ral of the bishop of Quebec, asked of the Superior Coun- cil the expulsion of his antagonist as a perturber of the pUbHe, peace and usurper of episeopiO. jurisdicl^on, and succeeded in his application. TMs event and tiie sub- * * f^- t^^ mi '^M m km 1 m I^U^? fl '"'iWJM Kf||v^jfigfi m^ETl ,'3tjfM ^mII ii^*"8 ^P^^&1fy ' ■''[■^^•^ ■H wmmm 'It ^'^^i .-■ ,<»*' 68 v?", THE CLEEGY OP LOTJISIANA IS llli. •i sequent exile of the Jesuits were the cause that father Dagobert became the Superior of the mission and the vicar general of th^ bishop. He is a pacific man, much liked by the people and by those placed under his juris- diction. Thus stood matters when his Majesty took possession of the province, and his excellency, Count O'Reilly, made, no change in its religious organization beyond expelling some Jews and Protestants." The Governor then went into an enumeration of the priests of the colony, of the places where they were located, and of the functions they discharged. '^ All those friars," said he, " are excellent men, and give the good example ; but among them there are some who are well informed, and others scarcely instructed as to the duties of their sacred calling ; aU, however, labor zealously to the best of their abilities and knowledge, and they are familiar with the great poverty and destitution of their parishioners. Among them, father Dagobert obtained the esteem of Count O'Reilly and the good will of all the Spaniards by his kindness and the prudence of his de- portment. He is beloved by the people, and, on the ^rounds which I have stated, I consider him entitled to the favor of your Grace." The Governor goes into many details as to the revenues of the church and the emoluments of the priests, who, to use his expressions, had more than enough to live with as much decency and decorum as their position requii*ed# "The Nuns, who are very few," said he, "are supported by the king on the same footing with the (sapuchins, and his Majesty pays them a pension for a certain number of. orphans th€sy jeducate. They possess a plaatation with slaves, and another without any, under the administra- tion of the^rioress,; who liyei cloistered, and und^r the direction of t^Leir chapl^. These plantations are as badly managed, throi^h want of proper knowledge, ^, #"' '■f. THE CaaEBOT OF liOUISIANA ET 111% 69 •ly, ■ .;A % tha*(rfthe^apucJaiiSj and they ai^^^^^a^ a source of ex- pense both to the capnchins and the Nuns, rather than of revenue. The excessive kindness of father Dagobert permits, that there be in the convent of these firiai-s young blackwomen and mulattresses, who are their slaves, and who were bom on their plantation. This is contraiy to the sacred dispositions of the canons of the church, and the prudence of your Grace will know how to cure this distemper without cauterizing the patient. "The bishop of Quebec seems to have delegated to his vicar here the faculty of granting dispensations, \^ith regard to marriage prohibitions, and the impediments to wed arising from consanguinity, and also the privilege of permitting the celebration of marriages, according to his Judgmentj at the residences of the parties either in the country or in the town. But in general that ceremo- ny is performed at church, in conformity with the wishes of the parties themselves. Marriage is a very solemn contract among the French, and a sacrament of felicities (y un Sacramento de felicidadas). According to the laws and bid customs of the territory, minora cannot marry without the express consent of their parents ; such marriages were declared null and clandestine, and repro- bated as conducive to seducing away young girls from the legitimate authority under whose keeping they were placed. This.:is harsh, and your Grace will determine what is suitable in so serious a matter, from which depends public tranquility. v^ " It is net the practice here to force any one to sub- mit to the Church, and the process of excommunication is held in utter abomination. I assure your Grace, how- ever, that those who live out of the paie of the Chnrch are very few. These people are devout;, respectful, and edifying in their deportment wheri in churchr^ But^ to go to confession and receive l^esacrftznent, is a thing un^ 1 *.. ^^iP # 4<: -^^Ai. 1 \:}n.: ,^t'»l ^ :a if IP' »"i''" •e^f- Jp-i- 70 THE CLERGY OP LOUISIANA IN llli. known with iLe male part of the population. They look, upon it as an act of hypocrisy, and as treating with le^'ity the holiest sacrament, whose mystery they worship vnth. the deepest and humblest veneration. : Hence it results that thoy approach, for the first and last time, the communion table, on reaching the age of puberty. " The Church here enjoys no immunities and privi- leges, and its jurisdiction is entirely confined to the- spiritual. The affiancing of parties, the nullity or validity of the marriage contract, the granting of a perpetual divorce, or a temporary separation, all this falls under the cognizance of the secular power, to which the clergy itself is subjected for any crime which may be committed by one of its members. Marriage here was considered in the light of a civil contract only, and the clergy, as in France, exercised no judicial prerogative over their feUow-subjects. In order to establish in this province the ecclesiastical jmisdiction without any (liritjirl)ance or scandal, it would be proper that your vicai'-general should be satisfied with making known, verbally, what are the matters, among those of little importance, which he considers to be of his competency, and that he should proceed therein with moderation, Avithout the bustling apparatus of a court of justice, and without costs to the parties. But in cases of a serious nature, such as those which may arise from the act of affiancing, from the alleged validity or nullity of a marriage, or an application for a final divorce, when the parties, or the facts of the case, are of sufficient import- ance to excite public attention, it would be advisable not to proceed here beyond the taking down of all the testimony required, and to submit it to your Grace, or to your vicar-general in Havana^ for adjudication ; and, considering that father Dagobert, your vicar-general here, is ro jurist, your Grace might advise him to ^ THE OLBBGT OP LOUISIANA IS 1772. 71 M'^W^ consult, in such matters, my auditor, &c. In this way, should my suggestions meet your approbation, our laws and customs would be introduced insensibly, without clashing too abruptly with those to which the people of this country have been accustomed." The Governor went on informing the bishop of Ha- vana, that the ecclesiastical registries were in the greatest state of disorder, being kept in the most ridiculous and filthy manner, and recommended the adoption of the plan which was followed in Havana, for the keeping of similar records. He also said that it was customary in the province, to administer to those convicts who were sentenced to death the sacred sacrament of penitence only, but that he saw no inconvenience in following the regulations of the Spanish clergy on the subject. " It seems proper to me," said he, " that all the Friars who have now some employment, should be retained in the same, and father Dagobert, for one year, in that of vicar-general. In the mean time, the Spanish Friars will have acquired all the knowledge they may want, and then one of them may be selected to succeed the present incumbent, on the ground that a man who has worked so, long is entitled to repose. Nevertheless, he ill always be glad to officiate, because singing in church is with him a passion. The other Friars will follow his orders, as to the discharge of their sacred funciu ns. It is their duty to take charge of the souls, and, in it^ ac- complishment, they will move* to the right or to the left, as the necessity of the case may require, and >vith that entire 8ubml«>sion which is to be expected from the sons of obedience," (hijos de obediencia.) It is evident, from the tone of these two letters, that father Cirilo was laboring under a delusion, as subsequent events will show, when he said that : " the governor and himseilf would always be of the same mind." On the :^^mi m m % w^ 4^ f mm H. ■(■'■ ■ •■ 'ts-*. ■•■■ % 12 THE OLERGY OF LOUISIANA IN 111^ ISth of September, he had become much ex£.^perated, ftxid e3q)ressed himself as follows to the bishop of Cuba. " Most illustrious sir, I will proceed to make known to your Grace the circumstances which caused father Bago- bert to become the Superior of this province. When Louisiana was ceded to Spain, the chiefs - f the insurrection which broke out shortly after, communicated their rebel- lious intentions to father Hilaire de Genoveaux, who was then the ecclesiastical superior of the colony, and requested him to lend them his assistance in driving the people into the premeditated revolution. He, who folly appre- ciated the consequences of such an act, would not con- sent to it, and then they applied to this father Dagobert, to whom they made the same proposition. This friar, who aimed at nothing but power, not only assented to what was asked of him, but did a great many other things. Matters being t^us arranged, the chiefs c" the sedition seized father Genoveaux, embjirked him loaded with chains, and transported him out of the colony. Father Dagobert, having thus got rid of his Superior, wrote to the head of the order in Gh^npagr ", that this father Genoveaux had run away to the English, and, on this representation, got himself confirmed iL tht office to which he had been promoted. But, with i3gard to this father Dagobert, it happens that he has forgotten to notify the faithful of the coming of Ember weeks. His attention b«ng called to this omission, he solved the difficulty by transferring the observance of these sa^ed days to the week following. We replied to him that we did not feel authorized to pursue such a cours-B, and he then observed : " Very well ; you may fast this week, if you please, but the public will on the next." Thus you see that he arrogates to himself more poorer than is possessed by the Pope, and that he changes, on his o\/n private authority, all the regulations of the chui'ch. '^ % ' iitiifi' up .* >*.%.. ^^, TJHE CLERGY OF LOUISIANA IS llli. 75 After- all, these things but coniGbja the truth of this asioiB: whure /cmIs the fea/r of Qod^ tliere faUa every thing else. What remains for us to do is to write to the Court, to obtain the disniission of father Dagol>ert, and, perhaps, of some other persons.^ I think that it would require' very little eflfort to obtain this dismission, and i^ to replace these men,, there did not come Capuchins enough from Castile, there would be no lack of them; in my province of Catalona that would come here." This despatch had hardly been closed, when his m- dignation, ii: seems, gathering fresh strength with the passing hour, forced hun to resume his pen on the veiy same day, and to disburthen himself in the following strain : " Illustrious sir, the evUs by which we are sur- rounded coripel us to expose the wicked actions which these monsters, rather than Capuchins, perpetrate against om' persons.* /gainst God and his holy thing8.f It is not my intention, most excellent sir,, to trouble you with trifles, and therefore, with regard to what concerns our- selves, I shall merely say that the very Spanish name is || an object of abomination to these Friars, because they cannot even bear the sight of the things which are of God, and which appertain to our divine religion, and because these Friai-s or monsters think that we have come to repress the abuses v^hich they love, and to re- form their evil ways. Therefore tibey hate us, and such IB the reason why we cannot obtain from them even what is necessary to the so very Innited wants of a poor Capuchir-=-suoh, for instance, as a table to write on, an humble box wherein to put our wearing apparel, paper, inkj quill9 and other trifles. When the^ h&ve bags so full c£ dollars, we are obliged to have recourse to our friejids to relieve oar necefiisities. * Hie Spani^ Oapnehina. f T sua ooass aagradas. f ■ # " '.* 'Wf;. u THE CLERGY OF LOUISIANA IN 1*11%." "What is most deplorable is to see in the colivent the concubine of the friars, for such is the reputation she bears. She has three sons, althoiigh who her hus- band is God only knows. They eat at our table and off the plates of father Dagobert, who, without shame, or fear ol the world at least, if not of God, permits then^' to caU him papa. She is one of the mulattresses who are kept in the house. She is the absolute mistress of the whole ept^^lishment, and the friars have for her so much att '('timent, that they strive who shall send to the cherishrj naramour the ussc dish on the table, before any oiiG ^i us is allowed to taste it. To witness such tM 'n. an ' to be silent oat of the sheerest complaisance, is wliat < 'ves additional poignancy to our grief. But these si ' Jngs, being supported for the sake of God, to whose service we have consecrated ourselves, will make more meritorious the labors which we have undergone to please our God and our monarch (whom may God have in his holy keeping !). There are, however, greater evils which afflict our hearts, and -which are the sins they clearly commit against God and his holy sacraments. Baptism is administered without any of the ceremonies prescribed by the Rom»h ritual, and the consecrated oil itself is impure and stale. Children are christened when it suits the whim or caprice of their parents, and hence months will elapse previous to the performance of this ceremony. But father J^agob'^rt never fails eating at the house of the parents of tke newly christened child. All of which things are unworthy of a man who is the ecdesiastical head of this province. As to the Eucharist, tltfit niystery which makes the angels tremble with awe, we found that the sacramental elements were so full of insects which fed on them, and presented so disgusting an appearance, that it was necessary to fling them intci^ the Jakes, as if they had been the veriest filth. So gi'eat '"^.t: :i.- THE OLElttOY OF LOUISIANA IN 1772. 76 -i^ is the detestable negligence of these men, that I think they are the disciples either of Luther or Calvin I The consecrated oil is never renewed, either because they think that it is incorruptible, or because, like the heretics, they do not believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist after the utterance of the consecrating words ; and the proof of it is, that, on our remonstrating with them on this state of things, one of them answered with the greatest serenity that he had kept two years a large consecrated wafer, and had not thought necessary to change it. Nor is less the irreverence with which they behave when they exhibit the Host to the people ; for without singing, or burning any incense, they take it out of its small tabernacle^ and expose it in the most indecent manner ; or, at Vespers, they '^ing the /Sahe Megma^ and also on the first Sundays of every month. The Host being exposed, they sing the Miserere^ de Profundis^ and requiem^ c§o.— which practices are contrary to the rules of the breviary and to the decretals. " This father Dagobert is a great hand at giving vmh the sacrament the benediction to the people, whenever it is desired by them. Thus, in a little more thMi a month, he gave it eight times. He is no less fond of making processions, for which he has no authority, and for which there is no necessity ; and, what is still more singular, when thus going out in procession, he abandons the Host without leaving any priest to watch over it. Once I saw him go out with the Viaticum without order- ing the bells to be rung, and with as little ceremony as if he was bent only on taking a walk. I say that I have seen him caiTy the Viaticum but once^ although many are the deaths that have occurred ^noe I am here. You must also be made to know, most excellent Sir, that the Viaticum is not administered to the blacks, to ^e mulattoes, nor to the culprits who are sentenced to death ; ;* # .^t % u £ M, im £ >■ W.« J^ 76 .-"HT'^ THE CLEBaY OF LOUISIANA IN 111% and, having asked father Dagobert for the cause of it, ^ I was answered that it was to establish a distinction be- tween the blacks and whites. Did you ever hear a more cruel answer ? Moreover, having inquired if he shrove them, he told me that he did, but that they never took the sacrament of the Eucharist. Was there eve^^ such ignorance in any priest ? Who wUl account to God foi r this neglect and for the sins of these poor people, who are not taught to participate in the blessed sacrament of communion at the hour of their death ? Nor is less the indecency with which, in sight of the e3q)osed Host, these priests demean themselves in the choir, where they are seen stuffing theii* noses with tobacco, crossing one leg on the top of the other, staring round in every direction, scandalizing the people, and moving the very angels to wrath. " With regard to the sacrament of penitence, as God alone can know how it is administered, we must leave it to Him to express His judgment upon it, when the day shan come. I shall only say that these priests do not knoT- nor ever have known, nor ever will know any- thing of morals and religion, for since our coming to this ' colony, we have never known them to remain in their convent beyond the time required to eat and sleep ; and with regard to father Dagobert, here is m a few words how he lives : he rises at six in the morning, says or does not say mass (such mass as he says !) preparing himself in this way for the duties of ihe day. He then goes to chui'ch, hardly makes the proper genuflection, claps on iiis bonnet, says his mass which does iiot last a quarter of an hour, without any of the prescribed ceremonies, uncovers his head, makes another genuflection as for grace, and taking his thi'ee-oomered hi^t, which is a vei*y superfluous and unworthy appenda^'^e for a capuchin, h© goes (withe iit thinking of sfiying ^ny A-'ve J|f«m, except ..* II ■f * p TSB OLEBaT OF LOTJIBUJXA. IN 1779. 11 it be for goodly dollars, and in abundance) to a some- ;what suspicious house, whei'e be plays until tbe dinner hour. When that me^ is over, he resumes the occupa- tion in which he was engaged, and continues in it until supper time, so that it is very doubtful whether he com- plies with divine worship. With regard to extreme unction, I have not been able to ascertain how this sacrament is admimstered, and I do not know whether it is administered at all, but I believe that they carry it in their purse.* " With regard to the holy sacrament of marriage, it is in its administration that the greatest abuses are com- mitted. In the first place, we have good grounds to suppose that they obsei've none of the ceremonies of their ritual, which is the Romish, and I have already remarked that, with the exception of the poor and the blacks, none marry in church, but that our Superior goes about, either in the town or out of it, marrying people in their own houses, where he says mass and re- mains with them to participate in all the festivities of the occasion. Since my coming here there have been many marriages, but the parties have every time been granted a dispensation for the required publications, for no other purpose than that of getting money, which is his god. I faiow that all this is to be paid for and well too, because I am informed that thirty dollars have to be given for a mass with a Inbera me Dom/My an:d one hundred and fifty for a solerim service for the dclad. I am not aware of what is paid for the othfer sacjrftments. We have neVerseen tiiese |)riests celebraftetite marriage ceremony for any black couple, except it be for a negro who resided in the house c^ a Spaniard, ^d &ven this was done with a good de^ «f repugnanee or the part * ■■# w 1HP ^ For que creo qiie To trtten L'tk fiflCriqaeMk * % ^i mfl • .•31-'-i# .*» '){^ 78 THE CLEBOY OF LOUISIANA IN 1772. of father Dagobert, wli objected that this was not cus- tomary, and thf. this iiegio, like all those of his class, was living, to the knowledge of his masters, in a state of, concubinage ; finally, in order to get the assent of father Dagobert, it was necessai^ to resort to the author- ity of the Governor." Father Cirilo next complains that no care is taken to teach and propagate the Christian doctrine. He enume- rates other abuses and ecclesiastical malfeasances, and recommends the introduction of certain reforms and practices. He then winds up saying: " On reading all this, your Grace must be greatly astonished that the Govenior has recommended this Father Dagobert to be continued one year in office as vicar-gei sral of this province, and still more — that I should have joined in that recommendation, although I must confess that the Governor had told mti that this priest wjis excessively ignorant, but I could not persuade myself that it was to such an extent. It ijOw appears certain to me that his ignorance is sueli, tLii. he is incapable of being trusted with the spiritual go% enunent of this colony, and there- fore I say (and I am supported in my opinion by my companions, by the most respectable people in this pro- vince, and by the colonel, whose understanding is of the highest order) that not only ought father Dagobert to be deprived of his chai'ge, but that he ought also to be expelled from the colony, to be punished according to his deserts, and sentenced to a proper penance for his personal faults and the enormous sins which he has caused some of his flock to commit, and for which there are the gravest reasons to believe that those who have died are now in hell. ,., ♦*Your Grace, knowing so well the good nature and the pacific dispositions of the Governor, will easily con- ceive how it is that he is desirous of giving satis&e^on •KS'. # f i4 *' m THE 0LEB6T OF LOXTISIAIfA IN 111% 79 M) these friara, not beoanse he is not fully aware of their misdeeds, not because he does not see that there is no punishment which they have not deserved, and that it would be proper to drwe them out of the Itmd^ as him- self has e3q)ressed it to me, but because, when these capu- chins knew that the Spaniards were coming up the river, they stirred up the town and persuaded the Governor that, if they were sent away, all the people " uld also depart; whereupon that officer quieted ' 'ars by telling them that the Spaniards were not > > turn them out of the country. But your Grac< ■t be- lieve in the general emigration with which v. t- arc tiireat- ened. It would be confined to a few of father Dagobert's relations, who would starve, if they were not supported by him. This father Dagobert has promised the Gover- nor that he would do all that your Grace would pre- scribe, and, satisfied with this pledge, the Governor is willing that the friar should remain vicai^general for one year, and that I should then take his place. Perhaps it would be good policy that he who has done so much harm should be the person to repair it. But how can it be expected from one who is not only evil minded, but who is also strongly suspected of some Qrror of faith? With regard to all the promises which he has ^ven ta the Governor, I know that he has not kept one ; the Governor, however, with his usual good nature, contents himself with saying that the father wiU in due tune re- deem his pledges. But should he do so, he would have i better reasons to complain of his being deprived of the digm'ty of vicar-general, and should he remain in office, it would be extremely difficult to reconcy;e to such a dis- appointment those who imagine that they will soon see him dismissed, not only .nil the Spaniards, whor would rejoice at such an event, but also a good many of the Frene]bij4,ii?l|etweeii us and those priests. The motive of all the delays to which the Governor resorts m — ^that he ho^)e8 to receive, at every moment, permission to ret^e from the colony, and he thinks that if he were once out of the way, we and the Frendi capuchins wotdd be forced to come to some understanding. But may it please ^d. that this Governor do not depart before we take posses- sion of the church here, if we are ever destined to do so, because \fith some other governor (and God only knotes what his turn of mind may be !) we ^ould perhaps be obliged to appeal to the court — ^which we might, without fear of trouble, undertake to do with this governor. The language which I speak is as plain as it is weU foun- ded, because, on my meiitioning to the Governor what I had written^ and on my telling hun that I reproached myself with having consented to father Dagobert's being continued in the office of vicar^eneral for another yedjp, that my conscience upbraided me for having acted with such kvity, and that we both should have to account to God for the sins wMeh we had permitted^ lie approved me in everjrthing, and expressed the opinion (which is mine also) that this father Dagobert being once removed, the evil would be cut by the root ; and this said Gover- nor has also confessed to me that he would petition the court for the removal of this fiiar I r '. ^ / ''Under such circumstances, J would advise your Grace ^ther to send here an impartial person to look ^ into the state of, the church, or to jnlxiist me with a^ the necessary powers to go through the work of reform ; JfeTy when onee in possdssioii ctf^&fi,XjcM?d?8 vineyard^ I, shall not lose siglit of my o]»%atioB to lab<»r therein as I ought, and IshaU act aiseo^dmgly, mtd. im emforntity with the sentim^vof Bt. Mairtin asd 8& Paul who sud<: '' ^i tk^ feao'sdno eP0atedih/i»gffwt<4eai^ nor cmy ^ ooBtera^ With the informatioii which I have hud before ■Ft. « TttB CLJBltGT OF LOUISIAKA IN 1771 81 your Grace, it fe in ycrai* Grace's power to judge of the extent of the work td be done. What is c^ain is that I cannot believe that father Bagobert is to remain vica^genetal. **'I feel mnch compnnction at having been obKged to make yotut^ Grace acquainted with the faults of thes^^ bad men, which I would have kept from your know^ ledge, if my motivb in disclosing them had not been the glorification of God. I cim safely alHhn that father Ddgobert wiU not perforin any of the things which he has promised to do, nor will remedy any of the existing evils. Thus, on my having inquired why he did not reconmiend t6 th6 pubKc the observance of such holy- da,ys as were celebrated in Spain, he answered me, in the presence Of many witnesses, that it wa^ beoaiiibe he did^ not choose to do so, that no one had the r^t to give' him orden^, and Unit nothing should be done in thej c61ony exeept according to his will From this you may judge whether We oould fwd justified in entertaining any hope of (Operating the -il^htest salutary reform. I have not failed to throw out a gocyd mimy iiisinnai^ons to these priests, but their imiform answer is: tliat they (we M Spofifdin^ and tha^ besides our mere aasertioa^* thejr have no othcar pi\x>f that your Grace is the bishop of l^is diocese. It must jl^e confessed thitt' tlie^^ have some grounds fas t!ik es^onlEiei beeoaia^ the Cbvernpr has thought propier to keep in his possession the lei&r in T7hieh^yei|iFGf»eemvefirted me wdth all i^e powers which you had giyexe to fft^er AngeL I have rance^hi^d no f^h^ fid^ til th^ lieti^r^^i^ GovFeroidr has m^' 6oiiKtnttnk»te^^ eoiitenli to ihese Bfl^rs, beeaoae thiB|^ «8:^as th^ V^rie belbre, and tiie fied: #ith being Wiclfikl^hemse they atsp wish ti» to folk^ iSiciHetfliBlj^ fsfM 6 m ■m ^ Mi * M % -'*• 4 t e ffliT 1 ^ w^ «« THE OLEBaY OF LOUISIANA IN WtS. fasting and observing the holydays. As an excuse for their doings, they say that they are not Spaniards. 1 entreat you, whenever you have any orders to give which you wish to be executed, to send them directly to me. I can assure your Grace that they spare no efforts to make me like one of them, and to induce me to wear a shirt and stockings, and to become as lax in my morals and habits as they are. They think that, if they could seduce me, they would have no trouble with my com- panions. But having voluntarily assumed the heavy burden of a Capuchin's life, and, by leaving my country, having thrown myself into purgatory although still in this world, I will tax myself to the utmost to be true to the position in which I have placed myself, and to dis- cord the world and its allurements, in order not to lose the merits of all my sacrifices by following the example of these priests (which God forbid I). On the contrary, I hope that He may give me the power to reform them, to make them conscious of thfe wickedness of their life, and to induce them to purify themselves- by prayer^ prayer ! — ^which is the soul of the priesthood.* " It is said that these priests have secreted afi the* silver plat« and money which they possess. Tim is very bad, bu^ very little importance to us who know that, with thv -olp of the king and of God^ we stall never be wanting in any thing, and shaiH have bread enough to live. I hope that your Grace will soon a#0rd some consolation to the Spaniards, and that you will not oblige us to remain subjected to an unworthy Suji^iioJi*' In thus hoping, I rely on God, whOj in every thiiig, has so far gmded your Grace in such a way as to make ikll your acts redound to 1^ greater glory, Ac., &c. I hope that He will fill your breast with His grace, so as to * Qa« el la aliDA 06 los aao«rdo(ML ■'0, '4^ w TK£ OtEBOT OF TjOXmiiStA tS hl2. enable yon to help and direct ns in weisding His ^dne- yai-d ite^, lirhich reqmres more labor than if it was to be planted for the first time," d by assuming the garb of the Jew among the Jews, of the pagan among the pagans, and by shaiing even in theanfirinities of the sick. On the whole, I refer myself to what I haFe previously comniunicated to your Grace, and from which your Grtfce will no^ doubt infer that many of the synodical rej^ations canUot be aj^lied to this province without injuiy to the interests (^ the king, the number of whose vk^als might Jb^dimi^ niihed-QQ^derftbly^ if those K^5uktiolis^fef6lt1^empted to b^rcanisd into iexeou^on, 'and y(jfir Grace Mil easily unde gable zeal. The quarrel of these priests was far &om bdng settled in 1778, and on the 10th of July^ Governor Un^aga wrote as follows to the Bishop: >^ cannot understand mitted t& your Grace against tjiis friar, I have abstained ^ fr*om interfering with hii?u It Js t-ru« t}iat, at firs^, he joined the Spamah friars against fathev Bagobert. But, for the preseiit^ he keeps aloof from bo^ parties luid remains quiet in his chamberf where_ he.devoties Hpself « \ ^^• jofidefa^ « #■■;' THB OLEBGT OF LOUISIANA W 17f8. 87 entirely to study, in the silence of solitude. I repeat that he is a good man, and that his talents m^e him very usefbl to the ehnrch, although his pride disqualifies him for the position of a chief or superior. Finally, you will " think as you please on the subject, but with regard to myself, I know how difficult it is to come to a correct appreciation of the true merits of men of that sacred caUing, when they choose to quarrel among themselves. "In your last communication^ you said that you were informed that each of the French capuchins had received one thousand dollars for his share of the perquisites cot lected during the year for the funeral rites and ceremo- nies only, and that father Dagobert made light of the bull of the Santa Oruzada. Both assertions are false. The first will provoke a smile, and the second, a sorrow- ful indignation. How is it possible not to laugh at the impudence of the first assertion,, when it is known tb^t there is not in New Orleans and its environs a population of two thousand spuls of all professions and conditions ; and the greater portion of those people are so poor that, when they die, they are buried with no other charges or expenses ^an four reat' paid to the man who goes to the graveyard to give then i sepulture. The origin of the extraordinary information sent to your Grace proceeds no doubt from the fact that this capital has suffered greatly from the small pox, and that there hate been a ^ great many deaths ; but many of the dead were black and white child]*en, whose parents were too poor to pay r^ at^ funeral duirges. **AIL that I could learn concerning the alleged con- tempt of father Bagobert for the bull lot \h». SarUa GruiXida* is t)iAt, in conversation, he said tl^t it was J^ .Ili« prioutMre objtMt of the BoUof the Sknte OpaaAimMio granu indul gMiees fo AllSpAfaiarda fihat^i^iild «tigi^iipe(l»n»liy1ii vising war •(^aatthe ^^ infidelti o» wwiribiDte^'Wl^^i^^ Tl;* pHoeWil^ BdU wm fixed afr 81 c^Mr<# #' %: %. m w I.L. ■ d8 TBB OLKBOT OF LOUISIANA Uf lilt. unknown in France, and that in the Indies it was valuiu ble only on account of the graces and privileges attached to it, 1< lowing explanatory one which Governor Unzaga wrote t6 him on the 12th of September, 1773 : "Most excellent sh', you inform me that the expressions, / well know Iww difficult it is to come to a correct a^predoMorh of ths true merits of msn of that sacred caOmg^ when they choose to qua/rrel a/numg themsdves^ had. caused you to look into all the correspondence which lay before you, and that you could find nothing in it that could justify the language which I have used. You conclude with saying that you have submitted the whole of it to the king, and that you are awaiting the decision of his royal wisdom. As I naturally suppose that you have also submitted all my letters to lus Majesty, I have nothing to add on this controversy j because the exquisitely sagacious judgment with.which he is gifbed will decide every thing according to the best interests of his royal s^rvitijje, ; I will ^erely observe that Ida not conceive to% or 14 to 15 ofints. Ko oat1ioli«, iidubHiiig Spftio, eoald abstain li!aiu<;po>- diaaing this Bull, without ex^pung l)i» orthodoxy to raspidon. When proTid«d with tfais BoH, he ^had, lunong other privilegp* that of eating fleah, with tlM eoiAv ms^ of hie phjaiciaa and eenfee^or^iand alio ef ^qjdiig agge i»d aSO^ dpv4*jni^ Ibft.apd during iicnoLt. V ■•4 I '^ TBB CLZBOT OV LOUIBIAlfA IK 1778. 89 Inhere yon liavc seen in any part of my correspondence that I LavB, as you say, characterused an barbarooB the If^goage of the Spanish Capnchinsy and mnoh less that I have c^^ tiiis colony a French province^ in violation of the oath of allegiance which the colonists hare sworn to their new prince, who is as celebrated for his eqnity as for the goodness of his heart It is to be regretted, most excellent sir, that words do not bear the stamp of the sonl of him who nses them. There would not* be so many misconceptions in this world. God knows that my heart loves your Grace most tenderly, that my hands press without distrust the genetous ones of a prelate, who has long ago honored me with his friendship, and that I would lay down my life to wipe off the expressions which hfjji^e mortified your Grace. Tutn them ov«t and over, on every side, and you will see that they are appli- cable only to the Friars and tq their disputes* I so expressed myself for the discharge of my conscience f and, doubting my ability to act satisfisictorily in the premises, I referred all deciuon thereon to your Gracej i\a the only competent judge* I entreat your Grace to consider those expressions as having b^n^ctatedbyaii^ honorable delicacy of feelings, imdnotHso Iciok xipon> them as the inspirations of a sentiment of irritatbn which is foreign to my character and -incompatible^ withv my official position. It seems to me t^t ^e oomnaotf lot of human nature is for eaoh one to^judgie for himiB^> and' act for the best ■ If we do not agree kr the meanis to. be employed, let us abide by the ddoisi^ o£ our sovereign master^ who, besideB bAiy adimirtiei i^ w ith ■the' tenderest love for his subj^ctB, posseBsesvamiind oSitimh sanity that he soon discoveni^whiNt lithekr fw^WasiH' reqidffesi In alt this I do net see an^r eadiie of cqicK^ia^ % eiUh'B^ iji( US) at iea$t wfi^':m^wis^l^^^s^ ¥: > ■^ ■m ;^' .& I) m . .1.1 I 4 agMK 90 ant: .# CLEROT OF LOUISIANA IN lilt. m m over any body. My interest, in all this affair, is to re- ceive with due veneration the manifestations of the royal intentions, and to comply with them in every point. As fKK>n as they shall be made known to me, I will execute them strictly, according to my habit." i The bishop of Havana, not satisfied with the indiffer- ence which he thought that Unzaga had manifested in this religious controversy, had applied to the Marquis de la Torre, governor and captain general of the island of Cuba, and had requested him to stimulate what he called the indolence of the Governor of Louisiana. In reply to a communication from La Ton e on this subject, Unzaga wrote a long despatch reciting to the Captain General the causes of all these religious difficulties which, alter all, consisted in a mere struggle for powor among those priests, in which the interests of the king were not implicated in the slightest degree. He evidently sided with the French Capuchins, in whose favor he showed ^,- that his feelings were enlisted, and whom Jie defended against most of the accusations brought against them. He represented the Spanish Capuchins as being fiilly as ignorant as the French, and indeed it is impossible to read all he says, without coming to the conclusion that both the French and Spanish clergy in Louisiana, at the time, were not altogether worthy of their sacred mission. " I know the extent of the evil," said he, " but I believe that the application of the remedy is not in my power. To whichever side I might incUne, I discover a shoal which prevents me from acting with the activity and firmness which I might otherwise exhibit. If, doing violence to my conscience and honor, I supported father Cirilo, it would be securing the triumph of artifice and malignity, and oppressing mnoeen^e. Were I to fovor the other sidef I 'sfaotdd be obliged to remove father Cirilo to the remotest p^rt of the province, and his m "^' * A •^ 4. Jt. *t- TUB OLEBaT OF L0UI8IAKA IN ItfS. 01 Graoo, the bishop, might persuade himself that I deprive him of his man, and that I oppose his designs, whilst my most earnest wish is to execute them, provided they do not conflict with the interests of the king, and have not the tendency to cause the province to lose the little « which has remained of its former population. It would give muoh satisfaction, if his Grace wonld pay a visit to this colony to become acquainted with his flock and with the true state of things. He would soon be undeceived on many pomts, and perhaps would reform certain abuses. The people here will remain quiet as long as they are gently treated; but the use of the rod would produce confusion and ruin. Tueir dispositions are the result of the happy state of liberty to which they have been accustomed from the cradle, and in which they ought t. In this commuui cation he does not spare the Bishop, whom he accuses of an indiscreet severity which would, have dep^tpulated the colony, if he had, as governor, carried his Grace's pastoral instructions into execution. *^ The first docu- ;^ • ment by which," said he, " the new prelate made him- self known to the French Friars was a tissue of phrases, # in which he reproached them with having, committed crimes. What must have been their feelu^ towards him when they received such a mtiiufesto against their deportment, and particularly when they saw themselves upbraided for so many acts of a heinous character, which ^ wei« sheer ealumnies ! With regard to the people, they fonnd themselves threatened with exconmninication if II: :f- # ■$1 mm At ^:f 92 IUHE CLEBaY OP LOUISIANA IN lilt. they did not receive tlie sacrament at Easter, and tliey had to fear, as consequences of their refusal, to he sttb- jected to temporal punishments, such as imprisonmentj confiscation, and even the application of the diwapline 1^ of the holy office of the Inquisition, under the jurisdic- tion of which they were not bom, and to which thejr are hot accustomed. It was easy for me to foresee, that if the French Capuchins became disgusted with their new position, they woiild soon take refuge on some English vessel and be followed by a large por-' tion of the population; and, that should any body be excomr'unicated for not complying with the ^rrecept to take annually the sacrament at Easter, the same i-esults would ensue ; because the people would run away from the ecclesiastical rod, for which they have no' relish. " One of the chief revenue-s of the clergy here had been the granting of dispensations, which the Bishop now reserves to himself. < But if the heart were to draw ^ within itself all the blood which runs through the differ- ^ ent parts of the human body, those parts would wither from want of nutrition. How comes then the Bishop of Cuba, who says that he is not sparing of communicating to his subordinates the powers he possesseSj to retain in this case the most valuable ? And through what means does he expect the members of his diocese to subsist^ except they should be reduced to a state of spirituality and be above the wants of mortality I ^ ^ " How can he pretend to be sieving 1^ Mng, h» who, a)l the while, is stirringup with a firebrand the patience of his mtgesty's vassals ? H4 addresses th«n in a stiirly^ ton^ and deprives them of their perquisites on there^ day that he make? himself known to them I I ccmfess that there are in the provBiee abuses which mnst^be ieof< rected, although I deny the excesses in the existence of . which his Gh-aoe believes, beciiuse he is incorrectly im^ * m ♦ '# ^^ THE CtERGT OF LOTTfiiliKA IN 1778. n m. farmed. Ghimting tlie disesise with which the colony is afflicted, it fU^^s only that she wants the attendance of a physician*--^alid the tender nursing of a pastor — a wise physician who wiU graduate the doses of his treatment in accordanct^ with tibe tem^rament of the patient — and aberieVolent pastor who will conceal the rod and the shears. :;v ^' "I had offeW)d my services to Ms Grace from the be- ginni%;bntj far from adopting my views, which were such as to favor the interests of the king, without inters fering with the real substance of rdigion, he agreed with me on trifles mid disregarded my opinion on all matters of importance. Hetice the discord which is complained of. In order to appease the disorder, I used the authority with wMch Our pious king has inve^ed me, with su^h measure and J)ropriety as to prevent the public tranquil^ lity from being disturbed. But to those who had be^ir injured by a wrong beginning contentment was not re- stored. ' ** Although I &m. aware of the importance of repressing abuses, and Of establishing good habits, because they originate good laws and secure- their execution, yet I milst affii'm |^hat there is here no such moral deformity as has been depicted to his Grace, none which threatens society with the slightest damage^ and wMeh coidd tend to a breach in th^, observance of th<^ duties that ^Euthfri] subjects have to discharge towards Iheir prince. Why th^n all this idamor and outory^ Why this angf^^v? Why this furiotiisi 'Persecution^ which is capable of ronning intd^ resistance submission itself ? ** Ihave acted according tp the rnles of .s^^ when I have refiflsed tov lay a heavy^^hanc^ on! man^ abuser whioh, if they to^ jmjKh/.ia the^ ^^ slaekt disci{)Hne of the chnreh^ e^not be helciPo have that character with regard to so^ety or tihe^^l^y politic, ov m .'!?S t ^ :^ %?^ * ■^p •M' 94 UNZAOA's despatch OS the QUAKHICLS OS" THE aLEBGT. which deserve at least no other than clericdi punishment or repression. "What is it to the king, for instaiice; whether the French Capuchins consider the teal as amphibious and eat it on fast days, and follow other practices quite as insignificant, and which, through immemorial custom, have been thought to be legitimate among these people? There were more important abuses to which I called their attention, and which I have been the first to denounce. I hive corrected them through the gentle means of persuasion, and I have 6b-^ tained most excellent results without noise and scandal, by merely employing the powerful weapon of ridicule, and by clothing with rags what I wished to make con- temptible.* "Nevertheless his Grace, resenting the information I have laid before the Governor of Cuba, puts himself in motion against me, takes up offensive weapons, attacks me on certain expressions to which he has ^ven a mean- ing for which I am at a loss to account,, goes into a critical examination of my correspondence, and, in order to shelter himself, endeavors to prepossess the judgment of your Excellency, and to enlist in favor of his acts the piety of his Majesty." The Governor proceeds to a review of all the Bishop's acts, which he represents as impolitic and unnecessarily severe, and hints that he might have good grounds to consider himself insulted by the Bishop, who chose to disregard his representations as untrue, and to believe other individuals les& entitled than he is to credit aiid respect. "The people here," said he, *^ are neither vicious nor addicted to debauchery, lior opposed to our habits, although, in many respects, those habits disagree with their ttJItes. They have some of their own, as RidicnllzaificloIoB y visUendo los de sndrftgot. ^k. # * # XmZkCkJiB DESPATCH OK THE QUABEELB OF THE CLEBQT. 95 other people have, to wWcli they are madi attached — and this is very natural Those habits are not m con- flict with the primordial obligations of society; they are not to be eradicated at once, bnt must be removed ^adnally and almost imperceptibly. '* His Grace says, that so anxious was he to keep np good harmony between himself and me, that he took care to Send all his orders through me, submitting them to my jirdgment^ and that; in this way, I was quite as much the Bishop as the Governor of the province ; but the truth is that he wanted to constitute me his executive o!ffi- cer and bailiff (Ibcal de v&ra), rather than his adviser. "The Prelate exalts the virtues of father Cirilo ! 1 do not know whether the ambition* which lurks benea,th the coarse woollen gown of the mon||.can be held up' as a pattern of virtue^ but I am sure that, for a monk, to have sown dissension between his brefcen and thte Prelate who is their Superior, is an act sufficiently mean to make him fall from that pedestal of probi^ to which his Grace wishes to raise him, on account of his opposi- tion to imaginary licentiousness." The Governor then takes up one by one all the accu- sations brought against the French Capuchins, and avers that there is no foundation for them. "What they may dointh)^ cells,*^ said he, "and w;hat their secret sins may be, I cannot tell ; but Fknowihat they give no bad examples, and that they inculcateno unsound doctrine. And how many times does it not happen that the preaohei^s sermons and his acts are at variance 1 How comes the Prelate to be acquainted with the existence of crimes, Which, monstrous as they ai^e rej^'eeented to be, I have not been able to detect, although I am f the V .. o^tii bi^o d gnicM aayal a- # v ■■*. n ■^ ^ ■*■■• _^^l 96 unzaoa's pespatoh ok the quabbbls of the clergy. king, who will not put faith in the denunciations of certain individuals, prompted by personal ambition or baser ; motives, in preference to the assertions of his governor^ whom he knows to be worthy of belief. I trust in the humane intentions of his Majesty, who never loses sight for one moment of the welfare and happi- n^s of his subjects, and who has always striven to introduce the influence of reli^on and morality in his domains, not by abrupt force, nor by producing affliction and complaints, but thi'ough the salutary effects of sweet and mild persuasion, of good example and of wholesome admonition. These are the flowery and pleasant paths through which the Holy Evangelists and their true fol- lowers have invariably proceeded in establishing a reli-, gjon of peace. His Majesty will decide whether the conduct of theBibhop of Havaaa, who has presented him- self sword in hand, is in conformity with the pious intentions of the royal breast, and is worthy of the apostolic ministry. " Aii enlightened prudence and a good deal of tolera- tion are necessary here, for although this is a Spanish province, and, although Count O'Eeilly endeavored to make its inhabitants forget the former domination under which they had lived so long, still I capnot flatter his majesty so much as to say that the people hav^ ceased to be French at heart, and that in them is not to be found that spirit of independence w^ich causes resistance to oppressive laws. But I will affirm that they are sm- ^^ptible of being siibmiasiYe and loyal subjects, that they entertain great veneration for their ancient laws^ and that the state of felicity which they now Mijoy is a guaranty tQ«in^ that th^y are not ta be suspected of being disposed tofa^ in. theii^^utifis towards the csown^ Therefor^ do I endeavor to keep them in the colony, and to sect^re their love and B^rv|(^.to the king^jathout caring in the ill .^(. UKZAGA B jyVSPATOa OH Tim qUABBlEtB OF THE OLEBOY. 97 least for wliat I deem to be foolaries.* After the blow whloli the colonisia drew upoutlieskselves by their late revolution, the infliction of another wonld be taDtamount to utter destruction." Considering that this document was addressed to the Court of Spain, and that it was written against li high dignitary of the church in a country where it is supposed to havQ possessed lor centuries so much power, it U im-' possible not to be struck with Governor Unzaga^s bdd language. The Spanish government, which has the re- putation of being so considerate and temporiring in all its decisions, acted on this occasion with its usual pru^ deuce. It suj^ortedthe Bishop in all that he had writr ten or done^ save a felw osteeptions, but, at the same time; it abstained from censuring the Govenior, and contented itself with signifying to both functionaries that it was confidently expected that they would make some mutual saciifices of their views for the mke of harmony, and wo^ld no longer expose the king's service to suffer in consequence of their dissensdons. This hint was taken, it seems ; and^ whether some compromise ch* other was effected between the French and Spanie^^|)^nchins>^ peace appears to .have spread its brolid wiujajs over the convent of iilus revwend firatemityj and notlun^'lhrthe]? was heard qf . their former quarrel. As the clergy k so important an element in the com- position of every social and political orgaiiizatlon; I have not deemed it ina^itopriate to introduce this eccle- siastkaX episode' as ia^hisMmcfdiUustra^^ Louisianik in 1772. .. ■;-;■':.-. ' .^ \ ''■■■'- ■'■^:' K'' to iheir new goveriSBxent^^^hiGh wfi j^^^ them % th^j^d&m of ¥^ HdidiEfiitratioia. Hie 4h '1%!^' * Gdsimiiji$fm^i^ # •*»^ 0. t ■4f f UTS?!"''**.;- p 98 THE ooLOinr reconciled to the new ooyernment. planters, m particular, found considerable resources in the clandestine trade which they carried on with the English, who supplied them with negroes at a cheap price. The heavy sums brought from Vera Cruz to meet the expenses of the government were cu*culating freely, and, by increasing the amount o^ specie, had enabled the planters to sell their crops advantageously and to give more extension to their establishment. It is well known that' our planters seldom resist the temptation to biiy more land or more negroes, when the golden opportunity presents itself. Such had been the case on the present occasion, and, instead of employing the proceeds of their crops to pay their old debts, they had bethought them- selves of adiflferent application of their moneys, and even •increased their liabilities to their creditors. " Keep thy pen from lender's book, and defy the foul fiend,'' says Shakspeare, in his poetical wisdom. The planters com- mitted the indiscretlbn of violating this precept, and could not defy tJie foul Jlend that presented himself in the shape of a hurricane, which occasioned'such ravages on their plantations, that, when the time came for settle- ment with their creditors, they could pay neither capital nor inteir^t, but, on the contrary, wonted advances. The creditors stuck to their bond, and wanted, if not their pound of flesh, at least part of it. They became clamor- ous, and some of them resorted to legal measures to e2q>ropriate their creditors. The debtors — ^including those who could pay and those who could not— entered into a confederacy, and resolved on resistance per fas et nefas. At their head was St. Maxent, a wealthy piaster, whose daughter Governor Unzaga had married, and whd thought that h^ could avail himsi^ of this circumstance to set his creditors at defiance. In a Spanish colony, at that time, a governor was almost oinnipotent, and, there- fore, all the contending parties gathered' in earnest sup- % m -# # Hj^ •* , """^MAJiDcBBDrroBa. 99 plication ronad that fiinctionanr l„ tv . Unzaga acted with the strS • *''*!*,«"n!n'n«tances, h^yost^^ di^^«„ '"^t ^partWity «„d with' father-m-kw to pay every ce^t ^*' I T"? '^"^"^ '"^ «l«.^mplo^ed oJ;4n^i2?lu «:'"-* t* ""^^ '"'i to pay their debt, bat Xt!i T ''^° ''«'* "Me oiMgiag them h^Z^ tSf™ T""* *" P**P°°* -ii^ «citen,ent. To L i^^div, f *''" P°P""- he granted the dela™ yZT^ ""^ '"*'»«'* tora ««oncaed the creditor to^tj f^'^'H »ad even « them that it Z&Z^^^^^ "^^ -n- "n.* comse pnisaed by the^!. their own interest. ^ 8 royal echednle of the 4t) S* A . ^^ J»%e Martin, in his IBstonr ,^ f .4*^*. 1^4, says granting Unds in the c^7 " ^rman^ the power of «ngto the ^^SZTT^"^^' 8th of January, 1 770 ttL ^''^"^'Uy, on the iteelf, Whether^ ^ m^X I ^°'^°- P'^sents ^^r. not naU and loT^'^^ snbseqaent governors relations, if it be not show^ fh^^'.f ^^"'^ °^ *hose been repealed or modified ^^*^°^™?^«°'^ had «ale of lands and other immovS n^ ^ # Pri^»«e the 9th of N-oyember mo " „ l??^^ '^ ^''''ed, on - of «,„ie imporUnT;,'X]:S'!*'^'7 ^«<»«e, whi:!! the transfer of I*rope;ty4def°*°„%^f« governing t'op, and which ^^befo^dtt^ ^/^"^^ "^^"i^l lie province co,>Z^^ZT^^^* h*d, that it w5s easy fot'the rll ' ''1 *" thinly ^J^ th^a^yes for any k^ ^t^r"^ '^^'^ *° '»"<=«'^ Sf Wew Orleans. Ther^tW^*'.''^f" ^^ ^«huty S*'^ -"to g«««s. tffiljin''^^ thea^ <* *« PhmtetiS. It^^'Sf «,^ ^^E^datioas '*. i ^■ •SeelieApptoa IX Mi 100 POWER OF GRANTma LANDS WHEBS VESTED. tnis pressing evil, and to put a stop to a state of things which served as a fatal example to the rest of the negroes, and Governor Unzaga issued a j^roclamalaon, by which he offered an amnesty- or free pardon to those slaves who should return, voluntarily to their masters, and threatened with severe punishment those who should not avail themselves of the opportunity offered to them to obtain mercy for their past misdemeanoi*8. This measure seems to have had a salutary effect. In 1776, Don Bernardo de Galvez succeeded Este- cheria in the command oi the regiment of Louisiaia. The year previous, hostilities had broken out between Great Britain and her thirteen colonies of North Ame- rica, and that great contest had begun which was to give birth to one of the mightiest nations of the present cen- tury. There were at that time in New Orleans a number of merchants from Bosjbon, New York, and Philadelphia, whose feelings were stt'dngly enlisted on behalf of their countrymen^ who were struggling against oppression. Among them, Oliver Pollock Was one of the most con- ipicuous and most active. They procured a good supply of arms and ammunition for the inhabitants of the western part of Pennsylvania, which they delivered to Colonel Gibson, who had come for it from Httsburg. This was done with the connivance of the Spanish gover- nor; for Spain, like France, was inimical to Great Bri^ tain, and was willing to add fuel to the flames which threatened her old and potent rival. On the 2Sth of February, the Court of Madrid had re<^uested Uflzaga to specify Wh3.t were the means of defisnce; which he possessed in thei colony, and what w THE COLONT. 101 rials of whicli he could dispose — of the fortiflcations then existing at New Orleans and in*it8 immediate vicinity, with his reflections relative to the best mode of defence. He commented on the small number of regulars and militia he had under his command, and obsetved that they were far from being adequate to ihe protection of a country having more than fifteen lundred miles in extent. He represented the fortifications as insignifi- cant, and their artillery as insufficient. '' Besides, as the country was open on all sides," said he, "it was perfectly useless to attempt making a show of resistance in front, when the enemy could attack on the fiank and on the rear, without meeting any defence. Two small vessels of war, such as there is one .ah*eady^ being introduced, and taking their station in the rear above New Orleans, would cut off my retreat." He also represented the for- tifications at Manchac^ jPointe Couple, Natchitoches, Arkansas^ and Illinois, as being equally unavaila,ble, and he informed his government tha.t, in case of war, should he be attacked by superior forces, he would) unless he received contrary oinieis, retreat to the frontiers of Mexico, leaving it ^o the treaty of peace that, wauld be concluded in theer 4 to determine finally, on the i^te of Louisiana. He also communicated to his government all the infor- mation he had been able to gather, in, relatioin to the designs which he suspected the English to have formed against the colony of Louisiana. " Tl^, last news we have/' said -he, "were broughtby.the English vessels which navigate this river on iheir way to^ tha^settlenients of that nation, and th«y are of a duHess <4;karacter; for the iosurgents and the royalists make oontoRdibtory repoi^* But, on , weighing and company,, them (^e^ ^^ I hove couBB to the . conol^siosi ihaij^v it may be lr'» ■<*i|P' 49: I % ft H Iffl ' ffl 1 iifHI ^P ■y^ ^^1 W ..Uf . 102 imZAOA DXSIBES HIB BEOALL. correctly estimated that Oreat Britain now disposes, in the waters of North America, of ninety vessels of war, carrying each £rom sixteen to fifty guns, and has an army of 25,000 men. It seems that, since the engage- ment at Boston, the English have not made much pro- gress, and have confined their operations to the blockad' ing of ports, (&c., c&c., and that the insurgents have taken M,ontreal, and raised the siege of Quebec, after having lost one thousand men, and the general who commanded them, &c., <&c. " I shall not, however, allow myself to be thrown oflP my guard, and cease to use those precautions which I ought to resort to in the present circumstances, because I suspect that, at any moment, the royalists and the in- surgents may make up their quarrel and unite their forces, in order to take possession by surprise of one of the domains of some European power, and thus to indemnify themselves for their losses and eicpenses, or in order to carry into execution any other designs, which I shall endeavor to penetrate by using all the mean^ at my disposal ; and, to that effect, I have despatched a trusty man to Philadelphia, who, under the pretext of looking for flour, with a passport, and with permission to trans- port the flour to Cadiz in a Spanish vessel and with a Spanish crew, will endeavor to discover their designs by stopping at some of their ports." On the 22nd of the same month, Unzaga, who had been made Brigadier-General, again petitioned the court to be allowed to retire to Malaga, with the pay of Colo- nel, on account of his advanced age, the bad state of his health and his impaired sight. He represented that he had served the king forty-one years in the army, the eight first years of which in Spain, Italy, and Africa, and the thirty<^ee remaining years in America, wheire 5?R#^ ■■'1 4 UKZAQA BlOOlOaBirM ▲ BEltEB OBOANIZATXOir. 108 the royal patronage had bestowed upon him the govern- ment of Lomsiama, the duties of which he had been per* forming for more than six years. On the 18th of August, he again communicated to his govemn.<^nt all the information he had been able to collect in relation to the American war, and insisted on having leave of retiring from active service. '^ On the 7th of September, he informed his govern- ment that he had despatched to Philadelphia a packet commanded by Bartholomew Beauregard^ apparently for the purpose of procuring flour for the wants of New Orleans, but really to pry into the designs of the royalists and insurgents. Unzaga, in a despatch of the 28th of December, called the attention of the government to the prejudice and injuries to which was exposed the safety ol the colony from the hct that said colony was dependent, as to its military administration and government, on the Governor and Captain General of the island of Cuba, and, among other reasons, he gave the following: " In case of war, it is vain to hope for any help from Havana, nor for proper directions or orders from the captain general, who is not ikM][uainted with the country and its localities. For want of such knowledge, the captain general would probably issue no orders, and the governor of Louisiana would tlien remain inactive, as he would not be willing to incur any responsibility ; and thus his hands being tied up, the opportunity of secur- ing the most important successes might be neglected, and the honor of the Spanish arms slight be tarnished, the captain general of Cuba Excusing himself, on the im- possibility in which he WQuld be to met or to give orders, and the governor of Louisiaiia*pleadi]:^ the want of in- sttnctions. I have been, for nearly se'ven years, the chief officer in command of this province. I have H /ed ■-» ^w ♦ f 'y 104 END OF UiraAOA^S ADM1NI8TBATI0N. in that dependent state to which I allude, and, although I do not say that I have suffered from it, because X have always gloried in serving and obeying with implicit readiness, yet I must assure the king, on my honor, that, under the present colonial organization, the myal in- terests are liable to be put in jeopardy, and that the governor of this province, whoever h6 may be, will be exposed to many mortifications, more or leas aggravating according to the humor of the captain general of Cuba" The leave to rethre from active service, with permis- sion to reside at Malaga, which Unzaga had prayed for, was refused, and he was appointed Captain General of Caraccas. He had won the esteem and affection of the population, and his departure caused unbounded regrets. His administration had been that of a gentle and indul- gent father, and his having dared to connive at the breach by the British of the fiscal and commercial laws of Spain, a strict observance of which would have been fatal, materially increased the prosperity of the colony. His conduct, in this respect, was not absolutely approved by the king's mmisters, but it did not deprive him of the confidence of his sovereign, as is ftdly proved by hw promotion. ■*f # ■* .■. *., h # CHAFTfiR m. . OALVI2* ADMIlflBTBATUXir. 1111 to 1788. lORo'a ADMnnsTBAnoir. 1784 to 1785. Bt a royal decree of the 10th of July, 1776, the govern* ment and intendancy of Louisiana had been ordered to be'' provisionally surrendered to Don Bernardo de Galvez, . hen colonel of the regiment of Louisiana. He entered on- the duties of his office, as Unzaga's successor, on the Ist of February, 1777. He was then about twentyone years old, and his talents, his energy and his activity would have secured him a brilliant career, even had he not possessed other means of success. But to thetie ad- vantages he joined that of being ast* powerfully connected as any subject in Spain. His father, Don Mathias de Galvez, was viceroy of Mexico, and his uncle, Don Josdph de Galvez, was almost king of Spain, for he was secretuy of state and president of the council of the Indie?) and was, as such, next to the crowned headSj the man who wielded the gre&teBt power in Europe. In I77d, it had been stipulated between the courts of Fi*ance and Spain that Louiidana should be piermitted to trade with Vuie Freneh West India Islands, on coupon thatlibe articles which might be wanted firoin Louisiana for I'lose isiaU'^B should he purchased'^ (in order to ^ •-9h i;L 156 GALVEZ ADMINISTRATIOlir. M '^h'i m If M ^. PPil t prevent smuggling) by two commissioners appointed by tbe French government, who should reside in 3S: ew Or- leans. On the 12th of February, 1777, the two French commissioners, Villars and Favre d' Annoy, arrived in Louisiana. It was through them that all the French vessels which should come to the colony were to get their cargoes. The appointment of Galvez was the sig- nal of a considerable change in the commerce of the province. The English had enjoyed the monopoly of it under Unzaga's administration, but it now passed into the hands of the French. The commissioners of that nation soon obtained from Galvez the grant of more privileges than were conceded in the treaty, and the French vessels were authorized to load not only at New Orleans, but also at any point on the river, provided they brought to the governor a declaration from the planters specifying the articles which they had shipped. Another encouragement was given to the commerce of the province by reducing to one-half the duty of four per cent., which used to be collected on the exportation of its produce. The French paid for the articles they bought, either in specie, bills of exchange, or Oumea negroes ; the introduction of those that were bom in the colonies, or had remained long in them, having been prohibited. Vessels from Louisiana were permitted to bring European produce or goods from the island of Cuba, or from Campeachy. On the 30th of March, ITYT, the French commissioners, Villars and Favre d' An- noy, wrote to their government : " The facilities granted by M. de Galvez to the trade between Louisiana and the French islands, and also the liberal interpretation given by him to the clauses of the treaty, have revived the industry and activity of the merchants and planters, and opened a brilliant prospect to the colony." On the 26 th of April, the same commissioners informed their govern- BNCOUBAGEMENT TO COMMERCE AJiI* AGRICULTURE. 107 ment that GaLvez liad seized eleven, English vessels, ||» richly laden, which were trafficking with the planters on the banks of the ]!kfis!i>is8ippi, and said that, if the gover- nor persisted in the rigor with which he acted against the English, the French commerce in Louisiana would soon acquire a much greater extension. The Spanish government sought also to give encou- ragement to agriculture, and informed the colonists that the king would, for the present, purchase tobacco to the amount of eight hundred thousand doUars, if they could raise so much of it, and that, for the future, he would buy their whole crop, however large it might be. A meeting of the planters was convened by the Governor, ,, and they were invited to deliberate on the price at which they could afford to seU their tobacco. It was ultimately agreed to be seven livres a pound for leaf tobacco, and i| ten livi'es iov tobacco in carots. The Spanish govern- ment had two objects in view, in thus fostering the cul- tivation of tobacco : l*j — ^it was to draw from Louisiana, at a low price, all the tobacco necessary to the supply of its Mexican provinces, and thereby to raise its re- ,♦; venue, through the duty which it imposed on this ai'ticle in those provinces ; 2**, — it aimed at drr/ing the Englbh and th^ Dutch out of the French, market, which they monopolized as to the tobacco trade. " Enjoying a better climate than Maryland and Vir* giuia," said Vinai-s and d' Annoy, in one of their des- patches, " Louisiana, on account of its extent and fertility, could furnish the universe with tobacco. But its popu- lation, if not augmented, will not even permit the ac- complishment of the wish entertained by his Catholic Majesty, to supply with its produce the wants of the Mexican market. It is calculated that, in a territory- measuring 1500 miles in length, the^ are hardly 8000 negroes, and that the whites muster irom 6000 to 7000 'w ■•#! W'% 'W^ If 'f, Im tJV ill'"*' r'-i i'^M >■'•■• ^n- 108 JOINT DiSPATCH OF VILLAilS AND d'AUNOY. # souls only. The lands of Lower Jjouisiana, where is the great bulk of the population, are favorable U> the lum- ber and timber trade, to the cultivation of rice, com and indigo, but they are not adapted to tobacco. These considerations have not escaped the attention of the Spanish ministry. They have granted an annual sum of $40,000, to facilitate the establishment of the new colonists who may come to Louisiana, and it is ordered that concessions be made to them, in those parts where it may suit them to settle* But, as Spain herself is wanting in population, and as those of her subjects who come to America show that they have very little dispo- sition to devote themselves to agiiculture, her project is to draw here, either from France or from the French colonies, all the population which may be necessary to the execution of her views. The Spanish government 'acts in conformity with this plan, and requests our coasters to make the inhabitants of St. Domingo and the Windward islands acquainted with the advantages which await them in Louisiana. Considering that the tendency of this scheme, should it succeed, is to deprive France of a useful portion of her subjects engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, we hasten to inform you of it, in order that you may, should you think it advisable, put a stop to an emigration which cannot but be injurious to the interests of France. If it be Frenchmen who are to, be relied upon for the cultivation of Louisiana, it seems to us more natural that his most Christian Majesty should resume the possession of this colony. France alone can raise it to that degree of prosperity to which it is en- titled." Fully alive to the policy of giving more exten- sion to the agriculture of Louisiana, the Court of Madrid issued a decree permitting l^e introduction of negroes into thatv province by French vessels, from whatever ports they might come/ -* * In betw with byth secret the fa to soi severa Htttc by Oil use of^ of Phi Judge British compar to indu( join th( peopte ( in their on the ] fate of ; were de tragedy. Floridas the war, assistanc of the in Galvei Geoi^e J who, in Gfovemo] which ha tion. « cnte irm easily BUT ¥' GEOltC^E MOBOAIT's LETTER TO GALYE2. 100 In tHe mean time, the straggle which was going on between England and her American colonies was watched with intense interest by the G-ovemor of Louisiana, and by the Spanish court, which sent several orders to afford secret assistance to the insurgents. Xn consequence of the favorable dispositions of Spain, which were conveyed, to some of the leaders of the Americans in the West, several large boats had come this year, 1777^ from Fort Pitt to New Orleans, where munitions had been collected by Glivei* Pollock, with the occult aid of Gralvez, for the use of the thirteen United States.. "Captain Willing, of Philadelphia, who came in one of those boats," says Judge Martin in his History of Louisiana, "visited the British settlements on the Mississippi, and some of his companions crossed the lakes to Mobile, with the view to induce the inhabitants to raise the striped banner, and. join their countrymen in the struggle for freedom. The ' people of both the Floridas, however, remained steadfast in their attachment to the royal cause. Perhaps those on the Mississippi and in Mobile, who remembered the fate of Lafrenidre and his companions at New. Orleans, were deterred from lising by the recollection of this late tragedy. The thin and sparse population of «both the Floridas, their distance from the provinces engaged in the war, and the consequent difficulty of receiving any assistance from them, had also its influence on the conduct of the inhabitants." G-alvez kept up an active correspondence with Colonel George Morgan, who was in command of Fort J*itt, and who, in a letter of the 22d of April, gave the Spanish Governor a very able and lucid history of idl^he events which had ocjcinred since the beginnijig of the Bevdu- tion. " Should we be able,"- said the colonel, " to- prp- cui*e transports m N^w OrkuDB, I ihtnk iikat w« could easily sm^rise Mobile and PensatoolAj destroy l^eif fqfr- ■ H ■¥ # % If ifM fm liR ^^^ !:r^ ; (j ^^p ' } MM^ > r Miml 1 i L^l!m^ 110 OEOBOE morgan's LETTER TO OALVEZ. tiflcations, and possess ourselves of all their mimitioaB, unless these ports be better fortified and defended than we imagine. I would pay liberally to have a plan of the fortifications, and correct information as to the gar- risons and naval forces which protect these pl^es. If , jone thousand men were sufficient for the contemplated expedition, and if we could, in New Orleans, purchase or charter vessels, and procure artillery, on as short notice as possible, we could strike the most successful blow in a quarter where it is least expected. But we shall never proceed to any action on the subject, before having previously obtained the permission and co-opera- tion of your excellency, and before having secured all the transports, provisions, &c., of which we may stand in need. If we cannot, however, expect so much at your hands, we flatter ourselves that you will at least peimit us to trade freely with New Orleans, and I beg your excellency to inform me by an express messenger of your decision, and this, of course, at my expense." But Galvez had no idea, for obvious reasons, of per- mitting the Americans to set their foot, in military array, on the soil of Louisiana, and eluded to give any positive answer t© Morgan's proposed plan of attack against the British possessions. He wrote to his government that, considering the turn which the war was taking, he feared the inconveniences which might result from the passage of the belligerents through the neutral territory of Loui- siana, and he informed the court of Madrid that, in order to endeavor to protect the Spanish interests on the river, he had caused to be built four boats, carrying, each, one 24 or 18 pounder. "These gunboats," said he, in a de- spatch of the 2d of June, "will be more useful in the riv^r than two frigates, because, as they will be pfb- pelled by wind and oar, they will be more than a match ' for any vessel of war that may enter the passes of the me GAL^ Missis accou] large f su<5 I ways I and to of the those ^ lying a almost river, c because river, b( On tl minute i the othe of the r also infc taws, anc of 25,00 clared ti tween th the lattei the Engli On th( ment infc nists shoi sippi, and Catholic them in t should no the Eoglis anderstanc that those iominatioi ¥ w- n- ,«Li.. UALVSZ PBOVIDES FOB THE DBFENCB OF THE COLONY. Ill Mississippi, considering that those vessels of war, on account of the shallowneps of the water, cannot be of a large size, and that their gons must be of a snuUl calibre, sudi as twelve poanders at most; so that it will al- ways be in our power to choose our position and distance, and to do much injury without receiving any, on accoun^ of the wider range of our guns. All agree that one of those gun-boats wOl be able to sink any vessel of war lying at anchor, or beoahaed, which must be the case, almost at every moment, when a vessel comes up the river, on account of the rapidity of the current, and because the wind, which is favorable at one betfd of the river, becomes necessarily adverse beyond that point." On the 10th of July, Galvez sent to his government a minute statement of the fortifications, the garrison, and the other means of defence of Fensacola and Mobile, and ,, of the naval forces attached to these two points. He also informed his government that the Creeks, Choc- taws, and Chickasaws, who, he said, formed a population of 25,000 souls, including women and children, had de- clared that they would remain neutrals in the war be- tween the English and Americans, and would prevent the latter from violating their territory to attack any of the English possessions. On thu 16th of August (1777) the Spaniah govemr ment informed Galvez : that in case the American colo- nists should seize the British settlements on the Missis- sippi, and should be disposed to deliver them up to his Catholic Majesty, he, Galvez, was authorized to receive them in trust or deposit, always taking care that this should not provoke any violent measures on the part of the Enghsh, which might be avoided by giving them to understand, that it must be more advantageous for them that those settlements should be, as a deport,, under the domination of the kbg, ^lan in the posseission of the ^ Jim ■r 4- ,|i^ ;€■' '^. # ^i^'^:. 112 VIEWS OF SPAIJf AS TO THE AMERICAN WAR IN lilt. insurgents. But this was anticipating the happening of an event which was not likely to occur, for the Ameri- cans would have been very little disposed to avail them- selves of the officious proposition of the king of Spain to relieve them from the burden of keeping any (rf their acquisitions, and they would certainly have been inclined, and would probably have thought themselves able, to retain possession of their conquests, should they have made any. Some of their incursions in the territory acknowledging the sway of Great Britain, west of the Ohio, and on the banks of tLe Mississippi, had proved highly successful, and the militia of Virginia had possessed themselves of Kaskaskia, and of some other posts on that river. By an act of the Legislature, the region which Vir^nia had thus acquired was erected into a county called Illinois, and a regiment of infantry and a troop of horse were raised for its protection, imder the command of Colonel £!lark. It will be recollected that, by the last treaty of peace between Great Britain and France, the Missis- sippi had been given to Nort!i Carolina as its western limit. But George HE. had forbidden any settlement of white people to the west of the mounta^ps of North Carolina. Notwithstanding this prohibition, a consider- able number of emigrants from that province had re- moved to the banks of the Watauga, one of the branches of the Holston. " They had increased to such a degree," sajrs Judge Martin m his History of LouiMana, 'Hhat, in 1T76, their claim, to representaticp in the convention th&t framed the constitution, was admitted. In 1777, they were formed into a county which haii. t^e Missisnppi for its western boundary." Thus, at this early p^fOMd^bf the(ir history,iiad the IJpitfid Stfttep eictended their ^o- mioion and carried their liag and th^ laws to th^ balilpt of^at mighty,|t?e^ over hich they irere 4eirt5iiflii| to exe] excl Ii turn conn with open gentg timid Brita gone anoB, seveni occupi beeus sylvan such, e tated 1 and wi down engage the Br tured ofBayc waseva who cr Spanish, possessc river to on the Mii^xjar] Ag0< the 1^ 'mdj^el * m 'mi. OAIiVEZ OlYES ASSISTANCE TO THE AMEBIOAITS. 113 exercise, in the short space of less than forty years, an exclusive jurisdiction, In the month of tTannary, 1778, Captain Willing re- turned to New Orleans for the second time, to enter into communication and concert with Oliver Pollock vrho, with the permission and suj^rt of Galvez, had now openly assumed the character of an agent for the insur- gents. The Court of Spain had gradually become less timid in its manifestation of hostility towards Great Britain ; and Galvez, encouraged by his government, had gone so far as to give assistance to the Americans in armu, ammunition, provisions, > ' A good maiiy af'th^ British fianters, on hearing of the appfodch of theee imweldome visitors, crossed the ]i0j9siaii^^with:vth^ mast vakable effiocts and slaves, and j^ella!e4 -IhcemiK^^es "nnd^ thr Spanii^ flf%j whi^h «Si a •If, fifM/ r-"- ,Lp^l1Hi1^'■»■•••-' ■•I' 'If* 114 CAPTAm WILLIITG's EXPEDinOlt. floated on the right aide of the river. The inhabitants on the left bank were scattered about, they were few in number, and therefore could not make any effective resistance. The invaders continued up as far aa Natchez their course of devastation, laying waste the plantations, destroying the stock, applying the torch of the incendiary to the edifices, and carrying off such slaves as had not followed their i. asters in their flight. All the sympa- thies of the people of Louisiana were in feyor of the Americans; "but,** says Judge Martin in his history, "this cruel, wanton and unprovoked conduct towards a helpless community was viewed with great indignation and horror, much increased by the circumstance of Wil- ling's having been hospitably received and entertained, the preceding year, in several houses which he now committed to the flames.'' It must also be added, that most of the sufferers by these acts of vandalism wei'e well known in New Orleans, where they used to resort to supply then* wants, or for social intercourse ; and that all of them had more or less expensive relations with the Spanish portion of Louisiana, in whose families some of them had married. This contributed to draw from those inhabitants a keener reprobation of the conduct Of Oap- tain Willing, who was looked upon as having acted more like an Indian warrior thar a civilized enemy. The Americans, however, did not choose to attempt retaining possesolon of these posts, or of any portion of the territory they had thus devastated. In connection with these events, Villars and Favre D'Aunoy, the French conunissionei^ at New Orleans, wrote to their government : "The Spaniards here see with regret these conquests, because it cuts off their hope of executing them on their own account, and of thereby securing for themst^ves the exclusive possession of the Gulf of Mexico. Besides, they feel that the mildness and the other advantages of the .'^' MS™' 17EW FAOILITDES OBAIT. TO COMHEftOE VSC 111^. 1 15 dimate of Lotiisiana may seduce the Americans, and attract them to a region, from which the communication with the Oulf of Mexico begins to be better and more practically known, presenting but trifling difficulties, &c. Therefore, it is the interest of Spain that France should recover the possession of Louisiana." Such was not, however, the opinion of the Spanish government, which, to increase the prosperity of the colony, and to bring relief to the distresses from which it was suffering, was disposed to relax the severity of the commercial restrictions undeT* which it was placed. In accordance with this more judicious policy, which was, at last, forcing itself upon the councils of Spain, Galvez, by a proclaniation of the 20th of April, 1Y78, in order to facilitate the sale of the produce of the colony, per- mitted i1^ exportation to any of the ports of France* This proclamation had been preceded by one issued on the 17th, which granted a similar privilege of trading with any part of the United States. By a royal order of the 4th of May, 17Y8, the indem- nity to be paid to owners of slaves sentenced tO death, perpetual labor and transportation, or of runaway slaves killed in the attempt made to arrest them, was fixed at two hundred dollars a head ; but, in this latter case,* the indemnity was due only to those who had previously consented to pay a proportion of the price of the slaves thus killed, which proportion was to be deducted from the indemnity. The province was reviving under the healthful influ- ence of the eirtension of its commercial franchises, when it received a considerable accession to its population by the arrival of a ^-.umber of families, transported to Loui- ,^ana from the Canary Islands, at the kjng^s expense. * Martin's Histoiy of LottiinanB. Tj^I. tL, Ik 4& *»- *- '■ TaffSKKtf, 1 •;^^K (f^ ■ IH&TaKtt'aflUirat yjHKvVyg^ ■!''.' THE XnfO£I8H TBADB EZOLUDSD FROM <^L<)ir 117 written by Mercier, and entitled : " The year two thousand four hundred and forty." The Governor was instructed to proceed to the destruction of every copy of it which might be found in the province. Another book reprobated by the royal decree was Robertson^s History of America. The formidable tribunal of the Inquisition had condemned Mercier^s book; and the king, or rather his all-powerful minister, Joseph Galvez, president of the council of the Indies, thought that he had good reasons to prevent his Majesty's subjects firom reading certain remarks, or statemente of facts, which were contained in Robertson's History, and which he deemed to be false and slanderous. At this time, not only was the king considerate enough to wish that the minds of his subjects should not be contammated by the perusal of dangerous books, but also was he anxious to secure the allegi^ce even of the foreigners who resided in his dominions. Thus, a considerable number of indi- viduals from the United States, from West and East Florida, and from other parts, who had settled in New Orleans, were required to depart, or ta take an oath of fidelity to his Catholic Majesty. In such a dilemma^ the great majority of them chose to swear as they were desired. For many years, the English had not fared so badly in Louisiana. Now, their trade with the colony was entirely ruined. "The British flag," say Villars and Favre d'Aunoy, in a despatch dated on the 18th of July, 1778, "has noi appeared in this river for more than three months, or, at least, it is only to be seen flying at the mast-head of a frigate destined to protect the Man- chac settlement. The duties to be paid by our ships, on their coming here, ar& reduced every day,rbeo««[se the Spaniards are-made more tractabltel by the need imvhidt .^ ♦i' .:i> *:• « P4l if. '^, 118 THE COIITIBOATIOX OF NOTAN*B 1STAT& they stand of our commerce. Finally, the whole trade of the MisBissippi is now in our hands." On the 20th of August, Villars, one of the French commissioners, wrote a despatch in which he informed his government of the steps he had taken, to obtain the reversal of the decree by which the Spanish govern- ment had confiscated the property of the brother of Noyan, one of the unfoiiunate colonists who had been shot by O'Reilly's order. This brother, who was called Bienville after his uncle, the founder of New Orleans, had taken a part in the conspiracy against the Spaniards, and had been sent, as an emissary, to the English com- mander at Pensacola, to propose, in the name of the insurgents, that the colony be put under the protection of the English as an independent republic. On the death of his elder brother, he assumed the name and title of Chevalier de Noyan. Villars' despatch on the subject is as follows : " The Chevalier de Noyan, lieutenant of a ship of the line, died in the month of March last, at St. DomingOv where he had gone into copartnership with the Baron de Breteuil. As be was one of the instigators of the revo- lution of 1738, General O'Reilly, who was clothed with the most extensive powers, ordered the sequestration of his property ; but, as it was not sold, and as its revenues were merely deposited in the king's treasury, without being approj/xiatod by him to the royal domain, it wfw inferred that tht,' object of his Miyesty was to deprive the Chevalier de Noyan, for some years, of his income, and thereby to cut him off from the means of living in comfort, but with the reserved intention of putting an end to the punishment by restoring the culprit, on a future day, to the possession of his property. Viewing the case in this light, the Duke de Duras, the Coaut.de Vei^ thej repei ambf citati But 1 coursi innoc< into q king, fore d Now t of mal childre cil of forwar< This though away, t judicia This d< emphat by putt incurret popular the uny duty of Inth theo de oflice of In ad hisgove lionisian; M^.% "M ^♦■♦s f ■ ^W! OTUEB OOIONIBIB fBOM THI OANART mLANDA. 110 VergDones, and the Baron de Breteuil, as the kinsmen, the protectors and the friends of the Chevalier de Noyan, repeatedly addressed to the conrt of Spab, through onr ambassador, the Marqnis d'Ossuri the most pressing soli- citations to ohtfun a decree raising the sequestration. But these gentlemen pursned, I believe, an impolitic coarse. They grounded their application on Noyan's innocence, which they oonld not establish without calling into question the justice of Count O'Reilly, and of tbe king, who had ratbAed the conduct of his agent. T' ♦ f fore did the court of Spain refuse to grant their r .^ m" Now that M. de Noyan is dead, is the moment, or ar v of making a last effort in the interest of his wide ^ children. I have prepared for the president of tUo . . aii- cil of Indies a memorial, which Governor Galvez will forward and will support to the utmost of his power.** This shows that it was then known in the colony, al- though this knowledge appears to have since faded away, that O'Reilly had come to Louisiana toith the moat extensive powers^ and that the king had appt'oved the judicial tragedy of which this officer was the author. This despatch, with many other authentic documents, emphatically contradicts the tradition that CountO'Reilly, by putting to death Lafreni^re and his companions, had incurred the displeasure of his royal master — which popular belief, like most traditions, is not supported by the unyielding and uncompromising facts which it id the duty of history to record. In the beginning of the year, 1T79, Don Juan Doro- theo del Portege succeeded Don Cecilio Odoardo u^ the office of auditor of war and assessor of government. In a despatch of the 15th of January, Galvez informed his government of another accession to the population of Lommimay by the arrival of 499 individuals from the ill -m « « s ''.^i" •1 a l7'^;.; ^^^t m ^^^^^^ '^^ ffill 'S i i.'P ■ t: ■; I \n\. 120 RAVAGES OF THE SMALL-POX AND OF HURRICANES. Canary Islands, who had come to the colony at the king's expense. They received as favorable ,a treatment, at least, as their predecessors ; nay, greater advantages were granted to them, for it appears that some of the emigrant famiUes, besides the lands, the cattle, rations, pecuniary and other aid given to them, received the splendid do- nation of between three and four thousand dollars. This certainly was a very handsome beginning at the time, in a new countiy, offering so many resources. According to the government's direction, these people were trans- ported to the district of the Attakapas, under the com- mand of Bouligny, and formed, on Bayou Techc, a set- tlement then called New Iberia. They attempted the cultivation oi flax and hemp, but without success ; and most of them abandoned agricultural pursuits, to confine their industry entirely to the raising of cattle, to which they were naturally invited by the luxuriant and bound- less prairies that surrounded them on every side. Almost at the same time^ there came to the province, for its spiritual relief, by the order and at the charge of the king, six capuchin friars, one of whom, named Anto- nio de Sedella, lived to extreme old age in Louisiana, and died in 1829, leaving behind him a spotless reputation and an honored memory. One of the most serious afflictions of the colony, in this year, as in the preceding ones, was the small pox, which proved very fatal in New Orleans, and on the plantations above and below. It appears to have be^, for many years, in Louisiana, the disease most prevalent and most feared; Hurricanes seem also to have been one of its chief scourgesy and their frequency was really astonishing. Galvez, in a despatch of the 15th of Jimuary, 1779, speaks of one which had raged from the 7th to the 10th of October^ 1778, with such violence, ^^ ■^ * i thai do the B from were nised elude aflS^rc natur a dec] when tions 1 a^eec I'ent p States, land, a oi the wined against withoul with its issued of Spai On formal the 8th take th( the Eng been mc energetic career w of the oo attack ag submitte t: 4| ..*•. SPAIN DECLAEES WAR AGAINST ENGLATH). 121 that the sea rose higher than it had ever been known to do before, destroying entirely all the establishments at the Balize, Bayou St. John, and Tigouyoni But the attention of the inhabitants was diverted from these calamities by stirmig events, in which they were called to take a part. Thus, Prance, havmg recog- nised the independence of the United States, had con- cluded a treaty of alliance and commerce with them and afforded them considerable succor. England, yery naturally, considered such proceedings as equivalent to a declaration of war, and hostilities had actually begun, when Spain offered her mediation, and made proposi- tions tending to secure a general peace^ which was t^ be agreed upon in a meeting of the ministers of the bellige- rent powers at Madrid, including those of the United States. But this wdi» not palatable to the pride of Eng- land, and, on the rejection by the cal^et of St. James of the terms offered by Spain, the Catholic King deter- mined to join his cousin of France in the coming struggle against Great Britain. H& ambassador left London without taking leave, and the British government, acting with its customary energy and promptilJude, immediately issued letters of marque against the ship& and subjecta of Spain. On the 8th of May, the King of Spain ^blished a formal declaration of war against Great Brit^, and, on the 8th of July, authorized his subjects in America to take their share in the hostilities to be waged against the English and their ^Ktssessions. No news could have been more welcome to Galvea. He was yotog, bold, energetic, and he felt that his talents were equal to the career which was opening before him. Avallin|^ himself of the occasion with ida&rity, he immediately pltomed an attack against the nei^boring English possessions, and submitted it to a council of war. ..It wits composed of ■ .■■»,'. I' f» » f *: «». 12i QALVEZ' MILltART PREPABATlONS. men of a less fiery spirit, who rejected his proposition, and recommended that all offensive action be suspended until reinforcements be received fi'om Havana. They also advised that, in the mean time, Galvez should con-' fine all his exertions to the execution of the best mea- Siires that might be devised for the defence of the colony. Gralvez' mind was not so constituted as to induce lum to submit implicitly to the decision of his advisers, and he acted as men of his temperament usually do in similar circumstances. He had convened a council of war, in the hope that it would agree with him, but as it did not, he resolved to act on his own responsibility. He had discovered by intercepted letters from Natchez, that the English intended to surprise New Orleans,* and he con- cluded to ward off the blow by being the first to attack, when he was thought to be hardly capable of defence. He labored under the apprehension that, if the English once possessed themselves of both banks of the river down to its mouth, they might then find themselves in a situation to carry the war into New Mexico and the other provinces of New Spain. These were strong con- siderations, which weighed on his mind, and which stimulated his zeal. Under the pretext of preparing' for defence, he proceeded with indefatigable activity to pre- pare for carrying uito Execution his secret designs, which he intrusted only to Don Juan Antonio Gayarre, whom he appointed commissary of war for the projected expe- dition. He had proposed to march against the enemy on the 22nd of Augusfc, resolving t6 call togethel^, previously, on the 20th, all the inhabitants who were at hand, and whom he intended to invite to foUow him. But, on the 18th, a hurricane, that well-known visiter of ** Sappl«mento & k Ghuwtta de'Madri4 de ViemM^ 14 de Enero de lYSOL ^' : m # thai iutl New prov and ( allth out t] readii Missis which commj This all the if, int] time wj not suf the Ind hundrec possess! original Don Jui But in t to provi( which is of an em to tax hi impatient his task, time, unti the coloni in spite o: country t which,'*^ Bi the2&tho iis:finalsu ■-.k*. « GALVEZ^ MILITABT PBEFABATIONS. 128 the cotmtay, suddenly bur^t out with such violence, that, in three hours, it destroyed a large number of houses in New Orleans, the greater part of the dwellings and im- provements on the ban^ of the river, for forty miles up and down, swept off like chaff all the crops, killed almost aU thcl cattle, and spread general consternation through- out tUt province. AU the vessels which Galvez had in readiness for the expedition went to the bottom of the Mississippi, with the exception of the frigate, El VblarUe, which was saved by the intrepidity and skill of its commander, Luis Lorenzo de Terrazas. This was a sad and unexpected reverse, disconcerting all the measures of the Govemor. But reflecting that if, in the state of prostration in which the colony was, time was given to the English, whose establishments had not suffered from the hurricane, they coidd, by calling the Indians to their assistance, take the field with fifteen hundred men, and secure the conquest of the Spanish possessions, he made up his mind to persevere in his original intentions, ahd ordered the conmiissary of T^a^, Don Juan Antonio Gayarre, to renew his preparations. But in the exhausted state of the colony, it was not easy to provide all those various elements, the combination of which is necessary to secure {he success of the invasion of an enemy's territory, and the commissary c£^ war had to tax his Energy and ability to the utniost to satisfy the impatience of his chief. He had to apply himself to his task, day and night, and allow himself no breathing time, until it was-completed. Galvez, in ord^ to induce the colonists to join hun in the opntemplated expedition, in spite of the circumstances of desolation 'i^ which the country then was, had recourse to an expediei^ -to which,*' says the supplement % theJMEadrid Graieette of the 2M of August, 1780, '^he was ui part indebted fixr his final suec^." < # 0: #. ^ 4 m sRi ^ iiirM 124 M^ QALVEZ' ADDRESS TO THE LOUTSIANIAIfS. With the official communication of the declaration of war, Galvez, who was only governor ad interim, Lad received intelligence that the king had confirmed him in the government of Louisiana. But he had concealed this fact, in order that it should not be known that he had heard from Madrid. He now convened the inhar bitants on the public square at New Orleans, disc^irsed on the miserable condition of the province, and regretted that, in such untoward circumstances, he had to inform them that war had been declared against Great Britain, and that he had received strict orders to put the colony in a state of defence, because an attack was anticipated. He then showed them his commission as governor of Louisiana under the royal patent. "Gentlemen," said he, addressing them with the energy of language and sentiment which was suited to the occasion, "I cannot avail myself of my commission, without previously swear- ing before the cabUdo, that I shall defend the province; but, although I am disposed to shed the laslr drop of my blood for Louisiana and for my king, I cannot take an oath which I may be exposed to violate, because I do not know whether you will help me in resisting the ambitious designs of the English. What do you say ? Shall I take the oath f JovemT>r? Shall I swear^ to defend Louisiana ? WiU you stand by me, and conquer or die with your governor and for your king?" So saying, with the left hand he displayed the royal com- mission, under the broad seal of Spain, and, with the right, he drew his sword witk an expression of heroic determination. An immense and enthusiastic acclama- tion was the -answer. ^ Fefff not taking your oath of office," cried the ciowd, as if with one voice; "for the defence of LoTiisiana, and for the service ©f the king, we tender 'you our Kves, and we wouid say our ^rtunes, if we had any remaining.'* On the spot, Galvez went JSf >'^;- m # thi'c incr tion, prep the <: St] outtj to wi lish T Orlea] hnrric had n guriboi had su were p one tw undtrt] iis heal crityof gouptl tc» supp gave the which w Piernas, province, troHer, I ^ comtna «Qdertak( came Bo] ^^nunissaj ^ere to b dition. On ti© governor^ OALYDZ BBABY TO ATTAOE THE ENGLISH. 125 through the ceremcmy of his installatioi^ amidst the increasing enthusiasm and shouts of the whole popular tion, and, immediately: after, hastened to accelerate his preparations, with the united assistance and efforts of the colonists. Still concealing his real designs, the governor gave out that he was going to post his ti-oops in those places to which he expected that the first attacks of the Eng- lish would be directed* He ordered down to New Orleans all the boats which had been spared by the hurricane, at those points on the river where its violence had not been so much felt. One. schooner and three gunboats wei'e raised out of the river, into which they had sunk, and the provisions, ammanition and artillery were put in them. The artillery c jusisted of ten pieces, one twenty-four, five eighteen, and four four-pounders, undbf the command of Don Julien Alvarez, who, although his health was greatly impaired, took chaige with ala- crity of the trust i-eposed in him. This small fleet was to go up the river at the same time with the army, in order to supply its wants. On the 26th of August, Galvez gave the command of New Orieans and of the garrison which was left in it to Lieutenant Colonel Don Pedro Piemaa, and delivered up the civil administration of the province, during his absence, to the contador> or cc ^^ap- troller, Don Martin Navarro. He appointed as second in command to himself, in the campa^ which he was to undertake. Colonel Don Manuel Gonzales; next in rank came Don Estevon Mir6i, and Jacinto Paois, with the commissary of woi', Don Juan A^nio G his departure : i&vthft/iQipQdag^ to reerak at 1^6 G^nMin and Aoadida| Cpasta idl 4hf men that he m^ a. m i^^ m %' 126 DEPABtlTBE OF TEIE EXPEDITION. might prevail upon to join him. On the same day, in the afternoon, his small army put itself in motion. It was composed of 170 veteran soldiers, 830 recruits, 20 carabiniers, 60 militiamen, and 80 free blacks and mu- lattoes, of Oliver Pollock, the agent of the Amierican Congress, with nine of his countrymen, as volunteers — making a total of 670 men, without one single engineer among them, says the Supplement to the Madrid Gazette, which relates all the details of this expedition. They were reinforced on the way by 600 men of every condi- tion and color, besides 100 Indians, who had been gathered up at the Geiman Coast, at the Acadian Coast, at Opeloussas, Attakapas and Pointe Coup6e. These troops, when united, formed a body of fourteen hundred and thirty men. Although they were provided with no tents, and with none of those articles which pre usually deemed necessary to an army entering upon a campaign, yet they marched on with unabated ard^r, and much order, through the thick woods which, at that time, shaded a considerable portion of the banks of the river. With a view to guard against surprises, the colored inen and the Indians were ordered to keep ahead of the main bodj of the troops, at a distance of about three quarters of a mile, and closely to reconnoitre the woods. Next came the veteran troops, whose left was protected by the river and by the artillery of the boats, and whose right rested on the forest. The militia formed the rear guar d. Oi the 6th of September (1779) the Spaniards caine in sigiit of Fort Manchac, situated at a distance of about one hundred and fifteen miles lh>m New Orleans, ^at disease and the fatigues of the journey had caused a diminution of more than one t&ifd in their numberi; It was (mly when he^^iras about a mile and a half fn»n the fort, that Gal^ez informed his troops of the declaration of I tion This tiong close a pa hiins< On in an m -m m ^m^ m *■ 70BI KANOHAO CABRIED BY STORM. 127 o! war against the English, and of the positive instrnc tions he hao received to attack their establishments. This communieation was responded to with demonstra- tions of joy; a general disposition was shown to come to close c^narter.? with the enemy, and there was exhibited a patriotic emulation, as to which should distingoish himself most in the service of the king. % On the 7th, in the morning, the regulars were posted in an advantageous position, with the intention of op- posing them to a body of four hundred Englishmen who were said to be coming with artillery and provisions to the relief of Manchac, and the assault was given to the fort by the militia, with complete success. Gilbert An- toine do St. Maxent, brother-in-law to ex-Goverpor Unzaga, was the first who entered the fort through one of its embrasures. The garrison was composed of a captain, a first lieutenant and a second lieutenant, with^^ twenty privates, of whom one was killed, and five escaped with one of the lieutenants. The rest remained prisoners of war. This certainly was no great exploit. On the 8th, the inventory of the fort was made; six days of rest were allowed to the troops; and, on the 13th, they resumed their march for Baton Bouge, which is only fifteen miles from Manchac. At a mile and a half from Baton Bouge, the army took its quarters, and the artjUery was landed from the boats. Already had Grand Prfe, with all the forces which he had been able to bring with him from Pointe Coup6e, occupied a posi- tion between Baton Bouge and NateheS; in order to interrupt all fsommunication between these two places, as he actually did, after havi)ig post^esRcd himself of two English postg^ om of which was on Th(mipsan'ck. The English wasted and spent in vain their ammuni- tion, by firing with ball and gi'ape at that part of the wood; from which they thought they v;ould be assailed, whilst, in t^e meantime, the Spaniards^ without being incommoded, were erectingth^ batteries witMn musket sljtQt of thp fo^ behind a garden which concealed their operatipns. 'Die English diacovered ^efitrat^in wh^?i it w Oi brea] Julie that, in the a flag vez w< toojffe at dis< at J^at rison, c TheEc of tweii which 1 conside: with mi from ti flags, ai troojw, dred an despatcl of Fort 1 and thir it would cause it ^ was diffi Kouge ai ofmiJitiai They^wer securely s 4 ^. BATON BOUGE Aim NATOHEZ TAKEN. 129 it was too late, and when the besiegers had succeeded in ph altering themselves from the shot of their enemies. Ou the following day, the 21st of September, at day- break, the Spanish batteries, under the direction of Don Julien Alvarez, were plied with such accuracy and effect, that, notwithstanding the briskness of the fire of the besieged, the fort was so dismantled by half past three in the afternoon, that the English sent two officera with a flag of truce, to propose articles of capitulation. Gal- vez would assent to no terms but those he was willing to offer, which were — ^that t^e garrison should surrender at discretion, and, at the same time, that Fort Famnure, at Natchez, should be delivered up to him, with its gar- rison, composed of eighty grenadiers and their officers., The English accepted these conditions, and, ftfter a delay of twenty-four hov-rs which was granted to them (during which they were observed to be engaged in burying a considerable number of dead bodies), they came out with military honors, and marched five hundred paces from the fort, when they delivered up their arms and flags, and remained prisoners of war. The veteran troops, which thus surrendered, consisted of three hun- dred and se'^enty-five men. At the same time, Galvez despatched a captain with fifty men, to take possession of Fort Panmure, at Natchez, which is about one hundred and thirty miles distant from Bacon Bouge. This fort it would have been very difficult to carry by force, be- cause it was situated on an elevated and steep hill, and was difficult of access. In these two forts of Baton Bouge and Natchez was found a considerable number of n^tiamen and i^ negroes, with arms in th^ hands. They^were set &ee on acKsonnt (^ the difficulty of keeping securely so many prisoners. l^^liilsft t^e di^edi^ii was meeU^ with so mgnal a 9 % *.3 ':,■%■: 180 NATAL EXPLOIT OF YHfCEST BIEUX. success, the fortune of war was also declaring itself in favor of the Spanittrds in other parts of the province. On Lake Pontchartrain, an American schooner, which had been fitted up at New Orleans by an individual, named Pikle, boarded and captured an English privateer, called the Weet Florida, and much superior in force to its an- tagonist. The Spanish gunboats also captured neai* Galvezton three schooners and a small brig which were returning to Pensacola, one schooner which they met on the Mississippi, and two cutters loaded with provisions, which were coming from Pensacola, through Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas, to the relief of the English establishments. Another English cutter, says the Madrid Gazette from which I quote, was taken in a manner wliich deserves to be related. One Vincent Kieux, a native of New Or- leans, had been put in command of a sloop of war, to cruise in the lakes. On his coming to Bayou Manchac, through which the English used to receive all their sup- plies from Pensacola, having been informed that one of their barques, well armed, and well laden with provisions apd ammunition, was soon expected, he landed his guns, cut down a few trees to form a sort of intrenchment, and kept himself concealed with his crew. When he saw the English close under the muzzles of his guns, he sud- denly blazed away at them, and raised with his com- panions such shouts and yells,that the enemy, persuaded that they had to deal with at least five hundred men, fled below deck. Bienx, availmg himself of their panic, rugged on board, closed the hatches, and captured every soul that was in the vessel. The prisoners were; one captain, one firdt lieutenant, two second lieutenant^ fifby- four grenadiers of the Waldeck regiment, and from ten to twelve sailors. It would be difficult to describe t^eir m '.•«■ four Woh BXHAVIOR OF THE MILITIA. 181 surprise, when they found themselTes the captives of fourteen men ; these were, every one of them, Creoles or natives )f Louisiana. In short, the results of this campaign were highly flat- tering to the Spaii:«>h arms. ISght vessels and three forts had been te^en ; Ave hundred and fifty-six regi^lars, besides a good many sailors, militiamen and free blacks had been made prisoners, among whom were lieutenaht^ colonel Dickson and many other officers. Dickson was the commander general of all the British settlements on the Mississippi, and was in the fort of Baton Rouge, when it surrendered. These remarkable advantages had been obtained, hardly with the loss of nny blood on the part of the Spaniards. The Louisiana militiiif behaved with extraordinary discipline and fortitude. It was found difficult to restrain their ardor, particularly that of the Acadians, who, at the sight of the British troops, beings inflamed with rage at the recollection of their old in- juried, were eager to rush on those who had desecrated their hearths, burned their paternal roofe to the ground, and driven them into exile like miserable outlaws and outcasts. The companiesf of free blacks and mulattoes, who had been employed in all the false attacks, and who, as scouts or skirmishers, had pyeved exceedingly useM, were re- ported by Galvez to his government as having behaved »'•. f =■•',>■ ■ 4- .A * Las milioias m emplewon con indeoible cdo en todos los trslMijpik y OTH el aervioio d« la artillerifl» dando constantes prnebas de una Bubordinaoion ein Upiities ; p^ies poi> ella dexaron muchas veces de arrojane aobre los eiiemigos, especialdtttbite las oompnfiias de Aeadianoa^ & qvienes enardeoia 4a meraoria ^ las o^eldadts de loa Ingleaes en la guerra paaada que lea obligawn 4 abandonar sue domiciUoii,— Sap. i la Qaz. de Madrid, 14 de Enero de 1780. f No merecen menos elogio'laa eompMliaa de negros y molatdalibtea'qile siertipre estnvieron oeupedoa en las abaniadasi, fclfoa Maqnea y .d < ac ttb ie rt a% eagCK peteandoM.Ma el enemigp, y j^rtandose en todaa oeasi^ea eon taato Yatot y generosidid onadlos bk&eoi.^-^p. A la; Ga& d«4|l4rid|, li «i* SaM^^d^ 11%0, «^ §i^ '0 ■ 133 GOOD BEHAVIOR OF TlIE BLACKS AND IlfDIANS. on all occasions, with as much valor and generosity as the whites. It seems that even the Indians showed themselves, for the first time, alive to the voice of humanity, and ab- stained from doing the slightest injury to the fugitives whom they captured, although their immemorial custom was to treat prisoners with the most horrible cruelty^ — nay, they had improved so much as to carry in their arms to Galvez, with the most tender care, the children who had taken refuge in the woods with their mothers. This change in their habits was due to the happy in* fluence exercised over them by Santiago Taraocon and Joseph Sorelle, of Opeloussas, who were both well acquainted with their language, and under whose com- mand they had been placed in this expedition. Having accomplished his purposes, Galvez disbanded the militia and sent them to their homes, with tha praises and the rewards which they deserved. Charles de Grand-Pr6, brother-in-law of the commissary of war, Don Juan Antonio Gayarre, was left in command of Baton Rouge, with jurisdiction over two officers placed, the one at Fort Bute, on the bank of Bayou Manchac, and. the other at Fort Panmuro, at Natchez. In order to occupy the posts which h'3 had conquered, Galvez had to draw largely on his reguiara, so that he had only fifty of them left in the capital to garrison it, and to watch over the numerous prisoners who had been taken, and over the several tribes of Indians who had come to New * Fiinlmente 1m ludioo di«roii por la primeravaz el noble exemplo de hu- manidad de no faabexheeho el mas leve dafio & los habitantes Ingleaes fugitlvos y desannadoBi 6 que aunque oon armas se lea rendian, a pesar de la general cot- tumbre qae iieaeu de tratar eon la mas horrible erueldad i sns prisioneros ; .habi- «B^ llegado hast* el extreme de Iraer entre bus bnuos eojgi agasiyo parapresentar al gebernador kw nifioa que por temor de su inhmminidad se habian reftigiado coB;«h the Spaniards h«^ ^ ^ *T*f "^^^ ^"'^S &th and honor of thX I„S T*''' *° ^^ S"^ English prisoner. ;,,« ^pef "tk*^;*^ T^ °^ «-'■• V his character, t^ent, „! ^'"^ ^^""^ m^pired .»»ts was snch, hat h" ^ fJ?^' """i "-^nt ach^ve 2^ on this oocalnrl VeTd '" T"* ''^ ''- ""|ht >>«,^e turned out to be^himn' ?""* '^''' ^'"'t Towards the middln n#n .T '™P'^"<'enoe. Oceans ft.„ ChthlJ^^^^ *h- Wed at Xew »t the same time, a reinforc^^n^!, «^'"''. ^"""""e- «nd, Havana. The Spanish conrTw^rri''*'°°I» from onors and awards to al thle Tho'S':;^. ° ^''""ing themselves in this enedifer Oi ^ '^"gnfehed bnK»d.er.gener^ ColoSdlZ m "" ''^ ^PPointed >™«d to the same frrade InH ^'"""^ '^'^e^ C province of CnmanSTir* ^'^ "^^ Governor of Z Ooa Pedi. RajCaA^ri^S. ^i^., Ca^ «d. The commissaiy of war bZt , "^"^ P«>mot. ^of «Pix,inted Boyd Com^t^f J""" An »nio ^ya„,^ Pulco. at that time^a ceS^d Jh";^""*^'" *»-^c^ Span^h galleons took th?i7dL^ '"''''"''' *e rich 'health of the western over tt»,T'^*° 'P'^"' the- The achievementa^^S *^7J^ '^orfd.* « gentleman, named j^^w "^'^T^y^ot themma,^ ^» Poyi^ who celebwted . which w»s PrintTand S^ ^'.f^^* ^^«. * ^ «»»ae»«m "mbsequenara^^l'^' -'*P**^'' ^ ' "^""W* uamense wealth, ■*. O'PWd .9«I1 R j^'.'i 134 AN EPIC POEM BY JULBEIT POTPRAS. # was delegated to the congress of the United States by Louisiana, served in its territorial and state legislatures, and, on his death, liberally founded and endowed, by his last testamentary dispositions, several charitable institu- tions. These acts of benevolence have secured to him more fame than his poetry, and his name has been given to one of the principal streets of New Orleans. The congress of the Thirteen United Provinces of America saw with much satisfaction the rupture which had occurred between Great Britain and Spain, and availed themselves of this favoral^le circumstance to send to the court of Madrid a minister, whose instruc- tions were to negotiate a treaty of alliance, and, particu- larly, to insist on their right to the navigation of the Mississippi to the sea. This right, however, the king of Spain was not willing to admit, and was supported by France in the view which he took of the question. "We are disposed," said in substance the ministers of the Catholic King to the United States, "to acknowledge your independence and to enter into a treaty of alliance and commerce with you ; but, if you wish jis to consent to your admission into the great family of nations, you must subscribe to the right of Spain to the exclusive navigation of the Mississippi, and consent to our taking possession of both the Floridas and of all the territory extending from the left bank of that river to the back settlements of the former British provinces, according to the proclamation of 1763. No part of this territory ever was included within your limits, and the whole of it, with the Floridas, may be legitimately conquered by his Catholic Majesty, without giving you any ground for remonstrance or complaint. We furthermore expect you to prohibit the mhabitants of your.confederiwy from making any attempt towards settling in or Conquering any portion of the British territory to which we refer 6)a poss« whic and' pans< anin< will c of at! was n< power tiationf 1780. Hare conques ^epJan and Bo] saiyof this carii the colo] and goo invineib] showed on his from the I'egulars, panies of a storm n coast somi "^ions aiii expeditioi and entire siderablee artillery, n point of A OALYEZ ATTACKS HOBTLB. 135 Considering tliat; you have, beyond the moimtains, no possessions except the podt of Kaskaskia a&d a few ottiera, which yon have naomentArily acquired from the British, and wnich ybti hold only by a very precarious tenure, what is the navigation of the Mississippi to you in com- parison with the importance of your recognition by us as an independent nation, and of the advantages which you will derive from your relations with us, in consequence of a treaty 6f alliance and commerce ?" This pretension was not palatable to the far-sighted policy of the new power which was budding into existence, and these nego- tiationsiwere still pending at the beginning of the year 1780. Hardly had Galvez returned to New Orleans after his conquests of Manchac, Baton Kouge and Natchez, when he planned another expedition destined against Mobile, and Bon Juan Antonio Gayarre again acted os commis- sary of war on this occasion. AH the preparations for this campaign were made with the greatest activity, and the colonists, who now had implicit faith in the talents and good luck of their governor, whom they thought invincible, asp^sted him with unremitting ardof, and showed themselves ready to peril their lives and fortunes on his behalf On the 5th of February, Galvez sailed from the Baiize with two thousand men, composed of regulars, of the militia of the colony, and Of some com- panies of free blacks. In the gulf he was overtaken by a storm which ciippled, or caused to be stranded on the coast some of his vessels, and greatly dam^^d his pro- visions and ammunition. The Governor and the whole ej^edition were in imminent danger of being ijrecked and entirely lost. After some delays, howev^, and con- siderable exertions, Mvez succeeded in latidi^ his army, artillery, military stor»38 and provisions, on Ihe eastern point of Mobile river. Bui this had been done with a ^'^ -^ '»i^ i;':^l 't-J.J 136 SUBRENDER OP MOBIUB. gi'eat deal of confusion^ and with a want of conceii; which the war of the elements had rendered inevitaMe. Had General Campbell,* who was at Fensacola, at thd head of forces superior to the Spanish^ marched immediately against them, and made a sudden and vigorous attack, he might have secured an easy victory. So conscious was Galvez of his daager that, notwithstanding his natural daring and his confidence in his own resources, his first impulse was to prepare himself for a retreat by land to New Orleans, leaving his baggage and artillery behind. But those he had sent to reconnoitre the country having brought back the intelligence that there was no appear- ance of any design on the part of the enemy to sally out of Pensacola, Galvez boldly determined to advance and to attack fort Charlotte, towards which he movc^ with rapidity, and which he invested without hesitatio: f batteries were immediately erected, and a breach utivmg been made in the walls of the fort, its commander, to avoid an assault which he could not resist^ capitulated in conformity with the terms ofiered by Galvez. This event took place on the 14th of March. . ,t ■; A few days after, General Campbell arrived with a force which would have been sufficient to prevent the capture of the fort, but which was not able to retake it from the Spaniards. He was, therefore, compelled to an inglorious retreat to Pem^acola. In the month of May, the commissary of war, Don Juan Antonio Gayarre, re- turned to New Orleans, through the lakes, on which he was assailed by another storm, which very nearly proved fatal to him. His vessel was struck by lightning, and it was with considerable difficulty that she came into, J)ort. A short time after, he departed to take possession of the office of Royal ComptroHer, at Acapulco, mth which he had been faitrusted. The history of this cfe|)r now ceases to be connected with Louidana, but, on his de hi8 sia] he by fouj ' MP =-%^' ^. GALVEZ PEEPABES TO ATTACK PISNBACOLA. 137 deaths wMohlwippenediii Mexico 4boiit the year 1787, bis wife and hi» three sons, who were all naiaves of Loui- aana, 1 etumed to the place of their births As to Galvez, he t^as rewarded for Ins snccess in the MbbUe expedition by the grade of Major-General. He was then twenty- four years old, and therefore had no right to complain, as others frequently do, of the tardiness of promotion. Encouraged by his past success, Galvez determined to attack Pensacola. But this place was well fortified, and had a very large garrison. His means were not ad^uate to the execution of his plan, and he had to so]iioit the Captain-General of Cuba for reinforcements, which were promised, but not sent. Impatient of delay, and mis^ tiTisting the intentitons of the Captain-general, Galvez sailed for Havana, in order to ask in person for what hi desired. The son of the viceroy of Mexico, and the nephew of the presidfflit of the Council of the Indies, so well known to be the omnipotent minister of Charles HI., was not easily to be refused, and Galvez, having obtained aU the troops, ammunition and implements of w;atili'0 H39tCiiy of LoaisiaiiA, vol. ii., p. Ml' even four aft,a] bar, a would on, th Beside shipg) rest, a quick 1 before siderin^ an objc have CO attendee during ordered the dire the bar that anj be fruiti dered bj means t< recomme This a] pleasure that feeli between : to eoope] were his impressioi incase of to forw^< ting the after all, ii Cii- j'fe. TBX BVJlNJSB. ADMIBAL BEFUSm TO ENTE& IT. 180 ■^.^ If even the ialaad of St. Rose. There are m the iert twenty- four pounders), ihe balls: of which would rake, fore : and aft, any of our vessels that should attempt to eross the bar, and the direction of the channel is such, that they would be obliged to present successively, as they moved on, their sides, poops and prows to the enemy's guns. Besides, the channel is so narrow, that should the first ship get aground, she would obstruct the passage for the rest, and the rapidity of the current preventing, any . quick manoeuvre, the ships would run foul of ea^h other, before they could turn, even if that were possible. Oon- sidering, however, that you deem the crossing of the bar an object of vast importance to the kin^s service, we have come to the conclusion to send one or two officers, attended by three or four pilots, to sound the ishannel during the night, as far as Point 8iguenza, a fire being ordered to be made on that Point, in order to aseertain the direction. After which a second trial to cross over the bar may be made. But my individual opinion is, that any attempt to attack the British by water would be fruitless, and that the land fprce ought to be consi- dered by your Excellency as the best and most efficacious means to reduce the fort. Therefore, I beg leave tQ recommend that it be used without delay.'* , This answer of the Spanish admiral caused great dis- pleasure to Galvez. He thought that it originated from that feeling of jealousy which but too often springs up between land and naval forces when they are destined to cooperate; and that the officers of the navy, who were his associates in this expedition, being under the impression that he would exclusively reap all the glory in case of success, were Jlisposed rather to thwart tiiftn to forward his pUms. He replied to IiiuBtM :. '^ adaa^ ting the danger of losing;, a ship or two, from which, after all, in ease of f^^ddeotf all on board would be easily # # ¥ ■ii- 140 GALVEZ CAUSES THE OHANNBL TO BE SOUITOBD. sav^d, what would be such a loss in cpmparisoa with that of the whole fleet, which is likely to occur, should there be a storm I Therefore I desire that the captains be again .called together, and invited to reconMdor their former report." In the mean time, in order to rouse and stimulate those officers of the navy whose prudence was so little in accordance with his views, Galvez deter* mined to attempt, with the naval means of which he Iiad the absolute command, what seemed to be denied to him by his more timid associates/ In compliance with his orders, the brig Galvezton, commanded by Bousseau, which had lately arrived from New Orleans with ordnance, tmt anchor neta* the bar. Kousseau sounded the channel as far aa Point Siguenza, during the night of the 15th to the 16th, and reported, the nejct morning, that there was water enoughf in the shallowest part of the channel for the largest ship in the fleet, with her full load. Notwithr standing Bousseau's declaration, the Spatiish y in zftpid succession, without r^q^vingmu^ iijjurjf ^Kcept m theb^ sails and ri^ging^ and Qalvez # ' * Martin's iUstoi;, toL ii, p. 6t. « 142 BIEGE OF FENSAOOLA. n rlLyflp H li m i igit^m |M * «< S^ safely landed at tlie bottom of the bay under a salute, and amid the enthusiastic acclamations of hii^ troops. Iraz&ba^ and his men had remained the motionless spectators of this bold undertaking. It was evident that he could no longer hesitate to follow this example, under the penalty of being dishonored, and therefore, the next day, he entered the bay, the frigate leading the way, and the convoy forming the rear. The fort kept up a brisk fire* for upwards of an hour, until the hindmost vessel Mi as out of its reach. Very little damage was done to the Spanish fleet, the whole of which thus joined Gal- vez, with the exception of the Admiral's ship, which that officer sent back to Havana, because she had just been reladen for her return. Wi'ilst the Spanish fleet, under Irazabal, was crossing over the bar, Galvez advanced in an open boat to meet them, pa&sed by the fort amidst a shower of balls which fell thick around him, and repassed it in the same way, at the head of the ships, whose commandei-s he had thus compelled to action by his heroism. He remained in the midst of the vessels until the last of them had anchored. This feat of Gal- vez excited the enthusiasm of his countrymen, and was even much admired by the British. On the same day, at four o'clock in the afternoon, this indefatigable man, so distinguished foi his activity and intrepidity, accompanied only by two of his aides, made an effort to cross iiie bar, to go and confer with Espeleta and Mir6, and devise with them a plan of attack. But he long struggled in vain against a strong^ adverse wind, and he retimied to his camp, about midnight, without having been able to accompliah his purpose. On the next day, the 20th, early in the mommg, *' he * Martin's History, Tol ii., {k 07. seni "OD in Ti tol Qapl the t sever BOW] and u Oai morni whom Spaois siderec Pensac any me myself, kflowlei and I ^ regulate jection ( tiou wit: At no known t< by laeut ^©redjhi ^aton B bearingt &om.Cm "IJumani We that , disasters T^ .>•■■ S-- m ' ' siEOE OP PiarsAcoM. ^^^ fV3 edifice,, sWpJor o^^n^"«' *'"'' ^""^ "^ *^ the Spaniards J be W r^!!*^ ^o™ '^'^troyed -verity of theiawsof war "^r'l-f ■*« ^' »d and under the same tems^ ^ *^'** " "^^t ooncem, t^ampbell, on the folWW A. monung, returned his answirfj.,^^™'^ ""^y ^ the whom he sent to GaJv™te^, ^ "'^ "ffi""™- Spamsh general, "an enemY^kZf "^^^^ *» *he ^dered as a stratagem. Tlor^T^.'^ ""ly be co„. Pensacola, I shaU ZlJtmZ^f *^* ^'^"'"^ "^ any meaanre not justifieXThT ^ as to resort to jnyself, how^ver/of^is OD,^^"^"^^"- I avail tnowledgmente for thf fra^^^!.^ ^r .""*« ■»'' ««- and I give yon the assu^^w *'°'' ^ ^"^^ '^ived, ^egtJated by yo„:^ with"CJd1o7 '^^''"'=* ^^ ^e' jeotion of certain p^positioSTw . li"^"'' o" »«- Wn tola.:rnrof ?f ■^'-ded to .«,. made , by Heutenant^lo^j^i"^ Cmpbell's, aecompam^' ^ had been taken^S^^^' '* '^ ^ •*««»". Baton Eouge, and liCS "n ^f '^'^ y<«. at bearmg the flag of trace Z r,.P"°l«' <-'ame in a boat ^ Campbe]r«„dS^:^r^*°J'^-«- k«e« "Unmaniiy," saidC^S . wt.°^^^' ^«M«-* We that inoiifensiv* inSual^T "^ """* " P««i- d^^.^hich are the ^^^^i^^ 144 SZEGB OF PSNBAOOUil^ B WKm III 78 « Bidering, therefore, that the garrison of Pensacola is unable to resist the force brought against it, without the total destraction of the town, and the consequent ruin of its inhabiuuits, and that its fate depends on that of the redoubt of marine and of Fort G«orge which protect it, I propose that Pensacola shall remain neutral grouad ; that it shall be used by neither party for pro- tecting itself or annoying its adversary, and that it shall continue to be the safe asylum of women and children, the aged and the infirm, during the biege of the redoubt of marine and Fort George, within which alone I mean to contend for the preservation of the pipvince for the British Crown. This is to the interest of both parties, as it will preserve Pensacola for the victor, whoever he may be. But should this proposition be rejected, and should the Spaniards seek shelter in Pensacola, it will become my duty immediately to destroy that town. I further propose that the Spanish prisoners in my posses- sion be liberated on parole, and on your Excellency's assurance that they shall not be employed in the military or civil service of the Catholic king, during the war, unless they are sooner exchanged." Galvez, when he had heard of the approach of the British officers sent to him, had commanded his army to be drawn up in arms, in order that the messengei*s of Campbell and Chester should have a full view of his forces, and might report accordingly to their chiefe. His troops were numerous, fully equipped^ %ell ta'ained, pro- vided with everything necessary to carry on the siege successfolly, and he had calctdated on the impression which this sight Wvmld produce. He received courteously ike Britisk officers, and sent them backj after having v^bally de(daj*«d td them that he^ was too much indis- posed to prepare a written aIl^wer before the neirt; day. During the following night, the English set fire to a '^^^' lew grea proa sider sitioi! hous( with depar has ci other having upon, impres makei no pro; flagrati to any : indiffer* Cam that th( from its utmost ( the ofl|c( but his afforded ders sou^ an asylm After heroes, t think sen all hisfo tightening proaehed lieutenant on the otl i aZXGJfi OV FENBACOLA. 14.') lew bouses near Fort St. Gleorge. This circumatanoe greatly irritated Galvez, who, i& the morning, sent his promised answer to Campbell. "Sir," said h^, "I con- sider as a departp/e from, or a violation of, yom* propo- sition conveyed to me yesterday, the burning of the houses which you destroyed last night. This occurrence, with others that have come to my knowledge since the departure of your aide and of LieuteKant-colonel Dickson, has convinced me that those who sent them had no other object than procrastination. I am ashamed of my having been thought a fit object to practise deception upon, and of having confirmed by my credulity the impression which had been received of me. Therefore I make it known to your Excellency that I shall listen to no proposition but that of surrender; and that the con- flagration of Pensacola, so long as it is not attributable to any fault of mine, will be contemplated with complete indifterence." Campbell rejoined, says Judge Martin in his history, that the haughty style assumed by the Spanish chief, &r from its intended e^ect, would hav6 that of exciting tho utmost opposition to the ambitious views of Spain; that the o£Gicer commanding at Fort George had done nothing but his duty, in destroying a few houses ne«*r it which afforded protection to the enemy;, and that, if the invar ders sought to avail themselves -of Pensacola, by seeldng an asylum there, it would be immediately destroyed. A^r a good deal of talking, in imitation of Homer's heroes, both the British and Spanish chiefs began to think seriously of coming to blows. Campbell vnthdrew all luB forces into t^e fort, and Gf Vez lost n<» time in tightening the iron beU which en<»rcledJt He ap^ proaehed the Bri^bfertifioations on one side, while Ids lieutenants, Mr6 and Esp^eta^ did the same operation on the other. Th« Spimiavds set to wwk in earnest to 10 , . 'ij" 146 BLOWINt} UP OP A B£XX)UBT. 61*601 their batteries, which they suppLed with a good train of artillery. In the beginning of April, all being ready on the part of the besiegers, a simultaneous attack was made by the fleet and by the land forces. The fire poured upon the British was really tremendous, and frequently drove them from their guns, to which they returned, however, with that bull-dog^ tenacity which is the well known characteristic of their nation. They had not been taken by surprise ; and, as they had long ejq)ected a siege, they had provided themselves with an ample supply of ammu- nition and provisions. The fortifications were in an ex- cellent state of repair, .-nd defended by a numerous gar- rison, so that the Spaniards* made but little impression. But, being much annoyed by the guns of the fleet, the English hastily erected a lower battery of heavy cannon, with which they soon drove the ships on the opposite side of the bay. Galvez was thus reduced to his land batteries, with which he did very little, execution, and the result of the siege was beginning to be very doubt- ful, when there happened one of those accidents which so frequently determine the fortune of war. In the first week of May, a powder magazine in one of the advanced redoubts of the English, took fire from a shell and blew up. The redoubt was completely destroyed by the explosion, and a free passage was effected in the very walls of the foi*t. Galvez availed himself of this golden opportunity, and, by his order, Espeleta, with a strong detachment, immediately took possession of the smoul- dering ruins, and soon after, opened a brisk fire with four field pieces. At the same time, with Galvez at their head, all the Spanish forces were patting themselvei| in motion to storm the fort, when a white flag was hoisted , * Martin's Hittoiy, vol. iL, p^ .■' M^rv: \f^-ri,.;>,.^-,„-.-f;. ^^ ;/;,;-:;;. '■■ "In the preamble of this docii^ment,1^e king states that hit royal solicitude and wishes ha^^ebe^ always to secure to his vassals the utxnost felicity, and -to enaHe them to enjoy the advantages of a free trade.; th«t lie had never lost sSight, of so in^rtfflit lan ol^eot in the f m *^ i^ **•' ^•# s ■' i: ^, ^*' 154 PBTVILEaiQS OBANTED TO TH£ COLONT. regulations he had made for the commerce of his vast (1 ominions in the Indies, hmig fiuixlj persuaded that th6 protection of trade and indii5*iry has a great influence on the wealth and prosperity of a nation. I f ;8 Majesty then adds, thftt the province ^ri-ouit** ma Ins particularly Uiftrited his royal attention, since its annexation to his doiDinions. His paternal love for its inLabitants bad induced him to give them repeated proof ''^ that a chr jge of go V emmeii I. had not diminished tleir happiness. But, notwithstanding the lavors cind xemptions he had been pleased to grant tliem, on b everal occtwions, particularly )jj the regulations of the commerce of the Indies, made on the 28th of October, IT 78, experience had shown that the advantages he had contemplated were not realr ized ; and the trade in peltries of that province with the numerous nations of Indians who surround it, and the articles of exportation to Europe which the country pro^ duces, demanded new regulations. Accordingly, and with the view of rewaiding the zeal and fidelity of the colonists, during the late campaigns for the reco\ery of the territories lately possessed by Great Britain on the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico, the following favors and privileges ate granted to the province of Louisiana: " 1' Permission is given, during a period often years, to be computed from the day on which peace may be proclaimed, to all vessels of the king's subjects in the province of Louisiana, bound to New Orleans or Peusa- cola, to sail dii'ectly with their cargoes from any of the ports of France in which a Spanish consul resides, and to retittn thereto with peltries, or the produce of Louisi- an^ or West florida (except specie, the exportation of which, in this way, is absolutely forbidden), under the express condition that a detailed invoice of all the mer- chandise on board, signed by the consul, shall be deli- vered by him, in a sealed cover, to the captain, to be ■% prese ofde "2 :||^ ^^^ % n PBIVILEaES GSAltl'SO TO THE OOI^ONY. 155 presented by tlie latter at the custom-house of the place of destination. "2° In case of urgent necessity in the colony, the existence of which necessity is to be certified by the governor and the intendant, permission is given to the colonists to resort to any port in the French West India islands, , "8** To encourage the commerce of the province to the ports of the Peninsula to which it is allowed, per- mission is given to export from New Orleans and Pen- sacola any species of merchandise directly Imported there from Spain, to be landed in any port within the king's American dominions to which trade is allowed, paying only the duty with which such merchandise would have been charged on its exportation from the Peninsula, according to the regulations of the 12 th of October, 1778; but the exportation of foreign merchan- dise imported in Louisiana is forbidden. "4»° An exemption from duty is granted, during the same period, on negroes imported into Louisiana or West Florida, and permission is given to procure them in the colonies of neutral or allied powers, in exchange for pro- du«>e or specie, paying only, for such produce and specie, the duties mentioned in the 7th article. **5° Jn order that the colonists may fully eigoy the favors and privileges now granted, they are permitted;, during the term of two years, to be computed from, the proclamation of peace in New Orleans, to purchase foreign vessels |ree from duty, and such vessels are to be considered as Spanish bottoms.. , * "6** The exportation of pipe and barrel staves fj!om Louisiana to Spain is permitted free from duty. . "7' It being just that commeree should eontrib^te to the chajrg^ of t^e colony and to the expenses it occasions^ a daty pf six per cent, is laid oi^ ^ll merchandise exported >■ ■(. # "IS ;»' •«■ 166 FATHEB CIRILO MADE A BISHOP. .-I-' imi tei-. from, and imported by the king^s subjects, in the Penin- sula, Louisiana, and West Florida, according to a mode- rate assessment. " 8* Custom-houses are to be estabHshed in New Or- leans and Pensacola." Galvez, whose enlightened mind had not been slow in discovering what would soon have converted Louisiana into a populous and wealthy colony, had recommended that it be granted the privilege of jfree trade with all the ports of Europe and America.* But neither the Court of Madrid, nor the spirit of the age, was disposed to go so far. The conquest of Pensacola by the Governor of Loui- siana was fully rewarded. He was promoted to the grade of Lieutenant-General, was decorated with the cross of knight pensioner of the royal and distinguished order of Charles IIL, was made a Count, and received the commission of Captain-general of the, provinces of Louisiana and Florid.^ Another individual, who had made himself conspicuous in a different field, mider Unzaga's administration, was also promoted, about the same time. That was father Cirilo, the former antagonist and reviler of father Dago- bert. He was created a bishop in part/ihus infidelittm^ for the see of the town of Tricali in Greece. But he was appointed co-adjutor to his former patron, Bon Jose Este- cheveril^ who still occupied the see of Cuba^ and;he\was directed to exercise his episcopal functionsf in Louisiana. > A simultaneous attack of the French and Spaniards^ having bcfen planned against the island of Jamaica, Gal- vez sailed for St. Domingo,, where the combined forces were to assemble, and where he was to take the com- mana of those of Spain. On his departure, he intrusted , » VilliiV despatch of the aoth of May, 1781. f Martin's History, Vol. il, p. 68. provi Mird. Bui Britai] 20th o Great at the year. West 1 Great ] . ^Jt\ indepen their so from a j 31 degre river A middle t straight downalo ocean. ' ]^08sessioi By the ^sissip^ declared \ of Great 1 This stipi discussions the Unite I^uisiana. On the : Indian, wh Taiapduch< nor of Pel '•m 4k TREATY BETWEEN SPAIN AITO OTHER POWERS. 157 provisionally, the government of Loniaiana to Colonel Mird. But th^ preliminary articles of peace between Great Britain^ France, and Spain, were signed at Paris on the 20th of January, 1783, and the defimtl^^e treaties between Great Britain, the United States and Spain, were signed at the same city, on the 3d of September of the same year. By this treaty, Spain gained the provinces of West and East Florida, which were ceded to her by Great Britain. By the same treaty,* Great Britain acknowledged the independence of the United States, and reco^ized, as their southern boundary, a line to be drawn due east from a point in the river Mississippi, in the latitude of 31 degrees north of the equator, to the middle of the river Apalachicola, or Cataouche; thence, along the middle thereof to its junction with Flint River ; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River ; and thence down along the middle of St. Mary's river to the Atlantic ocean. This line became the dividing one between the possessions of Spain and the United States. By the 8th article of the treaty, the navigation of the Mississippi, Jrom its source to ite mouth, was expressly declared to remain for ever free and open to the subjects of Great Britain and to the citizens of the tJnited States. This stipulation was destined to give rise to endless discussions between the two former allies, Spain and the United States — involving the ftiture destinies of Louisiana. On the 1st of January, 1784, M'GiUivrayj a htdf-breed Indian, who was one of the most influential cMefe pf the Talapouches, wrote to Arthur O'N'dl, th^ Spanish g<>ver« nor of iPensattola, to propose a treaty of alliltnce and m m <«%^fi|rtm'i Bktory, T^ a^^ It. , *H W W^ # ■^1^ •^4 4,i M> #' I' 158 M'OILLIVRAY, TITE HALF-BREED INDIAN. commerce with the Spaniards. He consequently repre- sented in glowing colors the advantages Which Spain would derive from it, and, what is curious, he hints at a scheme which was subsequently adopted by the Court of Madrid, and which was, to separate the Western territories from the rest of the United Stat^. " Having been informed a few days ago,'* said hej " by a letter received from St. Augustine, that the definitive treaty of peace between their Catholic and Britannic Majesties was ratified in Paris on the 3rd of September last, I take the liberty to congratulate with you on this fortunate event. As this treaty confirms Spain in the possession of both the Floridas, I solicit, in the name of the Tala])Ouche nation, the beneficent protection of his Catholic Majesty for our persons, and for the land which we claim, and of which we are in actual possession. If the foi-tune of war has compelled his Britannic Majesty to withdraw from us his protection, nevertheless he had no right to transfer us away, with our property, to any power whatever against our will and inclination. " Certainly, as a free people, we have the right to choose our protector, and we do not see any one who ai wers our purposes better than the Sovereign of the two Floridas. I will therefore lay before you a few reasons to demonstrate, that it would be sound policy on the part of Spain to grant us what we desire. " Since the publication of the general treaty of peace, the American Congress has brought to light a situation of its affairs, showing the debt« and revenues of the con- federacy. By this statement it appears, that the debts contracted in Europe and America are estimated at more than forty-two millions of dollars, the interest of which is about' two millions and a half. The Court of Versailles has urged upon the American Congress the necessity of paying the interest of the money due to thes cont This sion, escap their towar numb thems waterc what t aside i emigra] possible carry IB they oni quire mi "lea employ of the ' support of theirs remaining gerous n( or any pa aU these I Qow coii^i punBued he advc ^ Boseandoj "■rte de IwiSie P«nd«ncia oeoiJ ^ m ^Rf ^ XOB PROKMXnOHB A2n> DI80L08UBB3 TO SPAIN. 159 France. In order to raise the necessary Ainds to meet these claims, the Congress has imposed dnties, taxes and contributions, striking alike the Thirteen United States. This expedient has produced so unfavorable an impres- sion, that a good many of their citizens, in order to escape from the burden of taxation, have abandoned their dwellings for the woods,* and have marched towards the Mississippi, in order to unite with a certain number of disbanded soldiers, who are anxious to possess themselves of a considerable portion of the territory watered by this river, and they propose establishing what they call the Western Indqmidence^ and throwing aside the authority of the American congress. The emigrants are so numerous that, in a short time, it is possible that they may find themselves strong enough to carry into execution their scheme of separation ; and, if they once form settlements on the Mississippi, it will re- quire much time, trouble and expense to dislodge them. " I can assure you that the Americans in the South employ every means in their power to enlist the feelings of the Talapouches on their behalf, and to secure the support of this nation. Should they succeed, the result of their influence wiU be, that the Indians^ instead of remaining the friends of Spain, will become very dan- gerous neighbors, and will assist the Americans in all the designs which they naay ibrm against Pensacola, Mobile, or any part of the adjacent Spanish dominions ; and of all these things the Americans speak openly. I will now con\municate my yiews as to the best course to be pursued to frustrate their designs.** The course which he advocated' was, ii]^ substance, to grant to the Tala- , * Bvscando nnera morada «ii los bos^^ dirigiendai .|>riB«{pa1iDttiite mi vii^e al MisMssiptrf para onine con poroion de ragos soldados que d««Ma po«<>^ grata parte de laa tierras d« e«te rio, y piensan estaUecer lo qtie elloa Uaniai^ la'ihde- pendencia oeoidental, flMra de la amo)ridad del eongkao. .!>.<'■■ '■.>f« W s? ♦ ♦i** i66 A 0ONORIS8 OF Tiq: INDTAN NATIONS. )X)iiche8 as many commeFcial advantages and other privileges as could be bestowed upon them. Feeling how important it was to conciliate all the Indian nations, whose hostOity or friendship was so inti- mately connected with the prosperity and safety of Louisiana, the Spaniards invited them to meet in what they called a congress^ at Pensacola and Mobile, and it was resolved, in order to giVe more solemnity to the occasion, that this congress should be attended by the governor ad interim, Estevan Mir6, by the intendant Navarro, and by Arthur O'Neil, the commander of Pensacola. On the SOtli of May, IT 84, the Indian congress was opened \inth great pomp and the usual ceremonies. The customary presents, with medals and other decorations, were given, and a treaty of alliance and commerce was sealed, much to the satisfaction of the parties. On the 6th of June, a liberal distribution of brandy, powder and every sort of ammunition was made, and after much feasting, McGillivray was dismissed with hisTolapouches, ' who were delighted with their reception by the Span- iards. He had been appointed commissary-general of ii all the Talapouche tribes, with a monthly salary which was not to be less than fifty dollars. On the 2 2d of the same m(mth, Mir6 presided, at Mobile, over another congress which was composed of the Ohickasaws, the Alabamas, the Ohoctawa and the other smaller nations, who all came with their wives and children. This vast concourse of people was magnifi- cently entertained at the espense of the Spanish govern- ment. Bich gifts were showered plentifully,, chiefe cajoled — and finally, the same ceremonies whicji had beea gone through at Pensacola, were reSnacted at Mobile, only on a larger scale, and the same treaties of alliance and conimeroe were i^wom to and »gned. "% ' m Mf- whic natio score not g to be "In sentim Indian and of of our 1 ing ou< Catholi, sonere t imitatio] onpselve equal ni qnantity without ; those caj Bytht the name tions in within _ deprived ^ conaeqJ Iqdian alll tones hM ?■;*?'■ •<* TRBATT OF 8PAIH WITH TUB IITDIANS. 161 The 6th article of the treaty with the Talapoiiches, which was also inserted in all the treaties with the other nations, redounds much to the glory of Spain, on the score of humanity, for which, unjustly no doubt, she is not generally given much credit, lliis article deserves to be quoted, and reads as follows : "In conformity* with the humanity and the generous sentiments cherished by the Spanish nation, we (the Indians) renounce for ever the custom of raising scalps, and of making slaves of our white captives ; and, in case of our taking any prisoners in (consequence of the break- ing out of any sudden ^^ar against the enemies of his Catholic Ivfj^jesty, we bind ourseWes to treat those pri- soners with the kindness to which they are entitled, in imitation of the udages of civilized nations, reserving tr ourselves the privilege of exchanging them against an equal number of Indians, or of deceiving for them the quantity of goods which may be previously agreed upon, without making the slightest attempt against the lives of those captives.*^ By the last article of the treaty, it was stipulated in the name of the king, that he confirmed the Indian nar tions in the possession of the lands which they owned within his dominions, and that, in case they should be deprived of them by any of his enemies, he should then, in consequence of the love which he entertained for his Indian allies, grant them elsewhere, in some of the terri- tories belonging'to him, and as an equivalent for their * En obseqQlo- de la hamraidtd, y eorreapondiendo i Im g«n«roflM sentimi- enUxi de la uaoion Eipafiola, renunciamoa pari siempre la praottoa de lerantar oa- belleraa, m ti^user eaelavoal los Uaiioos. Y en easo de qua uaa inopinada giiem; contni los enemigo* die sn.Mi^tBd Oatolioa not ponga en el eoto de haoer algQn prisionero, lo trataremog con la hospitalidad que oorreeponde^ A imitadon de laa na«iontt ningimo deloe «Kpteendo«^ pirisieiierea d« goerrael manor at^ntadoi ravida. m.'' 11 * -•f' ^^^ • ^ » '^' *1 H'i I Villi ■r* '•■■ ,'V.'-< .'*■ 162 BEGT7LATI0NS FOE THE INDIAN TRADE. loss, the same extent of lands, presenting equal advan- tages. In order to avoid all future discussions, and to prevent deceit as mucli as possible, a minute tariff was agreed upon, in relation to the price and quality of every article which they were to be furnished with, and for which they were to give in return a certain quantity of peltriey. The most stringent regulations were also made by the Spanish Governor, to protect the Indians against the malpractices of the traders, who were to be permitted to introduce their merchandise in their villages. These regulations began with this declaration as a preamble : *' The trade with the Indian nations is to be conducted on principles of good faith and equity ; and those that engage in it shall take care so to demean themselves as to secure, by ail the means in their power, the attainment of so important an object, without availing themselves, to avoid these obligations, of the despicable subterfuges of fraud and deceit." A contract was passed, on the 24th of July, between the Spanish government and James Mather, a resident and merchant of New Orleans, by which this individual bound himself, on certain conditions, to employ two ves- sels to import all the goods and merchandise wanted for the Indian trade. These two vessels were to navigate under the Spanish flag, and one was to land its cargoes at Pensacola, the other at Mobile. Mather had reserved to himself the privilege of sending his vessels for the supplies he was to procure, either to the Dutch, Danish, or English islands, in America, or to one of the European ports belon^ng to these three nations. His return car- goes from Pensacola and Mobile were to consist of the productions of the colony. The fortitude of the inhabitants of Louisiana, to whom the Intendant Navarro, in his circular of the 29th of ISfU % E # EXTRAOBDIN'ABT SXTHSBITT OF THE WHTTEB OF 1*784. 168 August. 1780, iiad recommended tlie patience of Job, was put to another trial by the prodigious rigor of the winter of 1784. The months of July and August of the preceding year had been so cool, that the colonists, to their great amazement, had to resort to their winter clothing. White frosts made their appearance in the beginning of September, and continued to be frequent to the 16th of November (1783) when the cold ^ "ome intense.* There wiis a constant succession of squalls, and the wind blew with nnheard of violence, from the north and north-east, and then from the south, gomg almost through the whole ronnd of the compass. With rapid transition, the keen northern blast froze the ground, and the warm breath of the southern breeze brought back the genial temperature of the spring. The varia- tions of the weather were such, that, several times, in six houra, Reaumur's thermometer fell from twenty degrees above the freezing point to two and three degrees below it, in a closed room where fire was kept up. On the 13th of February, 1784, the whole bed of the river, in front of New Orleans, was filled up with fragments of ice, the size of moat of which was from twelve to thirty feet, with a thickness of two to three. This mass of ice was so compact, that it formed a finld of four hundred yards in width, so that all communication was interrupted for five days between the two banks of the Mississippi. On the 19th, these lumps of ice were no longer to be seen. " The rapidity of the current being then at the rate of two thousand and four hundred yards an hour," says Villars, "and the drifting of the ice by New Orleans having taken five days, it follows that it must have occupied in length a space of about one hundred and twenty miles. These floating masses of ice wei*e met by ships in the 28th degree of latitude." * Villam' despatch, 25th of February, 1^84. m Sit m j^^^'^ '^w 4 .» 2 V .. \ , f'X 164 t OAIiYEZ, VICEROY OP MEXICO. Another valise of distress for the poor colonists was the depreciation of the royal p4per money, which had been issued at par to meet the eicpenses of the war, and which had fallen down fifty per cent, of its original value, t As if this was not enough, commerce was crippled by a decree of the Court of Spain, which was published in New Orleans, in the beginning of September, and which prohibited foreign vessels from entering the river under any pretext whatever, either stress of weather, or want of provisions, &c. The administration of the colony considered this decree as being a rcvoeatioQ- of the sche- dule of 17 Y6, in relation to the French Islands, und wi'ote to Spain to obtain further instructions as to the manner of carrying the new decree into execution. In the beginning of the year, 1*785, Galvez was ap- pointed Gaptain-general of the island of Cuba, of the province of Louisiana, and of the two Floridas. But, on the death of his father, in the summer, he succeeded liim in the viceroyalty of Mexico, and was allowed the privi- lege of retaining the captain-generalship of Louisiana and the Floridas. Galvez was one of the most popular viceroys that Mexico ever had. He governed that extensive countiy nine years, with all the powers of absolute and despotic sovereignty ; and his administration was so mild, so just and so enlightened, that he became the idol of the people. He had that nobleness of mien, that graceful- ness of manner, that dignified, and, at the same time, easy affability for high and low, which, in persons of his rank, never fail to win the heart. He was a man of profuse magnificence in his habits, and the gorgeous displays which he used to make on public occasions, were much to the taste of all classes of the population. Then, as I said, the Duke, great Bolingbroke — Mounted upon a hot and fiery steed, 4 Hf iH ffis w passing j ligent as the Meid to her hi] Galvez tance froi ie preter since bed against M him imm catches, fl^ artillery o tected on edifice, wi given to it seat of run fiUed with undergrour ^th the ci seat was, in could not ^^iose idol impolitic, ur it became a M THE OHABACTEB »F GAL 165 '•,.i.Ji.ii\'N ■ \IV^bicfa his aspiring rider geemed to know — With glow, but stately pace, kept on his course, White all tongues cricJU-God save thee, Bolingbroke ! You w* Tl than 13,53 1,100 being betw€ had a $4,0v0( The accessi Acadia France the cou such of They w Mississij settleme others e the rest Opelouss ItwiU iad beei on the tr been, tha revived establish^ however,' the time stopping whatever latter had ill extent a from Janu island, the the war. ARRIVAL OF AOADIAN FAMILIES. 171 This enomeration shows that the population had more than doubled since 1769, when it amouhted only to 13,538. • The number of free colored persons was about 1,100, and that of the slaves and whites was very near being equally divided. The expenses of the colony were between 400,000 and 500,000 dollars. The Governor had a salaiy of $10,000; that of the Intendant was $4,000, &c., &c. The province received, this year, a very considerable accession of population, by the arrival of a number of Acadian families, who, at the expense of the King of France, and in consequence of an arrangement between the courts of Versailles and Madrid, came over to join such of their countrymen as had emigrated to Louisiana. They were granted lands, mostly on both sides of the Mississippi river, near Plaquemines. Some went to the settlement already existing on the Terre aux Boeufs ; others established themselves on Bayou Lafourche, and the rest were scattered in the districts of Attakapas and Opeloussas. It will be recollected that, in 1782, a royal schedule had been issued, which relaxed the restrictions imposed on the trade of the colony. The consequence of it had been, that the commerce of New Orleans had greatly revived and a number of merchants from France had established themselves in that town. "The planters, however," says Judge Martin in his History, " regretted the time when British vessels plied on the Mississippi, stopping before'every house, furnishing the farmer with whatever he wanted, accepting in payment whatever the latter had to spare, and granting a credit almost unlimited in extent and duration. A number of agents had arrived from Jamaica, to collect debts due to merchants of that islMid, the recovery of which had been impeded during the war. As the trade these creditors had carried on # -4 V*,» '■t?^ * 172 BESPITE ORAltTTKD TO OEBIOHS. Uil ^Vi vr 4 ,1, -!,:,.■ J* . '"ill could not now be continntvl, they pressed for settlement and payment. ' In some cases, legal coercion was resorted to; but Mir6, with as anich prudence as Unzaga on a similar occasion, exerttjd his influence to procure some respite for those who were really unable to comply with their engagements, and allowed a resort to the last ex- tremity against those only whose bad faith appeared to require it. Instances are related, in which, unable to obtain a creditor's indulgence for an honest debtor, he satisfied the former out of his own purse." Mir6 exerted himself to obtain as much extension as possible for the commerce of the colony, and applied to the Court of Madrid to recommend its being fostered by more liber il regulations. In a despatch of the 15th of April, 1786, he said: "In Louisiana, there are strong houses which would be able to carry on all its commerce, if they wei'^ not restrauied by the want of capital, and by the depreciated paper money which the wants of the country require to be put in circulation. This cause pre- vents them from undertaking the least mercantile specu- lation which would be attended by much risk. It is, therefore, astonishing that, notwithstanding these adverse ch'cumstances, there should be so much commercial ac- tivity on this river, where at least forty vessels are always to be seen at the same time. I say that the operations of the merchants are impeded by the want of cai:)ital, because, not having specie at their disposal, they are obliged to purchase the ^igricultural productions of the country with paper money, and, as the planter sells them his crop at a very high rate, propoiiiioned to the depre- ciation of the paper ojBfered i|i paym©^ t, they cannot operate any sale of those productions n the European market, without losing thirty or forty per cent., a,nd fre- queiatly seventy. This has occasioned losses, which have destroyed the fortunes of many merchants, and hence have ofth of na whicl exalt* po'-jses which exchai absolu are ac( "In advant withou much L sold at lages; freely ^ be 8ub|( "Sho interrup other na which M will resn which ti "Besit shops, w not think and ratio "The utmost le of hasieai COMMEBOB OF THE COLONY. 173 have originated the nnmerous creditors by whom some of them are harassed. " Commerce is so necessary to the common prosperity of nations, that, without it, and without the relations which it establishes, man would not have arrived rt that exalted degree of knowledge and civilization Wf^ir- > • possesses : the Indians, who are ignorant o^ i Ke latr^ which r< nvil societies, feel the importance i>f exchangii oils of the chase, either for objects of absolute l il^ , or for such articles of luxury as they are acquainted with. ♦ # » » * * * « * • " In order that this commerce with the Indians be advantageous, it is necessary, 1st, that it be carried on without interruption ; 2d, that it be conducted with as much legalicy as possible ; 3d, that the merchandise be sold at the most equitable price; 4th, that tbere be always a sufficient number of traders in the Indian vil- lages; 5th, that it be permitted to all to go and trade freely with the Indian nations ; 6th, that this commerce be subjected to no favoritism and to no monopoly. " Should commerce be canied on with them without interruption, they will not think of resorting to any other nation than ours, and from the familiar intercourse which will be established between them and us, there will result friendly relations and ties of good fellowship, which these people are not incapable of forming. " Besides, shoiud there be established among them open shops, where they could sell their peltries, they wcwild not think of visiting the capital, where they claim presents and ralions which are a serious drain upon tibe ^easury. ^'The trade witii them must be condtnted ^k the utmost legality, in order to inspire them ^th sentiments of honesty^ which, otherwise, i^> would be difficult io # ■kit'' i i.ArJi'i ■^1 # i ill IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I ^ 1^ ill 2-0 1.8 1.25 U|||||,.6 < 6" ► $h /I /. ^J>i .V V HiotograiJiic Sciences CarporatiQn 23 VMST MAIN STRHT WIISTni,N.Y. 14SM ( 71* ) •73-4503 * 4' 174 MIBO'S MIEW OK THE SAME SUBt^XTT. inculcate in them, because they are always disposed to follow the exa^/iple of the whites, whose superiorly they acknowledge. ^ "Nothing can be more proper than that the goods they want should be sold them at an equitable price, in order to aflford them inducements and facilities for their hunting pursuits, and in order to put it within their means to clothe themselves on fair terms. Otherwise %" they would prefer trading with the Americans, with whom they would, in the end, form alliances, which cad- not but turn out to be fatal to this province. "It is important that there should be no want of traders in the Indian villages, not only for obvious com- mercial purposes, but also to act as spies on the Indians, or to watch the movements of any intruder who might endeavor to pervert them. "That this trade be open to all, is in accordance with the rights and privileges which are enjoyed by eveiy subject of his Majesty ; and to secure, its continuation, it is necessary that it be not exclusive, as the Indians would be aware of the disadvantages they would suffer from a monopoly, because there is not a nation so ignorant as not to know, that it can derive no benefits from a com- merce not open to competition. Our commerce with the Indians divides itself into two different branehes, — > the one, embracing all the Mississippi region, extending fi'om New Orleans upwai'ds, and the other radiating from Mobile and Fensacola, through^ all the country which is dependent on these two places. Those nations who 82^ known under the appellation of Choctaws, Alibamons, Ohickasaws, Greeks, Talapouches, and Apa- kches, supply themselves at Mobile and Pensacola. Two cofgoee, ai0:ipaUy^ of one hundred and seventy tons each, composed of effects worth sitty thousand dollars, at the 1^ Etiropean valuation, wiU be suffieient for Mobile ; and ■^v A fe * ir^VUUftO^S yiEWS OK THE SAJOB SUBJECT. 175 :^o similajr oargoes, but worth only forty thousand dollars, will do for Pensacola. The profits derived from this trade may reach twenty-five per cent., provided the price of peltry shonld keep up iu the Eun^an market ^1 Should it be deemed absolutely necessary to main- tain this commerce with the Indians^ then the ftmdar mental condition of it must be, that it be not shared, in the slightest degree, if possible, either by the Engli^ or French, and that the Indians should know no other traders than the Spaniards. But this must be the work of time." The celebrated half breed, Alexander McGilliyray, the most influential chief among the Talapouches, had been allowed a share in the profits to be derived from the trade carried on at Pensacola, besides the pension of $600 a year, paid him by the Spanish Government. In con- nection with this circumstance, Navarro observes : " So long as we shall have this chief on our side, we may rely on having established, between the Floridas and Georgia, a barrier which it will not be easy to break through. The Indians are now fuUy convinced of the ambition of the Americans; the recollection of past injuries still dwells on their minds, and, with it, the fear that these greedy neighbors may one day seize upon their lands, and strip them of a property to which they consider themselves as xiaving a right derived from nature herself.* It ought to be one of the chief points In the policy of this Grovemment to keep this seiil^ent alive in their bi^asts. >h ;; "With r^ard to our Xndian commerce on thf^MissiB- * En el dia m mantienen log Incliw eooTenoidoi de la aipbicion da los Ain«ri> calioa; la mMncwia di» liw pasadas iiji^ihM qa« Iwr han hiN^''iitl^tite, y «da afla el recalo^Aqv*^ algimdia, •« i^podanuMO da soi ti«rr9% y djH^!^^ pit >dad 4* n||t^aff}|wa» an en^o pappa -^ietatxj) i« adniiniaiiite y (libav^ parMTOl^ :• -,:-il'.~-. ■ - f •t^ik ■%. ■0 w i .-lit ■# •^ m '-*• 'm^ #• m m ■<«#. n ||li ' i m^¥ * ifH I # 176 N AVARR0*8 BEOOMMENDATIOfTS OIT THE SUBJECT. sippi, of wWch New Orleans is the centre, it is now much rednoed, although it ought to be the most lucrative of all, because it embraces some of the nations in the pro> vince of Texas, and all those of the Arkansas and Illinois districts!. " In relation to Texas, our trade is of very little con- sequence, on account of the risks with which it is attended. It would much improve, if we could secure peace with the Comanches. Until then, the goods wanted for that trade will not require more than an annual outlay of six thousand doUars. " The commercajn the district of the Arkansas is subjected to inconveniences of the like nature, and exposes the traders to no little danger on account of the incursions of the Osages. "The commerce with the Illinois is the easiest, and yet it is of very little importance, because the English, who are in possession of Michilimakinac, three hundred leagues above, introduce themselves- with the greatest facility into our possessions, and seize on the richest poi-tion of the trade by forestalling the peltries of the finest quality. We are compelled to be mere lookeiB- on, when others do what we ought to do ourselves, and we have to m* ^o the vexation of seeing the trade, which ought t«. ,me down the Mississippi, elude our grasp and lake the St. Lawrence for its channel. They have also possessed themselves of the trade with aU the nations on the river Atm Momes^ which is eighty leagues above St. Louis, and within the jurisdiction and depen- dcoice of the lUhiois district, lliere beavers and otters are to be found in the greatest abundance." Then Navarro goes on. ew9»merati»g the remedies he reeQininends to obvi»te these evils, and which, if idojpted, would, he sa}^: ''cause to fall iiito Spahish: ha^ J^ manna offered by the trade with the Indians, whieh is a * BOTAL OSDBB AS XO THX HATOHSZ OXSTBICT IN 1786. 177 casket of wealtfa, of wliich others luive the use, although we hold its key.* The treasures of that, mine would then find their way into the coffers of our nation, and our enemies would not wrest from us- the bread which shoidd help to our 8Ustenance,f and forty thousand dol- lars a year would be sufficient to supply all the ^ants of that trade." Navarro concludes his despatch with these reflections : '* If the province of Louisiana is intended to serve as a bar- rier against the Americans, it cannot answer this purpose without a considerable increase of its population, and it can acquire the numerous populatio|i^vof which it is sus- ceptible, only through commerce and agriculture. The one requires protection, the other assistance. The former cannot prosper without freedom and unlimited expansion ; the latter cannot succeed without laborers. Both are necessary to supply the means of paying the expenses of the colony, to secure the possessions and the rights of the sovereign, and to make his power and amis respee- ttble.{ These are all my views on this matter." The whole of this document, of which I have only given a few extracts and the condensed spirit, is replete with good sense and liberality, and is a strong proc^ of Navarro^s distmgmshed qualification';. On l^e 5th of April, 1786j the king issued a royal order, by which he approved the conduct of "MJib^ who, in the preceding year, had granted, in the districts of Baton Bouge and Natchez, which had been conquered by the Spaniards, some indulgence and extension of idme to theBri'Bsh stibjeots, in relation to their s^]^ th^ ■■'^*^-'^ & fii. 'm 1T8 mBO*B BANDO DE BUEK OOBEEBNO. f property, collecting their debts, and removing away their persons and effects. The king declared his will that permission to remain he granted to such of them as might desire it, provided they took an oath of alle- giance and fidelity to him, and promised not to move out of their respective districts without the permission of the governor. "Those who neglected to take the oath," says Judge Martin in his History of Louisiana, "were to depart by sea for some of the colonies of Korth America; and if they were unable to defray the expenses of the voyage, it was to be paid by the king, Vho was to be reimbursed, as far as possible, by the sale of their property. "The king further ordered that, at Natchez and other places where it might be done conveniently, parishes be formed, and put under th9 direction of Irish clergymen, in order to bring over the inhabitants and their families to the Catholic faith, by the mildness and persuasion it recommends. For this purpose, the -king wrote to the Bishop of Salamanca to choose four priests, natives of Ireland, of approved zeal, virtue and learning, from among those of his university, to be sent to Louisiana at the king's expense. "Mird, on whom the provisional government had de- volved on the departure of Galvez, now received a com- mission of governor, civil and military, of Louisiana and West Florida, and issued his Bcmdo de hum gdbierrw^ on the 2d of June. "A Bcmdo de hten gobiemo is a proclamation, which the governor of a Spanish colony generally issues on assuming its government, to maJ^ known the principles by which he intends to dir^ his conduct, and to in^o- dace necessary alterations in the prdinanoes of poHce. "Li this document, Mir6 begins by stating thai reli- gion being the object of the wise laws of Spain, that a rey€ and witi faith ries, quen ment is pr liceng or st< servic on th< «H tigains that t] womei on inc He re< and to Iiisdet mendai he will evidenc "He establis garded, bids tB directs "He duelling dirks, enfoiiec ^in hihited. "•Ilie tiii. jfi ^u- MIb6's BASDO DB BXTETT OOBIEBITO. reverent demeanor in dmrch being a consequence of it, and tliat tlie bishop baving lately pnblii^ed an edict witb regard to tbe respect and devotion mtb wbieb the faithful are to attend the celebration of the holy myste- ries, thQ proceedings of the vicar-general against deKn- qnentd wOl receive every necessary aid from the govern- ment. Working on the Sabbath and other holy fe#tivcls is prohibited, except in cases of necessity, without the license of the vicar. He forbids also the doors of shops or stores being kept open during the hours of divine service, and the dances of slaves on the public squares on those days, before the close of the evisnittg service. "He declares his intention to proceed ivith severity against all persons living in concubinage. He observes, that the idleness of free negro, mulatto, and quarteroon women, resulting from their dependence for a livelihood on incontinence and libertinism, WiU not be tolerated. He recommends them to renounce their mode of living, and to betake themselves to honest labor; and declares his determination to have those who neglect his recom- mendation sent out of the proviniee, warning them that Be will consider tVoir excessive attention to diess^as an evidence of theii misconduct. " He complains that the distinction which had been established in the head-dress of females of color is disre- garded, and urges that it is useful to enforce it ; he for- bids them to Wear thereon any plumes or jewelry, ttiid directs them to have their hair bound in a kercMef. "He announces that the laws against gambling and duelling, and against those who carry about their persons dirks, pistols, and oflier weapons^ shall be r%or6uaIy enfoi^sed. -;» ^ 1^ nighlly assemblages of pe^pfe <^;(k>l!d^a*f pro- hibited.-?;;; ■;;;, . ■ "'-'} ' ■ . ■ ^^ ;;■■; ;'^'"v'; /;■/ \ "The iilihabitantg if tliie dty are forbidden to leave *■ ^ ■% M- %. -^,>tmm^ r^ m' 180 lfIB6^S BANDO DE BUEN OOBIEBNO. it, either by land or by water, without a passporli^'ttiil those T^ho leave the province are to give security for the payment of their debts. ^ " Persons coming in, by land or water, are to present themselves to the Government Hoo^e. " Those who harbor convicts, or deserters firom the land or naval service, are to be punished. " Any large concourse of people without the govern- ment's consent is inhibited. "None are to walk out at night without urgent neces- sity, and not then without a light. " No house or apartment is to be rented to a slave. " Tavern-keepers are to shut their houses at regular hours, and not to sell spirituous liquors to Indians, soldiers, or slaves. " Purchases from soldisrs, Indians, convicts, or slaves are prohibited. " Regulations are made to prevent forestalling, to hin- der hogs from running at large in the streets, to^ restrain the keeping of too great a number of dogs, and to secure the removal of dead animals. " Pleasures are taken to guard against conflagrations, to drain the streets, and to keep the landing on the LeVee unobstructed. i> "Verbal sales of slaves are forbidden." According to one of Mir6's despatches, the revmue resulting from the import and expoi-t duties at New Or- leans amounted, this year, to 685,063 reales dejsHakty^a&i is about $72,000. , In th§ beginning of ITST, the,di&tricts of Opeloussas andAtakf^)!^, which, on account ef the thinness of theh^ population, htid, so ftir, been intrusted to l^e care^6f ^e ofi&cer, had become so considerable^ that irfcwto defeljied expedient to divide them into two separate odrnmands iRj^olas iVrtstall waa ai^Kttnted coi^anftiid^ c#it^e ik^' ■*; '>*!k'' ARRIVAL OF IRISH ?KIE8TB. OpeloQssas district^ and the Chevalier de Clouet, who had before presided over both, was left m chaise of Ataikapas. It m^y not have, been forgotten, that the hing had requested the Bishop of Salamanca to choose from the Seminaiy of that town four Irish priests, who were to be sent to Louisiana, and who were to settle among the Pi'otestant and Anglo-Saxon subjects of his M^esty, in the hope, no doubt, o#^ converting 'them to the Catholic faithi These priests arrived in 1787, and were esta- blished at Baton Bouge, Natchez, and other posts in the territory conquered over Great Britain by Galvez. At th^t time, Spain began to look with earnest solici- tude at the growing p6wer which, under the appellation of the United Sts^te? of America, had taken its rank among the nations Of the earth, and the Western settle- ments of wliich had come into collision with those of the Spaniards in Florida and Louisiana. Thus the State of Georgia claimed an immense territory on the east sido of the ISiussissippi, from Loftus heights northward, for several hundred miles, which regibn was in the posses- siou of Spain, with a population estimated at about ten thousand soutls. Georgia had .7 • t commissioners toNew Orleans in the autumn of 1785, aemm^g the surrender of that tenitory and the recognition of the line stipulated in the treaty of 1783. The Spanish authorities of Loui- siana had denied having any power to act on thestibject, which was properly referred by the -respective parties t^ the governments of Spain and of the United ^tateSi Besides, the Mississippi was the natutid outlet for the conuQerce of l^e American people in th^, western settle- mentsj and that commerce w|»poor^ doiim i||»0n New Oi|eitil% as it 1^^ w^ tihejwaves c«f l^aiij mi^^^^^ The dlil^ wl^ were (^ectedl;]^ •the SpafB^ ties w^^' cQii^^^eect m cfppressiy^; and lOQBi^ ', \^e <^ •i.*^ ■A-.f .. ^ \ m 1^'^ • f^ :;|:- sj^m^s^iv i "^^m!J=«.;,.^...<::^•SS:;: '- -.^^ ■^ ' "^''itik. #' * 182 i^AVABno^a fears of tits ak£j{ioans. sturdy flat-boatmen of Ohio and Kentucky^ on tbeir return home, had always a long list of seiznres, oonflsca- tions, fines, imprisonments, extortions, or vexatious delays to publish, and those tales, which probably in many cases were exaggerated, kept in constant agitation a population, who considered that they derived from nature itself a right to the free navigation of the Mississippi It was the highway to the sea given to them by God, and they were determhied to have< it. Hence the excite- ment went up to such a degree, that an open invasion of Louisiana was talked of, and a forcible seizure :>f New Orleans contemplated. But before resorting to these extreme measures, the' patriotic yeomanry of the West had applied to Congress, and urged upon that body the necessity of obtaining from Spain by negotiation, at least such commercial privileges as were indispensable to the very existence of the western settlenients. * 'Hiese were circumstances of Sufficient importance Jo secure the niost vigilant attention, on the part of the Spanish functionaries at New Orleans. ^ ' ' Thus, on the 12th of February, 1T8Y, Navarro,"^ the Intendant, wrote to his government : " The powerftil enemies we have to fear in this province ftre not the English, but the Afcricans, whom we must oppose by active and sufficient measures. It is not enough to have granted Louisiana a restricted commerce for ten years ; it is indispensable to use other resources. It is of little importance that her productions should go to France or anywhere else, if we are incapable of turning them to our profit. When w,e cannot supply her with articles nubufactured by ourselves, it is of no consequence if her wuits in •r. ,^^ KAVABKO^S VMXBB OF THE AMERXCAITS. 188 of agrioultnrej and gives rise to a state of things, whiob, in a few yeai*, mH be prodnctive of considerable sams to the Ung. 'Without this toleration^ and without the oomolercial fhinchises granted by the royal schedule of the 22d of January, 1782, this country would have been a desert, when it is calculated to become one of the most important portions of America. "There is no time to'be lost. Mexico is on the other side of the .Mississippi, in the vicinity of the already formidable establishments of the Americans. The only way to check them is with a proportionate population, and it is not by imposing comm^mal f eatrictions that this population is to be acquired, but by grant&g a pru- dent extension and freedom of trade.* '*I address yoioi^ IJxcellencjr fix)m the ftilness" of' the patriotic spirit with which I am animated. I have n4' other object ik view w&a the interest of my sovereign. I consider the province of Louisiana as a portion of his royal dqmain, and I wish that I could, with every power of reasoning which I may possess, succeed in demon- strating the necessity of developing the strength and vitality of this province, because, from every one o|,those innumerablie settlements which conmiand us from their natural' position, I see clouds rising and threatening us with a stoim that will soon burst upon this province, and the damage* would be still gret^ter, if ulifortunately the inundation extended itself to the territories of New Spain.*'t * Nohay qae perder tiempa M^ioo MtA de la otra orillx del Miariaidppi, en la« immedii^onM de esto* hoy formidablM ^ftableflimientoe d« AmerieaiMw.' £1 modo de coattwreatario* e« ana pol)la«ioa propproibitlida, y etta no ae forma con reBtriccitniai^ sino «on alguna pradeAte libertad «n el oomeNio. f fiablo a Tueitra Escellencia Ueno del eapiritu patriotico de que etioy reve** tido ; miti iat^iKiio#Ba ton lo* iatereees ie mi eobMnmo. Mirp 1* provinda de la Lvinantl e^oM tt^ poreion de sa pii^riedad, y qoMira pentiadir oon todn mi taaon a qoeeefomfltc^ p^M en e|4* paeblo de loe innmeiii,t)LM que n<^ dominan per Q«t«M«l aiti^efaiii, •» pnipaia ebatM e^ pnitkcia on anbiado qve deaoar- fSl # .'■«». »>« m # m \ \ 184 DBFSirCSL]»8 STATE OF TUE OOliONT. •# In tho montl) of March, Governor Mir6, in a despatdi to the Marquis of La Sonora,* secretary of state, and president of the council of the ladies, commented with much earnestness on the defenceless state of the o(^ony, and represented the Plaquemine Turn as the best spot to be fortified. He sent the estimate of the expenses which would be required for the erection of some bat- teries and a small fort at that locality, and which the engineers had put dowii at $37,000. In consequence of the treaties of' alliance and com- merce concluded with the Indians at Mobile and Pensa- cola, in 1*784, and in order to carry them into execution, and supply them with the objects of trade which were necessary to their wants, commercial privileges had been conceded to William Panton at Pensacola, and to James Mather at Mobile, who^ in consideration of these privi- leges, had stipulated with the Spanish government to satisfy the Indians. But the goods which' were to the taste of these people, and which could "be procured with more ease than any other, were to be obtainld in Eng- land only, and therefore the ships of these two merchants had been permitted, as an exception, to resort to the port of London. The Spanish government^ however, soon took umbrage 'a{ the liberties which it had granted, and in August, 1780, they had been considerably cu^ tailed or impeded by a royal decree. Panton and Matter reinonstrated with vivacity, and represented that, if those restrictions were not repealed, tiiey would remove themselves, their families and their effects to some other more favored spot than were Pensacola and Mobile under the pernicious influence of the unwise regulalaons of Spanish polijey. On the ^4th (^ M^ch, Ooveimor ti«iTMdeNa«v«'Etpafi4; ;;, " ': - ■ » . " - * ..^. w XirOOUBAOEMEinS TO XMIORAITTS. 185 Mir6^ and the Interi'lunt Navarro, in a joint de^atcYi, barrupt motives attribnted^tb' him, or from whateVesr dther catee, he reprimanded^NavttiTO' with extreme severity on i^ ii^aotioBS of tiie 'laws of Spain, added that he had informed his con^ of theb^ fjEust8,4ind foFoed%4ihe Inteadant^to pecNse^ to lihe harshest W % '4, i* i;"M ,*' 'ib ' KlfiliffiHHIl M}ff' 186 COMMEBOIAL DIStBESS OF THE GOLOKT. measares against such delinquencies. This produced a crisis by which the colony was greatly distressed, and a great portion of the population was reduced to such extremities, that the Intendant informed Jiis government, on the 10th of October, 1787, that he had assumed the re- sponsibility of continuing to the Acadians, for two mo'nths more, their rations, which were to have been suspended. The annual donations in money, provisions and other articles to the Acadians, the Islehos^ or emigrants from the Canary Islands, and to the Indiafis, were a heavy drain on the Spanish treasury, for they amounted to 1,783,381 reales deplata^ or about $173,388; To this is to be added a debt of $760,779, | which the Spanish government had contracted in Louisiana during the war against the English, and which remained to be paid. It is not astomshiag therefore that Navarro, in a despatch of the 19th of December, 1787, addressed to Vald^s, the successor of the Marquis de la Sonora, should have made an energetic description of the misery which prevailed in the colony. He represented that there was a com- plete stagnation of affaii^ ; that there were no sales of any kind ; that foreigners and particularly the Europeian French had ceased to make any investments, as formerly, on real estates, which now could not be disposed of, even for a mere nominal price, and that commerce, agriculture, and every branch of industry was completely withered and destroyed. *-It is certain," said he^ "that this province requires different regulations from those which his gracious Majesty has established for his other possessions in America, and that to submit Louisiana to the same re^men is to operate her ruin. Every one of the Spanish colonies has its peculiar productions and a conmierce incidental thereto. Is it not probable that, to Subject them to the samfe uniform system, is to clip the wings '# ITAVABBOS ADYIOE TO HIS QOYEBITMENT. 187 of prQgre'^?^ The peci^iar position of Louisiana ought to e^dude her |rom the application of that system of uni^fonuity. I have been serving his Majesty iii this colony for about twenty-two years, not without prejudice to my, health. During all this time, I have not ceased to observe the various changes and vicissitudes which Imve been fatal to its prosperity, and I have never omitted to mention them to the government, not how- ever without the constant apprehension of their not being attended to, on account of the little importance of the individual who framed these representations. ; "The commercial franchises which his Majesty had granted in his schedule of the 22d of January, 1782, and the latitudinarian extension which was given to them, were sufficiently powerful to impart to this colony the development which it needs. But there soon intervened certain r^^strictions, which are diamet;rically opposed to the concessions made, and which a subaltern officer can- not disregai'd without exposing himself to disapprobation and disgrace. * "Thus the permission which had been given to pur- chase negroes from the colonies of our allies and of neutrals, and to introduce them here, after having pild for them, either with our productions, or with mon^^y, on which was to be levied an export duty of 6 per cent, only, was a proof of his Majesty's solicitude and preditec- tion for Louisiana. But there presents itself a ^fficulty, which destroys all the gTaciqpsness of the grant: for instance, the law 30, tit. 27, lib. 9, de la.Becopilaoion de Indias decrees, that no foreigner shall be permitted to sell on credit in the Lidies any object of commerce. If this law is to be exl^nded to Louisiana, it follows ad a '^ ■'W^* Mf' * OMtar 1m alM dd pngrwa m *■•* h 1S8 NAYABBO'S ADVIOX TO HIS QOYEBNMinfl. # natural consequence, that the importation of n^oes must cease, and, from that moment, we must expect that this colony, T^hich promises to become one of the most considerable in America, is soon to be the poorest and the most miserable. " Nobody doubts but that the wealthiest nations con- sider credit as the tutelar deity of commerce, and that all, without a solitary exception, skilfiilly avail them- selves of it, to execute their designs and secure the pro- gressive development of their resources, and that the most prosperous is the one which has the most of it. I;t is notorious that there are no commercial enterprises which do not rest mainly on credit, and that, if it were required that they should be carried on with specie and cash payments only, mercantile speculations would be extremely rare. In such matters reputation is wealth, honesty 1°. security, and this is the cuiTent coin which facilitates the most important operations of commerce. Without these powerful auxiliaries, a "Country which should be in want of capital, would have no means of progressing, and would eternally remain in its beggarly condition, should it be prohibited by legislation from ha,vmg recourse to credit. " Louisiana is, in appearance, greatly protected, but she is not so in reality, and she is far from being ranked among the provinces that are rich, and if even those cannot trade without credit, how can it be done by this one, which is in its cradle ^nd swaddling clothes ? ft J' Relying on the good faith of the colony, the mer^ chant uses credit to buy negroes in the islands of friendly powers, sells them here on a credit of one year or more; find tluB course benefits Mm, and enr^hes the planter by giving him hands with which he can increase his crops and procure his means of payment ; and agricultiire. ixatjlR'bo's feabs of amebioak ambition. 189 being tbiXEt fostered, secures to the king an augmentation of revenue in proportion to ikat of tlie province. These are the effects of credit.** Navarro then goes On analysing the causes of the de- cline of the colony, and pointing out every commercial restriction to which he attributes it, and, among those causes, he mentions the apprehensions which are pro- duced by the threats of the Americans^ He concludes with enumerating the means which are calculated to people the country and make it satisfied with its (govern- ment. ^ s "It is necessary," ssiid he, "to keep in mind that, be- tween this province and the territories of New Spaan, there is nothing but the feeble barrier of the Mississippi, which it is as easy to pass as it is impossible to protect, and that, if it be good poKcy to fortify this province by drawing a large population within its limits, there are no other means than that of grantmg certain franchises to commerce, leaving aside, as much as possible, all restrictions and shackles, or at least postponing them to a future time, if they must exist. In addition, the government must distinguish itself by the equity of4U administration, the suavity of i^s relations with tie people, and the disinterestedness of its officers in th^ dealings with the foreigners who may resort tx) the co- lony. This is the only way to form, in a short time, a solid rampart for the protection of the kingdom of Mexico. ^ , " It is an incontestable axiom, that every remedy ought to be proportioned to the evil to wHch it is to be ap- plied; aim the danger which threatens us £rom the proximity of the .^^erieans isof such a nature, thf t it will soon be too late to ward it ofl^ if iwe do noi-now guard against it by the inost efficacious measures. IVen if the t^tory ctf New %M«,djM)»ld aever be the object ■m si*a mi- ■# ■i>; 100 EPIDEMICS m THE dOLOWT. of the ambition of the Americans, they onght to be for ns a cause of constant distrost and apprehension, becanse they are not unaware that the river de Areas is not dis- tant from New Mexico, and that there are mines in the Ouachita district. These are powerful motives for a nation restless, poor, ambitious, and capable of the most daring enterprises."* It is evident that the Intendant Navarro was not deficient in perspicacity, and that the distinguishing traits of the American character had soon made themselves known to the rulers of Louisiana. The province had, in this year 1787, produced a suffi- cient quantity of com, rice, and other grains for its home consumption, but it had made only half a crop of indigo, which was the chief staple of the colony. To increase the distress of the colonists, the summer was marked by fevers, which frequently and easily assumed a malignant type. There was also an epidemic catarrh, from which few were exempt, and by which many- were seriously incommoded. The small pox infested the whole pro- vince, and those whom fear prevented from being inocu- lated became the victims of their prejudices. All those who were attacked by the contagion, either died, or weire dangerously sick. The inoculajtion was fatal only to very few, but this was enough to confirm in their systematic opposition those who declaimed against this wise and humane practice. This disease had struck such terror into the Acadian families, that, when one of their members was attacked by the disease, they used to abandon him to solitude and to his fate, leaving him to his own resources, but supplying him with all the pro- visions and other articles they supposed he would need^ although breaking off all communication with him, and thereby deprivii^ him of their assistance. Some of * PoderoMM motivo* para noa naeion inqoieta, pobre, ambicioM y flrriaeftda. * MIBd 0ON0IXJATE9 THE IKDUIUB. 101 theiQ) however, wlio were established in Ft.1ioiana^ and who numbered eighty persons of both sexes and of all ages, had the fortitude to have themselves inoculated, and not one of them had cause to repent having taken that determination.* Always haunted by the fear of their restless neighbors, the Spaniards spared no means to conciliate the Indians, in order to interpose them between themselves and the objects of their apprehension, and succeeded in drawing to New Orleans thirtynaix of the most influential chiefs of the Choctaws and Chickesaws, whom they cajoled and feasted, and whose friendship and alliance they secured. Governor Mir6 received them with great pomp, gave them rich presents, harangued them, smoked the pipe with them, and made a liberal distribution of medals and collars. But the regent of the Chickasaws (the king being a minor) would not permit himself to be decorated with a medal savins: that such insisma might be honoi^onferringdistbcloDB for his warriors and the inferior classes of his people, but that, with regard to himself, he was sufficiently distinguished by his blood and birth, and that to act as the friend aiid ally of the Spaniards, and to acknowledge himself tlSe son of the Great Father, who was on the other side of the water, meaning the king of Spain, it was sufficient that he should have received his banner and his presents ; "which is a manifest proof," wrote Navarro, "of the- existence of the pride and point of honor, observable even among Ilie» barbarous and uncivilized nations." The Governor took them to a public ball, with which? they seemed to be delighted, expressing the beliaf that aU the beautiful l^es present were sisters, and had H; * NjftTArro'i dMpAtoh of the 19th of December, lIBfli ?5|p' m ' ■HI 111 Mm 199 OOST OF nrDIAN FBIEKD6HIP. fallen from heaven.* The Governor also entertained them with a military parade and field manoeuvres, which they surveyed with much attention and with demon- strations of pleasure. Finally they were fully won over by such arts, and they retui^ed to their village? with Spanish hearts. Impressed with this flattering convic- tion, Navarro wrote to his government: "All these nations are entirely devoted to us, and I can also safely affirm, that the Ajnericans will not gain much ground with them."f This boasted friendship of the ^dians was not without being felt by the Spanish treasury, and it appears, from an account rendered on the 5th of January, IT 88, that the amount of the sums spent in presente to the Indians, from 1779 to 1787 inclusive, rose up to about $300,000. It is in 1787, that the History of Louisiana becomes connected in a remarkable manner with that of the United States, by the formation of a great scheme, the object of which was the dismemberment of the confede- racy so lately established. The first Federal Union, which was conceived under the pressure of circumstances ad- mitting of no delay, was weak in the very bones and marrow of its organization, and, although it had carried the United States triumphantly through +be war of inde- pendence, it was inadequate to the ultimate purposes which it had in view, and was threatened with dissolution on account of its inherent imperfections. The western people, particularly, were exceedingly dissatisfied. They were then separated fr'om the Atlantie states by an im- mense distance, by the intervening barrier of a wUdemess *'Crey«ndp Im SefLorM bajadas del CSelo y Boponiendplwi toiMh»rw«xum.— f T podemos y»ooiii^egaridad afinnarque todiM ««t«roaoii>n« «lturi BQMte* deTodotai, y tambieo dedr qne l P9i' «|||^ bido moobo 1 SCHEMES TO DUBMEHBER THE UinTSD 8XATES. 193 tmd liigli mountains, by & diflbrence of imrBoks, of habits, and interests, and they felt leds thtoatty other -jportion of the iTtiit^d States the force of the lies which bound them together, and the necessity of that nnion. They bad re}>eatedly land their grievances and wrongs before the general goVelt^^ Gardoqui, at PhSadelphia, tv% both pursuhig the same 13

OABDQQUL 1 object, which was — ^to draw to Loiiisiaa& as much of the western population as conld be induced to emigrate, md even to operate, if possible, a dismemberment of the cdn- deracy, by the secession of Kentucky and of the other discontented districts from the rest of the United States. Both these Spanish functionaries were partners in the same game, and yet they were unwilling to commdnicate to each other the cards they had in hand. Each one was bient upon his own plan, and taking care to conceal it from the other ; each one had his own secret agents un- known to the colleague whom he ought to have called to his assistance. There was a want of concert, {urisii g perhaps from jealousy, from the lack of confidence, from ambition, from the desire of engrossing all the praise and reward in case of success, or from some other cause. Be it what it may, the consequence was, that the schemes of these two men frequently counteracted each other, and resulted in a series of measures which wore at va- riance and contradictory, and which seemed inexplicable to him who had not the key to what was going on be- hind the curtain. Among the most influential and popular men in the west, through whose co-operation Miro hoped to accom- plish his object, was General James WiUdnson, who had already acquu-ed considerable reputation in the military service of the United States, and who had lately emi- grated to that section of the country. This individu^ had some friends among the merchants of New Orleans, with whom he corresponded, and on whose influence with the Spanish Colonial government, backed by his own talents, address and management, he confidently relied in his hope to be able to open a lucrative trade between that town and the western countiy, which trade would be eicljttsively conducted by or through himself, and would thus secure tif^him a rapid and large fortune. wijLXizrsoir^s visit to vkw orlbaits. 19ft GenfkBl Wilkinsoii had therefore descended to New 0^ leftno, i& the garb of a merchant and speculator, with a cai^ of tobacco, flour, batter and bacon. Orders had been issued to seiae and con^scate the boat and its load, wheft Wilkinson, having had an interview with Governor Mirdj was permitted to sell his cargo without paying ahy duty. Several other interviews foUowei, and Wil- kinson was hospitably feasted by the Spanish Governor, who became every day more Mendly and condescending, and who granted to his guest permission to introduce into Louisiana, tree of duty, many western articles of trade which were adapted t^i^ its market. Wilkinson remained in New Orleans during the months of June, July, and August, and sailed in September for Phila* delphia. Many wondered at the intimacy which had grown up, during this time, between Mir6 and Wilkin- son, and sly hints and insinuations were thrown out as to its nature and tendency. ^* While Colonel Wilkinson was in New Orleans, in June, 1787," says Butler in his Ilii^tory of Kentucky, " Governor Mir6 requested him to give his sentiments freely in writing, respecting the political interests of Spain and the inhabitants^ of the United States dwelling in the regions upon the western waters. This he did at length in a document of fifteen or twenty pages, which the Gbvemor transmitted to Madrid, to be laid before the King of Spain. In this document he urges the natural right of the western people to follow the current of the rivers flowing through their conntiy to the sea. He states the extent of the country, the richness of the soil, abounding in choice productions, proper for forei^ markets, to which they have no means of conveying them should ^e M^issMppi be shut agunst them. : He sets ^fr^#d advanta^ which Spdn might derive ftom n^ 106 Wilkinson's mehobial. irll aUowIug them the free use of the river. He proceeds to show the rapid increase of popolation in the western country, and the eagerness with which eyery individual looked forward to the navigation of that river. He describes the general abhorrence with which they re- ceived the intelligence that Congress was about to saori- fioe their dearest interest by ceding to Spain, for twenty years, the navigation of the Mississippi; and represents it as a fact that they are on the point of separating them* selves entirely from the Union, on that account. He addresses himself to the Governor's fears by an ominous display of their strength,* and ai'gues the impoHcy of Spain in being so blmd to her own interest as to re- fuse them an amicable participation in the navigation of the river, thereby forcing them into violent measures. He assures the Spanish Governor that, in case of such alternative, "Great Britain stands ready, with escpanded arms, to receive them," and to assist their efforts to ac- complish that object, and quotes a conversation with a member of the British parliament to that effect He states the facnlity with which the province of Louisiana might be invaded by the united forces of the English kad the Americans, the former advancing from Canada by the way of the Illinois river, and the latter by way of the Ohio river ; also, the practicability of proceeding from Louisiana to Mexico, in a march of twenty days ; that in case of such invasion, Great Brit^ wiU Mm at the possession of Louisiana and New Orleans^ and leave the navigatio^n of the river free to the Americans* He urges forcibly the danger of the Spanish interests in North Ameriefi, with Great Britain in possesrion di the Misinasipfpi, as she was already in possession of the St. Lawrence and the great lakes. He condudes with an ssj^ogyiot thei^frwdom with whi^ he had expressed OBOBOX MOBOAN, LBAOSB OF XMIOBAim. 197 hk^vidWA 'by the 6k>vemor'B paiticiilar request; that saoh. aa ihey are, they are from a man whbsthaadmay err^but whim hmrt oamiot deoeiveJ* So much fbr Wilkinson's ostensible doings. But it leaked oat at the time and passed onrrent among those who pretended to be well infornibd, that Wilkinson had delivered to the Spanish Governor a memorial contain- ing other representations which were kept from the public eye. In the mean time, Gardoqni, the Spanish minister at Philadelphia, was acting in conformity with his cherished plan of fomenting emigration from the American s^ttle^ ments into Louisiana, and one of his chief agents was m individual named Pierre Wower d'Arg^s. For this pur- pose, he, with the authorization of his court, invited the people of Kentucky and those who dwelt on the Cum- berland river to establish themselves in West Florida and the S^orida district of Lower Louisiana, under the protection of Spain, and he made them liberal grants of land, conceding them also considerable privileges and favors. The Americans who should settle in Louisiana were to be permitted' to introduce slaves, stock, pro- visions for two years, fanning ^utensils and implements, without paying any duty whatever, and, as to any other kind of propeiiiy, it might be imported and offered for sale, on paying a duty of 25 per cent. They were also promised the free use of their religion. These conditions proved si^dettt allurements for many Americotis, who, with their fiumliee, removed to Louisiaiia axid biscfime Spanish subjects. Colonel George Morgan, who hod propo^ to lead a large number df enugrants, hod obtained from Gardoqui the concession ^ a vast tract of land about^fleventymiles bdoilr the mou^h of the^^ Ohi<^y 6ii Irlii^h he sub^nently laid the fotti^dk^loii ol^ # m 108 mB^ AND WOWER D^ARO^. city, which he called New Madrid, in compliment to the Spaniards. Pierre Wower d'Argds had arrived at New Orleans, and applied to Mir6 for the support of Gardoqni's views and plans. Mii*6, who found them not agreeing with his own, was greatly mortified, and, in a despatch which he addressed, on the 8th of January, 1788, to Yald^, the minister and secretary of state for the department of the Indies, said: ''I fear that they may clash with Wilkinson^s principal object, &b I shall attempt to demonstrate by the following observations. In the first place, D'Argda having presented himself here with very little prudence and concealment, it may turn out that Wilkinson, in Kentucky, being made aware of the mis- sion of this agent, may think that we are not sincere, and that, endeavoring to realize his project without him, we use him merely as a tool to facilitate the operations of D' Arg^s. Under this impression, and. under the belief that D'Arg^s may reap the whole credit of the mdei-tak- ing in case of success, it may happen that he will counter- act them ; for this reason, I have been reflecting for many days, whether it would not be proper to communicate to D^Arges Wilkinson's plans, and to Wilkinson the mis- sion of B'Arg^s, in order to unite them and to dispose them to work in concert. But I dare not do so,* be- cause D'Arges may consider that the greftt projects of Wilkinson may destroy the merit of his own, and he may communicate them to some one, who might cause Wilkinson tS be arrested as a criminal, and also because * Peru no me atrero A abraMr ol^rimer partido, por qti« puede D'Ailgdi con- ■idcnr que 1m gnades pr«»}MtM do Wilkinson dwtrnirian el merito d«l vayo, y precipitane (lo que oabe en lo posibleX A oonfiarlos 4 algano oapai de imflnir a qde ae orestase Wilkinson como criminal, y , tambien por que eate ae diagoatar . rnuohd d^ que oth> tiiTieae parte en una oonfiancade q«e depend an vid- ; honor, eomo el miamo co^eaa en an niemoria. umd^s vnws ok amxbioan smiobatiox. 199 \inikiiii^oii may tuke offence at another being admitted to participate in confidential proceedings, npon which depeud his life and honor, as he expresses himself in his memorial.* Being precluded by these reasons IVom opening myself on the snbject with D'Argds, I thought that I was bound to be equally discreet with Wilkinson, until I knew what are the intentions of his Mfgesty with regard to the latter. » « ♦ '^Tbe delivering up of Kentucky unto his Majesty's hands, which is the main object to which Wilkinson has promised to devote himself entirely, would for ever con- stitute this province a rampaii; for the protection of New Spain. Hence I consider as a misfortune the project of D'Arg^, because I look upon the commercial franchises which he has obtained for the western colonists, and the permission given to the people to introduce any kind of articles into Louisiana, on their paying a duty of twenty- five per cent., as destructive of the great design which has been conceived. "The western people would no longer have any in- ducement to emigrate, if they were put in possession of a free trade with us. This is the reason why this privi- lege should be granted only to a few individuals having influence among them, as is suggested in Wilkmson's memorial, because on their seeing the adv^tages be- stowed on these few, they might be easily persuaded to acquire the like by becoming Spanish subjects." Mir6 also^ objected to the imposition of the duty of twenty-five per cent, on certain articles to be introduced by the American settlers i%Louisiana, because he saic that^ if Wilkinson was to be believed, Great' !^tain % * Thin euuiot be the memorUl op«uly given to UirO by Wilkituon, and to lioh Bntler refers in bis Hiatoiy of. Kentueky, but moat be tlie other ••ortt docnmen f wbioh the exiatenoe WM nnnNred ftt the time. 300 MIb6 ADVOCATES COMMEBOIAL FBANCHISES. made. them much more liberal propositions, with wHch jbhose of Spain would not eompare advantageonsly,v With regard to the religious toleration granted by Grardoqui, Miro observed that it was too eirtensive. "It will be sufficient," said he, "to promise the emigrants that they shall not be forced to become Catholics, because, if, they are told that their religion is to be tolerated, they will infer that they are permitted to practise it freely, which would authorize them to take along with them their ministers, whose absence would, on the contrary, favor the frequent conversions which the Irish priesis would make, and which, otherwise, would be much more diffi- cult. I can conceive of but one case which would justify granting to those people the free exercise of their reli- gion — that is, if Kentucky could not be prevailed upon to give herself up to His Majesty without this condition. "Your Excellency informs me that the agent D'Arges will give it to be imderstood in Kentucky, with dex- terity and prudence, without committing himself at all, that, untn the question of boundaries be definitively settled, the Spanish government will permit those inha- bitants and colonists to send down their produce to New Orleans, o^tlai7 at Madrid, art depodted in the •ffice of the Secretary of State at Baton Bouge^ ■M '■«•• # *1" 212 SPAKISH :.OAN TO WTUOmOV, dollars in Kentucky, under the cHre of Mf^or Dunn, wbo has delivered me the letter of which I forward a transla- tion. It will make you acquainted with the state in which is the principal affiur mentioned in my coniiden- tial despatch No. 13. This Major confirms ell of Wil- kinson's assertions, and gives' it out as certain, that, next year, after the meeting of the first assemblies in which Kentucky will act as an independent State, she will separate entii'ely from the Federal Union ; he further declares that he has come to this conclusion from having heard it expressed in various conversations among the most distinguiphed citizens of that State : that the direction of the cwrrent of the rivers which run in froni of their ckuelUngs points cleanly to the power to which they ought to aUy themselves^ but he declares that he is ignorant of the terms on which this alliance will be proposed. The said Brigadier-general, in a private letter addressed to me, adds that he flatters himself with the prospect of his being the delegate of his State to present to me the propositions offered by his countrymen, and that he hopes to embrace mo in Apiil next. " From the beginning, he had informed me that he was not possessed of any pecuniary means. Here an individual, on the recommendation of the Intend ant Navarro, hac^. loaned him three thousand dollars. He now begs me n* t to seize his cargo, as he has pledged the product of its sale to refund that sum, and to pay his crew and the amount due on the tobacco which he had bought on credit, and as the balance 13 to enable him to support himself without embarra8(»m»nt, which will contribute to preserve and increase his influience in his State. ' '^J^liihough' his candor, and the information which I have fidught from many who have known him well, seem "M assure us that he is working in good earnest, yet I am ■A. m ■M 1>- . : ■' 4. #3 M*0IUJVBAT^8 LirrrER TO MDib. 213 aware that it may be possible tbat his intention is to enrich himself at onr expense, by inflating ns with hopeH and promises which he knows to be vain. Neverthele^, I have determined to humor him on this occasion, <&c. &c. ♦ ♦ ♦ * # « » • • « « • • ^^Ab you may have seen, Wilkinson had promised a volume of information when his flatboats should come down. He has kept his word, and transmitted to mn various newspapers cpntaining articles on the Mississif .^^ the letters of the American, Sullivan, which Don Dio^d" Gardoqui must have communicated to you, and a pap*" of his own, full of reflections on the new federal gove ment, the establishments on the Ohio, and the navigation of the Mississippi, of which the only passage worthy of occupying your Excellency's attention m the last one, in which he says to me, that * If Sullivan presents himself on this side of the Apalachiau mountains, I may rest assured that his journey will soon be at an end, and that '^ere will be obstacles in hi% way, to prevent him from oecoming troublesome to this province, as he boasts of.' " On the same day, Mir6 forwarded to his government the copy of a letter addressed, on the 25th of April, by McGillivray, the chief of the Talapouches and the pen- sioned ally of the Spaniard? , to the Governor of Pensa* cola: "I must inform you," said the Indian chief, "that since the departure of Garion with my last letters, two delegates from the district of Cumberland have arrived with proposals of peace to this motion. They represented to me that they were reduced to eictremities by the incursions of our warriors, and that, to obtain peace and oui* friendship, they were disposed to submit to whatever conditions we might choose to impose; and, prestmnjctg that it would have a powerful inflnence with me and w^ould secure them my fiivor, th<^ addled thfil; they||t ;*■ M li . VvV: li ■', -^ •*' ♦'y.r' '. . ''..V':' m i 214 #■;■'■: ■ INTRIGUES IN CUMBERLAND DISTRICT. would throw themselves into the arms of his Majesty as subjects, and that Cumberland and Kentucky are deter- mined to free themselves from their depeiidence on Congress, because that body cannot protect eitHer their persons or their property, or favop^^ their commerce, and they therefore believe that they owe no obedience to a power which is incapable of benefiting them. "These deputies desired to know my sentiments on the subject of their propositions; but as it embraces^ important political questions, I thought proper not to divulge my views. My answer was, that, in the first great council held by this nation, these matters would be considered, and that, in the mean time, all hostilities would cease, and that peace would be finally established, when its conditions should be agreed upon." McGilli- vray's correspondence, if proceeding from his own pen, denotes in that half-breed a man of considerable educa- tion and of singular abilities, not supposed generally to exist in those of his.race and position. Commenting on this letter in a despatch of the 15tli of June, Miro said: "I consider as extremely intei-estiog the intelligence conveyed to McGillivray by the deputies, on the fermentation existing in Kentucky with regard to a separation from the Union, &c. * * ♦ * m « )|i * "Concerning the propositions made to McGillivray by the inhabitants of Cumberland to become the vassals of his Majesty, I have abstained from returning any pre- cise answer," one of the members of the Cabinet of Madrid, to do all that was iahis power to procure t^e dismemberment of the American Union. ' He had. come to solicit assist' ance and cooperation fi^m Mir6 ; but, to his great as- tonishment, he was detained in New Orleans by the Governor, uiider vjtfbtiB pretext ai^d' not permitted to i^^ 218 BPASISA IKTBIOUES IN THE WEST.' ascend the Mississippi, on his way to the West. In a despatch of the 7th of August, addressed to the Oount of Florida Blanca, Miro explained his reasons for so doing. "Being obliged," said he, "to conceal from D'Arges the true cause of Wilkinson's visit to New Or- leans, I told him only, that the General had presented to the Court a memorial approved by me, in favor of the district of Kentucky, with a view to opening a trade between this colony and that province. He cannot con- ceive why I am losing, as he thinks, so much time, and why I do not hasten to avail myself of the permission given by your Excellency to carry on an enterprise, to which he would join his contribution of labor, at the propitious moment when the inhabitants of Kentucky are framing the Constitution of that State. His inten- tions are praiseworthy, if sincere, as I believe them to be. But my mind, although not very acute, has not been without detecting that the jealous ambition of a man easily produces feelings of enmity in his brei\st, and that, when two individuals work together in the same undertaking, the first who discovers that his companion is to reap all the merit of the success, if obtained, is apt, mstead of contributing to it, to use for its defeat the very knowledge and ei erience which he has acq^uiied in the matter. "My not permitting D'Arges to ascend the river will not be productive of any injury to the royal service, piid his being allowed to be in competition with Wilkinson, when they cannot be made acquainted with their reciprocal mission, would produce results of a serious nature, and, thus, I hope to obtain the approbation of your Excellency for detaining him here, until I receive the instructions af his Majesty on the main question.'' On the 28th of August, Mir6 Wx ote to his Government : "In compliatice with the orders ^ven by ^e AiBerican (^AltlbB: ntTRIOUES m THi; WEST. 219 iig^Miler-Ci^neral, James Wilkinson, to his agent here, this individual has invested the product of the sale of tobacob, with &a additional sum of money, in merchandise, with which he has loaded a boat. This cargo, which has required an outlay of $18,246 and six reals, is com- posed of eatables and dry goods destined for the Ken- tucky market. < ^'The establishment of this trade is of the utmost consequence for the succes.9 of our great project, which I disclosed and explained in the confidential despatch No. 13, to which is annexed the memorial of the said Bri- gadier, because it is exceedingly important that the Western people should see, before declaring themselves for a change of domination, that ths true channel through which they have to be supplied with the objects of their wants, in exchange for their own productions, id the Miasissippi." Miro explains at length the facilities of that coinmerce, and demonstrates how much more advantageous it would be for the Western people than that which they have been forced to carry on, across the mountains, with the Atlantic States. "The great obstacle,'' continues he, "which Wilkin- son's agent, who is also interested in this commercial adventure, has to encounter, is the ditficulty to a^oend as far up as the falls of the Ohio without beirg ati.eicked by the Indians, but I have encouraged him to attempt it at all hazards, and I have proposed to him to send two expresses to Wilkinson, one througl the Talapouche territory, and the other through the Chickasaw nation, to notify the General of the coming up of his boat, in order that he may send an armed one to the mouth of theOUo, wMoh, Wthe treaty rowers who nma to boat, will, I hope, be sufficient protection to ^ecum^its safety.^ I have written to Wilkinson n6t to sell the -f'; Sifci^ ^•| :ti^ .*. ■-:^,v ^ftu m SI' 220 OOL. MOBOAN'S AtEMOBIAI.. ii: Ml goods £lt a higher price than what they cost here, be-, cause it is highly important that this first essay should inspire the inhabitants of Kentucky with the most flat- tering hopes. "I have good reasons to expect that the arrival of this boat will produce the most agreeable sendation among these people, and will make, them feel more keenly that their felicity depends on the concession of such commercial facilities by his Majesty, and for the acquisition of which I conceive that there are few sacri fices which they would not make ; and therefore I hope with the utmost confidence, that his Majesty will approve aU that I have done, on this and other occasions— which course has secured to me the most profound tranquillity in this province, whilst I am waiting for instructions in so great and important an affair." On the Tth of September, Colonel Morgan' addressed from Kew Jersey to Gardoqui, a very cuaious memorial, in which he proposes to establish on certain conditions an immense colony near the mouth of the Ohio. Those conditions he stipulates at length, and declares that, if they are strictly adhered to, the population which he will draw to that settlement will, in ten years, amount to at lerst one hundred thousand souls. He ex*)atiatea on the advantages which would result therefrom to Spain, i ,nd, in return for what he promises to do, he desires that the rank of colonel enjoyed by him in the army oi* the United States, against whose government he expnsses himself with some bitterness of feeling, and which he accuses of haying acted with bad faith towards him, be secured to him; that he be granted a concession of twenty miles square, with a pension for the rest of his life, and that other boons and advantages be gu^a^tie4 to himself and^^ his family. Oil the 4th of October, Gardoqui answered C^onel f OABDOQtJI^S UTTTEB TO KAJOB JHUmr. 221 George Morgan from New York, expressing the warmest oppro]batioT^ of that gentleman^s plan of colonizalfbn, and informing him that he had forwarded it t6 be submitted to the^ng, and that he doubted not but that all that was j,pplied for would be granted. "As you seem anx- ious," said h6, " noj to loae any time, I forthwith transmit a passport, and letters for the Spanish authorities, so that you may go at once, and examine the territory in Tf hioh you contemplate making your settlement. On your arrival at New Orleans, you will act in concert with the Governor, who will give you aU the facilities you desire, and, in your progress through the West, on your way to the capital of Louisiana, you will assure the inhabitants of his Majesty's desires to grant them all the favojisB and privileges whidi may secure their pros- perity." Gardoqui, on the 7th of the same month, wrote afeo to Major Dunn, to entreat him to make his fellow- citizens acquainted with the sincere wish which he, Gardoqui, entertained, to procure^ as he expressed it, ihs ImppiThesa of that Western worldy provided they shmld understand tlieir own interests^ and second Ids qperoMons without loss (ff time.* ']i5 On the 3d of November, Mirb thus expressed himself in a despatch to the Minister Don Antonio Vald^s, in relation to the grand scheme of dismembering the Union : "This affair proceeds more rapidly than I had ^re^umed, and some considerable impetus is given to it by t|ye^ answ^ of Congress to the application ol Kentucky to be admitted into the Union as an independent State. That answer is, that the new federal govenunent wimk is 80(5^ Jo ijo into operati thdrwii^es into * Pntenror U diohik de los luitHlbftattti. d« ese ma^^ o9ti&villm% litmpn V>« <^iw«b mi'itep^i^teti^ y M^ mis moyitnitt^lM, riat peidida de '^i .% % . i'-% •j* %:. f ! K.« 22S OLIVBB POtLOOK AND JOH* BUOWM. coD.iideration, and will act thereon. Thia information . Bon rflsgo Gardoqui must have commnnicated, bnt he « did not what follows. " Oliver Pollock, a citizen of Philadelphia, who arrived here three days ago, in a vessel from Martinique^ has declared to me that Brown, a member of Congress, who is a man of property in Kentuc!&y, told him in connuence that, in the debates of that body on the question of the independence of that Territory, he saw clearly that the intention of his colleagues was, that Ken'acky shcul I remain under the jurisdiction of Congress, like the county of Illinois, and that a Governor should be appointed by them for that provmce as for the other ; but that, as this was opposed to the welfare of the inhabitants of Ken- tucky, he was determined to return home (which he did before Pollock's departure from Philadelphia), and, on his arrival, to call for a general assembly of his fellow citizens, in order to proceed immediately to declare themselves independent, and to propose to Spain the opening of a commercial intercourse with reciprocal advantages; and that, to accomplish this object, he would send to Pollock i.he necessary documents, to be Md before me and to be forwarded to your Excellency. He requested Pollock to prepare me for it in anticipar tion,. "Your Excellency will therefore rcsc assured that Brown^ oh his arrival in Kentucky, finding Wilkinson and his associates disposed to surrender themselves up to Spain, or at least to put themselves under her prptec- tion, will easily join l^em, and it is probable, as Wilkin- son' has already foretold it, that, next spring, J shall have to receivje here a deputation appointed in due form. ' ■ ■■:/'';'^.. ,rp4r "I acted towards Pollock with a great deal of ca:itti6n, and answered him as one to whom had been coniiiaum ■■'i* "W UniNDATIONS IN LOUISIANA. 223 cat^ ** ^ome new and nnlooked for informaf ion, giving him to understand, that I conld not pledge to him my sup- port before seeing the documents which he expected,'^ '» d«ii»itoh, Angnst 28tli, I7ite. •J: # m. v.,4yi' ■y-' t ^' m '#' HI i' i (i *-. 224 "**'' ■■■■^p^' WILKINSON'S INTRIOUBB. of success in due time, and, although in the conjectural opinions which I presented to you and Navarro, I may, in some particulars, have been deceived, you will yet see that, in the main, I expressed myself with a prophetic spirit, and that important events have occurred, to confirm the accuracy of my sentiments. "When Major Dunn left Kentucky, I had opened my- self only tc '.he Attorney General Innis, and to Colonel Bullitt, who favor our designs, and indirectly I had sounded others, whom I also found well disposed to adopt my ideas. But, having made a more strict examination, I discovered that the proposed new government of the United States had inspired some with apprehensions, and others with hopes — so much so that I saw that this cir- cumstance would be a cause of some opposition and de- lay. I also perceived that all idea that Kentucky would subject itself to Spain must be abandoned for the pre- sent, and that the only feasible plan to the execution of which I had to direct my attention was that of a sepa- ration from the United States, and an alliance v/ith Spain, on conditions which could not yet be defined with precision. I considered that, whatever be the time when the separation should be brought about, this district being then no longer under the protection of the United States, Spain might dictate her own terms ; for which reason, I embraced without delay this last alternative. " The question of separation from the United States, although discussed with vehemence among the most dis- tinguished inhabitants of this section of the country, had never been mentioned, in a formal manner, td the peo- ple at large, but now was the time for making tibis important and interesting experiment, and it became my indispensable mission to do so. I had to wdrk on a ground not yet prepared for the seed to be (Jeposited in it, and I felt that, to prodiice a favorable jmpregiion, I '^ OOL. MABSnALL AND OOL. MUTER. 22.5 had to proceed with reserve, and avoid with the utmost care any demonstration which might be calculated to cause surprise or alarm. For these motives, I gave an eq^nivocf I shape to the expression of my design, speaking of it in general terms, as being recommended by emi- nent politicians ot tL'^ Atlantic coast, with whom I had conversed on this affair, and thus, by indirect suggestions and arguments, I inspired the people with my own views, without presenting them as such, because it would have been imprudent in me to divulge them under, the existing circumstances, and I can give you the solemn assurance that I found all the men belonging to the first, class of society in the district, with the exception of Colo- nel Marshall, our surveyor, and Colonel Muter, one of our judges, decidedly in favor of separation from the United States and of an alliance wilJi Spain. At first, these two men had expressed this same opinion with warmth, but now their feelings have taken a different direction from private motives of interest and personal pique; for which reasons I have very little to dread ti'om their influence ; but, at the same time, I foresaw that they would avaU themselves of the opposition made by some literary demagogues, who were under the influ- ence of fear and prejudice. Nevertheless, I determined to lay the question before our Convention, and I took the necessary measures accordingly. "I was thus occupied until the 28th of July, on which day our Convention met at Danville, in confonnity with the ordinance you saw in the Gazette which I sent you by Major Dunn. The Honorable Samuel McDcweD, President of the Convention, had, the day before, receiv- ed a packet from the Secretary of Congres% coxftioning an acQount of the proceedings of that body on the sub- ject which 6X(4ted our solicitude,-^hat is^ our intended separali^ ^m the State of Virginia. ■ ■■^' '' ' 15 * '^i ^. ■m %> * t , 't' I ii 326 CALEB WALLACE AND BXNJ. SEBASTIAN. *' You will remember that, in my memorial, 1 was of opinion that the Atlantic States would not consent to the admission of this dintriot into the Ijuion, as an inde- pendent State, but, on my return from New-Orleans, I was induced to alter my opinion fi*c»m the information which I received through persons of the highest authoH- ty, and, under that new impression, I wrote you by Major Dunn. Thus we were not prepared for an unexpected event, of which we could have received no premonition. You will at first sight discover, on perusing the aforesaid paper No. 1, that this Act of Congress was passed with the intention to gain time, amuse and deceive the people of this district, and moke them believe that they could rely on the good dispositions of the Atlantic States, until the formation of the new government, when our opponents flatter themselves that it will be able to check our designs. Unfortunately, this artifice produced but too much effect on the members of this Convention, and confirmed the apprehensions of otheii. " From this proceeding of Congress it resulted, that the Convention was of opinion, that our proposed indepen- dence and separation from Virginia not being ratified, its mission and powers were at an end, and we found ourselves in the altenaative. either of proceeding to de- clare our independence, or of waiting according to the recommendation of Congress. This was the state of af- fairs, when the Honorable Caleb "Wallace, one of our Supreme Judges, the Attorney-General Innis, and Ben- jamin Sebastian proposed a prompt separation from the American Union, and advocated with intrepidity the necessity 6f the measure. The artifice of Congress was exposed, its proceedings reprobated^ the consequences of depending on a body whose interests were opposed to ours were depicted in the most vivid colors, aj^ the Bfcrdngest motives were set forth to justify tlie seimrfUdon. '!»: XltTRIOnEB IN THE RENTUCKT OONVEJmON. 227 Tlie orgaments used wem unhuswerAble, and no opposi- tion was manifeeted in the coarse of the debates. It was uudiiimoiiflly conceded that the present connection was injurious to onr interests, and that it could not last any length of time. Nevertheless, sir, when the ques- tion was flnidlj token, fear and folly prevailed against reason and judgment. It was thought safer and more convenient to adhere to the recommendation of Congress, and, in consequence, it was decided that the people be adtised to elect a new Convention, which should meet in the month of November, in confoi-mity with the ordi- nance which you will find in the Gazette, No. 2. ^^ I am afraid of fatiguing you with these details, but I felt that it is my duty, in an affair of so much impor- tance, to relate facts as they have occurred. You may also blame me for having raised this question so soon, and at a time when I had grounds to doubt of its being decided favorably, but I flatter myself that my inten- tions justify my course of actio^i. " To consolidate the interests and confirm the confi- dence of our friends,* to tiy our strength, to familiarize the people with what we aim at, to dissipate the appre- hension which important innovations generally produce, and to provoke the resentment of Congress With a view to stimulate that body into some invidious political act, which might excite the passions of the people; these are the motives which influenced me, and ':r«im. de indnei? » ieete od^ipa A algui «Mto- ds poUttea inridlow qae p^^Mw ifcitai; lot MiaaM del paeliH P^ "on lew inotiToe que me inHjiyeroii y i lot que d^o mi .jtutifleMioa. ;^ I* '"' m:i^ M «. ift^' ii!! Mil! iii; 228 AOnOir OF WILKIlS'SOJf IN THAT SODT. the decree above-mentioned. Marshall and Muter hat^^ in the mean time, been scattering distrusts and appre- hensions calculated to do injury to our cause. It is evident, however, that it has acquired consideriable force ; but, in order to elicit an unequivocal proof of the dispositions of that assembly, 1 submitted to its exami- nation my original memorial and the joint answer of yourself and Navarro. I received, in the terms which you will find in the Gazette, No. 3, the unanimous thanlts of that body, in token of its approbation of my conduct on that occasion. Some of our friends urged me to avail myself of this opportunity to revive the great question, but I thought that it was more judicioas to indulge those who, for the moment, wish only that a new application be made in relation to the independence and separation of Kentucky from Virginia, and that a memorial be addressed to Congress on the necessity of obtaining the free use of the navigation of the Mississippi. I assented to these last propositions the more Treadily, that it was unanimously resolved that, should any of them be re- jected, then the people would be invited to adopt all the measures necessary to secure for themselves a separate government from that of the United States, because it would have become evident that Congress had neither the will nor the power to satisfy their hopes. I deter- mined therefore to wait for the effects which will result from the disappointmeBtt of those hopes, and on which I rely to unite the country into one opirflon. This is the basis on which the great question now rests, and the Convention has adjourned to the neict month. "Thus, Sir, if we review the policy favored by the inhabitants of Kentucky, we see that the most intelligent and the wealthiest relish our designs, which are opposed by only two men of rank, who, controlled by their fears of silly demagogues, and filling their followers Tdith hopes WILKIlfSOSr CX)MMUNIOATW HIS VIEWS tO SP^JN. 229. from tlie expected action of the new Congress, have caiised the suspension of the measures we had in view to unite the people, and thus to secure the success of our plans without involving the country in violent civil commotions. "There are three conditions which are requisite to perpotaate the conilection of this section of the country wjti the Atlantic States. The first, and the most im- portant, is the navigation of the Mississippi; the second, which is of equal consequence, is the admission of this district into the Union as an independent State, and on the same footing with the others ; the third, and the last, which is of less moment, is the exemption from taxes until the befalling of the two events previously mentioned. Now, Sii", as two of _ these conditions are inadmissible, either by the Atlantic States or by Spain, can any one hesitate to declare what will be the conse- quences ? With due Reference, I say. No ; because, as it is not rational to suppose the voluntary casting away of property, that another may profit by it, so it is not to be presumed that the Eastern States, which at present have the balance of power in their favor in the American government, will consent to strip themselves Of this advantage, fd increase the weight of the Souther^ States, by acKnowledging the independence of this dis- trict and admitting it to be a member of the Federal Union, That the people of Kentucky, as soon as they are certain of their being refused what they claim, will separate from the United States, is proclaimed even by Marshall, Muter, and their more timid followers. "The same effect will be produced by the suspension of the navigation of the Mississippi, which lies entirely in the power of Spain, and which must reduce this seo^ tion of the. country to misery and ruin; and as it has been jti^ulated ikaX tht? operations of the Federal 1GI^» ■# liL 230 WILKINSON COMMUNICATES HIS VIEWS TO SPAIN. yernment shall be uniform, tlie new Congress will have to lay taxesj without exception whatever, <)ver tl^e whole country submitted to its jurisdiction. 'Pie pc .'pie here, not having the means of paying those taxes, will resist them, and the authority of the new government will be set at naught, which will produce a ciy^l war, and result in the separation of the West from the East. "This event is vritten in the book of destiny. But if, to produce it, we trust solely to the natural effect of political measures, we shall experience some delay, It is in the power of Spain, however, to precipitate its accomplishment by a judicious cooperation ; and permit me here to illustrate the observations which I presented some time ago to youreelf and Navarro, in my answer to your inquiries as to the nature of that cooperation. "As long as the connection between the Amerir '; ? the East and of the West on this side of the Apalf ! ■ mountains shall produce reciprocal benefits, and an equal security to their common interests and happiness, the Union will maintain itself on a sOlid foundation, and will resist any effort to dissolve it; but, as soon a^ it shall be ascertained that one section of the confederacy derives from the Union more advantages than the other, and that the blessings of a good government— such as peace and protection — cannot be equally distributed, then harmony will cease, and jealousies will arise, pro- ducing discord and disunion. In order to aid the favor- f^ble dispositions of Providence, to foment the suspicions and feelings of distrust already existing here, and inflame the animosity between the Eastern and Western States, Spain must resort to every artifice and other means which may be in her power. "I have stated that the navigation of the l^lGssissippi, and its admission as an independent State and a member of the UnioB) are rights claimed by the peo|)Ie of i^ -w WlLtoNBON'S ADVICE TO SiPAIir. 231 piirt of t^e coimtiy; and constituting one of tlie principal conditions tinder wMch its connection with the Atlantic States is to continue. Hence it follows, that every mani- festitioii of the power of Spain and of the debility of the t]"nited'Stfites,ev€r^ Evidence of the resoltition of the former to retain esxjlusivelyfor herself the right of navigation on the Mississippi, and every proof of the incapacity of the latter, wiU facilitate onr views. Every cu'cumstanee also that will tend to impede our admission as ah independent State wiU loosen the attachment of many individuals, increase the discontent of the people, and fdvor the execution of our plan. "Until I devoted myself entirely tothe affair in which we are engaged, I confess that I could not discover the aim of the first treaty proposed by Gardoqui to Con- gress, but it seems to me now that I can penetrate its poh'cy. I consider it as profoundly judicious, and I am of opinion that it ought to be renewed and vigoro^ly carried on, until its objects be attained, cost What it may, because, besides that the proposed relinquishment of the right of navigating the Mississippi would immedi- ately disrupt the Union, and separate for ever the West from the East, the sanction of the tr^p ■ y by Congreds would make our situation so truly derperate, that Great Britain would not venture to intervene in Our favor, aiid all our hopes would rest on the liberality of Spain. "Whilst this afiair is pending, Spain ought to consider the nav^ation of the Mississippi as one of the most pre- cious jewels of her crown. For, whatever power shall command tiiat navigation, will control all the country which is watered by that river and by those streams which fall into it. This control will be as effective and complete as that of the key upon the lock, or that of the citadel over the eixterior works which it commands. The grM of th^ boofi oi^ht to be looked upcm as the mM 232 Wilkinson's advice to spain. J' I') nil ,piice of our attadnnent and graititade, ^d I "beg leave to be pennitted to repeat, that there must be ktiown no instance of its being extended to any other than those who understand and promote the interests of Spadn in this part of the country. I entreat you, Sir, to believe, that this question of navigation is the main one on which depends the union of the West and East, and that^ if Congress can obtain the free use of the Mississippi,. and if Spain should cede it without condition, it would strengthen the Union, and would deprive Spain of all its influence on this district. "The sanguine spirit of an American impels him to construe in his favor everything that is left doubtful, and therefore Spain cannot act with too absolute preci- sion on this important question. You must not forget. Sir, that such was my first impression, in which I have been daily confirmed by subsequent observations and experie.. ^o. The concessions of the Americany wiU be in proportion to the energy and power exhibited by Spain; but were she to yield, she would lose much in dignity and consideration, and she would breed m "he Americans a spirit of pride and self-importance quite incompatible with our designs. ThviS, the privileges conceded to emigrants are. an obstacle in the w?y of our great undertaking, because, as they were bestowed beiore they were asked for, and as they were entirely unex- pected, they have been considered here by many as the effects of fear, and as a prelude to the removal of all Testrictions whatever on our commerce. "The generality of our population are constantly dis- cussing and fostering these ideas, and as long as the hopes they have conceived on this subject are kept up, it is a circumstance which will militate in iitvpr of th^ Union, and- wiU delay the effect of my operatioiis^ "With due deference I may be permitted tbsay, tEat, Wilkinson's advice to spain. 23$ to people the bonks of the Mississippi with Americans ought to be an object of secondary itdportance to the interests of his Catholic Majesty, because there is n6 necessity to transplant a population which can be con- trolled and governed on the soil where it grows naturally. The engrafted branch retains the primitive qualities of the parent trunk. Moreover, if Spain can estabMi colonies of Americans on the Mississippi, there is no reason why she should not have them also on the Ohio. It is an incontestable fact, worthy of your attention, that the emigrants who have come down the Ohio, in order to settle in Louisiana, are insolvent debtors and fugitives from justice, and are poor and without principles. Such people are not only unworthy vassals, but also ought to be looked upon as dangerous chai'acters, against whom it is prudent to be on one's guard. "But, sir, should unforeseen events produce results contrary to my wishes, to my logical deductions and to my hopes, should an obstinate resistance to forming a connection with Spain, or should an unexpectedly hos- tile disposition manifest itself in these settlements, then the true policy would be to make of emigration the prin- cipal object to be obtained, and Spain would always have the power, through some agents of an eminent rank here, to draw to her the most respectable portion of the population of this district. Hundreds have applied -to me on this subject, who are determined to follow my ex- ample, and I do not deceive myself, nor do I deceive you, sir, when I aMrm that it is in my power to l^id a large body of the most opident and most respectable of my fellow-citizens whither I shall go myself at their head, and i flatter myself that, after the dangers I have :run and the sacrl&oes which I have made, after having put my honor tod my lif6 in your ht^ids, you can havo iio doiibta of my favorable dispdeitioss tqw^trds the interests m ■M^ m lilBiil H^rnVV* ife If MWiillW! PlP' 1 IS BIbli'^ 'In Sm JWiffiiA' iiilff 1 m 284 Wilkinson's apprehensions oF'DEEficnoN. of his CatWlic Majesty, as long as my f)Oor semces shaH be necessary. ^^ "After having read these remarksy you will be Sur- prised at being informed, that lately I have, jointly with several gentlemen of this country, applied to Bon Diego Gardoqui for a concession of land, in order to form a settlement on the river Yazoo. The motive of this ap plication is to procure a place of refuge for myself and my adherents^ in case it should become necessary for us to retire from this country, in order to avoid the resent- ment of Congress. It is true that there is not, so far, the slightest appearance of it, but it is judicious to provide for all possible contingencies. j-k > " These observations are sincere and well meantj and although I still continue to be without any answer from the Spanish Ministry, I consider myself bound in honor to proceed in my undertaking until I obtain favorable results. Ard©Qt are my wishes and strong are my hopes, but may not both be illusive? Is it not possibl'3 that Great Britain may have accomplished her desires, by ex- chan^g Gibraltar for the two Floridas and the Island of New-Orleans ? It is a rumor which is afloat in Ame- rica, and I must confess that it fills me with anxiety ; for I have a irery recent proof that that power turns it*^ at- trition to this country with the utmost earnestness, and sets in motion every sort of machinery to secure its aun, because, whilst WtUiam Eden is negotiating in Madrid with his Excellency the Count of Florida Blanca, liord Dorchester, the Governor of Canada, scatters his emissa- ries in this distiict, to win over the people to the interests of Great Britain. The document No. 4 contains an au- then^c copy of the letter of General St. Clmr, Grovemor of the Northm^ portion of the territory o£ GMOj to Mfjor Bunm That letter, sir, is the proof that the psqi^ which! play in our great entorprise^ and the dang^s to :k kJHousH iNiKiavxa vn the west. 235 wluoh 1 .isa exjppeed for the service of Ms Catholic Ma- jesty, are known ; and it will serve at the same time to evidence the oorrectpess of the information which I gave m my memorial in relation to the.designs of Great Bri- tain. "Whence and how General St. Clair has acquired txny knowledge of the vie^s of Spain^ I cannot guess, unless he should have inferred them from the indiscreet zeal of Don Diego Gfirdoqui, which may have hurried that gentleman into confidential communications to per- sonfit unworthy of tJtiat trust, and even to strangers, as must have been demonstrated to you by the eurtraot of his letter to Colonel Morgan, which you will » find ia the paper marked No. 5, and which is now circulating over the whole of this district. So far as I am concerned^ having shared in this important affiair, I will endeavor tO: discharge with fidelity the part assigned to m©^ without being deterred by the fear of con^sequences, always rely-' ing on the generosity of his majesty, who will indemnify me or my family for whatever loss of fortune I m^y incur.. "The British Colonel Connelly, who is mentioned m General St. Clair's letter, arrived at Louisville m the beginning of October^ having travelljgd irom^ Detroit through the woods, to the mouth of the river Big MiadEm^ from which he came down the Ohio in a boat* My. agent in that town (Louisville) gave me immedia^ information of that fact, and of the intention whic^ Connelly had to Tisit me. Suspecting the nature c€ the negotiation he had on hand, I determined^. in order to discover his secret views, to be beforehand with him^' and to invite him here. Consequently; he «ame to JCiy house on the 8th of November. I received him cma>! ceouslyy and, as I manifested &v<»'al>le dispoeiitiEHas towards the interests of his Britasnic JiiE^j)^^ ^aooiB. gained; his oonfidenc&^^Hi&^m^ me ti||Kt Great Bi^taki detdriiig>« to aaaictt thd^^ *. 2d6 WILKINBOX DUPBS GOL. OOXNELLT settlers in the West, in their eiforts to open the naviga- tion of the Mississippi, would join them with rea^j zeal, to dispossess Spain of Louisiana. He remarked that the forces in Canada were not sufficient to send detach- ments of them to us, but that Lord Dorchester would supply us with all the implements of war, and with money, clothing, <&c. ... to equip ten thousand men, if we wished to engage in that enterprise. He added that, as soon as our plan of operation should be agreed upon, these articles would be sent from Detroit,' through lake Erie, to the river Miami, and thence to the Wabash, to be transported to any designated point on the Ohio, and that a fleet of light vessels would be ready at Jamaica to take possession of the Balize, at the same time that we should make an attack from above. He assured me that he^was authorized by Lord Dorchester to confer honors and other rewards on the men of influ- ence who should enter on that enterprise, and that all those who were officers in the late continental army, should be provided with the same grade in the service of Great Britain. He urged me much to favor his designs, oflfering nie what rank and emoluments I might wish for, and telling me at the same time that he was empowered to grant commissions for the raising of two regiments which he hoped to form in Kentucky. After having pumped out of him all that I wished to know, I began to weaken his hopes by observing that the feel- ings of animosity engendered by the late revolution were so recent in the hearts of the Americans, that I considered it impossible to entice them into an alliance with Great Britain; that, in this district, particularly in that part of it where the inhabitants had suffered so much from the barbarous hostUities of the Indians, which were attributed to British influence, the resentment of every individual was much more intense and implacable, 'vr WHiKINSON DENOXTNOIS THE FBXNOH. ^87 In order to justify this opinion of mine ftnd induce him to go baek, I employed a hunter, who feigned attempting hii life. The pretext assumed by the hunter was the arei^ng of the death of hui son, murdered by the Indians at the supposed instigation of the English. As I hbld the commission of a Civil Judge, it was, of course, to be my duty to protect him against the pretended murderer, whom I caused to be arrested and held in custody. I availed myself of this circumstance to com- municate to Connelly my fear of not being able to arswer for the security of his poreon, and I expressed my doubts whether he could escape with life. "It alarmed him so much, that he begged me to give him an escort to conduct him out of our territory, which I readily assented to, and on the 20'bh of November, he recrossed the Ohio on his way back to Detroit. I did not dismiss him without having previously impressed upon him the propriety of informing me, in as short a time as possible, of the ultimate designs of Lord Dor- chester. As this man was under the protection of the laws of nations, and as he carefully avoided to commit any offence against our goveiiiment, I considered the measure I had resorted to as the most appi^priate to destroy his hopes with regard to this country, and I think that the relation he will make on his . return to Canada will produce the desired effect. But should the British be disposed to renew the same attempt, as it may very well turn out to be the case, I shall be ready to oppose and crush it in the bud. '^lliuSj sir, you see realized the opinions I expressed in my memorial relatively to the views which Great Britain had on this part of the country. But whilst I revfeal to you the designs of that power, permit me a fcT^ refiectiond on the conduct of France with regard to I know thukt pi^ f|K^;. compact wiil y,i t 2d8 vnixiixsoit ' ii^iXfouvcBs the FRSircH. !;: ' ^ # compel her to assist Spain against any lio»t^y wlint^vcr. May not Spain, however, be exposed to suffer from *he subtle policy and machinations of the most intrlgning and the craftiest of all nations ? It is to my knowledge that the Court of Versailles has, for years past been collecting every soii, of information on this distiiOT, and that it would give a great deal to recover ite possessions on the Mississippi. In the year 1786, a Knight of St. Louis, named D'Arg^s,* arrived at the falls of the Ohio, gave himself out for a naturalist, and pretended that his object was to inquire into the curious productions of this country, but his manner of living contradicted his asser- tion. He made few acquaintances, lived very retired, and during one year that he remained here, he never went out of Louisville, where he resided, farther than six miles. On his perusing the first memorial which the people of this district presented to the Legislature of Virginia on the question of separation, he expressed hii* admiratii^n that there should be in so new a country a writer capable of framing such a composition, and, after having made some reflexions on the progressive impor- tance df our settlements, he exclaimed with enthusiasm : * Good God/ m^ country has been hlmd^lut its eyes shall soon be open /' The confidential friend of this gentleman was a Mr. Tardiveau, who had resided many years in K^ntuciky. D'Argd^s uSed to draw 'drafts on M. de Maa'bois,'then OcmSul of France at New York, and, finally, he lived as one who belonged to the family of Count de Mbustier, the French minister, dnd I am informed from a igood €Ource, that he presented to this same Count de life>ttstiei*%Vory eldbor«kte memorial on these settlements, •whicsh was forwards fd to the Court of Frances ; V^ **I*^haps, sir, you wiU think this infoitoiaticai'#vdi * The saine of whpi|i MirO spealo, and who was one of the secret agents of the Spanish GoTernment. ynuamojx^ dibtotiok to spact. 989 loot, but I am wt& yon will believ^e that it proceeds irom my devoted zeal for the intorests of Spain. Please rettiember thait trifles as light as air frequently are, for the faithful and the zealous, proofe as strong as those of Holy Writ. ':** Before closing this letter, I shall take the liberty to observe that, in .order to secure the success of our schemes, the most entire confidence must be reposed in your agent here, because^ without it, his representations will be received with suspicion, and his recommendatiotis disregarded, or executed with tardy precautbn, — ^which is <:apable of defeating the most ably devised plan. Whether I possess that confidence or not is what I am ignorant of, but the Almighty, who reads the hearts of all men, knows that I deserve it, because nobody ever undertook a cause with more honest zeal and devotion than I have this one. You may therefore conceive the Mixiety which I feel on account of the silence of your government on my memorial, and I infinitely regret that some communication, in relation to this part of the country, should not be transmitted through Louisiana, because I know that the negotiation may be conducted through that channel with more secrecy and with better results, **Ideem it useless to mention to a gentleman well versed in political history, that the great spring and prime mover in aU negotiations is Tnwie^^ Although not being authorized by you to do so, yet I found it liecessaiynto nse this lever, In order to confirm some of our most eminent citizens in their attachment to our cause, and to. supply others with the means of operating with vigor. For these objects I have advanced fiiRe thouaand/doll^ors out of; my^ own funds, and half of this sum, ap^ed <^portanely^ woula attract Marshall and !i:: W*^' 240 GENERAL ST. OLAIB^S LETTER TO MAJOR DUNK. Muter on our side, but it is now impossible for me to disburse it ** I shall not write you again before the month of May, unless some unexpected event should require it. At that time, I will inform you of the decision of Virginia and of Congress on our last application, and I do not doubt but that our affaira will soon assume a smiling aspect." i General Sinclair's letter to Major Dunn, to which Wilkinson alluded in his preceding communication, was dated December 6, 1788. "Dear Dunn," said he, "I am much grieved to hear that there are strong dispo- sitions on the part of the people of Kentucky to break off their connection with the United States, and that our friend Wilkinson is at the head of this affair. Such a consummation would involve the United States in the greatest difficulties, and would completely ruin this country. Should there be any foundation for these re- ports, for God's sake, make use of your influence to detach Wilkinson from that party." On the 14th of February, 1Y89, two days after he had written the despatch to Mir6, in which he said that he would remain silent until the month of May next, unless some unforeseen circumstance should require him to resume his pen, Wilkinson thus addressed the Spanish Governor: "My much esteemed and honored friend: having written to you on the 12 th instant, with all the formality and respect due to the Governor of Louisiana as the representative of his Sovereign, I will now address the man I love and the friend I can trust, without ceremony or reserve. "If you have felt some surprise, perplexity and dis- quietude produced by the silence of tike ministry on my WILKINBOK AKD JAHEB BROWN. 241 memoriBl^ and if you baye not yet received satiefaotory news from our dear friend, Don Martin Navarro ♦ I believe that I may say to you that you ought to be Matiflfled, because it seems that our plan has been eagprly accepted. Don Diego Gardoqui, about the month of March last, received from his court ample powers to make with the people of this district the arrangements he nught think proper, in order to estrange them from the United States and induce them to form an alliance with Spain. I recvived this information, in the first place, from Mr. Brown, the member of Congress for this district, who, siuco the taking intc c >n8ideration of our Implication to be admitted intc ^he Union has been suspended, entered into some fr» ». communications on this matter with Don Die '^ Gardoqui. Tie returned here in Septeniber last, and fii ling that there had been some opposition to our project, he almost abandoned the cause in despair, and positively refrised to advocate in public the propositions of Don Diego Gardoqui, j he deemed them fatal to our muse. Brown is one of our deputies or agents ; he is a young man of respectable talents, but timid, without poUtical experience, and with very little knowledge of the world. Nevertheless, as he firmly perseveres in his adherence to our interests, we have sent him Iv '? e new Congress, apparently as our representative, bu\; in reality as a spy on the actions of * that body. I would myself have undertaken that charge, but I did not, for two reasons: first, my presence was necessarr licre, and next, I 8h6uld have found myself under the obligation of swearing to support the new go vemment) Which I am in duty bound to oppose. **The intrusting of that negotiation to Dcm Diego Gardoqui m prefereiH^to^ you has ^ )^ a most tn^or* * it iriil be r«in«inb«]red that NA^txr^ had rttivud to ^un tii* preofldiiig 16 :*■-} '^'^^. mm m m i 242 ^ABDOQUI AND MAJOR DUNN* tunate circumstance, because this gentleman does not use bis powers with prudence. He gives passports to everybody, and, instead of forming connections with me^j of influence in this district, who should be interested in favoring his designs, he negotiates with individuals who live in the Atlantic States, who therefore have no knowledge of this section of the country, and have no interest in it. " When Major Dunn arrived at Philadelphia, he found that his wife and children had gone to Rhode Island. In his journey thither, he passed through New York, and Don Diego Gardoqui sent for him and put him several questions on the circumstances relative to this district and the object of his last voy%e to New Or- leans. Gardoqui plied DuUn with the most friendly offers ; he said that he would not confine his good inten- tions to the granting of passports, but would render what services might be necessary; that he would also act with equal liberality towards -Dunn and Dunn's fidends; and would bestow upon them much more im- poi*tant favors than could the Governor of Louisiana, because he had more extensive powers. The Major, with much prudence, warded off his inquiries, and pro- mised writing him from this district. But Gardoqui's eagerness rose to such a pitch, that he pursued the Major • to Philadelphia with a letter, the original of which I inclose to you (No. 1). The Major, in his visit to Gar- doqui, discovered that there were various individuals and companies who courted the favor of the Minister, in order to obtain the faculty of makii^ settlements on the Mississippi and participate in the advantages of our commerce. When Dunn reached Kentucky and gave me this information, it struck me ''' was necessary that he should return immediately to i^ew York, and see Don Diego Gardoqui, in order to change this Minist^r^s WILKmSON DENOtmOES COL. StOBOAN. 24d ideas, which, if persisted in, woidd be cotitrary to our gre&t designs, and in order to suggest to him the true policy which he ought to pursue. With a view to re- moving every cause of distrust or unf&,vorabie impres- sions from Gardoqui^s mind, I wrote to him the letter of which I send you a copy (Doc. N'b. 2), and I flatter myself, my esteemed friend, that it will meet yoiir ap- probation. The Major carries with him a petition, to obtain, on the Yazoo and the Mississippi, the concession of land to which I alluded in my last letter. It is the most advantageous site to form a settlement above Natchez. That petition is signed by Innis, Sebastian, Dunn, Brown and myself. Our intention is to make an establishment on the ground mentioned in my commu- nication of the 12th,' and with a view to destroy the plan of a certain Colonel Morgan. This Colonel Morgan resides for the present with his family, in the vicinity of Princeton in New Jersey, but twenty or twenty-five years ago he used to trade with the Indians at Kaskaskia, in copartnership with Baynton and Whaiton. He is a man of education and possesses an intelligent mind, but he is a deep and thorough specu- lator. He has already become twice a bankrupt, and according to the information which I have lately received, he is now in extremely necessitous circumstances, tlb}. <&c. He was sent by a New Jersey Company to New York, in order to negotiate with C5ngress the purchase of a vast tract of land comprising Cahokia and Kaskaskia. But whilst this alfair was pending, he found it to his interest to deal with Don Diego Gardoqui^ and he dis- covered that it was more advantageous for Mm to shift his negotiation from the United . States to Spain. The result was, that he obtained, forsooth, the most extraor- dinary concession, which extends along the Miaciiss^i, from the monih of the St. Francis river to point <%«^ •i* «li 244 WILKINSON DENOUNCES COL. MORGAN. Hommes^m the West, containing f5pom twelve to fifteen millions of acres. I jbave not seen Morgan^ nor am I ac- quainted with the particulai's of his contract, but I have set a spy after him since his coming to these parts and his going down the river to take possessioii of his tww pr(yvince^ and through that spy, I have collected the fot lowing information : " that the intention of Morgan is to build a city on the west bank of the Mississippi, as neai' the mouth of the Ohio as the nature of the ground may permit; that he intends selling his lands by small or large lots for a shilling an acre ; that Don Diego Gardo- qui pays all the costs of that establishment, and has imdertaken to make that new town a free port, to inter- cept all the productions of this country, on the most ad- vantageous terms he may be able to secure from our people. Morgan departed from here, in the beginning of this month, to take possession of his territory, to sur- vey it, and fix the site of the town, which will be called New Madrid. He took with him two surveyors, and from forty to fifty persons besides ; but not one of them was from Kentucky. This is all that he could do. In a oolitical point of view Morgan's establishment can pro- duce no good result, but, on the contrary, will have the most pernicious consequences; because the Americans who may settle there, will, on account of their proximity to, and their constant intercoui*se with their countrymen, of this side of the river, retain their old prejudices and feelings, and will continue to be Americans as if they were on the banks of the Ohio. On the other side, the intention of detaining the productions of this vast country at a point so distant from their real market, whilst the Americans shall remain the carriers of that trade, cannot fail to <;ause discontents and to embroil the two countries in difficulties. Probably it will destroy the noble febric of which we have laid out the foundations, and which mf WIL3nN80N DENOUNCES COL. KOltOAN. 245 we are endeavoring io complete. Kit be deemed neces- sary to keep «the Americans at a distance from Louisiana, let the Spaniards at least be the carriers of the produce they receive in theii* ports, and of the merchandise which is acceptable to the Americans. In this way will be formed an impenetrable barrier, without any costs to the king, because, in less than thirty yeara, his Catholic Mar jesty will have on the river thirty thousand boatmen at least, whom it will be easy to equip and to Convei*t into armed bodies, to assist in the defence of the province, from whatever quarter it may be threatened. >, "I am informed that Morgan intends visiting you, as soon as he shall have finished the survey of the lisinds conceded to him. Permit me to supplicate you, my most esteemed of friends, not to give him any knowledge of my plans, sentiments or des^ns. It is long «mce he has become jealous of me, and you may rest assm'ed that, in reality, he is not well aflfected towards our cause, but that he allows himself to be entirely ruled by motives of the vilest self interest, and therefore that he wiH not scruple, on his return to New York, to destroy me. One of the objects of Major Dunn, in seeing Gardoqui, is to sound him on this affair, and I doubt not but that he will do so successfully. I expect him back in the beginning of April, he having departed from here on the 17th of January, £i,nd I having heard of his safe arrival on the other side of the mountains. Immediately after his fe- tum, I shall either go in person and visit you, or I shall send yoi:|. an aH^rusty friend. \ "As Don Diego Gardoqui has given passports to all those who applied for any, you must expect^fhat various individuals will come down the river in the course; 0f the season, but you must take carie, my hoaioi^ed friend, to reppse conMenoe in none but such as will delivei^ you a /"etter from me, beca^ise I will fteush w^ one, every m 246 PETEE PAUIiUS, DORSET AND PAULIN. man of merit, veracity and influence. I presmne that tlteremust now be in New Orleans a certain Peter Pau- las, who is sent fron\ Philadelphi , where he kept soul and body together by being an obscure tavern keeper. There are now here a Mr. Dorsey and a Mr. Paulin, with passports from Gardoqui and letters for you from Dr. 1 .anklin and Thomas Miflin, Governor of Pennsylvania. These two individuals are citizens of Philadelphia, where they kept a dry goods store. Having both become bank- rupts, "they brought some effects to Kentucky, and have exchanged them for productions of the country, which they will carry down to New Orleans, in order to make a few dollars out of his Catholic Majesty and take them back to their families at Philadelphia. Such are, my esteemed friend, the new comers who produce Gardoqui'f credentials. Your own judgment must tell you that they can have no weight in the important question we have on hand. Why then should they have rewards and pri- vileges ? And such men have the audacity to suppose that they wiU obtain leave from you- to do whatever they please ! " Herein inclosed (Doc. No. 3), you will And two Ga- zettes which contain all the proceedings of our last Con- vention. You will observe that the memorial to Con- gress, was presented by me, and perhaps your first impression wiQ be that of surprise at such a document having issued from the pen of a good Spaniard. But, on further reflection, you wiU discover that my policy is to justify in the eye of the world our meditated separation from the rest of the Union, and quiet the apprehensions of some friends in the Atlantic States, the better to di- yide them, because, knowing how impossible it is that the United States should obtain what we aspire to, not only did I gratify' my sentiments and inclinations, but I also framed niy memorial in such a style as was '*? "mLKINSON's IJETTEB TO OABDOQUI. 24^ best calculated to excite the passions of onr people ; and convince them tliat Congress has neither the powe^ nor the will to enforce their claiu. and pretensions, i'hus having energetically and publicly represented our lights and lucidly established our pretensions, if Congress doet not support them with efficacy (which you know it can- not do, even if it had the inclination), not only will all the people of Kentucky, but also the whole world, ap- prove of our seeking protection from another quarter. " Your favoring the fitting out of the boat destined for this part of the country wiH, no doubi^ meet the ap- probation of his majesty, because truly, my friend, i his is an important point gained to convince the people of Kentucky that, instead oi i^<^nding their money across the i^ountaihs in order to purcliase their various necessities, they can with advantage procure them in New Orleans, iu exchange for their produce and on better terms. Adieu* my dearest friend ! To-morrow I go to the falls of Ohio, in order to despatch my boats." ' v The letter to Gardoqui, to which Wilkinson alluded^ and of which he sent a copy to Miro, had been written on the 1st of January, 1789, and was couched in these terms : " Sir, I venture to address you this letter, under the supposition that my correspondence will not be undervalued in your estimation, when you are informed that, although not personally known to you, I have been • one of the first and most active agents to promote the political designs which you seem to entertain in relation to this country; that, in support of those projects which aim at securing the reciprocal happiness of the Spaniard of Louisiana and of the American of Kentucky, I have* voluntarily sacrificed my domestic feHcitiesj my time. * H« BaoriBoaiio voluntariamente mU domeaticu felio^adeat tiempq^ l^^nes, oomodidAdeit ;^ lo ^n« «• ps'i imporUnti^ iluHldon^ •! lubw my fiuaa praaon*! 1 '48 WILKINSONS LETTBBTO OABDOQUL 0. my fortune, my comforts^ and, what is more,^^ have given up p7X)inoting my personal fanio and politioaV character. In the pursuit of the object which I ha i o in view^ I tres- ] ass upon your attentic Ji xin^-i^ the firm oersuasiofn that you will excuse the liberty i tt^\e, Ami ;. > \oh or^inates from my seai for the pio^perity ot Lodsiana aud^; Ken- tneky, and (bat, wJiatevei* he the result of tnis affair, :wJiiat I am going to communicate to you will remaub Tor ever locked up in your breast. h* " Yon may not hav(;i tbrgotten thav, during the winter of 1787, the Bjtron d': Si^euljen u;; plied to you, in order to obtain a passport for a gentleman who wished to vitit Louisiana, by descending the river Mississippi. You, at first, gave yoiu* assent, but withdrew it after- wards. I do not know whether my name was mentioned to you at the time, but the evidienfie. resulting fi^om my having possession of the very letter in. which you excused yourself to the Baron, and which he sent to ine, in order to show why his applicp.tion on my behalf had no effect, will convince you thtit he who now addres«(;3 you is the same individual for whom the Baron acted. Your refusal, however, did not put an end to my design, and I determined to venture on visiting New Orleans, ostensibly for commercial purposes, but in reality for the foUowing reasons: "An intimate knowledge and a comparative analysis of the relative local circumstances of the Atlantic and Western States did not leave in my mind the slightest doubt, even on the very threshold of my investigation, that their interests were of an opposite character and their policy irreconcilable. Having established my family in Kentucky, where I had acquired a large tract of land, I foresaw that I had nothing to hope from the Union. Under this imptession, I considered that it was my duty to look anywhere else, for the patrcniage and % ^0 waxntBQis's usjtbb to c^abdoqul 249 protection which the prosperity and happiness of our eitensivie estiablishments required imperatively. With this/view,* I entered the jurisdiction of the goveminent of Louisiana, and also with the detemdnation to run the risk of endountering judicial difficultieSjf in. case my propositions were rejected, and then to open a negotia- tion with Great Britain, which had already been active in the matter. But, truly, the manner in which the Governor and the Intei^dant received me removed all my apprehensions, and led to a free and reciprocal com- munication of confidential thoughts and sentiments. Really, their urbanity and caressing attentions td mej mspired my heart with the warmest attachment for their persons, whilst my observations in relation to the dlcmency, the justice and energy of their government forced me to make comparisons, which were far from being favorable to the turbulent licence in whifth We live. With the permission of these gentlemen, I re- duced to writing my views on the situation, circum- stances, aspirations and mterests of the country in which I' live, on the policy of the Atlantic States in referetice thereto, and on the designs of Great Britain, with copious reflections on the true interest of his CaiJiolic Majesty and the system he ought tO piirsue in oifderto Gecure and extend his colony of Louisiana. Tliis essay or memorial, according to my express d^ire, was jfor- warded direct from New Orleans to Madrid,: in Septeni- ter, ITSY. As this affair was to me of the utttiost importance, and as I was not acquainted with your poll* * Con Mte ictento m« diri^ al gobiemo de la Lniwina* determin^ii al misnio tidoipo en Ta aitefnatlva de ' qne, si aa dti^Mobaaen mil prqposiiejkuiei^ corre^fH el rietgo dauna riria iiiii^^^^^tt Qi»n BrataSit, pea* la qua se faabia^ iSado ya pasos «>br« M^^ aanote. - ?? , ''^ f iBe allad«i|, nlo doubt, to tibe axpec^d Mizare.of tiliepfJl9 n^ vida, Unf^ jr fwtwo^ para n^q^nder d«l wieeao. 252 MIb6^8 DEALO08 WITH PXTBB PAUI.ITS. i and that the trial by jury be allowed to the new coloimte. " This," said Mird, " I have positively refoied, because it would cost millions to his Majesty. But I had a long conversation with Paulu8,f in which I explained to him the advantages which the Ohio people would find in establishing themselves in the province, wherefore those who had the most means among them ought immediately to take that step, because they would infallibly, in a few years, reach a state of opulence. I endeavored also to convince him, that no monarchy in the world could go to the immense expense of maintaining and supporting the ever increasing number of families that would indu- bitably present themselves, if they were granted the assistance which was solicited for them, and which they were given to understand that they would obtain. I re- marked to him that, if, without any aid, the stream of emigration continued to flow so abundantly from the Atlantic states to this side of the Apalachian mountains, the emigrants had stronger motives to rely on their own resources when coming to this province, where lands were given to them gratis, and where the industrious were sure to become prosperous under a mild govern- ment, which would afford them support and protection, and where they would enjoy the advantage of an easy outl< for their produce. " This Peter Paulus is a Dutchman by birth ; he ap- pears to be fifty years old; his face seems to indicate that he is an honest man, and his language, although dull and unpolished, is stamped with much apparent sin- cerity. The families he proposes to bring along with him are Germans, who reside a considerable distance above Kentucky.* But Paulus replied, that he had been induced by * iSktf* despatch ol the Ifiith of March, 1789. f Probably in PeniuylTsiiub MIBd^S DB9PAT0E TO £0^ QOVBBKMXirr. 258 Gardoqai an^ Ud agents to hold out very different hopes to the emigrants, and that if, on his return to them, he altered his language, they would consider him as an im- postor. Regretting the imprudence of Gardoqui, who had allowed his zeal to incite him to a course which might be fatal to his Majesty's interest, and on which he com- mented at length in one of his despatches to his govern- ment. Governor Mir6 said to Paulus : " I have no power to send any emissary to promote emigration from the United States, and therefore I cannot encourage your pretensions, nor those of the people you represent. I can only receive the foreigners who may come spcnta- neously and of their own free wiD, to swear themselves J\ie vassals of his Catholic M^esty. To them surveyed *ands shall be granted gratis, in proportion to the laboi*^ ers of whom each family may consist. The smallest concession shall not be less than 200 arpens — 400 to families of four to ten laborers, and 800 to those num- bering from ten to fifteen hands or more." Although not willing to pay for the expenses of emi- gration on so large a scale, Governor Mir6 consented to certain disbursements, in order to increase the population of Louisiana. For instance, the vessel, the Conception, having arrived from Philadelphia, with 178 emigrants, he established 133 of them in the Feliciana district at the cost of the royal trt jsury.* On the lith of April, he forwarded to Madrid, with his comments, WilMnson's two letters, which I have qudtedj and the documents annexed to them. In that communication he represents, that he shares Wilkinson's opinion that the independence of the Western people, under the protection o^ and in close alBuHoe wiih, Spain, !"«;■. * IfirO's 4«ip»toli of t&« 16ih of IUnIi, 1789. 254 Mm6*S DBSPATCIi .O HIB QOrEBNMENT. [k would be more to the interest of his Majesty than their annexation to his domains, on account of ^e expenses and responsibilities which such an acquisition would entail on Spain, and also on account of the jealousies and opposition which it would elicit from foreign powers. He urgently presses the cabinet of Madrid to send him instructions as to the course to be pursued by him, in case the Western people should declare their independ- ence and send delegates to him. He further remarks that ho is totally unprepared to supply them with the ammunition, arms, and other implements of which they may stand in need to resist any action of the Federal Government, should it attempt to coerce them into sub- mission. " In the paragraph B.," said he to the Minister, " you^ will find an account of the bold act which General Wil- kinson has vcLtured upon, in presenting his first memorial in a public convention. In so doipg, he has so com- pletely bound himself, that, should he not be able to obtain the separation of Kentucky from the United States, it has become impossible for him to live in it, ttnkss he Tiaa suppressed^ which is possible^ certain pas- sages which might irtjure him. Nevertheless, on account of the opposition made by Marshall and Muter to Wil- ^ kinson^s plan, the Convention determined that new me- qiorials be presented to Virginia and to Congress, to obtain the independence of Kentucky, its admission into the Union, and the free navigation of the Mississippi. On these two first questions, I disagree with Wilkinson as to their solution, and I am of opinion that the inde- pendence of these people from Virginia and their recep tion into the Union will be conceded to them, and that the answer of Congress on this subject is not deceitful, because the right of Kentucky to what she claims is incontestabje, and is derived from the articles Of confe- Itntb^S INSTBUOnOKS TO WILKINSON. 256 deracy on which the United States established their first goveiTiment." Mir6 declared that, with Wilkinson, he. thought it was a stroke of bad policy on the part of the Spanish government, to have granted to the inhabitants of Ken- tucky the use of the navigation of the Mississippi, although under the restriction of a duty of fifteen per cent., be- cause, rather than being deprived altogether of that channel for the exit of their produce, they would not have hesitated to renounce all allegiance to Congress. He informed his government that he had lately written in cyphgr to Wilkinson, through one Jennings, a confi- dential agent, that emigration to Louisiana was to . be encouraged by all means, whilst, at the same time, the other plan of the independence, or annexation of Ken- tucky, was to be steadily kept in mind. "You will render a great service to the king," he wrote to Wilkin- son, " if you induce to come down here a large number of families, having some property and not needing pecu- niary assistance, but only lands. It is proper, however, that you should remain in that district, in order to insist on the plan of an alliance with Spain, until it be effected or be given up ; because, according to the answer re- ceived from the Court, you are now our agent, and I am instructed to give you to hope that the king will rewind your services as I have alrea(^ intimated to you."* ' He continues saying, that Wilkinson seems averse to this mode of peopling the colony, but that he, Mir6, cannot share Wilkinson's views in that respect, and that the emigrants have more means, and are of a better character, than Wilkinson gives them credit for. Ho * Pero oonvime ae numtenga V. S. en ese dintrito, para instar sobre el prcjeoto ie la eonezioD, lusta que se rerifiqae, 4 deftvanesca; pnes qae ya segan la repu- •flta de la Cktrte^ ^ Y. & niies agant% y se me ordena Ie de & V. S. esperansM de que el Bey lo reoompensart eonio ya la tengo insinuado. 266 HE BEOOMMBNDS TO BBWARD WILEINSOIf. confirms what Wilkinson relates of the intrigues of the English in Kentucky, and dwells on the service rendcretl by Wilkinson, in driving avay C61onel Connelly with so much diplomatic skill and by a weU-devised 8ubterfug<^. He recommends that the five thousand dollars which Wilkinson declared having spent for the benefit of Spain be refunded to him, and that he be further intinisted with the two thousand five hundred dollars which he asked for, to corrupt Marshall and Muter. In the mean time, Wilkinson's launches had arrived in New Orleans, and, in that same despatch of the 11th of April, Mird informed the Spanish government that he had bought from the General, for the account of the royal treasury, 235,000 pounds of tobacco, for which transaction he begged the approbation of his Majesty, " on the ground that it was important to keep the General contented." * * Mediaat« & lo mucha qu» importa el tener cont«nto si dioho Brigadier. 51 • CHAPTER V. mib6*s administbation. 1789 to 1791. "We have seen the part which Wilkinson and othere were acting in Kentucky, in favor of Spain. But in the western settlements of North Carolina a strong party had also sprung up, which was operating with equal force, in the same direction and under the same influence. In 1786, the western portion of North Carolina, which was called the Washington district, had declared itself independent, and had constituted itself into the State of Prankland, which organized its government, and elected Colonel John Sevier as its first Governor. But Congress interfered in favor of North Carolina, the authority of which was maintained, and the new State of Frankland terminated its brief career in 1787. This first attempt in the West to throw off openly the allegiance due to the parent State had roused intense excitement for and against it, and the secessionists, still persevering in their former designs, were watching for the opportu- nity to renew them. Thus, on the 12th of September, 1788, ex-governor John Sevier had written to Gardoqui,* to inform hiai that the inhabitants of Frankland were uncmvmmis m their vehement desire to form (m aUicmoe a/nd trmty of oommerGe with Sfpam^ and put themaehes Wider her prot^tion. Wherefore, he begged for ammu- nition, money, and whatever other assistance Mir6 could * A oopy of which letter vm immediately forwarded by Gardoqui to BIir6. 17 h- !(#' i^58 QOVEBNOR Sevier's letter to gardoqui. gi'ant, to aid the execution of the contemplated separa- tion from North Carolina, pledging the faith of the State of Frankland for the payment of whatever sums Spain might advance, and whatever expenses she might incur, in an enterprise which would secure to her such durable and important results. " Before concluding this commu- nication," said Sevier, " it is necessary that I should men- tion that there cannot be a moment more opportune than the present, to carry our plan into execution. North Carolina has refused to accept the new constitution pro- posed for the confederacy, and therefore a considerable time will elapse before she becomes a member of the Union, if that event ever happen." The settlers on the Cumberland river, who were also under the jurisdiction of North Carolina, were deeply interested in the navigation of the Mississippi, and there- fore were equally influenced by the motives which were operating so powerfully on the peo^jle of Kentucky and other portions of the West. The^name of Miro given to a district which they had lately formed, shows which way their partiality was leaning at that time. Doctor James White was one of the most active agents employed, by Gardoqui to operate on the Western people, and this individual had come to Louisiana to enter into an understanding with Miro on the execution of the mission with which he had been intrusted. In a communication which he addressed to Mir6, on the 18th of April, 1789, he said^ " With regard to Frankland, Don Diego Gardoqui gave me letters for the chief men of that district, with instructions to assure them that, if they wished to put themselves under the protection of Spain and favor her interests, they should be protected in their civil and political government, in the form and manner most agreeable to them, on the following con- ditions: :J^ DE. JAMES white's LETTER TO SHB^ 259 " 1'^ — ^It should be absolutely ii«etBsa!y, »ot only in ord6r to hold any office, but also any land in Frwikland, that an oath of allegiafioe be taken to his Majesty, the object and purport of which should be to defend his government and faithful vassals on aU occasions, and against all his enemies, whoever they might be. 2" — That the inhabitants of that district should renounce all submission or allegiance whatever to any other Sove- reign or power. They have eagerly accepted these con- ditions, and the Spanish minister has referred me to your favor, patronage and assistance to facilitate my operations. "With regard to Cumberland, what I have said of Frankland applies to it with equal force and truth." On the 22d of the same month, White again wrote to Mir6, saying: "M. Gardoqui has informed me that,* considering I was in the service of Spain, my expenses would be paid out of the royal treasury." He concludes Avith asking about four hundred dollars,f to facilitate his dealing decently and commodiously with those he was to influence. This sum was immediately granted. Miro, in answer J to White's application, delivered to him a paper begittnin : ; nth this preamble : " Considering the representation of James White in favor of the dis- tricts of Frankland and Miro, formerly Cumberland, in whose welfare b<^ has manifested much interest, I autho^^ ize him to make known what his Catholic Majesty, moved by no other motive than that of generosity, is disposed to do for the inhabitants of the said districts." This document contained an enumeration of the favors and advantages to be granted to such as weuld emigrate to * M. Gardoq;di me aseg^rd que sieado mi serricio oonezo oon el de S. M. «u tesoro me satisfari^ Iob gastos. f Reiqairird como qnatro d«nt09 pyr- infio OABBOQirr AT TARIANOE. 26d " I atjl waiting with the gi^catest anxiety for your let- tiars, in order to know wliat has oconrredrsince yonr last, and 6bd grant that I may, in a short time, embrace yon as ^he delegate from that State. Command yonr most aflfeetionate friend, V ^ .'*' * V <• r» ' X^\* i * • :^.- 264 MIB^ BEBUKE3 OOLOIOIL HOBOAN. most strenuotis^efForts to pwcure the desired separation." Mir6 concludes with asking for the approbation of his Majesty in relation to all he had done, and urgently solicits instructions as to his course of action, on the emergency of the arrival of delegates frowi the discon- tented districts. On the 20th of May, Mir6 addressed to his govern- ment a long despatch, in which he commented on the impolicy of the conditions and extent of the concession of land made by Gardoqui to Colonel Morgan, a little below the mouth of the Ohio. One of the conditions was, that the emigrants to that region should have the right of self-government. Mir6 called the attention of the cabinet of Madrid to the danger of thus having an imperium in irrvperio^ a government within a government, and pointed out the results which would inevitably flow from such a state of things. "Experience has demon- strated," sai(1 he, "that, in this province, large conces- sicMis of land to an individual have never produced the desired effect of procuring population," n which he, Miro, would allow Morgan to establish his contemplated colony. "You see," said he, "how diflfer- f( fc \ti' Vmb VKBXIKIS COLONEL MOBOAN. 26.') ent they are from th68& you have proposed, and, truly, it is to me a matter of deep regret, because, having been ittade acquainted with the fine qualities for which you ate distinguished, I was awaiting your arrival with im- patience, and with the hope of being able to approve your plan. I am therefore much disappointed at being obliged to resist its execution, because it would be ex- tremely prejudicial to the welfare and interest of the kingdom to permit the establishment of a republic within its domains; for as such I consider the government which you have conceived, although retaining some shadow of submission to his Majesty. " I also infinitely regret, that you have gone so far as t6 cause to be circulated through the whole population of the Ohio and Kentucky districts the report that so extensive a territory had been granted to you, and that| under the impression that such a grant was final and valid, you have drawn the plan of a city, and given it a name (which is the exercise of a power appertaining to the sovereign alone), and, what is worse, that you have called it our otty^ in your letter to certain gentlemen at Fort Pitt, whilst Don Diego Gardoqui authorized you to do no more than survey the lands. How wide a differ- ence is there between what you did and what you had a right to do !" Assuming, however, % gentler tone, Miro told Morgan that he attributed the maprudenoe of his acts to an excess of zeal to serve the King ; that he authoiized him, should he be disposed to continue his services to his Majesty, to indupe as many families as possible to come and settle in Louisiana, and particularly in the Natchez district, but only under the conditions that he had made known to him ; and that, should h% Morgan, be successful in that operation, the king would reward him in a befitting manner. Mir6 further pro- mised him a iconeession of one thouaimd acres of land for ISS.S'.'^il ^i'f^-i. » *.. It' % 266 COLONEL MOUQAN's APOI.OGT. hiiAself) and the same niiantity for every one of his song.' Moirgan was also infonr^e J. that a fort would be constract- ed by the Spaniards at the place which he had chosen for the town of New Madrid, that a detachment of sol- diers would soon be sent there, and that its commander wotdd be instructed to receive favorably all the emi- grants that should present themselves. The next day, Morgan sent to Mir6 a reply, in which he apologized for the course he had pursued. He said that, if he had erred, it was with the best intentions and from sheer ignorance, and he thanked the Governor for attributing' what he had done to its true motive — -an excessive /eal to serve his Majesty. "4is I have always kept up the character of a man of honor," said he, " I am sure y^u will remain convinced that I shall never act, knowingly, in violation of the laws and will of his Majesty. " Among the inducements which ^Thave to leave my native country, must be ranked the desire of increasing my fortune, and establishing my family in peace, under a safe and seciire government. If you have occasionally read the acts of Congress, you may have seen that my father-in-law Baynton, myself and my partners were unjustly dispossessed by the State of Virginia of the lai'gest territo^al estate within its limit/S, and that it wag. not in the power of Congress to protect us, although that hcmorable body manifested the best disposition to do so. These eircumstances, and the wish to recommend my»3lf to the kind notice of the King, prompted me to my last undertaking, and I am now disposed to accept the conditions which you do me the honor of proposing, under the hope of acquiring one day the favor of his- MaJBSty."- ' i-' -:-^-''' On the 12th 'OfJune^ Mir6 informed Ms govem*iir»t> of all his trimsaetions, aind observed' that/ had ^ he acqp- SUBVEVOB OBlTEItAL THOMAS UUTOQINS. 267 includinpr Hwtchii pher, wi of tbis tt U( eaced iu Morgan's plan of oolonisation, an independent republic would soon have been formed in Louisiana by the new settlers, and the provinces of New Spain endangered. ** On such conditions," said he, " I would myi^elt' undertake to depopulate the greater part of the United States, and draw all their citizens to Lvr . a^ hole Congress itself. Already ha i ixn.iJAj «turveyor-general and princip i' gtugra- Janiel Clark, a merchant and resident ,:^iug to be informed whether Morgan's proposition's were accepted by me, because, disregarding the office and the salary he now enjoys, he would become the subject of his Catholic Majesty, being under the impression, as he declares, that New Jersey, with the districts of Fort Pitt and of Kentucky, would be deprived by emigration of their best inhabitants. "The circumstance of their governirg themselves, whilst the King should pay their magistrates, would attract here a prodigious multitude of people, but they would never imbibe any affection for our government, or for Spanish customs, and, on the slightest dispute in relation to the junsdiction exercised over them by, the Governor of Louisiana, they would declare themselves independent, and, what is worse, having the free use of their respective religions, they never would become catholics. * * * * " As it is probable that, towards the end of the year, .'/here shall arrive a considerable number of emigrants at the projected establishment of New Madrid, and, as it might be prejudicial to allow them; to settle there by themselves, without any control^ and in order to^dQ away with th*» idea which they may have of goTerning themselves, I have resolved to construct a fort at thiat place, so that a multitude of newHDomers be not; abanr •^ ■^» N IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) .**> ^^ 1.0 I.I ■^ lU 12.2 !!f 144 ■" lit u .. . t 1-25 III U. Ill 1.6 ^ — 6" ► HiotogFaphic Sciences Corporalion 4s ^^^ 23 WBT MAIN STtHT WnSTni,N.Y. 145M (71*)t73-4S03 m I utmost secrecy and precaution,* he notified Mii^ tliftt^ lU order to carry, as he was commaoided, his ittstmctiotis into perfect execution in all their parts, he might soon, at some late hour of the nighty deem it nfecesiaary t«> require some guards o assist him in his opemtions/ ■ Ndt niany hours had elapsed since the rec^tibn of this communication by the Governor, when night oame^ and the representative of the Holy Inquisition was quietly reposinj^ in bed, when he was roused fifdm his sleep by a heavy knocking. He started up, and, open- ing his door, saw standing before him an officer and a file of grenadiers. Thinking that they had come to obey his commands, in consequence of' his letter to the Governor, he said: "My friisnds, I thank you tod his Excellency for the readiness of this compliance with my request. But I ha^fe now no use for your services, and you shall be warned in time when you are wanted. Retire then, with the blessing of God." Great was the stupe- faction of the Friar when he was told that he was under aifest. '^ What I" exclaimed he, "wfll you dare lay your hands on a Commissary of the Holy Inquisition ?"—" 1 dare obey orders," replied the undaunted officer, and the Reverend Father Antonio de SedeUa was instantly carried on board of a vessel^ ^ h sailed the next day for Oadi& ? Rendering an account of this inMdent -iio one of the nieiinbers of the Cabinet of Madrid, Governor Mir<) said in a despatch of th^ 5d of June :t "When! read the communication of that Capuchin, I shuddered. His Mfir jesty has ordered me to foster the increase of popullt- tibh in this province, and to admit in it all those' that would; emirate ^ft'oni the banks of those i?ivierB%hfe3i enapty themselves into the OB^. This c^nrse was f Bigik> J eantsl*. f M leer el ofioio del dioho oapiiohino me estremeol—Mirb's Despatch. TRV eiUfUSDRAL W lOEW^ (MUCOBAirB. mi ^eoomn^nci^ by me, for the potrerM reasons which I have given in confidential despatches to the most excel- l@n| &on Antonio Yald^ and which yoar Excellency must, have seen among the papers kid bsfore the Su- preme Ouncil of State* ^Hiis emigration tras t<$ be encooraged under the pledge^ that the ntfw colonists i^^xuld not be molested in matters of religion, provided ihere should be no other public mode of won^hip than the Catholic, The mere name of the Inquisition uttered in New Orleans woidd be snf&iient^ not only to ipheck immigration, which is successfdly prOgredsing, but would also be capable of driving avay those who have recently come, and I even fear that^ in spite of my having sent out of the counti^ Father Sedella, the most fatal come- quenceu may ensue from the mere suspicion of the cause <;£f his dismissal.'? Considering the dread in which #e holy tribunal of the Inquisition had always been l^ild in, Spain, the energy with which Mr6 acted OQvthis occasion canr ot be too much admired. v -. • In the same despatch, Mir6 informed his government of the laying of the first brick for tiie fbundation of the cathedral which^ the munificence of Don Andres Almo- naster intended to erect for the towhij at the estim^tied cost of $5^,000^ This building, when c(»np|etedr be- came the tomb of its founder on his death, whi^ hap- pened not long after, Althoi:^h this monum^ltal ^d venerable reHc of the past was ptdled down^ in 1 V We U'Ul oonqaer the Ot>ihai In tills year, 1789, a powerlbl company, composed of Alex. Moultrie, Isaac Huger, Major WUliiun Snipes^ Colonel Washington and other distinguished gentlemen, had formed itself at Charleston, South Cai'oliua, and had purchased from the State of Georgia an immense tern- tory, including, it is said, at least 62,900 square miles, and extending from the Yazoo to the neighborhood of Natchez on the banks of the Mississippi. This territoiy was partly claimed by the Chocta«vs, the Chickasaws, and Spain. On the 1st of October, the gentlemen whom I have napied wrote to Captain Cape, one of their agents and associates, not to lose one minute, and, in concert with Colonel Holder, to take possessio*? of the land^ in ^artue of their contract with Georgia. "The main thing which remains to be done," said they, "to complete the transaction, is to form a settlement." ^On the same day, they also wrote to Colonel Holder in Kentucky: "We can inform you with much satisfaction, that there is not the slightest obstacle in the way of the affair in which you are a partner, and that everything is already settled with our sister State of Georgia and with all parties concerned here.* But we are all convinced that there remains yet a very essential thing to be done without delay, and which would have the most important i*iestdts in the future, if executed promptly — ^that is, to tempos- session of^ aind settle the land at onoe. Therefore we most earnestly entre&fc you, our good Mend, not to post- pone this operation for an instant^ &nd to come down as soon as possible with your complement of emigrants, s&d form the establishment as agreed up6n. Our title a^d right are already secured, but should you promptly e&Bc^ * All tifeie do9Hm«iitB Mre retnuulated from * SpMuah tnuialatidii. w ■h-^ ''W. '■'M iSOJJLTVOf HUOEB, SNIPBBy WABOISQIOTa. 278 a settlement, we oonld show the world that our plaa has been put in execution, by which, means we could carry on, seyeral operations which would marvellously increase your profita in this speculation^ as well'as greatly benefit all our associates, who must remain in a state of inaction ^sjioiag flfi we do not form a settlement. * * "I do not doubt but that you wiE lose no time in , writing to our friends of the Choctaw nation, m order to inform, them of your having to be their neighbor and ally, as well as the friend of all the Indians, whose attachment to us shall, we dai'e say, be cultivated and fostered by all possible means, as being essential to our ^ interests and pacific views. '- With regard to our friends the Spaniards, we hope that you will, without delay, communicate to them your departure, and our firm intention to cultivate an i even . to court their friendship as much as possible, giving them with sincerity all the information they may desire on any subject, because it is neither our interest nor our wish' to deceive them, as we consider their interests and ours as intimately connected ftn.d inseparable. We desire being useful to them, and we hope that, in return, they will .be to us what we shall be to them. Whe]^ nations are mutually and reciprocally bound together by the same interests, their alliance is maintained by the strong- est ties, and their motives and views can never disagree. We confidently flatter ourselves that we shall form, a highly advantageous rampart tov Spun, and that we ^^ ourselves feel that it is our interest that such j&ould be.theca^e; _^:- * * * . *•:^^-A■^^> ' ^ At alley^nts, t^ possession, exhibit tlua letter and even our cpzt^r^ to the Bpanjiiircls, and conceal nothing frbm^theiiL'*' ;V-. " -^.....^ -^r^'-^r^^^^:' --'■'■'■ . V* ^?' 2T4 MOULTRDE, HCOER, 8NIFBB, WABHUI^JPir,, * On tlie 4ih of January, 1T90, Wilkinaon, to whom- all tbis affiiiv^Jiad been commnnicated, with a view, no doubt, to secnce his assistance, wrote to Messrs. Monltiier Hiige^, Snipes, and Washington, with his usual chi^acteristic lEeenness, and begged leave, after a long preamble on Ins disinterestedness and the honesty of his intentions, to make, as he observed, a few trifling observations on the measures they had adopted, and to suggest the preliipi- nary dispositions which would be indispensably necessary to secure the complete accomplishment of their plans. Alluding to the letters which I have quoted, and which were exhibited to him by Captain Cape, he said that they appeared to be of so extraordinary a nature, that he remarked to that gentleman that he would not hesitate to pronounce them forgeries, if the proofs of their authen- ticity were not so strong.* He further informed Messrs. Huger, Washington, Snipes, and Moultrie, that, on his last trip to New Orleans, he had had a frank and free intercourse with Governor Miro ; that he had discussed with th|^t Spanish functionary the whole affair, and had finally ascertained what was the sole basis on which a settlement might be formed in that latitude, &c."t . * * - * * * • A-',* , " It is a stupendous enterprise," wrote Wilkinson, "well worthy of the attention it has attracted, and if it be sufe- cessftiUy executed, it will procure immense wealth for the interested parties. But there are difficulties to con- ^ quer, which are proportioned to the importance and magnitude of the object. The foundations on which this enterprise must necessarily rest, are a any one of the subjects of hi9 Catholic Majesty. But ypu know that my circumstances do not permit me to engage in his service and to abandon every other occupation, without the prospect of remuneration." This letter was immediately communicated by Wilkinson to Mir6, to whom he submitted also all the documents he had pro^ cured concerning the entei'prise of Moultrie and his associates. In connexion with this subject, he wrote from Lexington to the Spanish Governor, on the 20th of January: "The documents No. 1, 2, 8, will inform you of the purchase which a company, composed of dis' tinguished men, has made from the State of Georgia, of a vast territory contiguous to the Mississippi. Mr. Cape, to wholn I have loaned three thousand dollars, is conse- quently ia my dependence. Holder, on account of his being under my protection, cannot do any harm, and both ore insignificant creatures. Turning this affair ovei^ in my mind, I became apprehensive lest it should become prejudicial to our other plans, and, after mature reflec- tion, I determined to address Messrs. Moultrie, Huger, and Snipes, who. ai*e gentlemen of rank and fortune (aa you will see per Doc, No. 4), with a view to pbtam the agency.of that affair, and to induce the Company to sue for ypur, protection. If I succeed, I am persuaded that I shall experience no dif&culty in adding their estAbHsh- ment to the domains of his M{g,esty, and this they will soon discQit^er to be their intere^. I hope that the step I have tikcaij wp meet jour approbation. It wpftld have beeiv ^eqess^ to do a little mqre, but I ha4 »P tis^ to : 278 o. inonoLAB, s. m^oowell ako payton shoxt. the pretext of settling in Lonisiona, will procare to elude the payment of the afoi'esaid duty. I will not dismiss this subject without assuring you, that I make incessant efforts to accomplish the views of his Majesty, and, although I have to conquer immense difficulties, y^et I flatter myself that, if you confine the privilege of the present free commerce to those who will readily and really emigrate, I shall be able to effect a strong settle- ment at the Walnut Hills, 945. But h« m4y iMTisli^lflil^^g^ oliMigs bis wmtliiieiite ftiad bngi^iii, , . a, EtpaAa 4^e liUM |^^ prontd A di«feMer odikKoi' l^bgtti, pluiui f tipdl*. ^ ^^ 1 280 WlIiKlKSON'S WKH TO BECOME A SPANIABi). R'P, IS p. M •It SI! friend, yet the office which he holdp renders it improjJer for him ta work openly. At present, all oiir peliticiattig seem td have fallen asleep. Buoyed tjuby-'thfe^privil^e of trade which has been granted to them on the Mfeeiii^ sippi, the people think of nothing else than cultivatiiig^ their lands and increasing their plantation*; iti'sttch circumstances it is impossible that I should, with any* chance of success, press upon them the important ques- tion which I had proposed t/0 myself on my arrival h^re^ "I am justified in saying that Congress strongly sus- pects my connection with you, and that it spies ihy move^ ments in this section of vlie country. Consequently, an avowed intention on my part to induce these people here to separate from the Union, before the majority of them show a disposition to support me, would endanger my personal security, and would deprive me of the opportu- nity of serving you in these parte. My situation is mor- tally painfid, because, whilst I abhor all duplicity, I am obliged to dissemble. This makes me extremely desirous of resorting to some contrivance that will put me m a position, in which I flatter myself to be abl^ to profess myself publicly the vassal of his Catholic Majesty^ and therefore to claim his protection, in whatever pubhc or private measures I may devise to promote the interest of the Crown." ;; > ^^ v The change to which Wilkinson alludes iSi this com- munication is to be attributed to the confid^6e inspired to all by the wise and firm admimstration of Washington, who had been installed into office on 'the 41^ of March,' ITBO, as first President of the United States, und^r that new Constitution whic^ had jtist been ^framed by-^ the people thereof, " tO form a more perfect union, estabHsh justice, infiUi-e doJnestic tranquilli^; provide for the com- mon defepoe, promote the general welfare^ am secure the iioxunsa^ UBPtsR TO vnuEPS&onx. 2tBil blessiogs of liberty td tbemiielves ftfid; tBeir poslbeiity,^ Slid If bioh wafl b^gioning to accomplish these ^objects. /It appears that the eimgrants whoui Colonel Moii^ ha^flKttracted to L'Anse k la iGh*aifiae, or New Modi^id^ had not^long remamed satis^d with their leader, for they had sent John Ward to New Orleans as their de£B|8te, to present to Mir6* a memorial signed by them, and in wUchthey complained of the state of complete anarchy in which they Hved, and of the exactions of. Colonel Morgan. '* We also beg yon," they said, "to pen6it tis to remark, that the method adopted for settling thi^ dis- trict is very prejudicial to the interests of the King, and also to those of the inhabitants of New Madrid, his snl> jeets. Therefore, we conclude with assuring yoo, that if we cannot obtain satisfaction with regard to what we represent to you through Mr. Ward, our agent, we shall be obliged, relying on our right and the jtustt support of our friend"?, to abandon a country and a climate wiiii which we are highly pleased." On the 27th of February, Alex. Moultrie replied to Wilkinson's letter of the 4th of January, acoeptihg with many compliments the offer of his services, and entr^lan^ him to use his best e£brts in order to accelerate and per- fect the great enterprise of the South Cf^lina Cdmf>anyj but informing him that the agency of the^mpanyiootdd no longer be disposed of, as^^it had been ^ome l^ne ago granted to Dr. O'FaUon, who was the bi^r^r of Moiscltrie's letter ta Wilkinson. But it is evident from a communi- cation addressed by Mir6 to WHfcinsony on /1hl& d(^h c^ April^ that this gentleman could not cb oineh for the South Carolina speculators who had appHid to hiob: M' return to you nmnythai&Bi" said Mir^»^Vforihe l^tteu you have wiitt^i to Mesk^i lifeynltaie^ SnipeiB^ M«^#f, '«tMl 283 MIRd^ LETISB TO WJLKDXBOV. "Wmhmgtoii, although you have rendei^ed them a greater service than to me, by the wholesome^ advice which ^ou tiavd administered to them. It would be exoee€&^ly painful to me to march with arms in my hands againdt citizens of the United States, with which my court- "fre- quently recommends me to keep on the best terms of harmony and friendship. But, in order to avoid, once for all, eveiy cause of trouble and misunderstanding on this subject, I beg you to communicate to these gentle^ men my following declarations : ;> *' 1"— Spain is in possession of all that she conquered from Great Britain in the last war, and consequently, of the territory which these gentlemen have obtained from the State of Georgia, and therefore, so long as the ques* tion of limits shall not be settled, every attempt to seize on any portion of the land to which we have a previous right of possession, will be an act of hostility which we must resist. " 2® — ^The concession of land from the Ohoctaws and Chickaaaws founded on the treaty of Hopewell and Seneca, in 1 786, is a chimera." Mir6 then goes on say- ing, that the chie& themselves who had signed that treaty had signified to the American Commissioners ^at they had no such powers, and had furthermore declared, that it was only afber having been made drunk, that they had put their seals to it. He also informs Wilkin- son that the Ohoctaws had proclaimed, that they would n6t permit the Americans even to walk over their lands, because they were afraid of their being gradually usurped by the well-known rapacity of those intruders! The tone of this letter is very different from the affec- tionate style in which Mir6 usually addressed Wilkinsony and indicates jkhat he resented Wilkinson'^ letter of the 2&th of Jan^uftry, in which he waa is^mied of ihe change which had occurred in the feelings of the people "ifs^ h COTXTJfiWtJJOUB LANOn^l. 283 of KenttiolBy, and of the oloaoBt nndoi^bteddestni^tiou of all his hopes and plaos^ , , In a second despatch to Wilkinson, dated on t];ie siune day (80th of April), Mird commits on the reasons giveti by th^t gentleman, to account for the revulsion of sentiments which was described to have taken place amcMig the Western people. " Your countrymen," said he, ** will soon find out that the advantages they expect from the navigation of the Mississippi, on their paying an import duty of 15 per cent, when entering Louioana, and an export duty of 6 per cent, when leaving it, amount to nothing. So far, tobacco has been the only produce of any importance which they haye brought to New Orleans, and which the king has reserved to hini- self the privilege of buying. Should he not chpose to do so, on the ground that the article wanted is not furnished in sufficient quantity, or is not of the quality requix'ed, it would remain a dead weight in the hands of the owner. Several individuals, who ar,e now here, have discovered this to be the case. With regard to your supposition that they will elude paying the duty of 16 per cent, under the pretext of coming to settle in Louisiana, it is without any sort of foundation whatever, and you may rest assured that I shall take care that the law be executed on that point." He then enumerated iu detail the preventive measures which he had imagi^e^} more effectually to defeat the anticipated fraud. , - , "I therefore confidently hope," continued he, "that, with your characteristic perseverance, making use of the information which I give you, and which will be con- firmed by your countrymen on their return, you wiU be able to revive our political designSj-by sowing broad-caat, and causing to germinate among yoizr peo|ple, such ideas AS t, all seeii^' tt> jon^ best calcnlated to ee^Msii the con- viction, that the inreBire of the inhabitaiil^ of Itentucky %: ^*' I .# « m 284 A LBSSOir TO TBA1T0B8. M depends, either on llieir forming adbse and strong con- necfion with Spain, or on their seeMhg to better ^their fortune by becoming denizens of lionisiana.'^ • With regard to that passage in Wilkinson's letter in which he said that he had become an object of suspicion to hi$ government, and that his situation was mortally painful, because, whilst abhorring duplicity, he was obliged to dissemble, wherefore he was seeking for the occasion of professing himself publicly the vassal of his ^ CathoKc Majesty, in order to claim his protection in whatever public or private measures he mdght devise to promote the interests of the crown, Mird replied:* "I much regret that General Washington and €ongress SQspect your connection with me, but it does not appear to me opportune that you declare yourself a Spaniard, for the reasons which you state. I am of opinion that this idea of yours is not convenient, and that, on the con>- if trary, it might have prejudicial result. Therefore^ con- tinue to dissemble and to work as you promise, and as I have above indicated.' In this letter, all the caressing epithets and other expressions so plentifully used,' on other occasions, are dropped, ftnd the worda^ rm/ dearest friend, or any other approaching their meaning, are stu- diously excluded, and Miro's despatch terminates merely with the commonplace salutation so familiar in Spanish phraseology: "Dios guarde a Vs. muchos afios.** =f**God preserve you many years." - ;. 'In travelling over these historical grounds^ here have we come to a point from which a rich scene of practical morality is displayed before tis. " Yon may rest adsured^f had written Wilkinson, "that the constant pewrecution * Si«nto mfieho 86 deiMM>afl« el general Wuhihgton y el Congresb, delaoo- nexion di Vs. oon^go; paro novnie {>aree«f dpovtuno'qiie Vt-'^M deelare EspaRol, a fin de que noflstra coite pneda sosteperle. Soy d« pim^er quejesta., idea no plied« ser oonveniente, y que al, contrario podria aoaITte^pM$1idiQiale■ reaultaa^ Piittaidie Va. pue^ y-tlrabi^e <^ '.*^ madl?» joffsmm'v tiv wjucmaov*^ 285 ,ol CoogresB cannoii' produce tkesHglttetffe impEession on i9}p>9ttia(C^oiant iu}d «df^^ mterests o£ ^ain, whieh I eHaU viiway? ?W ready to defeod with my tongue, my p^^and; my sword," 3o iar, so good, and "Thwik yon, d^Mt friend^" had replied Spanish interest. "Bnt I aottanxions to become aSpaniard on the first opportunity that shall present itself" said Wilkinson, proceeding a ste][> >lurther*TT-"YouI a Spaniard, Sir! Oh, no I that cannot bci Continue to dissemble, and to work. under grouud, as you are bound to do. Retain your American tongue, your American pen, and your American sword. You can serve us better in that guise." Thus spoke Spanish pride and Spanish honor. Is thei^ on record a more striking specimen of withering contempt ? On the22d of May, Mir6 wrote to the minister, Don Antonio Vald^s, to render him an account (rf his last transactions and correspondence with Wilkinson. "Air though," said he, '^ I thought with Wilkinson that the commercial concessions made to the Western peopile might deter them from effectiog their separation from the United States, because I supposed they would prefer losing the defalcation produced in the value of their crop by the payment of the duty of fifteen per cent., to running all the risks of a revolution, yet I never imia- gm§- that the effects would be so sudden, and that the large number of influential men, whom Wilkinscm, ip. his previous letters, had mentioned as having be^n gained over to pur party, wouid have entirely vanished, as he now announces it, since he affirms having no other aid at present than Sebastian. jk;:^ *'X C<^n^der that I am expoil^ tO)^ in iexpresting an opinio^ ;Qni the am this place, and who has ipidoubted^ t^- akiijii^ ftpsi^ydi^^ing seih^ces fo hklilcae^^y« afi X naVe e^lained it iH my oiliei! de8patche«i/» ■^<-'- ■W ^86 SSBASTIAIF,; A 8FT elieve that, full of good will and zeal/aiid* per- suaded, from the experience of past years, that he ooidd bring round to his own opinions the chief men of Ken^ tacky, he declared in anticipation that he had Wf>n over many of them, when he had never approached thc^m^ni the main question, and that, encountering, at this time, instead of facilities, invincible obstacles, and, cbove aU, personal risks should he declare himself, he has itvailed himself of the motive which he puts forth, to cover his precipitation, niany repeat- that a Uijl^it fe> win ikiiison, of the most lioii: 'k le«ip«rtf Bpy^ 'Pom WiUdnson was employed to watch the KentuokiaojB, and Sebastian to betray his confedeiate Wilkiiison* Not a link wanting in the chain v. ' intoy. In a second despatch of the 22d of May, Mu*d commn- nicatee to the same minister all the information he had received on the plan of colonization formed by the South Carolina Company, and all he had done in relation to that matter. "You will observe," said he, "that Messrs. Alex. Moultrie, William Clay, Snipes, and Huger, members of that Company, recommend to Colonel Hol- der to cultivate the aJliance of the Indian nations, and to communicate to us all the operations of said Company, together with their intention to court our Me^^dshipi because they consider theii* interests and ours as insepar rably connected, and conclude with charging their a^ent ix> tA possession at all events. "From the whole texture of their letter to Holder it is to be inferred, that they believe themselves authorized to form an Independent State, because there is not in it one word which indicates the least subordination to the United States. On the contrary, they flatter th^n- selves that they will serve as a harrier or rampa/rtfor ^ ^ protection of Louisiamiy whiGh. circumst^mce could ^ not happen, unle^ they fonmed a sovereign State." Mir6 praised Wilkinson for the part he had acted on that occasion, and for having so much discouraged the South C^BTolina Company, that their operations wei« suspended for the moment. " I mention this fact the mpre readily on his behalf," said he, " that I spoke less favorably erf him in my preceding commurii' itaoii;" Ippd^^c^ied has de^tch^^ w^^ asking for instructions on the subject, and said that, in the mean time^ sh^nl^ the ^00%^ i^^cb^lQ^ to talee |)alia ' 19 •«., m 1 1 , « 1 i; h !t k 290 PLA27 or THB SOUTH OAROLOTA COMfAlfT. anoe, ofliBiisive and defensive. This, for a beginning, when onoe docured with the greatest secrecy, will sisrve, I am fully persuaded, as an example to be followed by the settlements on the western side of the mountains, which will separate from the Atlantic portion of the confederacy, because, on account of the advantages which they will expect from the privilege of trading with our colony, under the protection of Spain, they will unite with it in the same manner and as closely as are the At- lantic States with France, receiving from it every assist- ance in war, and relying on its power in the moment of danger. In order to induce the Company to pursue this course, I refused to take any share in the enterprise under any other conditions ; and, in order to confirm their hostility to Congress, which then was acting des- potically, as well as to the President and. his ministers, who were opposing their pretensions, I used indirect means, which decided them to ibrm the resolution of separating themselves from the Union, and of removing with their families, dependents, and eflfects, to their con- ceded territory, with the determination, if Spain favored them, not to subject themselves, nor the numerous colo- ny which they will soon form, to the administration of Congress or of Washington. The individuals ii^terested in that concession are gentlemen of the greatest influ- ence, power, and talent, among the most gifted in the confederacy ; and they are sure of having, within eighteen months after the date of their first settlement, ten thou- sand men established on their territory and capable of bearing arms. All that they desire from the Spanish Grown for their projected establishment, is a secret co- operatiouy which, in reality, will soon ripen into a sincere fHendship. I assure you thisit Spidn Tdll obtain every- thing from them in return, except the sfMsifioe ^ their liberty of conscience aul of their civil govemiaeni I f^^ O*FALLO1I*0 CRBDSRTXAIS. 291 Lirniag, i serve, ired by of the swbioli ith our Jl unite tlie At- ry aasist- momeQt o pursue ttterprise . conftrm iting de8- miniaters, L indirect lution of removing their con- n favored jrous colo- tration of bterested itest iuflu- »d in tlie n eighteen ten thou- »pable of le Spanisli secret co- bo a sincere \MR every- toeif^tlieir nilnent. 1 affirm all tluB, because I am authorized to do so by the plenary powers which they have given me, both in writ- ing and verbally, as will appear by my secret instruc* «^ tions, which I shiill communicate to yon with the utmost Rincerity on my arrival. For I intend, in my proceed- iiligs, to keep aloof from all dissimulation whatever. '^ Whilst the Company was making the most strenuous efforts to obtain their concession, in which two years were s^KJi-etly employed, I was corresponding with Don Diego Gardoqui in New York, and with the Governor of East Florida, through my intimate fnend. Captain Charles Howard, the Secretary of that province. At the same time, at the request of the same minister, I was confidentially engaged in obtaining for the court of Spain information of the highest importance, in relation to Great Britain and the United States, and was also work- ing to procure the emigration of ten thousand Irish, American, and German families to the deserts of East Florida. In order to bring these affairs to an end, I was preparing to follow that minister to Madrid, when, in spite of Congress and the President, the Legislature of Georgia, as it were unanimously, conceded to the South Carolina Company, the Virginia Company, and the Ten- , ? ncssee Company, the territories which they had re- spectively sued for in the vicinity of your government : m consequence of which, these Companies found them- selves incorporated and organized by an a«t of that Le* gislatnre, and, by virtue of said incorporation and oi^ani' zation, were empowered, under the sanction of the new federal constitution and authorities, and against the will andvrisbes of the President andof someof hismixusters, to treat and negotiate in relation to thep som myself to him, he opened to me his breast, and I found his sentiments to be so uniformly like mine, that he won much on my cooAdence. I believe, however, that it is my duty to inform you, that he appears to be a man of a light character, al- though he is not lacking in education and intelligence, because, at his time of life, being foHy-flve years old* and with many gray hairs, he allows his flightiness and puerile vanity to peep out. But, if the sentiments which he invariably expresses are to be believed (and 1 am inclined to put faith in them), he is a great fnend to Spain. "He wiites to you, by this occasion, in terms which, I flatter myself, will be agreeable to you. I have in- duced him to do so, because I thought it proper that you should have a pledge for his not retracting the sen- timents which he has manifested to me and by which he has gaic^d my confidence." On the 10th of August, Mir6 sent to his government copies of all the preceding correspondence, and a de- tailed account of what he had done in relation to the imrortant matters which had been submitted to Itis consideration, "O'FaUon's propositions," said Mir6, " which he alleges t< be founded mi credentials which ^^^ i ■i"*!:- -J iV" * t ■ "SI ^., .fi 'Wit. 294 MIB6^8 oAunous besebye. Si' h6 will cfxhibit on his arrival, require tlie most serious reflections, because it is necessary to weigh the advan- tages resulting from their being accepted, with the dan- ger of permitting such a settlement in such close conti- guity with the possessions of his Majesty, or to speak more to the point, of taking, as it were, a foreign State to hoa/rd with tos. I will therefore presume to offer to you a few observations, which my very limited intelli- gence suggests to me, in order that they may serve as materials which may be of some use to you in proposing to his Majesty what you may deem best. With regard to myself, I consider as too hazardous my venturing to express a precise and positive opinion on so delicate a subject." ^ After this exceedingly modest exordium, Mir6 pro- ceeds to handle with some assurance what he had appa- rently approached with such timidity. He said that, According to a plan transmitted Jo him by General Wilkinson, the inferior limit of the territory conceded to the South Carojina Company was at a water-coui'se called Cole's Creek, eighteen miles above Natchez; ex- tending to the 33d degree of latitude, thirty miles above the mouth of the Yazoo. " The whole of which terri- tory," said Miro, "belongs to his Majesty, from the bank of the Mississippi to landward, for 120 miles, east and west, more or less, where begin the possessions of the Indians. These lands are very rich, particularly those belonging to his Majesty. The United States have not consented so far to have their limits determined in that region, and maintain the right which, in their opinion, they derive from their treaty of peace with Great Bri- tain, unduly granting them a portion of the banks of the river Mississippi, down to the 3l8t degree, which is to be found fit thirty-six miles below the fort of Natchez. Th6y labor wi^ incessant ardor to gain the Indian # 4; HIBO dLJXD THE BOITEH OAKOXJNA COMPANY. 296 nations, because, no doubt, they look upon them as a barrier which now prevents them fi-om taking possession of the' territory which they claim; whilst these tribes would help them to it, if friendly. Should. the plan of colonization of the South Carolina Company be peimit- ted to be carried into execution, all the hupes of the United States would vanish, or at least they would find it no trifling enterpiise to send an army in order to gain their point, and the territory still retained by his Ma- jesty would extend to eighteen miles above Natchez, which is the most populous portion of the whole district. " But should the proposition made by the South Caro- lina Company be rejectod, Louisiana would be in con- tinual danger of being attacked, without the co-operation of Congress, by the sole i^orces of the Company, which will easily find in tha settlements on the Ohio such indi- viduals as it is easy to incite unto wai* by tendering them the hope of plunder. In that case, the expenses which his Majesty would have to incur in the defence of his possessions would be a matter of serious con- sideration. "Among the other advantages likely to result from the formation of that new and independent State, which would soon have a large population, may be ranked the extension of commerce it would procure for New Orleans, if declared a free port, to which all nations would then resort. A slight duty on exports and imports would, in a few years, secure to his Majesty a large revenue. " With regard to the territory granted to the Virginia Company in the Yazoo district, it extends from the 33d de^ee, which is the upper limit of the other Company, to 34° 40' north, comprehending, on account of the sinuosities of the Mississippi, 120 mile^ along its banks by 120 in depth. I do not think that we have a positive right to those^ lands, which are the ^ 296 mir6 and tiie south Carolina cjompani?. hunting grounds of the Chickasaws, who could, with justice, oppose the settlement contemplated by the Vir- ginia Company. As the leaders in this Company act from the same motives which influence the first, to wit, the South Carolina Company, what I have said as appli<- cable to the former, is equally so to the latter, inasmuch as they would both pursue the same course. Thia would also prove true in relation to the Tennessee Company, whose concession runs from the mouth of the Tennessee river to about 120 miles back, and belongs to the terri- ,i tory bought from the Chickasaws and Cherokees, The course pursued by these three Companies would reopen a favorable field in Kentucky and the other Ohio set- tlements for the operations of Wilkinson, who, so far, has been working without much success. These are the advantages to be expected. "But I think that it would be preferable for Spain to people that territory on her own aecount, rather than yield it to the South Carolina Company. Its soil is richer than that of any other portion of this province, and I know that there are many in America who have their eyes fixed on it, particularly on the part called Walnut Hills. Hence it results, that it would be of the utmost import,ance to people that district with subjects of his Majesty, because, if once thickly inhabited, its population would contribute to the defence of Louisiana against any of the machinations of the settlements on the Ohio, or of the Virginia Company on the Yaaoo, whose colony would be contiguous, should their plan be caiTied into execution. It is true that emigration to this province is slower than we ought to have expected, from the numerous offei-s to bring families here. Colonel Morgan has contented himself with makii]^ a publica- tion to excite emigration, but he has remained inactive in his residence of New Jersey, without in the least M-i » mir6 and the south cakolesa company. 297 # prosecuting his plan of an establiskmeut below tlxe mouth of the Oldo, whither he had promised to move immediately, nor has he written one word. General Wilkinson says that Morgan has been checked in his enterprise by the commercial privilege granted to Kentucky. " Should the proposition of the South Carolina Com- pany be refused, the government ought to look for means to foster emigration. This leads me to renew the propositions which I have made, .to declare New Orleans a free port for all the European nations, and even for the United States of America, and to clothe me. with the power, either to restrain, or stop altogether, as I may deem it opportune, the commerce of Kentucky and the orher settlements on the Ohio. You will then see Louisiana densely peopled in a few years, his Majesty defraying all the expenses of the colony out of the duties which will be collected in his name, and out of the profits made on his tobacco purchases, which he will be able to effect at stUl lower prices, although tobacco now sells here for less than in any other of hi& dominions. " I believe that I am not in error when I affirm, that to confine Louisiana to trade with our nation, would be to ruin her. At this very moment, France has the real monopoly of the commerce of this colony, although theor- retically and legally it ought to be exclusively in the hands of the subjects of his Majesty. The colonists, to whom goods and merchandise are consigned, have no interest in them, and merely lend their names to the true importers. Therefore, if the Spaniards have no share in this trade, the whole profits of which are enjoyed by the French, would it not be more advan- tageous to have it divided between the English, the Dutch, Ac, through whose competition the inhabitants of Louisiana would ^ave their wa^ts supplied at a much >tv^ # M i ' «%. 298 mib5 and the south oarolixa ooMPAinr. cheaper rate, and would sell their produce higher. These commercial franchises would, as I have said before, greatly increase the population, and thereby secure to his Majesty the possession of Louisiana, which is the key of the kingdom of New Spain.* "This policy I recommend, in case the proposition of the South Carolina Company be rejected, but should it be accepted, I think the same policy equally adyan-> tageous ; because, should a colony be established by that Company in the territory it has obtained from Georgia, it is to be feared that the conformity of lan- guage, manners, and religion, the free and public exercise of which would be permitted, would draw thither a con- siderable number of the families now established in the Natchez district, thereby increasing the forces and power of the new State. So great an evil would require an eirtraordinary remedy, and the only efficacious and ap- plicable one would be the grant of a free trade to Loui- siana. The magnitude of the peril to be obviated would have to conquer the reluctance felt to make this conces- sion. »? :|ll Another danger had also struck Mir6, and impressed him with serious misgivings. Where was the proof that the Company was sincere in its intentions, and would adhere to its propositions ? Would it not devise some means of eluding them ? Had it not perhaps, in antici- pation, prepared to do so, and would it not be ready for the excuse in due time ? Were it to take possession of the extensive domain which it claimed as its own, and were it to establish there a large population; how could it be dispossessed if the occasion requu'ed it ? But should these apprehensions not be weU founded, and not be con- firmed by the ftubsecjuent actions of the South Carolina * Llave del Reyno de Nueva Espafia. * ■^■•*,. m !»•• 'It, '^mh^B SUOOESTIOKS. # 299 colonists, would there not be a serious cause for fearing tkatf from the impulse of a natural aflBction, they would be disposed to support the United States in their still pending territorial pretensions to the Slst degree of lati- * tude, and to the navigation of the Mississippi ? "Besides," continued Mir(i, "it is self-evident that it would be extremely perilous to have, so close to us, so powerful a neighbor, who might, without our being able to prevent him, prepare for the conquest of this province, by insensibly providing himself with ai-tillery, and all the other implements he might require to execute his |i design. The Crown could not resist an enterprise of the kind, without going to an expense which it is not able to incur. Therefore, should it be determined not to adopt the remedy which I have proposed (the grant of free trade), it is now less difficult to prevent the esta- blishment contemplated by the South Carolina Company, than it would be to meet successfully the fatal results which it may have, and we had better prepare ourselves to act accordingly." Mii'6 then suggested, that it might be proper to pursue a middle course between rejecting and admitting the propositions of the Company. It consisted in permitting them to colonize the aforesaid territory, on condition that they should declare themselves the subjects of his Catholic Majesty, and submit to the same regulations imposed on all emigrants. In Mir6's mind, however, sprang up another dark misgiving. " These peeiple," he said, "are imbued with the conviction that those lands belong to them by purchase, and, in order to obtain them, they may momentarily accept of all sorts of con- ditions. But would they not violate them^ as soon , as they should find themselves, pow^^ enough to do it with impunity? "I will now." continued M3rd, "communicate to you n *■ !l m I* 300 SPAIN AND THE HALF-BBE^ m'oXLLIVBAY. I the measures wliicli I have resorted to, in order to pre- '■ vent any one of the three Companies from carrying its scheme into execution." He then goes on explaining, how he had excited the hostility and secured the opposi- tion of all the Indian tribes to the Americans. " I have recommended them," says he, " to remain quiet, and told them, if these people presented themselves with a view to settle on their lands, then to make no concessions and to warn them off; but to attack them in case they re- fused to withdraw ; and I have promised that I would ^supply them with powder and ball, to defend their legi- timate rights." With regard to O'Fallon, Miro informed his govern- ment that he would so demean himself, -as to permit that mdividual to retain some hopes of success in his mission, and added that he would endeavor to induce O'Fallon to accompany him to Havana, whither he intended to go in October, to confer with the Captain-General on the interesting matters which he had to manage. In those important conjunctures, McGillivray, the fa- mous chief of the Talapouches, found himself much courted by the Spaniards and the Americans. He had been invited by Washington to cease his hostilities, and to repair to New York, to confer on the articles of a definitive treaty of peace. The wily chief availed him- self of this circumstance with considerable skill, to raise himself in the estimation of Mird, and to put his services If^ at a higher price. He wrote to that Governor that, al- though he should conclude a treaty of peace with the Federal Government, yet he would ever remain faithful to his old friends the Spaniards, and he asked from the Court of Madrid many favors, with an annual stipend of fifteen thousand dollars to carry on hostilities against the projected establishment of the South Carolina Com- pany, if not against the United States. But he obtauied $, %. m ■■ THE CABILDO'S MEKOBIAL TO THE KINO. 301 Only a pension of two tlionsand dollars, with a regular salary for his interpreters, and the promise of ammnnition, arms, and other military supplies in case of need.* The whole correspondence of this half-breed Indian warrior and diplomatist evinces a remarkable degree of shrewd- ness, information, and talent. Thus it is seen that Louisiana had been, for several years, the focus of very important intrigues, the object of which was no less than to destroy the great American confederacy which had just been formed, and which was soon destined to operate so powerfully on the rest of the civilized world. But the mass of the population of the colony had been ignorant of, and was indifferent to, the plots, schemes, and diplomacy of their rulers. A cause of agitation and an object of more immediate consequence to them, was a royal schedule, issued on the 31st of May, 1789, in relation to the education and occu- pation to be given to slaves, and the manner they were to be treated, in all the dominions of his Catholic ^ Majesty. Some of the regulations it contained proved exceedingly unpalatable in Louisiana, and the Cabildo or Council remonstrated on them, on the 23d of July, 1790, in a document which they addressed to the King. His Majesty, it seems, had ordered that chaplains should, on every plantation, attend to the religious education of the negroes. The colonists observed, that this could not be complied with for several reasons ; and they might have rested satisfied with the first, which was — ^that there were not priests enough, even to fill the curacy of every parish ; the next was— that there were few planters that were not considerably in debt on account of recent inun- dations and conflagrations, and of the scarcity and exor- bitant price of every necessary of life, wherefore the * Mir&> d«spfttoh of the lOta of Augiut, 1*790. MoGOliTray's letter to Mirdi, May eth, 1790 "'iJiil^S i^^. ..* # A,- ^v^ •,!j®-. ''-S^- # i *i ,■; '•#*i^ ^*r^!i' # n 1 fP I'M- I' . 802 THE gaBxldo^s memorial to the kino. great mcjority had not the means of paying tlie salary T^bicli it wonld be requisite to give to so respectable a class of men ; and besides, that a good many of the plantations were distant from each other — which circum- stance would prevent the same chaplain from officiating on them ; that the greater number of the planters were very poor, and their houses too uncomfortable to afford proper accommodation for the miaisters of the Gospel. With regard to the article of the schedule which re* quired the sexes to be kept separate, they said that it was impossible to conform to it without the greatest inconveniences, because the works to be executed on, a plantation frequently required that all the hands be kept together, in order to use them to the best advan- tage according to circumstances; that to divide the hands would increase the costs and trouble of supervi- sion ; that most of the plantei*s had only a few negroes, with whom they and their sons worked in the field, and that they could not afford to separate the males from the females, because they would have no distinct occu- pation to give to them respectively ; that the slaves labor under the inspection of their masters, and of the sons, or overseers of their masters ; that the work is proportioned to the sex, the strength, the age, and the health of each of them, and that no abuser have resulted from both sexes working together; that even admitting that the vigilance of their superiors should be at fault, the slaves would be prevented from indulging in certain excesses by the fatigues of the body, which are their best corrective, although their laJboi-s are moderate, and ample time is allowed them for their own benefit and ptirposes, according to the intentions of his Majesty. J.n* relation to the amusements which the slaves were permitted to enjoy on every holiday, after having dis- charged their religious duties, without their being per- ft f *.. TBE OABILDO'S MEHOBIAL TO THE KIKC 808 mitted to go from one plantation to another, the Cabildo remarked that this ooold be applicable to the large estates only. **But," said they/* where there are only three or four slaves, how could they divert themselves, if the sexes Avere separated? "Would they not grow desperate when hearing the distant sounds of dancing and music, without being able to join in the festival?" As to the prohibition in relation to the working of negroes on holidays, the Cabildo observed that it was, occasionally, impossible to do otherwise, because it be- came necessary, at times, not to keep the Sabbath m order not to lose the fruits of the labors of the whole year ; but that the negi-oes were either compensated for it in money, or were allowed other days of rest in the place of those which had been taken away from them. As to the article in the royal schedule wl^ich enjoined the marriage of the slaves, the Cabildo declared that it was the most critical and difficult of all the obligations imposed by the King upon the planters, because the master would frequently not have the means of buying the female that his slave might choose, or the master of the female might also not be in a situation to purchase the male ; and, besides, because such forced sales and purchases would give rise to frauds, heart-burnings, and many other inconveniences which are self-evident and need no description. " On the other hand," they said, "negroes have an almost insuperable aversion to mar- riage, and the efforts which have been made to establish and encourage that institution among them have always proved fruitless. The habits, contrary to it, among those living maohines, are so powerBil, that all attempts to persuftde them to receive from the church that sacra- mcjnt have been foiled so lar. To force it upon them would produce general discontent, and perfiaps the worst ** m # t I iS ■^ 804 THE OABILDO'S MEMORIAL Tu TUE KINO. ■ m ^wl^Hii ilHi IHHHii Ei9IHRHR|ffl^^H^H| m m 1 rfi MBWa 1 H 4 i ^ consequences.* The masters would infallibly lose some of their slaves, who would run away, if eny compulsion was used to make them contract real marriages, on ac- count of their conviction that it would be subjecting them to the evils of a double servitude, and that mar- riage is a source of disgusts and miseries produced by thr continual discords which it breeds among those of their class, and from which celibacy is free, in which opi- nion they are confirmed by a long experience. " Although the article 10," continued the Cabildo, " relative to the prevention of excessive punishments by the masters and overseere, is dictated by th«,^ spirit of prudence and those feelings of humanity which are na- tural to the soul of your Majesty, still it otters, sire, to the indocile and unquiet character of the negroes a vast field for machinations against their masters, by inducing them to institute against said masters continual lawsuits founded on complaints suggesteti to-them by their dis- satisfied and rebellions humor, aad on pretexts which they will invent according to their own fancy and to suit their own pui'poses. Notwithstanding that the en- lightened uprightness of the tribunals is a guaranty in favor of the mastere, that they shall not be punished without well authenticated causes, still when the com- plaints against them shall have been proved to be mali- cious, no chastisement inflicted on the negroes can be a sufficient indemnification for the loss of time and other damages which they shall suffer, whilst their slaves, * Siendo maa poderoaa la costoinbre contraria en eata gente maqainal que todaa laa perauasionea con que ae intente reducirloa a deapoaarao por la Igleaia; de modo que el oblJgarloa a ello aeria indubitablemente on mdtiro, no aolo de general deacontento aino acaeo de peaimaa conaequenciaa. Eatoa amoa perderian infaliblemente algunoa de aua eaclavoa que ae irian profugoa^ ai ae lea quiaiese Bugetar a eoutraer verdaderoa matrimonioa, por la preocnpaeion qve reina entre ellos de aer eaa una doble eaolavitud, y un manantial de diagnatos por laa diaoor- diaa oontinnaa que tieaen loa oaaadoade eats claae, j de que riven ezent4Mloaqne no lo lOD, aereditado uno y otro por larga experienoia entre los ncgroa. m .# # '*f S: BOine ilaion m ac- jcting iiiav- >d by ose of jh opi- abildo, intsby irit of we na* Bire, to 3 a vast aducmg lawsuits lieir dis' ' wbicli and to the ett- anty in unislied le com- »e mali- mbe a c\ other slaves, llalgleaia: Ino solo de I perderian les qnuiese jreina entre [las dUoor* ;*'V t THE OABILDO^S IIXMORIAL TO THE KITTO. 30.5 ander the pretext of suing for justice, will abandon their iabon, and will compel their masters to suspend the cultivation of their estates, in order to account for their conduct, or that of their overseers. To this must be added the disgrace of their being confronted with their own slaves. It would be enough to discourage a large number of the planters, and cause them to renounce the pursuits of agriculture in order to avoid seeing them- selves so frequently and so causelessly exposed to vexa- tions and contumelies." This is a mere condensed abstract from the long pub- lication addressed by the Cabildo or Ayuntamiento of Louisiana to the King, and which is an interesting docu- ment, well worthy of an entu'e perusal, as embodying the views and feelings of the community on the peculiar organism of an institution, which has so entwined itself round the very vitals of the Southern States, that, be it continued, modified, or extinguished, it must, in its ulti- mate results, exercise for centuries, if not for ever, socially and politically, for good or for eyil, the most direct, powerful, and incessant influence on their condition, their prosperity, and their very existence. It seems that Mir6, during his long residence in Louisiana, had not become sufficiently enamored with it to forget good old Spain, and that he had applied several times to be permitted to return to the land of his ances- tors and of his birth. On the 12th of October, he wrote again to the Count de Campo Alanga, the minister of the department of the Indies, to be employed at home in that department, and he founded his pretensions on his knowledge of the French and English languages, and his long and familiar acquaintance with the a£^rs of America, on whiqh he h^ obtained, as he alleged, the most minute and varied information during his protracted residence on that continent. " I have now had the ^i'. Ir • i! ■1 I I ,-'-i,^^>^t'- ■■'■■ -'«, ' J.te S? ■'■ "^f v,V,2 I p it "*■ B06 APpRBHRKSIONS OF AN SNl. abQ WAB. honor,^ said he, '' of Berving the King, always with dis> tiuguished zeal, for thirty years and three months, of which, twenty-one. years and eight months in America, until the state of my health requires my return to Europe." This year, the people of Louisiana again suffered exten* sively from the inundations of the Mississippi. They were also greatly disquieted by the apprehensions of a war with Great Britain, on account of the high grounds taken by that power towards Spain in regard to the settlement at Nootka Sound. An invasion of Louisiana by the British from Canada was a cause of serious fears in the colony, and became a subject of consideration even for the General Government of the United States. Washington had to turn his attention to the course he would pursue, should a passage be asked by Great Britain for her troops through the territory of the United States, or should that passage be effected with- out permission. These circumstances were considered by the United States as the most favorable they could have, to press their claim to the navigation of the Mississippi; and Carmichael, their charge-d'affaires at Madrid, was instructed, not only to urge this demand with the most ^ tenacious earnestness, but also to aim at putting the use ' of that river beyond the reach of molestation or dispute for the future, by obtaining foi the United States the island of New Orleans and the Floridas. The United States were not then ready to give millions for such an acquisition, " but," said they to Spain, " the friendship of the United States gained by this liberal transaction, and the security which that friendship would procure for the dominions of Spain on the West of the Missis- sippi, would be a fair and sufficient equivalent for the desired cession. Not only would the tJnited States have uo object in crossing that stream, but their real interest 41 ¥ NBOOTlATIOirS BBTWXBIT SPAIN A WD THE U. 8. 807 would (tlso require tbat Spain should retain the immense posMeB^ions she clpiraed to the West of it* Besides, the navigation of the Mtdsissippi is of such absolute neceasit}- to the United States, that they must, sooner or later, acquire it, either through separate action and by the exertion of their own individual power, or in conjunction with Great Britain. This is the decree of Providence, written on the very map of the Continent of America, and therefore it cannot be resisted by human agency, however obstinate aod powerful it may be in its opposi- tion. Was it not the part of wisdom to anticipate an irresistible event, and make the most of it, by gently and peacefully facilitating its accomplishment, which otherwise woidd inevitably be brought about by vio- lence ?" — Such was the language of the United States, but it ffiiled to obtain from Spain the boon which they craved. She, probably, had some misgivings as to the duration of their promised friendship, if they once ex- tended their c pire to the left bank of the Mississippi, from the luoutu of the Ohio to the Gulf of Mexico. Some sudden and unexpected cause of quarrel might easily occui from the very proximity of the two flags; which the width only of the river would separate ; and should thus the two nations bend their necks to drink from the same stream, one of them might complain that the already turbid waters of the Mississippi were made still more so by the other, and might turn into reality the fable of the wolf and the lamb. As to the assertion that the United States would never have any interest nor feel any temptation to cross the river, it is probable that Old Spain shook her experienced head at the bold- ness of the declaration and at the credulity which it im- plied on her part. Sho well knew, on the contrary, * Martin'* History of I B m CHAPTER VI. OARONDELET'S ADJONISTRATIOir. 1792 to 1797. w Frajs^ois Louis Hector, Baron de Carondelet, a colo- nel of the royal armies of Spain, succeeded Miro, on the Both of December, 1791, as governor and intendant of the provinces of Louisiana and West Florida. When he received this appointment, he was governor of San Salvador in the province of Guatimala. He was a na- tive of Flanders, and had^ by his acknowledged ability and unremitting exertions and zeal, risen to rank and importance in the service of Spain. According to Spanish usage, the Baron, shortly after entering upon the duties of his office, published his *'Bando de Buen Gobierno," on the 22d of January, 1792. "Among the new regulations which it intro- duced," says Judge Martin in his His*, "y of Louisiana, "it provided for the division of the city of New Orleans into four wards, id each of which an Alcalde de Barrio, or con'missary of police, was to be appointed. Li order to procure to government a knowledge of aU the inha- bitants, and every stranger among them or in the city, it was made the duty of all persons renting houses or apartments, to give the names of their new tenants to the Alcalde of the district, on tho first day of their occupation, or, at farthest, on t)ie succeeding one. The Alcaldes de Barrio were directed to take charge of fire engines and their implements, and to command the fire CARONnELErS ADMINISTRATION. 318 and axQinea companies, in case of confiagi'ation. They were also empowered to preserve the peace, and to take cognizance of small deBts. "In one of his first commonicrtions to the Cabildo, the Baron recommended to them to make provision for lighting the city and employing watchmen. The reve- nue of the corporation did not amount, at this period, to seven thousand dollars. To meet the charges for the purchase of lamps and oil, and the wages of watchmen, a tax of one dollar and twelve and a half cents was to be laid on every chimney. "In a letter to the minister, the Baron, this year, mentioned that the population of New Orleans was un- der six thousand. " Having received instructions from the King to attend to the humane treatment of slaves in the province, he issued his proclamation, establishing the following regu- lations : "1" — That each slave should receive, monthly, for his food, one barrel of corn, at least. " 2° — That every Sunday should be exclusively his own, without his being compelled to work for his master, except in urgent cases, when he must be paid for or indemnified. "3" — ^That, on other days, they should not begin to work before daybreak, nor continue their labors after dark; one half hour to be allowed for breakfast, ai^d two hours for dinner. " 4° — ^l%o brown shirts, a woollen coat and pantaloon^ and a pair of linen pantaloons and two handkerchief, to be allowed, yearly, to each male slave, and suitable dresses to every female. "6"— -None to be punished with more than thirty lashes, within twfenty^ur hours. "B^'-^Delkviaents to be fined in the snm of one him # i m 814 FACTIONS m THE COLONY. dred dollars, and, in grave cases, the slave to be sold away to arother." On the 2Yth of April, Oarondelet wrote to his govern- ment: "When I arrived at New Orleans, I found it divided into two factions — the one headed by Governor Mir6 and backed by the Bishop, the assessor of the Intendancy, Don Manuel Serrano, Hiatory of Al«bftms.Tol ii,fr. 11& i'XJf *-' 316 LIFE OF WM. AUGUSTUS 30TVXB8. k^'Si' Hm ■n RPui Hb Bk HirmI regained the good graces and favor of the English, by leading a party of Creeks to the assistance of General Campbell. But Bowles got tired at last of his Indian wife, of his Indian popularity, and of his Indian life, which, probably, did not aflford him sufficiently ample scope for the vereatility of liis genius. Now he bids a long and glad farewell to the hospitable wilderness which had sheltered him, and he is next seen in New York. What is he doing there ? Why — ^forsooth, he has joined a company of actors, and is amusing himself with eliciting the applause of enraptured audiences, or perhaps is swearing oaths of deadly hatred at those spec- tators, whose evidences of disapprobation remind him of the hisses of those snakes which he left far away in the shady woods of Alabama. He followed that company of players to New Providence, where he continued to exercise the same profession, and, occasionally, tried his hand at painting portraits. Whether as a comedian, a painter, an American Tory, an ex-British officer, an Indian chief, or something else, it is certain that he won the confidence of Lord Dunmore, Governor of the Ba- ^hamas, who appointed him an English agent, to establish on the Chattahouchie a commercial house, with the view of entering into competition with the celebrated one of Panton in Pensacola, which was under the patron- age of the Spanish authorities. True to his mission, Bowles soon began to deal and intrigue among the Indians with his characteristic daring and address. He counteracted the influence of Panton, he undermined the power of McGillivray, and gave great annoyance to the Georgians, who resorted, however, with their customary decision, to a summary mode of redress, and sent him word, on a certain day when they had lost patience, that, if he did not depart within twenty-four hours, they would cut off his ears. Not wishing to incur this penalty, ■-% LITE OF WM. AUQUSTUF BOWLES. 817 he hastily leturned to New Providence, from which he was deputed to England by Lord Danmore with a dele- gation of Creeks, Seminoles, and ChercL-ees, to enlist in their favor the protection of the British government, and secure its assistance in repelling American aggression. He and his Indian companions were well leceived at court, and their friendship was gained by valuable presents. Bowles did not disappoint his English allies, and on his return to Ameri6a, says Pickett in his History oi Alabama, " began a piratical war upon the coasting vessels of Panton, having taught his warriors to navigate the gulf. He captured some of the vessels, laden with arms and ammunition, ran them up in bayous, where he and an abandoned set of white men from the prisons of London, toget^r with hosts of savages, engaged in pro- tracted debaucheries, and, day and night, made the woods echo with horrid oaths and panther screams." And yet this man is represented as having possessed the most winning address, and a gentleness of mien which did not exclude, when the occasion required it, the imposing and stern aspect of command. His was the sweetest of smiles, femininely beautiful, and apparently indica- tive of the bubbling well of human kindness within, "with the dark eye-brow that shaded at times the glance of fire." He was one of those impassioned beings, of those " demons in act, but gods at least in face," whom the Bembrandt of poetry — Byron — delighted to paint. With Panton's merchandise, which he lavishly distri- buted among the Indians, Bowles regained his former ])opularity and influence among the Creeks, and became so bold as to accuse McGiUivray of treachery to his own . tribe, and attempt to overthrow that ehieftain and usurp his place. But McGiUivray was fully his match, and went to New Orleans to arrange with Carondelet the capture of his restless enemy. The Gonrt of Madrid # ."ft: f m 8id UI^ OF WM. AUGUSTUS BOWUS. ! %, Bad instructed the Governors of Louisiana and of Pensa- cola, either to bribe Bowles into an alliance with Spain, or to seize him and his accomplices or supporters. " Con- sidering,'* said Carondelet, in a despatch of the 16th of September, "how important it was to the interests of bis Majesty, to the security of these provinces, and the prosperity of the kingdor*. to stifle, even in the very womb of conception, the dangerous intentions of this adventurer, to keep up the friendship of the Talapouches or Creeks, and to remove from their minds the erroneous impressions which he might have made on them, I took the most efficacious means to have him arrested in com- pliance with the ordere of the King, and on the 12th of March, he was brought to me in this city, from which I sent him to Havana, where he embarked, on the 2 2d, in the frigate the Mississippi ; which took to Spain my predecessor, the Brigadier-general, Bon Estevan Miro. I also caused to be transported to Havana Wm. Cun- ningham and Henry Smith, who were his accomplices in robbing the stores of William Panton at the Apalaches. #' "I have pursued my plan with perseverance, and I have succeeded in quieting almost all the Indians. I have, to all appearances, taken the most adequate measures to capture all the companions and accomplices of Bowles, and I will not desist from the prosecution of this object, until it be accomplished, since on its success depends, not only the tranquillity of these provinces, but also the secu- rity of the Mexican empire, for which they are a natural rampart, and barrier of protection * I cannot close this letter, without observing to your excellency that, by all Itneans, the presjsnce of Bowles in this latitude must be guarded agair^, and that he must be carefally detained * Sino tambien la seguridad del imperio M^icanp de qu« ttovkfil antemnnly natural barrera. »'* ia- .!m. UFB OF WM. AUGUSTUS BOWLES. 819 in Europe." This sufficiently shows, without comments, the fears which the da ing and talents of this adven- turer had excited in the Spanish Government, and the importance to which he had risen at» a prisoner of state. Bowles was carried to Madrid, where he was im- prisoned, and treated with alternate kindness and se- verity, but he was neither seduced nor intimidated. The government repeatedly offered him his liberty, with pecuniary and military rewards, if he chose to abandon the English service and enlist in that of Spain, by using his influence with the Creeks, to assist the Spaniards in Louisiana and the Floridas. Bowles was proof against all temptation, and has the merit of having remained true to his plighted faith. Seeing that nothing could be gained from his stubborn resistance, the ministry caused him to be transported to the island of Manilla in the Pa- cific Ocean, where he remained until February, 1797. In this year, for reasons unknown, perhaps with a view that he should be more securely guarded, as war had then broken out between Spain and England, he was ordered back to the Peninsula. " But," says Pickett in his His- tory of Alabama," he contrived on his way to escape, at Ascension Island, and reached Sierra Leone, where the English Governor gave him a passage to London. Mr. Pitt and the Duke of Portland provided for his necessi- ties in a munificent manner." Then, if we follow this personage in his romantic career, we see him leading a corsair's life, and privateering in the Gulf of Mexico, in a light English schooner, against the conmierce of Spain, and particularly against the fat boxes of merchandise of Panton, the wealthy Pensacola merchant. Much to the relief of his victims, he was wrecked on the coast of Florida ; but nothing daunted, if he had to discontmue his operations on the blue waves of the sea, it was to .*enew thena in the wilderness of t^e continent. He soon r n r&.i"* WM-f '# mm3 ,*■ 320 LIFK OF WM. AUGUSTUS BOWLES. joined again the Creeks, by whom he was heartily wel- corned back, as if he had been a chief of their own tribe and race, and with them, he began hostilities against the Americans and the Spaniards, towards whom he ent'dr* tained an equal animosity. He marched upon the town of St. Marks, captured the fort, and again plundered stores which belonged to Panton, of whom he seemed destined to be the scourge. He conducted his foraging expeditions with such skill, activity and energy, that he became far and wide an object of terror, and the name of Bowles remained a household word, but too familiar to the frightened imagination of almost every woman and child in the settlements of the hardy pioneers of Alabama and Florida. He had at last made himself 80 troublesome, that the Americans and the Spaniards, who distrusted each other, and whose interests were opposed in so many things, easily agreed on one point — which was — the necessity of their combining to get rid of their implacable foe, and they secretly offered a large reward for his capture. This temptation was so power- ful, that it could not be resisted ; and Bowles' own war- riOi-s seized and pinioned him, at a grand festival to which he had unsuspiciously resorted. During the night which followed this act of treachery, gnawing apart the ropes with which he was bound, he escaped in the most miraculous manner, to the great astonishment of the Indians. But, being retaken by his pursuers, he was conveyed to Mobile, and thence to Havana, where he subsequently died in one of the dungeons of the More Castle. Such was the romantic and eventful life of this remarkable adventurer, who, for several years, had main- tained himself in a position to exercise some considerable influence on the destinies of Louisiana. . McGillivray did not survive long the first capture of his rival, Bowles, which, as already stated, was effected # M*OII.LrVRAT'8 DEATH. 321 in the beginning of the year 1793, and >f which he had been one of the main instruments. On his return from New Orleans, late in the summer of that very year, he was taken ill, at Mobile, of a fever, which revived old constitutional diseases, and brought on a crisis, of which he died a short time after. William Panton, the far- famed Pensacola merchant, of whom he was the fiiend, and to some extent the partner, and whose commercial dealings with the Indians he had so long and so faith- fully promoted, wrote to Lachland McGillivray, the father of the chieftain, who was still living at Dunma- glas in Scotland, an interesting letter on the death of his son.* " Your son. Sir," said Panton, " was a man that I esteemed greatly. I was perfectly convinced that our regard for each other was mutual. It so happened, that we had an interest in serving each other, which first brought us together, and the longer we were acquainted, the stronger was our friendship. " I found him deserted by the British, without pay, without money, without friends, and without property, saving a few nej^oes, and he and his nation threatened with destruction by the Georgians, unless they agi'eed to cede them the better part of their country. I had the good fortune to point out a mode by which he could save them all, and it succeeded beyond expectation, 3 crowned with success^and, on the 28th of October, he had the satisfacticHi, through 1^ ^ f ^:< ¥0BTIFI0ATIONS AT NEW ORLEANS. 329 ii» a agent and TepresentativB, Colonel Gayoso do Lemos, Governor of Natchez, tio- make a reciprocally defensive and o^nsire treaty, between Spain on one side, and the Chickasaws, the Creeks, the TaUpoaches, the Cherokees, and the Alibamons on^ the other. The treaty of 1*784 was ratified .i all its points, and these different Indian nations, forming a confederacy for their mntnal assist- ance, bound themselves never to act in any thing which might have a bearing on the interest, security or welfero of the parties to the treaty, without first obtaining the Qom&r.i of them all, and the approbation of the Governor of Loakiana. In return for the protection which Spain promised to extend over all these nations, they obligated themselves to contribute, to the utmost of their power, to maint~*r. li:' Catholic Majesty in possession of the provinces of Louiw*?na and of the two Floridas/ Spain, being the patron of all these nations, was to negotiate with the United States, in order to have the limits of the territories of every one of said nations, respectively fixed l)etween them and the United States, so as to avoid any further cause for quarrel and dissension. The other articles of the treaty were concerning the distribution of presents to the several tribes, and other objects of minor importance. On the 18th of January, 1794, Oarondelet wrote to the ministry a despatch, in which he infonned theii that he was erecting, without the assistance ©f one solitary 'engineer, considerable fortifications, or repairing old ones, at severid points of the colony, and particularly around New Orleans. He observed iksA they Would not only protect the city against the attack of an enemy, but also keep in check its inhaMtants thettiselves, who h^ laitely shown a imposition to eiHibriKe the new-faagled doctrines, of f>anoe, and had manifested the desii© of retuUiing undei^,^eFdomiii«tioni. '*I am every day (»i lu^seba^ nwu Mp^W H^EjE^V g^ffia^^^W H|K H 1 380 SPAiriSH ALLIANOB WITH THE INDIANS. Y before dawn," said he, "in order to visit the works, to urge the laborers, and to attend to all my other intin- merable duties." He added that, if New Orleans had not been awed by the forts which he had caused to be constructed, ito population would have rebelled, and a revolntion have taken place. "By the exertion of the utmost vigilance, and at the cost of sleepless nights," said he, "by frightening some, by punishing others, by driving several out of the colony, and particularly those Frenchmen who had klely cdme among us, and who had already contaminated the greater part of the pro- vince with their notions and maxims of equality, by intercepting the letters and papers of a suspicions cha- racter, and by dissembling with all, I have obtained more than I had hoped, considering that the whole colony is now in a state of internal tranquillity." He further remarks that, with regard to his secret and confidential despatches, he has nobody about him that he could ven- ture to trust with the copying of them ; that the obliga- tion imposed upon him by the order of the King, to transcribe for, and to submit to, the Captain-general of the island of Cuba, of which Louisiana is a dependency, all the documents he has to forward to the Secretary of State at Madrid, multiplies his labors to an enormous extent, and that the most robust man could not resist the wear and tear of such a life ; that the secretary of the government of the colony, Don Armesto, is an inde- fatigable man, but that it is physically impossible that he should do all that is to be done, and that the King's servic >r^ould be materially benefited, if the Captain- gltftiC jfjided in Louisiana. Tlie Baron de Carondelet further expressed some feel- ings of proud satisfaction at the late treaty which he had concluded with the Talapouches, the Chickasaws and other nations, and in virtue of which he could, at any oabondslbt's poliot and ymwB. 8^1 time, 8» he declared, oppose, if neeeesary, twenty thou sand Indians to the Americans, for the trifling annual expenditure of ten thousand dollars. But, by another of his despatches, dated on the 24th of February, it appears that the pensions and presents given to the In- dians amounted to the yearly and pretty round aum of $66,000. In this long and very able despatch, the Baron reviews the situation of the colony, and proposes to abandon the fort of Natchez, which is commanded by neighboring heights and can really be of no avail in a case of emer- gency, for the one at the Walnut Hills, which is situated one hundred and twenty miles higher on the river, and which he describes as being in an infinitely stronger position, and as being the key of the province. He says that, on any sudden invasion by the French, should they come down the river, he could oppose to them fifteen hundred men from the Natchez district ^d from the upper parts of the colony ; he represents, that his salary, which is nominally $6,000, but which in reality is re- duced to $4,T67, on account of certain deductions to be made from it, is not adequate to the exigencies of his rank and to his official expenses ; he calls the attention of the government to various improvements to be made and abuses to be reformed, to the propriety of increasing the salary of some officers and diminishing that of othei^,^^ of creating some offices and of suppressing severaj; he proposes the digging of a canal from the ditches that run along the ramparts with which the town is encircled to Bayou St. John, about a mile back towards the swamps; he represents that this work would not cost more than $30,000, and would be of imm^n^ utility, as it would give through Bayou St. John and the. l^es,^ an' opening t^vthe commerce of N«w Orleans mth Mobile, aad< Fensaoola, and would drain the putrid waters stog>- •"- Jill m i-^ <)d2 INTERFSKENCE BETWEEN DEBTORS AltD OREDITOBS. nating around it and producing those epidemic3 which are so fatal to its prosperity. "Should this drainage not be executed," said he, "it will be necessary to abandon the town in less than three or four years ; for the inun- dations of the Mississippi, which, on the breaking of any one of its levees or dykes in this neighborhood, cover plmoflt all the streets of New Orleans, gradually raise by their deposits the adjacent lands, and thus make of the town a sort of sink, which will have no outlet for its watere." It appears from very curious documents ac- companying this despatch, and giving the most detailed accounts of the annual expenses of the colony, including the Mobile and Pensacola distncts, that they l^ad, by degrees, ascended to $776,304 in 1793, ou which the Baron proposed a reduction of $239,028. The receipts of the custom-house, which constituted the most impor- tant part of the revenue, had not prpduced, this year, more than $7 6, 8 1 5. The military expenses alone amount- ed to $438,436 ; as to the pay of the clergy, it was only $12,866. Besides the regular expenses of the govern- ment, the supplying of Pensacola and Mobile with goods for the trade with the Indians required an annual dis- bursement of $80,000— that is, $40,000 for each one of these towns. On the 17th of May, 1794, the Baron de Carondelet wrote to his government to beg the King to step in be- tween the inhabitants of Natchez and their creditors, so as to allow to the former some delays ta pay theii^ debts, and thus prevent them from being ruined by litigation. "Since my taking possession of this government," said he, " my continual and all engrossing ^^^cupations in main- taininig pttbMc ti^nquillity, and in putting in a regular state of defence this i>rovince, which is open on all sides, an^d which, from the date of the administration of my mm^ diate predecessoi* to the present day, has n<»t <»eiised to 4 OAROimELKr FAYOHB THB KATOBBZ DISTBIOT. 388 be threatened by tlie ambitions designs of the Ameri- cans^ have consumed and absorbed all my time for almost two years ; and the war lately declared against France has, finally, much increo^ied my &axieties and trouble in a colony, which is mostly occupied by French people, and which has been repeatedly exposed to invasions, both by sea and from the upper part of the Mississippi. These causes have prevented my submitting sooner to your consideration a subject, which is of so very delicate a nature." Carondelet then informs the minister, that the Natchez distiict was ori^nally peopled by English and American emigrants, who settled it since the treaty of peace concluded in 1783 ; that they engaged in the , cultivation of tobacco, under the flattering prospect of selling annually to the royal treasury two hundred thou- ^ sand pounds of this their only produce ; that they had contracted large debts for the acquisition of negroes and of other things required by their agricultural pursuits ; that^ in IT 89, on account of unfavorable circumstances, they had not been able to meet their obligations, and had obtained delays from their creditors on certain con- ditions; but that most of them had not been able to comply with those conditions, on account of the insufR- ciency of the crops, of the difficulty of selling them, and of several other untoward events, among which was the promulgation of the royal schedule of 1790, declaring that the government had reduced to forty thousand pounds the quantity of tobacco which it would purchase for the future. Carondelet further stated that, if the law was permitted to have its course, these people, rather than allow themselves to be utterly ruined, woiJd take refuge with their negroes on the territory of the Indians and%he Americans; that they had recently undertaken, with many difficulties to be overcome, th^ tultivatioa :of cdttoni «nd iudigoi that it was neoesaar^ to oon^disr that * iU^ M^ C~«l 'm^ 0: 534 mtAVCtPATtoTif or ikduit blavbb. 3r # ^•*.- %M they formed a protection against tlie expected French and American invasions ; that they had lately acted like zealous and faithful subjects, when three hundred of them, at the close of the last year, came down to' Now Orleans to offer their services, on this province being threatened with an invasion through the Baliae; that this example had repressed the miichinations of the numerous lovera of changes and innovations who are to be found in the colony, had invigorated the timid and wavering, and confirmed the loyal, the honest, and the courageous, in their good sentiments ; wherefore he recommended that the king be advised to interpose his authority between the debtors and their creditors, and to grant to the former a delay for payment, until the gathering in of the crop of 1800, provided partial and annual payments be made in the mean time. Taking into consideration the complaints of Caronde- let as to the multiplicity of his duties, the government, separating the two offices of intendant and goveraor, which it had united under the administration of Mir6 and since the departure of Navarro, appointed as intend- ant Don Francisco de Rendon, who had been employed as Secretary of legation for Spain in the United States. He was installed into office on the 26th of August, 1794. In consequence of Louisiana having been detached from the bishopric of Havana and erected into a dis- tinct see, this year was also marked by the arrival of another high dignitary, the new bishop, Don Luis de Penalvert y Cardenas, who established his residence in New Orleans, and two canons were added to the clergy of the province. It may not have been forgotten, that O'Reilly had declared it to be contrary to the mild and beneficent laws of Spaiim that the Indians be held in a state of bondage, and that the inhabitants of Louisiana would ^M ORXAT OOinXAOBATIOlT IN mCW OBLEAITS. 885 :k^-K. have to prepare for the emancipation of those of that race whom they had so far considered as their lawful property, but that the execution of this measure should be suspended, until the King should finally decide upon it in his royal wisdom. No steps had ever since been taken in the matter ; the King had been silent ; and the Indian slaves had remained contented with their situa- tion, when suddenly, in 1798 and 1794, they, almost in a body, startled Governor Carondelet by applying for their freedom. In a despatch <;^ the 17tb of May, he commented at length on the danger of acquiescing in their demands, represented the rui lous e^lects it wo »!v\ have for their owners, and recommended, if not direct refusal, at least measures of compromise, whi L would postpone the evils of emancipation, if . r + retard ther 80 as to render them nugatory. "T'ler are many reasons to su8pe<^t," said he, " that the movement ob- servable among the Indian slaves who have lately made a rush to claim their freedom according to the tenor of our laws, is attributable to the suggesf^lons of certain secret agents, who do not lose any opportunity of excit- ing in these provinces the dissensions which have pro- duced the ruin of the French colonies." On the 10th of December, Carondelet informed the Court of Madrid that, on the ^nb of that month, a con- flagration, but too well favoi^.^d by a strong north wind, and originating in Royal street, through the im- prudence of some children playing in the court-yard of one Fi'an9ois Mayronne , which was adjacent to a hay store, had consumed in three hours two hundred and twelve of the most valuable dwellings and magazines, the property of private individuals, as well as edifices of tlw greatest value belonging to the government. The losses of the merchants were immense; for only two ^jitores were spared by the devouring element. The ■ '^. 4^ ml .Zf n 936 GREAT COIWLAGBATION IN IfEW ORLEANS. materiak owned by the Crown, and destroyed by this conflagration, were also considerable. "It seems," said Oarondelet, " tbat the sufferings inflicted on the colony by three hurricanes in fourteen months were not enoughi-' He further stated that, although the conflagration of 1*788 had consumed a larger number of buildings, still the pecuniary losses on this occasion were much heavier. To form any idea of what they were, it must be remembered that Governor Miro estimated those incurred in 1788, at $2,595,561, The province was again threatened with famine, for almost all the provisions had been destroyed, and not more than one thousand barrels of flour remained for the consumption of the inhabitants and of the troops. Fortunately, the fire did not reach the cathedral, which was the gift of Don Andres Almonaster to the city, and which had just been completed. In order the better to avoid for the future the recurrence of such calamities, Oarondelet recommended that premiums be granted by his Catholic Majesty to such of his subjects in New Orleans as should rebuild with terraced roofs, or with roofe made of tiles instead of shingles as formerly. It may not be uninteresting to remark here, before closing the recital of those events which happened in 1794, and which are connected with the history of Loui- siana, that the first regular newspaper published in the colony made its appearance this year, under the name of " Le Monitenr de la Louisiane," or " The Monitor of Louisiana." The internal condition of Louisiana was certainly sufficient to give occupation to the Baron de Carondolet, but the dangers which threatened her from abroad were of such magnitude, as to fill him with the keenest anxieties, and deeply to impress him with the heavy responsibility which circumstances had prepared for him. :^#- 'h ▲DDBBBS OF FBENOH JAOOSmS. 337 III the begirining of'the year 1794, arsociety of PrencH. Jacobins, establislied in PbilailelpMa,* Had caused to be printed, and circulated in Louisiana the foUo-img address: "LiniBBTY, Eqfamtt. "The Freemen of France to their brothers in Louisiana: 2d year of the French Republic. "The moment has arriv^ed when despotism must dis- appear from the earth. France, having obtained her freedom, and constituted herself into a republic, after having made knoWn to mankind their rights, after hav- ing achieved the most glorious victories over her enemies, is not satisfied with successes by which she alone would profit, but declares to all nations that she is ready to give her powerful assistance to those that may be disposed to follow her virtuous example. "Frenchmen of Louisiana, you still love your mother country ; such a feeling is innate in your hearts. The French nation, knowing your sentiments, and indignant at seeing you the victims of the tyrants by whom you have been so long oppressed, can and will avenge your wrongs. A perjured king, prevaricatiog ministers, vile and insolent courtiers, who fattened on the labors of the people whose blood they sucked, have suffered the pun?« ishment due to their crimes. The French natioii, irri- tated by the outrages and injustices of which it had been the object, rose against those oppressors, and they disap- peared befi>re its wrath, as rapidly as dust obeys the breath of an impetuous wind. '^The hour has struck, Frenchmen of Louisiana; has- ten to profit by the great lesson which yoQ- have re- ceived. ,■ ■ • *^Nowk the time to cease being the fiLlaves of a govem * Ciy«iia«I«t'i iiflijpttMlk 6f &« SMi of F«br«uu7, ItU. 22 t # If- "J! % )Sfl 338 ADDRESS OF FBENOH JACOBINS. ■*'!■■;■ ■ 4^;^:.^ QnFfr nnfnffl^^^B'il Wi' MiWlpi m aMByBBMBHl^KliiiM m ft' jHI Ht^^^HiM jMii Bmlf MBi.^ ment, to whicli you were sHameMly sold ; and no longer to be led on like a herd of cattle, by men who with one word can strip you of what you hold most dear— liberty and property. " The Spanish despotism has surpassed in atroc Ity and stupidity all the other despotisms that have ever been known. Has not barbarism always been the companion of that government, which has rendered the Spanish name execrable and horrible in the whole continent of America ? Is it not that nation who, under the hypo- critical mask of religion, ordered or permitted the sacri- fice of more than twenty millions of men ? Is it not the same race that depopulated, impoverished and degraded whole countries, for the gratification of an insatiable avarice ? Is it not the nation that has oppressed and still oppresses you under a heavy yoke ? " What have been the fruits of so many crimes ? The annihilation, the disgi'ace, the impoverishment, and the besotting of the Spanish nation in Europe, and a fatal lethargy, servitude, or death for an infinite number of the inhabitants of America. "The Indians cut down the tree whose fruits they wish to reach and gather. A fit illustration of despotism ! The fate of nations is of no importance in the eye of tyranny. Everything is to be sacrificed to satisfy capri- cious tastes and transient wants, and all those it rules over must groan under the chains of slavery. "Frenchmen of Louisiana, the unjust treatment you have undergone must have sufficiently convinced you of these sad truths, and your misfortunes must undoubtedly have deeply impressed your souls with the desire of seiz- ing an honorable opportunity of avenging your wrongs. "Compare with your situation that of your friends— the free Americans. Look at the province of Kentucky, deprived of outlets for its products, uid yet^ notwith- ABDBESS OF FRSKOH JACOBINS. S89 ionger bli one iberty Xy and r been iponion Spanisli nent of B bypo- tie sacii- not the egraded asatiablo 3sed and es? The and the d a fatal imber of uits they jspotisml le eye of jfy capri- le it rules lent you }d yon of loubtedly re of seiz- Ir wrongs. IfiiendB— lentucky, notwith- standing these obstacles, and merely through the geniM influence of a free government, rapidly increasing its population and wealth, and already presaging a pros- perity which causes the Spanish government to tremble. • "Treasure up in your minds the following observa- tions; They divulge the secret springs of all despotic governments, because they tear off the veil which covers their abominable designs. Men are created and boj'n to love one another, to be united and happy, and they would be so effectually, if those who call themselves the images of God on earth — ^if kings — ^had not found out the means of sowing discord among them and destroy- ing their felicity. "Tlie peopling of Kentucky has been the work of a few years ; your colony, although better situated, is daily losing its population, because it lacks liberty. "The Americans, who are free, after consecratmg all their time to cultivating their lands and to expanding their industry, are sure to enjoy quietly the fruits of their labors, but, with regard to yourselves, all that you pos- sess depends on the caprice of a viceroy, who is always unjust, avaricious, and vindictive. "These are evils which a firm determination, oncC taken, can shake off. Only have resolution and energy, and one instant will suffice to change your unhappy con- dition. Wretched indeed would you become, if you failed in such an undertaking ! Because, the very name of Frenchmen being hateful to all kings and their ac- complices, they would, in return for your attachment to us, render your chains more insupportable, and woidd persecute you with unheard of vexations.. "You quiver, no doubt, with indignation ; you feel in your heaH» the desire of deserving the honorable appel- lation of freemen, but the fear of not bi^itg^^ assisted and of failing in joxxv attempt deadens yoof zeal Bismss *■' %' m MO ADDiSESB OF FBENCH JAOOBICTS. Buoli apprebonsions : know ye^ that your brethren the Frencb, who have attacked with success the opanish Government in Europe, will in a short time present themselves your coasts with naval forc^; tha,t the republicans if 'he western portion of the United States are ready > ^ome down the Ohio and Mississippi in company with a considerable number of French repub- licans, and to rush to your assistance under the bannei-s of France and liberty ; and that you have every assur- ance of success. Therefore, inhabitants of Louisiana, show who you are ; prove that you have not been stu- pified by despotism, and that you have retained in your breasts French valor and intrepidity ; demonstrate that yOu are worthy of being free and independent, because we do not solicit you to unite yourselves with us, but to seek your own freedom. When you shall have the sole control of your actions, you will bfe able to adopt a re- publican constitution, and being assisted by France so long as your weakness will not permit you to protect or defend yourselves, it will be in your power to unite voluntarily with her and your neighbors — ^the United States — ^forming with these two republics an alliance which will be the liberal basis on which, henceforth, shall stand our mutual political and commercial interests. Your country wiU derive the greatest advantages from so auspicious a revolution ; and the glory with which you wlQ cover yourselves will equal the prosperity which you will secure for yourselves and descendants. Screw up your courage. Frenchmen of Louisiana. Away with pusillanimity — 9a ira — 5a ira-— audaces fortuna juvat." .lie distribution of this inflammatory address in Loui siana, through secret agents, caused great alarms to the Baron de Oarondelet. These idarms were incjreased by his knowledge i>f the efforts made by Genet^ the f^nch 9 ■ IKTRIGtrEk^ • OF GENITf . 341 inish jsent 1 the itates pi in Bpub- nnei-s assur- Lsiana, n Btu- lyour ;e that realise b\itto he sole pt a rc- ance so protect i^o unite nited lliance eforth, [terests. from whicli Screw .y witb vat." Lorn- to tho ied% Minister near the government of the Uniterl States, to set up againstv Iiouisiana an expedition composed of Frenchmen and Americans, of which he himself was to be the commander-in-chief. Genet had speculated on the prejudices of the Western people, and had sent, par- ticularly to Kentucky and Tennessee, active, enthu- siastic, and intelligent agents, who, circulating among the hardy population and the remotest pioneers of the Y/est, discoursed glibly on the innumerable advantages which would accrue to these people, if they separated- from the rest of the United States, if they helped to enlrauchise Louisiana by an invasion, an( if they formed with her an alliance under the protectioi of France- For enterprises of this kind, fiery and adventurous spirits are always at hand, in all countries and in all ages ; and the French emissaries in the West and South seduced a considerable number of men, who immediately prepared for the execution of the undertaking in which they had enlisted. Armed bands had been gathered on the southern frontier of Georgia, and even a large body of Creek warrioj-s was in readiness to join the invaders. Tt was feared at the same time, that an attack would be made from the Ohio settlements, and that the spring flood of the Mississippi would bring down the enemy, l>orne swiftly onward by the rising waters of that river. An individual, of the name of Clark, was the main actor in all +hese military preparations in the South, and Au- guste de it Chaise, a native of Louisiana and a grandson of the King's former ordaining commissary (commissaire ordonnateur) who had come to the colony ifl lYSS, had been sent by Genet to Kentucky to recruit forces, and was to be the lea&r of those invaders who were to descend ih^ Ohio land Misfflssippi. ; y The Baron, when such^ dangiBtt tiireateiied him- did not sleep at his post. He eemplefted the foi^cations of # 15^ ■■#■ ■0 W M- . >i As' f ■ ' ;t" ft?'- L''J-,: ;] til '-■■M ?':»M*i i^-:' 842 MirXTARr BESOUBOES OF THE COLONY. it- 1 i \> Of' Hi^'^j^^l^H^B ilfiji'-' "■ 1:^ jMew Orleans, strengthened others already existing throughout the province, and mustering all his forces, organized them to meet the expected coirfljct. Accpr- #;, "'^ ding to a loport made by him to am govenimeni, he could rely, aus fit for military service ifj ^'le colony, on abont *ix thoiisand militia-m< n, and he af^rmed Iha.- within three weeks, tliree thoiisand of them could be concentrated at any uno point in the province. Not trusting entirely to tlie: 3 means of defence, he had recourse to the politic aiis of the (iipiomatist, »nd a order to appease tl^e hostility of the Western people, he ji'tnoved some of the restrictions wiiicli craat.,|7ed their trade, granted again important privilege j to some enter- prsHmg and iaiuential men among them, and prepared hiei; 'Jf to renew Miro's former scheme of winning over thtit. restless and energetic population to the dominion of Spain. The firm and loyal intciiference of Washing- ton prevented the attack which was threatened from the Ohio districts, checked the intrigues of Genet, and relieved the apprehensions of the Spimish authorities in Louisiana. The Governor of Georgia also issued his proclamation against the unlawful enterprise meditated Under Clark, with the assistance of the Creek^ against East Flor* ia. De la Chaise, who, of all the agents em- ployed by Genet, was the one most feared by Caronde- let, on account of his rash intrepidity, his indefatigable activity, his zeal for France, and: his exquisite address, and because, being a native of Louisiana and belonging to one of its most powerful families, he exercised conside- rable infi^nence in the colony, seeing that he had to abandon all the hopes he had conceived to wrest Louisi- ana from the domination of Spain^' retired from Ken- tucky, and took service in the French army, after having laid before the democratic society of Leidngton. the fol- V)wing conmmnication ;^ , _ ; * American State Papers, ToL i., p. 981. ri% * • '■ #.. DE LA CHJUSEB ADDRESS. 848 '* Citizens, "Unforeseen events, the effects of causes which it is unnecessaiy here to develop, have stopped the march of two thousand brave Kentuckians, who, strong in their courage, in the justice of their rights, in the purity of their cause, and in the general assent of their fellow- citizens, and convinced of the brotherly dispositions of the Louisionians, waited only for their orders to go and take away, by the irresistible power of their aims, from those despotic usurpers the Spaniards, the possession of the Mississippi, secure for their country the navigation of it, break the chains of the Americans and of their Fi'ench brethren in the province of Louisiana, hoist up the flag of liberty in the name of the French republic, and lay the foundation of the prosperity and happiness of two nations destined by nature to be but one, and so situated as to be the most happy in the universe. "Citizens : The greater the attempts you have made towards the success of that expedition, the more sensible you must be of the impediments which delay 'M execu- tion, and the more energetic should your efforts be towards procuring new means of success. There is one from which I expect the greatest advantages and which may be decisive — ^that is, an address to the national Convention, or to the Executive Council of France. In the name of my countrymen of Louisiana, in the name of your own interest, I dai*e once more ask you this new proof of patriotism. "Being deprived of my dearest hopes, and of the pleasure, after an absence of fourteen years and a pro- scription of three, of returning to the bosom of my family, my friends, and my countrymen, I have only one coutse to follow— that of going to France and expressing to the representatives of the French people the cry, the general wish of the Louisianians to become part of the # *■ « :# 344 DB LA CUAIBE^S DEATH. Pi'onch republic — informing them, at the same time, of the most ardent desire which tho Kentuokians have had, and will v i^tinue to liave for ever, to take the moat active part * any undertaking tending to open to them the free navigation of the MissiijsippL "The French republicans, in their sublime constitu- tional act, have proffered their protection to all those nations who may have the courage to shake off the yoke of tyranny. The Louisianians have the most sacred right to it. They are French, but have been sacrificed to despotism by arbitrary power. The honor, the glory, the duty of the National Convention is to grant them their powerful support. "Every petition or plan relative to that important object would meet with the highest consideration. An address from the Democratic Society of Lexington would give it a greater weight. " Accept, Citizens, the farewell^ not the last, of a brother who is determined to sacrifice everything in his power for the liberty of his country, and the prosperity of the generous inhabitants of Kentucky. Salut en la patrie. . " AuGusTR La Chaise." This gentleman perished in an ambuscade in St. Do- mingo, in the year 1803, a short time alter he had been raised to the grade of General. Had not death stopped him ?ii his career, when he was still in the meridian of life, it is to be presumed from what he had already ac- complished, that he would have risen to higher honors, 8^nd might have left behind him a memory of which his native country,, Louiaian% would have been proud. As s^on as the danger of an invasion had passed away, t|ie Baron def Garondelet began to throw impediments in the way of the western trade, which he had tcaaporar k 'i^tft BEN£WAL OF WILKUfSON'B BCH£MB9. 84« rily favored, and again impo6ed reBtrictions calculated to £eK!ilitate tlie operations of those agents whom he had sent to Kentucky to tempt the people into a separation from the United States and an alliance with Spain, by which the much desired outlet of the Mississippi nould he secured to them. The times were highly auspicious for the intrigues of Spain. Not only were the inhabitants of Kentucky and Tennessee weary of struggling against such obstacles to their commerce, and irritated against the Federal Government that could not remove them, but Western Pennsylvania also had been thrown into a fer- ment by the " excise on distilled spirits," giving rise to what is commonly called, in American history, " the Whisky Insurrection," which had taken such propor^ tions as to require the presence of an army of twelve thousand troops from the Eastern States to quell it; Almost all the tribes of the North-western Indians, at the instigation of the Eng^h, were waging open war against the United States ; and the General Government was embarrassed by tedious and vexatious negotij^tions with Great Britain, Spain, and even their old ally France — which negotip.tions assumed at times an angry tone, ^Leading to the belief that hostilities might perhaps ensue. England in the North-west, and Spain in the South, seemed to unite ih pres^;^ with all their weight on both flanks of the West, to break it loose from the Federal Government, and force it into a pennanent separation. Lord Dorchester had sent from Canada, and the Baron de Carondekt, from Louisiana^ numerous emissaries who were emulously at work to heat and «S' asperate the different parties then existing ikiKentu<^3f^ and to produce a state of feeling which might be |Kvor- able to their views. Oarondelet's chi^ emissary was ^homaB^Pow^r, jn Englishman by biilli, but nt^turalked 4#|>liBi8l^v^ m .'\ ■"'(^i, "Mo;, ?46 BEXEWAL OF WILEnraON^S SCHEMES. and veiy zealous in the service of his adopted country. This man was intelligent, cautious, and had a natural disposition to intrigue. He was thought by the Baron de Oarondelet to be a fit subject to be employed on the hazardous mission of sowing the seeds of sedition in the West, and was sent thither under the pretence of col- lecting materials for a natural history of that section of the country, but really to revive with Wilkinson, Innis, Sebastian, and others, the plots which had been carried on under Miro's administration. Whilst these fruitless intrigues were afoot and were engrossing the attention of the Baron de Carondelet, the year 1794 was marked by an event which was to con- vert the fields of Louisiana into as fertile mines of wealth as ever lay hid in the bowels of the earth. So far, the results of the agricultural labors of the colonists had been insignificant. To the cultivation of indigo they had, hitherto, mostly addicted themselves, and for several consecutive years it had been sadly unsuccessful. Hurricanes had repeatedly swept over the land, and other strange vicissitudes in the seasons had destroyed the crops. As it were to complete the ruin of the un- fortunate planters, an insect had lately made its appear- ance, and invariably *^tacked the indigo plant. Every year it devoured the A^^ves with incredible rapidity, and left nothing but the naked stems standing, to mock the eye of the farmer and to remind him of the extent of his losses. Particularly in the years 1793 and 1794^ these ravages had been so general, that the whole pro- vince had been thrown into a state of consternation and despair. What was to be done ? Eice and corn were produced ^or the wants of the country only, and were not e3q)orted ^th much advantage. As to cottoii, it hardly repaid tile labor of cultivation, on account of the inexperience of the planters and of the difficulty which I %■ were were bon, it of the which fi^-; ETIENITE DE BOR]^. 947 was then felt in separating the seed from the wool. Tlie manufacture of sugar had been abandoned since 1706, as being unsuited to the climate, and only a few indi\> duals continued to plant canes in the neighborhood of New Orleans, to be sold in the market of that town. It is true that two Spaniards, Mendez and Solis, had lately given more extension to the planting of that reed, but they hod never succeeded in manufacturing sugar. One of them boiled its juice into syrup, and the other dis- tilled it into a spirituous liquor, of a very indifferent quality, caUed taffia. When the whole agricultural interest of Louisiana was thus prostrated, and looking round for the disco reiy of some means to escape from annihilation, when the eager and anxious inquiry of every planter was : " What shall I do to pay my debts and support my family ?" — ^the energy of one of the most spirited and respected citizens of Louisiana suddenly saved her from utter ruin, and raised her to that state of prosperity which has increased with every successive year. That individual was Etienne de Bore, who was born in the Illinois district of Louisiana in It 40, and who had gone back to France with his parents when he was only four years old. He was of a distinguished Norman family, being lineally descended of Robert de Bore, who was, in 1652, one of the king's counsellor^:), director general of the post-office department, and one of the stewards of the king's household,* ■ ■•' "#' M ' i 348 THE FIRST SUOAB PLAHTTJI. '* mousquetaires" had the rank of Lieutenant General. Etienne de Bor^ had left the mousquetaires in 1772, to assume the command of a company of cavahy. But the circumstance of his having, the year before, married in Paris the daughter of Destrehan, the ex-treasurer of Louisiana when it was a French colony, operated a change in his pareer, by inducing him to return to Louis- iana, where his wife had some property. Etienne de Bore had settled on a plantation which was situated on the left bank of the Mississippi, six miles above New Orleans. There he had, like the majority of the planters, given his attention to the cultivation of indigo, and he had also seen his hopes blasted, and himself and family threatened with entire ruin. In these critical cor\|unctures, he determined to renew the attempts which had been repeatedly msLde to manu- facture sugar. Ho immediately prepared to go into all the expenses and incur all the obligations consequent on so costly an undertaking. His wife warned him that her father had, in former years, vainly made a similar at- tempt; she represented that he was hazarding on the cast of a die all that remained of their means of existeuce ; that, if he failed, as was so probable, he would reduce his family to hopeless poverty ; that he was of an age, being over fifty years old, when fate was not to be tempted by doubtful experiments, as he could not rear sonably entei'tain the hope of a sufficiently long life to rebuild his fortune, if once completely shattered ; and that he would not only expose himself to ruin, but also to a risk much more to be dreaded — ^that of falling within the grasp of creditors. Friends and relations joined their remonstrances to hers, but could not shake the strong resolve of his energetic mind. E!e had fully matured his plan, and was deterniined to sink or swim with it. 'There are circumstances in a mm's life when he must know «••' % jf* # m 4*-' i 'i^f-tf ^' # TBJC FIRST BUOAB PLANTEB. 840 '* .. .» how to play, coolly and eagaciously, a desperate game. Bor^ felt it, and braced up hb strength to fliug himself on ^' the tide which, if taken at the flood, was to lead him to fortune, or if not, was to wreck him among the shoals of life.'^ Purchasing a quantity of canes from Mendez and Soils, he began to plant in 1794, and to make all the other necessary preparations, and, in 1795, he made a crop of sugar which sold for twelve thousand dollara — a large sum at that time. Bore's attempt had not been without exciting the keenest interest ; many had frequently visit- ed him during the year, to witness his preparations ; gloomy predictions had been set afloat, and, on the day when the giinding of the cane was to begin, a large number of the most respectable inhabitants had gathered in and about the sugar-house, to be present at the failure or s^iccess of the experiment. Would the syrup granu- late ? Would it be converted into sugar ? The crowd waited with eager impatience for the moment when the man who watches the cootion of the juice of the cone, determines whether it is ready to granulate. When that moment arrived, the stillness of death came among them, each one holding his breath, and feeling that it was a matter of ruin or prosperity for them all. Suddenly the sugar-maker cried out with exultation : " It granulates I" and the crowd repeated : " It granulates 1" Inside and outside of the building one could have heard the won- derfuHiding8,flying from mouth to mouth, and dying in the distance, as if a hundred glad echoes were telling it *to one another. Each one of the bystanders pressed on, to ascertain the fact on the evidence of his own senses, and, when it cdnld no longer be doubted, ikere came a shoiitof joy, and aU flocked around Etienne Bore, over- whelming him with cbngratidations, and almost hugging the man whom they caUodthQirsftviofti^— the saviour of # *i: *,*«■» # im- '3?j-r^^; '•♦I V > '■ ^ »^ umf ■m ih 'V^n*.;' 850 OAROTTOELET'S PROCIAMATIOir. It V Louisiana. Fifty-seven years have elapsed, and att event, which produced so much excitement at the time, is very nearly obliterated from the memory of the present gene- ration ; but it may be permitted to the filial piety of a grandson to record in these pages, with an honest pride, the indebtedness of his native country to a cherished ancescor. The population of Louisiana had been steadily increas- ing, notwithstanding the obstacles and even calamities which had retarded its progress, and, in the beginning of 1795, the Cabildo made a representation to the King on their inadequacy to fulfil their duties, and prayed for the creation of six additional offices of " regidor," which petition was subsequently granted. If the fears of an immediate attack had disappeared, the excitement produced in Louisiana by the French rev(5lution, the intrigues of Genet, and the rumors of an invasion by De la Chaise, who was thought to be coming, as he had promised, " to give freedom to the land of his birth," had not entirely subsided. In such circumstances, says Judge Martin in his History of Louisiana, the Baron thought that the strictest vigilance was required in New Orleans, and availed himself of some nocturnal depreda- tions, to issue a proclamation enforcing a severe police and directing the shutting of the gates at an early hour. In this proclamation he complained of " the success with which evil-minded, turbulent and enthusiastic indi- viduals, who certainly ha' nothing to lose, had spread false rumors, calculated give rise to the most complete distrust between th" orovernment and the people, whereby the provinc A^as threatened with all the disas- ters to which the French colonies had fallen a prey." Afber this, the proclamation announces that* " to * Martin's History of Louisiana, vol. iL, p^ 127. •#' THE' CAiBOiKDELirr O^SAL. 351 tiisbofe order and public tranquillity, Syndics, chosen iamong tlie most notable planters, are to be appointed, residing within about nine miles of each other, to be Subordinate to thie commandant, to whom they are to give weekly sUscounts of every important occurrence. " It is made the duty of every one havmg the know- ledge, even by hearsay, of any offence, or seditions expressions tending to excite alarm or disturb public tranquillity, to give immediate notice to the Syndic, commandant or governor. "Every assemblage of more than eight persons, to consult on public matters, is absolutely forbidden. " Every individual is bou^d to denounce to the com- mandant any Syndic guilty of the offence of making use of any seditious expressions. " Every traveller, found without a passport, is imme- diately to be arrested, and carried before the Syndic, who is to examine and send him to the commandant. " Every traveller, possessed of the knowledge of an important event, is first to give notice of it to the Syn- dic, who is to take a note of it, register the name of said traveller and afterwards, a-icording to the circumstances, permit or forbid the communication of the event, giving information of it to the commandant. ** Syndics* are to order patrols from time to time. " At the same time," says Monette in his History of the Valley of the Mississippi, " Baron de Carondelet was laudably exerting himself to enlarge, beautify and fortify the city. Early in May, 1794, he had given public notice of his intention to open a canal in the rear of the city, for the double purpose of draining the mai'shes and ponds i^ that vicinity, and establisliing a navigable com- munication with the sea. This canal, comnaunicating m American State Pa|>era, vol. L, p. 877. #, #- # .•!^, 052 THE OARONDEIiET OAIfAL. m with the Bayou St. John, would effectually accomplish the latter, object, to the great commercial advantages of New Orleans, while it would also remove one great source of annoyance and disease proceeding from the generation of innumerable swarms of mosquitoes and march miasma from the stagnant pools. "To accomplish this important undertaking for the advantages of the city, he proposed to accept the volun- tary contribution of such slave labor as the plantei's and others in the vicinity might be willing to give. The mouth of June had been announced as the time for beginning the work, at which time sixty negro slaves were sent by the patriotic inhabitants, and the canal was commenced. The work progressed rapidly; but the depth of the canal was only six feet. The convicts and a few slaves continued to labor upon the work during the remainder of the year, until the canal was opened to the intersection' of the Bayou ^t. John, through which a navigable route lay to Lake Pontchartrain. The following year, the plan of making the canal navi- gable up to the city was concurred in, and the Governor made a second call upon the patriotism and public spirit of the people for additional labor. To this call a gene- rous response was ^ven, and one hundred and fifty negroes were sent to expedite the work. The excava- tion was now made to the width of fifteen feet, with a depth sufficient to admit small vessels to the vicinity of the ramparts on the rear of the city. In November, the Governor made one more call for aid from the % j)lanters within fifteen miles of the city, assuring them that, with eight da^s' work from the same number of hands, he would be able to render the canal navigable for small vessels up to the ' basin,' which had been exca- vated near the ramparts of the city. The labor wa". cheerfully contributed, and the canal was in successful !^. f^ Him r' ■ j^ * ¥ ENOOTTBAGEMBNIS TO EttlOBANTS. 353 navi- '-ernor spirit gene- fifty cava- ith a ty of mber, L the them er of able lexca- wafi 3ssful operation during the following wintfir, 1796. Early in the spring, a number of schooners came up and moored in the basin. Thus, in the autumn of 1*795, was there a navigable canal route from the city, by way of the Lakes, to the sea. In honor of the projector and patron, the Cabildo, by a decree, designated it as 'Canal Caron- delet,' a name which it retains to this day." It will be recollected that this same work had been projected and begun, in 1727, by Governor Perier, but soon relin- quished. The revolution in France had been favorable to the increase of the population of Louisiana, which had been recruited by the arrival of some French royalists, who had fled from the anger of their former vassals. Such emigrants were acceptable to the crown of Spain, and among the most conspicuous were the Marquis de Maison Kouge, the Baron de Bastrop, and Jacques Ceran de Laasus de St. Vrain, an officer of the late royal navy of France, who had emigrated like so many othera of the nobility. They proposed* plans for the removal of a number o^ their countrymen to Lor.'Biana from the Uni- ted States, where they had sought an asylum. Their propositions were accepted — ^twelve square leagues were granted to Bastrop, on the banks of the Ouachita, thirty thousand superficial acres wq,:~- appropriated to Maison Rouge's establishment, and De Lassus de St. Vrain ob- tained a concession of ten thousand square m'pm^^. These grants were made on certain conditions, which were never complied with, and a full title never vested in the grantees^who, by their birth, habits and tastes, w6re not qualified to carry such plans into execution and to become pioneers in the wilderness. "The encouragement thus given by the colonial go- * Martin's History of Loniaianm toL ii, p. 188. 23 ^^ i- -(h! r*j-''';ijjv, % m # * 854 A SLAVE CONSPIRACY. vernment," s&jfs Judge Martin, "was not confined to ,a grant of land. It covenanted to pay two kundred dol- lars to every family, composed of at l^ast two lyhite persons, fit for the labors of agriculture, or the mechani- cal arts ifecessarv in a settlement of the kind, such as carpenters, blacksmiths, ,0: t.-.v t\u i)io8ent uncertain f^nd critical attitude of politics, highly imprudent and dangerous to T.iy them on paper, has expressly commissioned and autito:ii«d me to submit the following proposals to the consideration of Messrs. Sebastian, Nicholas, Innis and Murray, and also of such other gentlemen as may be pointed out by them, and to receive from them their sentiments and determination on the subject. " 1° — ^The above mentioned gentlemen are to exert all their influence in impressing on the minds of the inhabit- ants of the Western country, a conviction of the necessity of their withdrawing and separating themselves from the Federal Union, and forming an independent government wholly unconnected with that of the Atlantic States. To prepai'o and dispose the people for such an event, it wi]l be necessary that tlie most popular and eloquent writers in this State should, in well-timed publications, e'SyOiQj iu the most striking point -of view, the inconve- uipoc L's and disadvantages that a longer connection with imd dependence on, the Atlantic States, must inevitably dm\v upon them, and the great and innumerable diffi- culties in which they wiU probably be entangled, if they do not speedily recede from the Union ; the benefits they will certainly reap from a secession ought to be pointed out in the most forcible and powerful maimer ; and the danger of permitting the federal troops to take possession of the posts on the Mississippi, and thus forming a cordon of fortified places round them, must be particularly exi^ patiated upon. In consideration of gentlemen devoting their time and talents to this object, his Excellency, the Baron de Carondelet, will appropriate the sum of one hundred thousand dollars t' their use, whie^ shall be paid in drafts on the royal treasury at New Orleans^ or, if more convenient, shall be conveyed at the expense of his Catholic Majesty into this country, and held at their * 4 . *■ ■ * *♦ CAB0ia)£LET*6 PBOPOBITIONS. 861 disposal. Moreover, should such peiv >ns as shall be in- Btramental in promoting the views of his Catholic Majesty hold any public employment, and in consequence of taking an active part in endeavoring to effect a secession shall lose their employments, a compensation, equal at least to the emoluments of their respective offices, shall be made to them by his T ' ' ' olic Majesty, let their efibrts be crowned with sue >r terminate in disappoint ment "2" — ^Immediately a declaration of indepen' dence, Fort Massac shan oe taken possession of by the troops of the new government, which shall be furnished by his Catholic Majesty, without loss of time, with twenty field pieces, with their carriages and every necessary appendage, including powder, balls, . d62 ) # ■a¥ . A I .' A, ' olB6in>Eiiirr*s PB6posi!£i6if& Tombigbee, slz miles to the north of the most nMh^iii Spanish fort, post or setlJementbn the siaid river. All the lands to the north of that line shall he considered as constituting a part of the territory of the hew goverii- ment, saving that small tract of land at the Ohick&aw Bluflfe, on the eastern bank of the Mississippi, ceded ^ his Majesty by the Chickasaw nation in a formal treaty concluded on the spot in the year 1795, between his Excellency Don Manuel Gayoso de Lemos, Govemoi^ of Natchez, and AugHakabee, and some other Chickasaw chie& ; which tract of land his Majesty reserves for him- self. The eastern boiindday of the Moridas shall be hereafter regulated. **4* — ^His Catholic Majesty will, in case the Indian nations south of the Ohio should declare war Or com- mence hostilities against the new government, not only join and assist it in repelling its enemies, but also if said government shall, at any future period, deem it necessiary to reduce said Indian nations, extend its dominion over them, and compel them to aubmit themseiires to its con- sibitution and laws, his Majesty will heartily concur and coSperate with the new Government in the most effectual manner'in attaining this desirable end. " 5"— -His Catholic Majesty will not, either directly or indirectly, interfere in the framing of the constitution or laws which the new government shaU think fit to adopt, nor will he, at any time, by any means whatever, at- tempt to lessen the independence of the said government, or endeavor to acquire an undue influence in k, but will, iki the mianner that shaH hereacfter be stiptdiated by treaty, defend and support it in preservi^ i|g indi^ pehdence. '/"''^ ■'■ ' '" ■^''■' :'■"'■ \-'. •■-■^■." ■ "^o--4^e^ptic|din| pitopp^ are tfe dtffeliiies of a provisi^ treaty, wim Bs IxceHenc^ Caroi^del^t is ^esirous of eiitering fiito wiih i3b#^^ f|l -it, $ t '♦ wr « 808 m|ti;M: thd Wieetem ciMuntry, tlie moment tliey sIiaU be ma 9it9atio% to treat for theiBs«l^ SJLonld ihej iiot xii|^ enlarely with your approbatio%aiid should you wj^ to make any alteratbna in, or additions,, to tiiem,! sb^ou my |?etttrn, if yon think proper to communicate ih.&B^ ,tp/ mfi^ lay them before ,Ufl Exce^ency, whq : is aipini^ted with a sincere and fudent desire to foat^v^^ this premising and rising infant country, and at the same tinip, promote and fortify the interests of his beneficent royal master, in securing, by i^ generous and dMuterested cpn^uct, the gratitude and aiections of a just, set»BiU,e and «n%htened, people. '^QPh« important and unexpected events that have ta^ken place in Europe since the ratification of thetreaty concluded on the 27th of October, 1796, between his Catholic Majesty and the United States of America, having convulsed the general system of politics m that quarter of the globe, and, wherever its influence is ex tended, causing. a coIUsion of interests between nations formerly living in the most perfect union and harmony, and directing the political views of some states towards objects the jmost remote from their former poismts^ but none ii^Dg so completely unhinged and dii^ointed as t^e cabinet of 8]pain,it.may l^e confidently asserted^ without incmrring the reproacb of presumpHon, that his Catholic Majesty wiU not carry Ihd above mmtfUmecL #^a^ wie eao^yuMon ; nevertheless, the thorough knowledge t haye of the disposition of th^ Spanish government jus|^0i me in> sa^ng that, so fax from its being his Msjesty^ wifth to exclode^ .^ inhabitant of this Western cqiai|ry Ihon the ^e naf^^tion of the Misi^t^i^ or wi^^ld i»fi& them any ^ the benefits ;Sti|ii|iffced fe them, hy th« treM^#^ia ppc^#e^'^ inte^^ l^^ii^H|t h^ %ji^^ iet^ treirt ^^Sijt 1^^ 1^ 'U w m. *■ % establishing &m of their oiimj to^^gjrimt thei%^^vileges Ifitt mcnre extensive, give 't^em' & decided pv^^erenee (ovm the Atlantic States in his commercial conneotdons with theTOy ynd jolaee them in a siHaMom, mfim^el/y^m w/nta^^msy m every j9amt of'^view, ^umihai^ m^^ 1^ wmdd find thmMhes^ were the trecst/y to he oa/gried intoffffect^ r To back these tem|>ting offers and to smoothe difiKenl^ ties, money had been sent up the Mississippi and the Ohio, and Power, who had several interviews with Wilkinson, %.' delivered to him ten thousand dollars, which-had been carried up, concealed in barrels of sugar and bags of coflfee. Wilkinson had just been appointed Major- general of the United States in the place of Wayne, who had died recently^ and Power was directed to avail himsetf of his intercourse with Wilkinson, to ascertain the force, discipline, and temper of the army under that ' genei^ and to report thereon to Garondelet. The Spanish Governor, through his agent, made also a strong Appeal to Wilkinson's ambition. " The Western people,'? said he, "are dissatisfied with the excise on whiskey ;* Spain and France are irritated at the late tareaty, wWch has bound so ely together the United States and England; the ,f'm devoted to their talented * and * ^^.briliiant CO iiimander; it requires but firmness and reso^ lution on 7^our part to render the Western people free and bappy. Can a man of your superior gwiius prefer . a subordinate tmd contracted position as the commiNdder fd the small and insignificant arany of the Uni^d'^at^ t0 t^e glory of bemg the founder of an empirftr<-'the * ]^^ator of so many miMGns of his «owM;iyB»e|B^5^the ./ I^^ashiiigton of the We^ % Is not tins ^ncUd a^^uwe^ m^it to |)e ea«ly aeeomplidied liti^ve you n^^e^:^^^ • l^rtla!kBWi^rfS!^lanteein? Would xkot the people,, at the s%£[te8t mcKveineiit on your part, haU yon as the chief of ^lihe iief# iie|»ii1:dic ? W<»ild not ^our fepntatioa «loQe^ raise yett alor anny which #ranoe and Spain woi^d enalble ybtt to pay ? ' 'Bie eyes of the world aye fixed upon^ you ; be bold and prompt ; do not hesitate to grasp th»golden.'< oppoHnnity of acquiring wealth, honors, and immortal £»iAe; But should Spain be forced to execute the treaty of 4td5, ibd Surrender all the posts claimed by tlm^ United States, then the bright vicdon of mdependence' for the Wester:^ people.; and of the most exalted positaon and ^perishable renown for yourself must for ever vanish." w Bert all these allurements fiuled to produce their exf pected effects. Time, Washington's administration, and a concourse of fkvorable c^umstances, had consoHdated the^Union ; and Wilkinson and his associates, whateyer nd^have been their secret »pii»tions, were too «aga^ ciilHpyt to see what almost insuperable obstacles existed^ beKiJIIen the conception and enlBcution of suchdangie]t>^9 schemes. Therefore, on his return to Nfjw OrlMiiis, Power made to his Spanish ^nployer an im&yoi^tili^ report on what he had observed. He reniarked, Itt the' words used by Judge Martin in his History of Loi^siaiia, that whatever might have been, at toy previous tiate, the disposition of the people of K^tiscky, they .wei^ now perfeot^j satis^ed with the Oeneral (3toivem^il^0mk that thiSir leadii^ men, with a £9w excepUona,^^miM%ted an ut^ MTflanon to the hi|za^ ei^«iiip(nt%^|fte»M^ f0r6#i»i^t4ir«^e^)ieaiany 40 i^ lim^ ^^^ilisii^^ by the late treaty, the pi^biu^Ml ol^fe<»t^^|li|i^^tl^ ■ ti>-the.^m « | il ^ ■^ flp' ** '# # *■ z * ft #■* t- %, m *"4'"SJ>'»#»' .4 M -I «- ■ isf 8«e WAB 'IdinXBT mXQUJStT}. ^^"^ wi peace wrth France, and, on the Yth of Ofetobw^ 1^9i8, had declared war against Great Britain, men^iolng as one of her grievances, the latie treaty wM6hi that |ji»#er had made with the United States, and which wasa^dipM to be a great infringement on me rights of the^%anish Crown. The attention of the Governor of LomnlHit was called to the gathering of a considerable nnmber of troops on the southern fi'ontier of Canada-^whidi ^^- cnmstance had given riae to the report that an invaiiidn of Louisiana was contemplated. The Minister of the Catholic King near the United States conimttoicated to the President his fears on the subject, and requested that ,, in conformity with the late treaty and the law of nations, "flie United States, as neutrals, should take tlie necesSRry measures to oppose effectually the intended violation of their territory. The Baron had determined not^to deliver up to the United States the posts ceded by the treaty of ltt5, ^untU the failure of his last attempt to detach the W^^n country'froni the Union should be fully ascertainwBftl^ in case of success, of course the treaty would hav SLUOOTT. 867 that doabtB hiKl risen in tbe Baron de Carondolet's mind iw tp tbeii: int^retation ; ibat it waJ9 qnestionable whether all the forts fuid edifices were to be delivered up in their integrity .to the Uniied States, or raze^ and abandoned, in ^o^fomiity with formal treaties which Spaiii had made with the OMckasaws, who had ceded to her the lands at the Chickasaw BlUffir, Walnnt l£i]ls, and Tombigbee, on certain conditions that would be vio- late if the treaty of 1796 were interpreted in the manner favored by the American government ; and that the ultimate orders of his Oathq^ Mf^esty,,; or^ of his minister' plenipotentiary near the United States, Should be waited for in a matter of so m^ich importance. Kot satisfied with putting forth these pretexts for proci;asti* nation, Qayoso proceeded to str<)ngthen the fortifications « at Natchez, "Walnut HUIb, and ^he- other posts above, under the apparent apprehension of Indian hostilities and of an invasion from Canada; and the meeting of the commissioners for establishing the line of dema^ca*. ^ tion, as provided for by the treaty, was indefinitely post^ poned. It ^.as alleged that,* as the tir^ty of 1196 ^ f contained no guaranty of property to those who desired to retire beyond the American juri8dictioi%dt would be necessary to settle that point by a npw treaty^: At another time it was seriously urged, that a- scrt^^^ous observance of the treaty of Madrid could not be de- manded, because the United States had |iot acted in good &itjt towards Spain in conceding .to*^reat Bntaiw, by the treaty of London, November l^i^t&iilhe fiw navigation of the Mssissippi^ altho^gli this c^cespdon had beenmade nearly a year|MrevioiiSi These objections wef^^prt presented m a body, but weVe sprung up one i^ffcfp tia^ ottov and wdeiitly to |«a|n tnftei ^Che cdi^e ■f ^mi^ /^d peacea)^ submission to the authority of; his C^^ig^c Majy^mitil^ dignities between i^e two ^[overn- *' . Ife- ,# *P'f»5» t^, # # :u-'-:Jf: *•< : .%i^^^ »-t<.if;'^».'^*L-1|,»» "EXanXIBEXT IS TOB NATCHEZ DisTRicnr. 869 meAtft conlcT be properljr ar^a^ged. At the same time, ke pi'iji^iiiised the utmost lenity^ ^d $. p^rdbn to all who ropfaited of tibeir mi8de<^ and, as an evidence of r^- pehtitnce, abdtjioBed tjfyai all a^ calculated to distiirb the public peace. "The people; already highly irrita^d by delays ana disappointed hopes^took gi^eat excefptious to the word ^repentance,' as highly offensive -to free citizens of the^ United States. Things no^ assumed a serious aspect, and the opposition to SjMinish authority had taken a regular form of rebeDion. A number of respectable militiaKK>mpanie8 were organized, and ready to . take iiie field ttt the first notice, and open hotf^ilitiea deemed inevi- table. Both parties were in a continual' sta^ of pre^ paration to repel forcfe by fo^ce., C^ayoso mfliile great efforts to reinforee his garrison, but withoni success, while the ttolitia were drilling throughd^t the settlements. Confined to thiB walls of his So^'tm^ land too weaiik for offensive operations, he interceded with the American^ comiinisBioner to use his influence in calming tli^ ppptilar ! exdttoient. But Colouel 'licott felt lit&e sympathy^ for th^ unpleasant position wUch he had brought upon himself. ^ * -* ^^la the meantime a public meeting had been annpunced td be hel^ at Benjamin Bealk's, oh,the Kash- villn toady d^ht mil^ from Natchez. This nieeting wa$ . assembled on ihe> 20th of June, and tras atten^d by many <^ the iliihabiti^tB. I^e subjeot Of the ixffiting diffictil^eil': was ^scussed, and the mii^{)TOn1% ing of iev^n p^^nifee** iae^ xepreaenai the peojde ^ ^^B!^^ Ibrce of^ikirun^ ti^ <»iBnlr7i»ce of - fiMd'i^iip#'^bli^^^ ■.^' • • ' ''■"» •* «'*• VS^'^- .."# *■ tt- w. & "i '# m &70 1^ ItBZ OOMMtrTEE OF PUBLXO BAFETT. J/' '■(■•-. # # '* Up to tliis time^ tlie Spanish commaadant, fit well as the American, kept an active patrol continually on duty; and daring the greater portion of the time since the inonth of May, a heavy piebe of ordnance in the Spanish fort had been brought to bear Upon the Ameri- can commissioner^^ tent, which was in fbll view. *'0n the 18th of June, while all was excitement and apprehension, the Governor, confined within the narrow limits of the fort, desired an interview with the Ameri- can Commissioner at ^e house of Captain Minor. To meet this appointment, Gayoso, in great trepidation, having left the fort by a circuitous route, made his way through thiclfets and cane brakes to the rear or north side of Minor's plantation, and thence through a com field to the back of the house, and entered the parlor undiscovered. Such were the visible marks of anxiety in his person, that Colonef Ellicott says his feel- ings ^ver were more excited than when he beheld the * Governor. The humiliating state to which he was reduced 1>y a people whose affections he had courted, • and whose gratitude he expected, had made a strong and visible impression upon his mind and countenance. His having been educated with high ideas of command and prerogative served only to render his present situa- tion more poignant and distressing. " The Committee of Public Safety, agreeably to their instructions, presented themselves before ChEiyoso in their official capacity, for his recognition and approba- tion. He did |iot hesitate to recognize thepi as repre- sentatives of the people, and che^ri^ly acceded to their demand, that none of ihe people ishonld be injured or prosecuted/for the p?u?t they !^ tkken in the late mov^ ments againlt the Bp^nii^h authority ; alib^^^t they shoid^ b^ exempt frond serving in the ^pimish naflitia; unless in caseof rio1» or l^dlm hostMtiei. " %d prc| i '# M' » « i 9 iV K. # c^eo^ag* of the public meeting, the reobgnitioii of the Oonliiiittee by the (Governor, and his acqnieecenoe in their demandli, had al! tended greatly to quiet public apprehensions aud to allay the popular excitement. **Yet there irere persons in the Committee whoi4rM p«to iM^U(: Lof r^* % * ■^W" A iSv. t ik" i# # ■It m ^ i . . 4- m ntTEKDAirr bendoh^** dbspatoh. to wliioh tlie colony had been redaeed by the want of capital, by the duaHtera prodnoed.by conflagratiQuand the repeated occnrrence at harricanes, by the exhanstioD of the royal treasury in Louisiana, drained by the inces- sant demands of funds which the Spanish authorities had to meet in order to counteract the schemes ci the ' insatiable ambitiou of their enemies to possess themselves of the territories of Spain, with a view of opening to themselves a passage to the Mexican provinces ; by the . fortifications which they had been obliged to erect, in- crease, or strengthen throughout the colony to repel such designs;; by the creation of a small fleet of galleys which # protected the navigation of the river ; by the immense disbursements to which they were subjected by the avidity of their Indian allies, and other innumerable and extraordinary contingencies which daily occurred, which had reduced them to the most deplorable indigence, <^ deprived them of the meana of attending to numerous /objects urgently requiring their immediate consideration, Spanish ilflg, and the chief pilot, named Jnan Ronqnillo, with sixteen men out of the twenty who were i^Ationed at the Balise, having gone out to meet her, were made prisoners, and twenty of the French, well armed, availed themselves of the Spanish boat t6 go ashore, and easily overpowered the four men who had remained to guard the post. In the same despatch, Bendon said that the cultivation of tobacco had been abandoned in all the districts of the province with the exception of Natchitoches, ever since' his Majesty had reduced to one hundred and twenty thou- sand pounds the quantity which he would buy annually. In another communication of the 80th of January, 179Q, he stated the revenue of the custom-house in. 1795 to have been $1j. 4,932 — ^a little more than double of what it had been the year previous — ^which is, no doubt,^ to be attributed to the removal of the apprehensions of a revolution and the cessation of the state of uncertainty existing in 1790 and 1794> In April, 1796, Bon Francisco Bendon departed from New Orieans for the province of Zacatecas, of which he had been appointed Intendant, and his successor in Ix>ui- sianik was Don Jnan Ventura Morales, who, on the 17th of jyiy of the same year, informed h\k ^6v:er^metit of some chaiigee which had been elS^cted in the coinptrolr ler^s d^^lMCFtineiit (oontadiiria}, andby ivWch, on ibhe tano Gayaiii^ iW gmdeoti of the Ck^ta^r l>on ilste- m ^w> > ^. # ,^ ^Iw % t 874 > mPROVEMENlS IN NEW ORLEANS, W # 'i^- ■i van Gayarr6, who had come with UUoa m 1766, liad taken Arroyo^s place, and Don Manuel Hoa had smc- ceeded Gayarre. For these changes he begged the royal approbation. Until the year 1796, the city of New Orleans had never been lighted at night except by the moon, and had been guarded by occasional patrols only, when cii'- cumstances required it. But, on the SOth of March of that year, the Baron wrote to his government that, considering the frequent and almost inevitable robberies which were perpetrated in a city of six thousand souls, by a multitude of vagabonds of every nation, he had, as proposed before, imposed a tax of nine reales a year on every chimney, to provide for the expenses of the police ; that he had formed a body of thirteen serenos,* or watchmen, and established eighty lamps; that the keep- ing up of these thirteen watchmen and eighty lamps would cost $3,898 annually; and that to meet these expenses, he had to call for a proportionate contribution, ?whichL he had apportioned among all the inhabitants, of Kew Orleans. To make this tax lighter, he proposed that eighteen hundred feet in depth of that part of the commons fronting the rear of the city and nearest to the fortifications, which were unproductive of any revenue to said city, because they were inundated six months in the year, be divided into lots of sixty feet front by one hundred and fifty in depth, and conceded to such of the inhabitants as should offer to cultivate them into gar- dens, on condition of their paying annually a certain sum to defray the expense of lighting up the streets — which sum would be so much to be deducted from what the city had now to pay. * A Beren i*# # 376 Bli'HO^' PENALVERT's ©ESPATCm- %■■ of the iahabitaLts Bishop F^h^h&tt h$,^^ md^tem d^ spatch of the ist of November, 1^95 : "Since my arrival in this* town, on the 17:tliN9f WjTf rhave been studying with the keenest atfemtiijto the character of its iihabitantsy in order to regnlate xo^ ecclesiastical government in accordance with the mfor- mation which I may obtain on this importarit subject. "On the 2d of Aupist, I began the dischaa^ of my I)astoral functions. I took possession withbut imy diffi- culty of all the buildings appertaining to the church, and ejcamined all the books, accounts, and other matters thereto relating. But as to re-establishing the purity of religion, and reforming the manners of the people, which are the chief objects El Tridentino* has in view, I have encountered many obstacles. " The inhabitants do not listen to, or if they do, they disregard, all exhortations to maintain in its orthodoxy the Ca,tholic faith, and to preserve the innocence of life. But, without ceasing to pray the Slather of all mercies to send his light into the darkne^ which surrounds these people, I am putting into operation human means to remedy these evils, and I wiU submit to your Eiceflency those which I deem conducive to the interests of religion and of the state. ;\ "Because his Majesty tolerates here the Protectants, for sound reasons of state, the bad Christians^ who a^e hi large numbers in this colony, thih^ that they are aiithor- ized to live without any religion at all. Many adults die without having received the sacrament of communion. Out of the eleven thousand souls composing thi^ Jiarish, hardly thrfee to four hundred com|>ly with "the ^i?^tJipt of partaking at least ohee a year of the LoM's sii|)pei\ Of the regiment of Louisiana^ there ai*e n^ above thii?ty, * T^M Bidiop tliadM to Ilia disoiplinaiiy rales estabU^^d hjMaXkxtlu&ot •*. % \ m^ in^^ading offieeislilidEHildi^> it'ho^'li^Te du^ this s«iered daty &>c ^e lost ihteie yei^. ]^^ saore th^ about liiQfQiirtli imirt of the poi^ukktioa <^ the %>wii ever i^t;t|»idsn]M8^ and on Snndap otflyj afid on tiloee, grseM? holidays- i^eh reqiure ^it imperioiisly. T& do s<^ on thft other holydays they eoncadlsr as a snp^noi^ act of devotion to whioh they are not bound. Most of tlie married and nnmanied men live in a state of coi^n- bini^e, and tiheFe are fathers who prooareoowtezans for the nse of their sons, whom they thus intentionally pre-' ventsfrom get^ng lawM wives.^ The marriage ic<»i^act is one whioh, from a nrnversil custom, admitting onjyof ft a few aceid^ital exceptions, is never entered into among the slaves. Fasting on Fridays, in Lent, and dnrmg t^i^ li(M y temporas^ is a thing unknown ; and there are other mal-pcactioes^ which deftote the little of religion esEisting here among the inhabitants, and which demonstrate thai%^ thei'e remains in their bosoms but a 8%ht spark of t^Bv faith instilled into them at the baptismal font* '* I presume that a large porti(«i of these people are- vassals of the king, because^ they live on his domain^, w^. accept his favors. But I must speak the truths 1M&\ Majesty possesses their bodies and not their scn^. Be^' bellion is in their hearts, !md their mmds are iuitimed with the maxims of democracy; and had 1^^ sotr ^00 their chief so active imd energelie a man as the presentr governor; there would long since have been an «nrpiife0t9af of the pent-up volcano ; and should another less sagatnouS' chiefs ever &>rget the feimenldng elements whicb ari^^ait work v&^if^ ground^ thi»^caB: beno ddnbl but ^¥tt tberf would b^an explosion. ' ■ ^ ' ."^^"r if^l^hm honaes are :I^U' of books writifeen agaiofirt rei^ gioitae^^itb^ state; T^tey^ar^ llemijlibe^ t^re^ # '% * % V % m ■\ 878 BISHOP PBNALVEBT^S DE8l>AT0B. witk impunity, and, at the dinner' table, th«y make use of tbe most shameful, lascivious, and s^ibrilegiotis sdiigs. fHiis melancholy sketch of the religtoilB and itko^nil customs and condition of the flock which has &Ueki to my lot^ will make yott understand the cause of whatever act of scandal may suddenly break out, whi(^ hOMrever I shall strive to prevent ; and the better so to do, I have used and am stUl using some means^ which I intend as remedies, and which I am going to communicate to your Excellency. "The Spanish school, which has been established here at the. expense of the crown, is kept as it ought to be ; but as there are others Which are French, and of which one alone is opened by authority and with the regular license, and as I was ignorant of the faith professed by the teachers and of their morality, I have prescribed for them such regulations as are in conformity with the pro- visions of our legislation. "Excellent results are obtained from the Convent of the Ursulines, in which a good many girls are educated ; but their inclinations are so decidedly French, that they have even refused to admit among them Spanish women who wished to become Nuns, so long as these applicants should remain ignorant of the French idiom, and they have shed many tears on account of their being obliged to read in Spanish books their spiritual exercises, and to ^, comply Irith the other duties of their community in the manner prescribed to them. ;*'This is the nursery of those future matrons who will ixic^eate on their children the principles which they here imbibe. The education which they receive in ^us insti- tution is the cause of their being less vicious tljim the other sex. A6 to what the boys are taught in :the,^a^h school, it is soon forgotten. Should iieir edueati^u be continued in a^Mlege, they would be confirmed in their '7^ B' *• # k »r :*- t 's ' aXKS84L YIOTOB CQLI.OT. a7$ jel%ioiief prmciplWj in the goo4 habits given to theio, an4 In their loyalty as faithiRil yaeaals to the crown. Bat! they leave the school when stiU very yoon^JiiPd retii^e to the houses of their parents mostly situated in the country, where they hear neither the* name o£ God nor of ^King, but daily witness the corrupt morals of th«tir . parents." 'iThe Bishop goes on enumerating the means and expe* dients through which he hopes to remedy all the evils which he thus energetically describes. So much for the representation made of Louisiana by the Bishop Don Luis de Penalvert y Cardenas, in the year of our Lord 1796.. .,c .. .,. There is another delineation of Louisiana fi'om the penv of the French general Victor Collot, who visited that province in 1796, and who gives a most minute descrip* tion of.its militaiy resources and of its fortifications j^,. the time. The character of the work which he published may be said to be almost entirely strategic. It is evi- dent that this superior officer had received from his government a mission which he had fully the ability to execute. He points out the two rivers of the Arkansas and of the Grands Osages as being the keys of Mexico ; "for," says he, "although these two rivers are separated from^jeach other at their mouths by a distance of more , than six hundred mUes ; although the first empties itself into the Mississippi, and the second into the Missourii^ yet, as the river des Grands Osages runs south-eastf and the riv^r of the Arkansas north-east, they come so near one another at their sources, that they are separated onlybyik narrow valley, at the extremity of which is Santav|?6. ^'^oip the, point where ceases the navigation of f he river of the Arkansas to Simta F6, there a^e sixty miles, asi^t^ll^ the p««ii^[al||jt>roir: tli«r« nfirw WM took » OMdiilkimf mtri^ IS i'A^'' i •* ^. m # and a iawing *^un iKe side wVcli fi^^onts the rirer) and at both ex- treimties, are wo forte #hioh commaofl the road imd the riyer^ Their shape is that of a regular pentagon, with a parapet eighteen feet iMch^ coated with bmek, with a ditch and covered Way. In each of these forts ore bar- racks for the accommodiotion of one hundred and fifty men, and a powder magazine. Their artillery is copx^ posed of a dozen twelve and eighteen-ponnders. ** between these two forts, and in front of the prinoi* pal 'street of the city, is a great battery, commanding the river with its gnus, and crossing its fires with the tw<^ forts. i "The first of these forts — ^that ij3, that on the right, which is most considerable — ^is called St. Charles, the other St. Louis. " In the rear, and to cover the city en the land side, are three other forts. 'Diey are less considerable than the two first. There is one at each of the two salient angles of the long square forming the city, and a third between the t\^o, a little beyond the line, so as tp form an obtuse angle.* These three forts hav@^ no covered way and are not revetted,^ but are merely strengthened with friezes and palisades. They are armed with ei^ht guns and have accommodations for one hundred men. The one on the right is called Mbrt Biirgunihf^ that dn the left St Ferdina/ndy and that of 1^6 midcQe .0 Jos^Ti. * "tli^ five forts and the battery cross thejtr fee v^r^ one another, and are connected by a ditch of forty ^i in width by seven in depth. , With the earth tak^ out of the ditch, there has been forued on the inside 4 p^ rapet tliree feet high, on which have been-placed, closely 8errie& forced to capitulate im- mediately, or be burnt up in less than an hour, and have its inhabitants destroyed, as none of the forts can admit of more than one hundred and fifty men. We believe that M. de Carondelet, wTben he adopted this bad sys^m of defence, thought more qf securing the obedience of the subjects of his Catholic Majesty, than of providing a defence against the attack of a foreign enemy, and, in this point of view, he may be said to have completely succeeded.'' General Gollot describes also the fort at the Plaque- piineTum; he says that it is provided with twenty pieces of artillery of various calibre, and that it can ac- (kmmodate <3ire^ hundred naen. |^ He fiirther gives the following descriplaori^ of the lahabitants of the Illinois District: " On th^ American i^i^e, there are still to be found some Frenchnien, to wit: it Kitekaskias, at Eocl-'s Prairie (prairie duroi^er), at Piorias on Ked River, at Dbg's pi^airie (praiii^ du 6hiei|), Tiear Wisconsin, at Chicago on liSkd MMgi?s^ss^^ the Post of Ymcennes oU the Wabash. ^ ^- ii *■ ;:»■ tm^^ THE ncmsrtsm^ or tbs tuisoib district. 888 H;Mo9t> <)f tli6i9e p^ple are a compoancl: of traders. > .adtenturers^ wood mnners, rowiers and wiiiTiore — igooranty raperstitions and obstinate — ^wliom no fotigties, no privations, no dangers can stop in their enterprises, irhioli they always carry through. Of the qualities which distinguish the. French, they hwe retained no- thing except courage. *^ When at home, and in the privacies of their ordi- nary life, their character is very much like that of the Aborigines, with whom they live. They are therefore indolent, lazy and addicted to drunkenness, cultivating the earfch but little or not at all ; the Frenc*h which they speak has become so corrupt, that it has degenerated into a sort of jargon, and they have even forgotten the regular division of the months, and of time it elf, according to the calculations of civilization. K you ask them whep a particular i)\ont happened, they will aipwer, that it was when the waters were high, when the strawberries were ripe, or in the com and potato season. Shoidd it be sug^ted to them to chango anything for the better, even in matters which are acknowledged by 'them as being defective, or should any improvement be recom- mended to them m agriculture, or in some of the branches of commerce, their only answer is: H i6 the cmUm ; aoU was with our faihera. Ig^ at^mg wi^ it — -^w?, of cowrsey wiU my children. They love France and apeak of it with pride." Ge^al Collot, on his way to N^ew Orleans from the upper feuntry, had stopped to visit Etienne Bor6 at his sugar ^^antation, six mile& above New Orleans, whece h^ was arreiitiid by 4f der of ^e Baron de Carondelet, who hud sent npl%; dragoons by land and an armed boat by the river^ /pbe General was put in the boat, and f 9k%4<^i^ to He^ Or&ans, wherfe^ he^as inipriiioQed .n fWt 1% Obartes; on ihe next iii^'he wiis called # * ■'SB- h oiktBBMt ooci.oT*» Awmn, 4 ^ vptm^iffiheQrovemorf who |>ro|)OMd to Mm a heme in town, #ych he might ooonpy on parole, And with' a Spaolkh ■oldier at his door. The General, having accepted the proposition, left the fort for hb new lodg- inga in the Govemor^s carriage, which had been politely tendered to him. On the let of November, the Oeneral, £rom whom some of his maps, drawings and writings liad been token away, was conveyed on board of one of the King's galleys, and, being accompanied by a captain of the regiment of Louisiana, who was not to lose sight of his person, was transported to the Balize, wl^ere he was deposited in the house of the chief pilot, Jnan Ron- quillo, '' situated,'' says he, ^4n the midst of a vast swamp, and from which there was no issuing except in » boat." He remained at this dismal spot, until the 3^d of December, when he embarked on board of the brig Iphigema for Philadelphia. It is evident from the General's own relation of his visit to New Orleans that he was not permitted to examine' the fortifications of that place, and that he must have described them from hearsay. ; ^e Baron de Carondelet wrote to citizen Adet, who was the representative of the French republic near the gbVernment of the United States, in v->rder to justify the coufs0 which he had pursued towards General Oollot His reasons were :* l^-^The silence of the minister, who had neglected to notify him, the Governor, of Ihe approach , of the Gen^alj ^ No h»lbi«ndo t«nido ppr flo&TeoiejDte eite 6obem«dor qai? el g«n«iM,l a* ]i^ ItepbUkii fhwilM* J6i^4) Tia»r CMlol qui* w intarodi^o «&«■«* profiiiel^ potiA mortdofcM Idi^iM M^ defS^sftde la d«da4^tomi^ el^Artido dm 4ftt^rlfr i\ p|vw>Ml« la Bi^K**,* • «9«rav o«Mio& puini <(iabaMi»Io pwi fliial- m- «• iht7 ■ ^ "^ ewitemeut which iL preimTrf a transported to "BiviML hL, atoUy connections, and the beneflTKd uSfJ^ ferrod on his country bv the Jnf,^.^ *r^ **"' hraiinh..f :_j- * ' ^ * introduction of a new f ^, ^'t , 25 1 -ipjl i^H i ^^ J juJi il - '"ral « i 1 ^,- - mm i %»' ill •«•■•■ CHAPTER Vn. 4- Br^oadieii-Gbnebal Gatoso de Lbmob had been in- stalled into office on the Ist of August, 1797, but it wa» only in the month of January, 1798, that, in confonnity to established usage, he published- his Bando de Buen Gobiemo— a sort of charter, or programme, making known the principles and regulations on which the Governor thought . that a good government ought to be established, and by which he was to be guided in his fbture administration. It contained nothing worthy of any special notice. Shortly alter, he addressed to the Commandants at the different posts throughout the colony the following set of instructions, in relation to grants of lands : ii 1« — Commandants are forbidden* to grant laud to a new settler, coming fix>m another spot where he has al- ready obtained a grant. Such a one must either Imy land, or obtain a grant from the governor Mnae^. « 3»— If n settler be a foreigner, unmarried, and with- out ^iji^ir A^ves, mon^y, cr other, property^ no jB^^ioit ij »: u,« X: I'liB^itory of LiAiattnl, Tot &, pi 188. #' % 4 m mho niAdti to him, nntU he thaU have remeiiied foar yeam in the poit^ demeamng himeelf well in eome honest aud uefol ocoitpAtion. - ^ 8*^»Meohiiiio8 are to be protected, bat no land is to )()• granted to ^m, until they shall have acquired some pAi|Mrty, and a residence of three years, in the exercise of tl0|ir trade. ** 4*-— No grant of land is to be made to any unmarried emigrant, who has nMther trade nor property, until after a rendenee of four years, during which time he must have been employed in the eulture of the ground. •' M 5* — ,3Qt if, after a residence of two years, such a per- son should marry the daughter of an honest farmer, with his consent, and be by him recommended, a grant of land may be mede to him. • *^ (^* — ^Liberty of conscience is not to be extended be^ yond the first generation ; the children of the emigrant mu^ become Catholics; and emigrants, not agreeing to thy, must not be; admitted, but expelled, even when they briiiig property with them. This is to be explained to settlers who do not profess the Catholic faith. "> 7°-^In Upper Louisiuna, no settler is to be admitted, who is not a faxmet or a mechanic^ *' 8'-~-It is expressly recommended to Commandants, to j wateli that no preacher of any religion but the Ca^oUc committto the province. " 9*r^-^ every married emigrant of the above descrip- tion two hundr^ arpens miay be granted, with the iiddi- tion of J^y for c^e^ child he brings. '* lOVrK he W$%B negroes, twenty additioi|»l aliens are to^^ gphiib^^im lEpr each: but, mja^ki esta- blishments, without leaving any vacant lands between— in order that the people may more easily protect eaolt other, in case of any invasion by the Indians, and th^ th^ aditimisiration of justxc^) and li eomf^lance police regidations, may be £Adiitate4" v m.:- 'm ¥ ■%- ^r In thie beginning of this ye«t,^lt98i Ne^^^# was flaited iy thfi^e illustriotis strangers, the Dpkmxxi Or^ leiiiiSj wi^ his two brothers, the, Dake of Mon.tpensier. and the fCbystt - of Beaujolais, who 'wei« striking exam^ pies of thoSI remarkable vicissitudes of fortune with vthyoh the lif^als of histoiy are so replete. The royal fo^ives wholiad thus come to claim the hospitality of the humble town which, under the patronage of theiir atioestorS) had been founded in the wilderness, on the distant bank of the Mssissippi, were the descendants of the celebrated regent, Duke of Orleans^ and, througlfc hitti, of Louis XIIL, king of France. They were of a race which,- without interruption, had given monarchsto that kingdom for centuries ; and if there ever was a house that dould boast of pretensions to durability, it was theirs, so profoundly and ineradicably laid had seemed to be its foundations in the very depths, not only of the broad Idngdom of France, but also of the whole continent of Europe. There was a day, however, when "the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the Ml of it I" Men, who had suddenly* been precipitated so low from the heights of a prosperity which seemed des- tined to be the everlasting and lawful possession of their family by the prescriptive right derived from so many centuries, were certainly fit objects of sympathy in their * misfortune, und they met with a generous and warm- hearted reception, both from the Spanish authorities and from the inhabitants of Louisiana. Costly entertain- ments were given to tliem, and they spent several weeks in New Orleans and its neighborhood. They appealed to take mudi interest in^ the destinies of a colony which was^tlie creation of France, an^ they exapiined minutely the snga^ |dantatiQ»n which . hadbeea. lately established by Etienne Bot^ laei]:; the ^1^4 'When a *^ mousque- *^M, # ^Sr ■ m mfB a^o DUKE dl*' OBLlBAira ANB Hj^ ifiBOtHSBS. tiftire," or guardsman in tbe houseliold troojw of Lotus XV., arid watching orer tlie safety of the m^ieity df ' France; little did he dream that the day woi^d come when three princes of the blood would be his gu^ts in the wilderness of America I What stran]^ #veiDl|» will not time bring on, and how shifting are^^e scenes in which it delights! The Count of Beaujolais and the Duke of Montpensier soon slept in the tombj but the other fugitive exile — ^the Duke of Orleans — ^whose'father's head had fallen on the scaffold, ascended the throne of EVance, and the planter's grandson became, in his turn,' in the gorgeous halls of royalty, the guest of Kiiia whdl had been the planter's guest. But again " the riatin de- scended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the king's house, and it fell, and great was the' fall of it," for it was not strong, and not " built upon a rock." T^ow are the king's children exiles and wander- ers on the face of the earth. Will It be the decree o^ capricious fortune that one. of them shall taste the hospi- tality which his royal father enjoyed in Louisiana in 1798 ? But, to return to events having a more direct bearing on the destinies of the colony, it must here be recorded that Colonel Charles Grandpre had been appointed by the Spanish authority to take the command at Natchez, in the place of Brigadier-General Gayoso de Lemos, whd had now become Governor of Lomsiaria. But Grand- pre's energy, and the little favor with which he looked upon the Americans, being well known, the " Permanent Committee of Public Safety" declared unanimously that hia presence would not be acceptable, afid might be the cause of a dangerous outbreak. Under such circuta- stances, it was thought prudent to leave the comm&nd of that post to Captain .Mnol", whd was then actihg as civil and military commandant ad interim. Captain ll^or, as Gayoso had done before, recognized the powers o^ the m £ i^ eAirmx QvioTx at irAixnusz.. m # tl^etmment Comioiittee,^ and tliis eonceasiou restoi^ed so i]^{|<»li'4iarmony between the two parties, that TJ^atenant Fjope, with the men ninder his orders, retired a few miles from Fort Panmure into the interior. In the meantime, General Wilkinson, who was the commander-in-chief of the American army, thonghtthat it was opportune to make some demonstration that wonid satisfy the Federal Government of the sincerity of his zeal, gratify the impatience of the Western people, and so &r operate upon the Spani^ authorities as to induce them to evacuate the forte of which they were stUl in possession. In consequence of this determination, he sent Captain Gnion at the head of a detachment, with orders to assume the command of Natchez. He also in- trusted Captain Guion with a despatch for Gayoso, in which he said of the bearer : "This officer's ei^erience and good sense, and the powers with which he is clothed by the President of the United States, cons|Hre to pro?* mise a happy result to his command, in which I flatter myself I shall not be disappointed.'' In obedience, no dcubt, to the instructions which had been given to him by l^r. Wilkinson, and perhaps from his own sense of propriety, Guion, on his arrival at Natchez, behaved to- wards the Spaniards in the most conciliatory manner. Qe checked any public manifestation of disrespect to them, and eserted himself to the utmost to allay the excite- mtent which prevailed in the district. He almost anmhi- lated the authority of the " Permanent Committee of Public Safety," which had adopted, he thought, impr^* dent and improper measures, and he went even so faf as to threaten* to break it up by force. But Guion's liberality and the amiableness of his deportment towaxds the> Spaniai^ did not seem to ao(5eleratc th^ir riiove- nMrnts^vaiid to procure their desired reiiiovalr from the : ^ *^M6iiette*a Huii^ of a^ Vftlt^ «f t^^^ #■>■ *t;: II! irs-* #iii: I t "Sfe^ FOBMATIOV OF THB MlHfUBSIl^ TEBBITOBY. ,|ort8 Panmurei and Nog&lea (or Walnut Hillfl), i^i^li 0rme the only r^maming ones to be evacuated— So that Onion himsdf, becoming impatient, dedared that he would not wait further than the Ist of April, lt99,. and would then attack the forts. *; t >^ But, at lastj the Spaniards having lost, as it has been seen by Power's report to Garondelet, all hopes of ope- rating a dismemberment of the Union, an order was sent vl?y the court of Madrid to comply with the stipulations of the treaty, to have the line of demarcation surveyed, and to surrender the ceded territory. Thus, on ^e 23d jof March, Fort Nogales, at Walnut HiUs, was evacuated, and its garrison came down to Natchez, where they remained until the 29th, when, during the night, the Spaniai'ds, without having given any previous notice to the A^mericans, abandoned the fort, after having sent all their ai-tillery, ammunition, baggage, &C;, on board of the boats and galleys they had oif the river. By day- break, the Americans entered the fort, whicb they dis- covered to be vacant, and the gates of which bad been left open. ■ -In virtue of an act of Congress approved on the 10th of May, 1798, the territory thus surrendered by the Spaniards was organized into a territorial government, and designated as the ''Mississippi territoiy." On the 26th of the same month. General Wilkinson arrived with the federal forces at Natcbez, where he established his head-quarters, and, shortly after, removed to the well known spot on the river, called "La Rochet Davion" ^j the iVench, "Loftus's Heights" by the English, and, gubsequen^y) Foirt Adams by the AmerieanSj £rom the ^pliiajlcationswhicli were, then, begun by Wilkinson. .^Ihuswerer debated all 4^e; schomes aq4 ^IMts^ <^ Spain to protect her American colonies agabist the en* eroachments which she fore8aw| and from the day wh«n 430VIIT ABANDa's VBOVBXOT, Jiet feeble lumd thus reHnqoished the grasp of j» impor- tant a portloii of lier dominiona in Xjpiiiaian% iiiay be gi^d to dftte ^e rapid decay of her power on l^e eonti nent which she chums to have discovered, and where she had accomplished so much. The danger that threat- ened Bpain in America had long been foreseen by one of her ablest statesmen, the Count of Aranda, who, in the cabinet council which was convened in Madrid by the King to determine whether Spain, after the re volu- tion of 1768 which had resulted in the ejcpukion of Governor Ulloa from Louisiana, should persist in accept- ing the, donation of that province by tiie French Khig and make the necessary efforts to recover its possession, had so strenuously spoken in the affirmative, on the ground of the urgent necessity of establishing a penna- nent barrier between the gi'owing power and ambitk);i of the northern British colonies and the wealthy but Weak provinces of Mexico. Affcer signing the treaty of Paris, in 1 1 83, the same minister had submitted to his Catholic Majesty a secret memoir,* in which he declare^, that the independence of the British colonies filled his mind wil^ grief and fear, and expressed his be^ef that both France and Spain acted in opposil^on to their mte- rcsts when they espoused the cause o!i^ those colonies, because he regarded the eidstcnce of the Umted States of America as highly dangerous, to t^e Spanish Amerir can possessions, and, on this subject, used the follpw^ ing very remarkable language : *'l^ federal republic is bom a pigmy, if I may be allowed so to express myself. It has required the^is^ port of two such' ppwerfuL States as France and %i^ to obtfiiii Its i^p^ence. The day will oom^ whi^n she willi'be^ -a g^i^il^ a colossus ^nudaUe eiven to l^i^ # V'f.-fJ ,# 'I #. 991 oouin a&aitda's vaoftwpcsT, countries. She will forget the services she has 'rep^iTed from the two powers, and will think only of h^f qwn aggrandizement. The liberty of conscience, the facility of establishing a new population upon immense territo- ries, together with the advantages of a new government (meaning free, no doubt), will attract the agricultmisto s^nd mechanics of all nations, for men ever run after fortune ; and, in a few years, we shall see the tyrannical existence of this very colossus of which I speak. "The first step of this nation, after it has become powerful, will be to take possession of the Floridas in order to have the command of the Gulf of Mexico, and, after having rendered difficult our commerce with New Spain, she will aspire to the conquest of that vast em- pire, which it will be impossible for us to defend against A; formidable power established on the same continent, and in its immediate neighborhood. These fears are well founded ; they must be realized in a few years, if some greater revolution, even more fatal, does not sooner take place in our Americas." In conclusion, he proposed, as the best means of averting this imminent danger, that Spain should relin- quish the Ameripas and establish therein three of the Infantes, one to be king of Meidco, one of Peru, and the other of Costa Firme, retaining under the dcxiiinion of the mother country only Porto Rico and Cuba; and he recommended that a treaty of commerce be entered into between France and Spain in relation to these countries, from the advantages of which Great Britain should be excluded. - These views explain the tenaciousness with which, to the last moment, Spain held fast to every inch of the ground which she considered as constitutmg a rianpart against the anticipaited agressions of her gy^t north- western neighbor. In relation to her 1^ itttr^g^ wi# :^^'' JOlf. IQ whien sb^ bad eid(i;aged in th^ rain hope (rf'i^|)Kng^ when still in the cradle, the new-born gtant pb^it^ ont to her by Count Aranda, Monette sayB, in bis History of ibe Valley of the Mississippi : "Tbe te- tn^rity of tbis last intrigue, put in operation by the Governor of Louisiana, astonishes every reflecting m'nd. But 'General Wilkinson was a talented and ambitious maii; he had received many favors from the Spanish governors nearly ten years before ; he had received exclusive pHvileges in the commerce with Louisiana; a long and confidential intercourse had existed between hini and Oovei^*ir Mird ; he was known to have in- dulgiftd a prediletition for Spanish authority, ahd was ainbitious of power and distinction ; ho was now at the head of the western aimies, and, with the power and infttience of bis station, he might effectually bring dbout rt si^paration of the "West, the formation of a new repub- lic, 6]f iVhich he himself might be the suprenie ruler, and conduct the alliance with Spain. Such may have been the reasonings of Baron de Carondelet, at this \a.x^ period. "But General Wilkinson had already proceeded too fir in his treasonable intrigues and correspondence with tibe Spanish Governor, and the suspicions of his own govern- ment rested upon him. The brilliant prospects and the bright hopes of becoming the head of a new confed^rar tion, had vanished from his imagination, and he w anxioos to retain his command, and with it his standing as a patriotic citizen of the United States. Hence, in the summer of 1797, he had given to Power a cold reception ; he hid informed him that the time for a separation had passed by; that now the prcgeelj of the Baron de Cdi^del4t would be ch!in€«i<«d in the extriBme; i^iil' tbeW^tte^>i^p^ thej^ d^io'ed, ais^^at now tliey entertained no widn fdi % ^ r Jib OHAKGE IK G •Wtl! & VIEWS. an allianoe with either Spain or Franoe ; that ihe ftolftl- cal ferment which eidsted fonr yean previotii^yh^' en- tirely snlmded ; and that, far from de«(triBg on alHtince with Louisiana under the Spanish Orown, the people of Kentncky, prior to the treaty of Madrid, had proposed to invade Louisiana with an army of ten thonsand men, to be put in motion upon the fliBt open rupture between the two governments; and that now they were higBly exasperated at the spoliations committed upon the An^rit. can commerce by fVench privateers, :vho brought their pnzes into the port of New Orleans for condemnation and . confiscation. He gave it as his ^ipinion that the Gk)vernor-gieneral would therefore consult his own in- terest, and the interest of his Catholic Majesty, by an immediate compliance with the terms of the treaty. " General Wilkinson also complained that his connec- tion and his correspondence with the Spanish Governor had been divulged ; that all his plans had been defeated, and the labor of ten years had been lost ; that he had now burned all his correspondence and destroyed his r. eyphers, and that duty and honor forbade a continuance of the intercourse. Yet he still indulged the hope of being able to manifest his confidence in the Baron ; for it was probable that he would rece've from the Federal Government the appointment of Governor over the Natchez district, alter its surrender agreeably to treaty, when he should not want an opportunity of pi-omoting hw pdltical projects." Although Spain had been drawn into the wars which desolated tl^e European continent, still Xiouisiana had ^It none of their direful consequences, and had continued 'ik> ei^oy an uninterrupted tranquillity, which was only l^a^ed by tite fears restilting from the rapM e2etensi0ii if the AjD^rieai^ setdementB^ Shaicould i^retidy see the -H'0 DANIEL OLABK iLP!K the Federal Ooyernudent, to protect their commercial interests. ^' Be- 9ide4,'^,says Colonel £lliootfe; in his l^umal, *Hhe Fisench {^ivateers had now become very troublesome to the trad«;of the U|:iited Stated in the West Indies, and about the (^H|f of Mexico. A number of o'v captured vessels were ^en into the port of New Orleans, condemned^ and confiscated with their cargoes at a trifling price, our seamen treated in the most shameful manner, and our trade otherwise brought into gmat- jeopardy." This induced the American commissioner, Colonel Ellicott, to prevail upon the Governor of Louisiana to Irecognize Daniel Clark, Jr., as consul for the United States until the, President should make a regular ^pointment, which was shortly <^ter conferred on Evan ifones, with Huling. as vice-consul.* In consequence of the cloee proximity of the American and SpaniJ^h; posts, a convention was entered into be- tween .Govjemor Gayoso and General Wilkinson for the mutual sni'render^ of deserters, and also an agreement, somewhat of Ihe" like nature, was made between the, Goverhor of, the Mississippi territory, at Natchez, and Don Jose Vidal, Commandant of the Spanish post, on the opposite side of the river, for the recipro.cal sm> render^ of fugitive slaves. * The animosity which had existed between the American and Spanish atithorities aeemed to hav^dip appeared entirely, and to have given v/ay to an aii^cable^ intercouTM i^d to good feelingsi* »% iff ■m f* <8fc IITJ ■LEA ASV IJB MXA&URE8. In oommemorallo^ of tliis jM^pjiy chao^ -^r—r- Comnurndfjit, Boo Jose Tlc^ gfliife the ttino of "Con- cord" tc the fort whidi wi« greeted on the west side of the river, in fcoQt of Fort Panmnre oji th# east 8ici Under the royal decree, of the 24th of August, iVtO, ' the civil and military governors of Lonbiana hiid:l^one been empowered to make ^Concessions of iakji lands belonging to the Grown; but, on ^th^ 3 J^stdf October, in the year 1798, the King of Spain thought proper to vest that iK)wer exclusively* in the Intendant of the ipro^onces of Louisiana and West Florida. , ' 'In consequence of this royal schedule, the Intendivnt Morales issued, on the l7th,,of July, 1799, a set of regu- lations, to which ihy} lionccssions Of tand should hereafter bi^ subjected.* These re^la^ons were considered at the time inimical to the Americans, and calculated to prevent their emigration intj? Iiouisiana. Another i)aeflsure adopted by Morales^Was looked upon ^s still more hostile and as the harl|inger of future oppressive acts, aimed at crippling the commerce of ther United States. -^ It \dll be recollected that, by the-trdlty of Madrid concluded in October, 1796, between Slpain and the United States, the citazens eC the lattel^po^^er had secured to themselves the right of deposit in New Orleans for their western proiucc, for the space of three years, to be counted from the date of the rati^c^ion of the treaty, and that his Catholic Majesty had bound himself, at the ei^^iril^on of tlie three yeare, to extend tKe€me,orto " 1|(»e thf ,^)>pendjx. , '7- W »*!# kORAJ.m QUABRBU "WJtU OAT0(k>. HP ^e'iiiliaid of New Orleans, to serve as a place of de> pofii* The Inteodant Morales, considering that thres yedri had elapsed since the ratification of the treaty between his Sovereign and the United States, iMsned an order,f prohibiting the use of New Orleans as a place 6f deposit by the Western people, bat without designate ing cm^ other mikMe pomt. When thib measure be- came known in the West, it excited the most intense ind|gnatioii, and an expedition against New Orleans was o{$e^y contemplated. President Adams himself had^^^ be^ ob%ed to make sqpie demonstrations in the way pointed out, by the curi'ent of popular opinion, and had orde^d three regiments of the regular army to con- centrate on the Ohio, and to wait for •further orders* Twelve additional regiments were ordered to be raised by Congress, and other preparations were made, which sedmed to indicate that an immediate campaign, was projected against Louisiana. Wh^n, to meet such dangers, all the resources of ^e colony should have been carefully husbanded, and when the greatest hannony should have prevailed among the Spanish officers, a misunderstanding of a serious nature had sprung up between the Intendant Morales and Governor Gayoso — ^between the purse and the sword* '^ On the 8l8t of January, 1799, Mori^eSyin a despatch'^b his government, complained bitterly of the temper of the Governor, of his mode of thinking, of his disposition to indulge in useless expenses, and said that, in such circumstances, he. Morales, could not have it in his power to serve the King as effectually as he wished;!]: On the Blst of March, he again complained that the ,^ * Motiette's Van«y of th« Miss., vol. i., p. 648. ^( lltrti&'ii Hift6ry of Loouiana, ToL ii., p. 168. ^'VlM(!* UOJULBB <)VARRSL8 WITH OATOSO, Governor illegally oHBamed powers which belonged to the Intendaut; that he, Morales, was obliged to yield to many of the Governor's unjust exigencies, in order to avoid scandalous dL=iputes, and that he had in vain mfule to that officer confidential observations on the subject; he ftirther went on animadverting with severity on seve- ral acta of Gayoso's adminintration . "The* Governor's natural disposition," said Morales, ^Ho waste what he jDwns as well as what he borrows^ and to cause those hbout him to do the same, and his desire to increase his prerogatives and power, and to show himself generous at the expense of the King, are much more the causes of all the defensive preparations which he requires, than hU fear of the invasion from the Americans, which serves as a pretext for his demands." He then recites in detail the I'easons why he thinks that the Americans have ^ven up all ideas of attacking Louisiana, ever since they have been put in possession of the ceded territory, and he comments on the smallness of Wilkinson's forces, which do not exceed four hundred men. He complains also of the orders issued and of the measures taken by Gayoso, in relation to the galleys and boats which con- stituted the naval resources of the colony. " Without knowing more thau I dof in this matter," writes Morales, * Su propens'on natural 4 gastar lo snyo, y lo que pid« preatedo, y i haoer gastar & quantos le cir 'tidan, y el deseo de tener objetos en qne wctonder sua facultadea^ y manife8t>,rie generoRo & costa del Rey, eran mas bieitlos ageatea de loit preparativoa de defei <■& que exigfa, que los recelos de inraaion de parte de lo* Amerioanoa a ouya sombra so eolioitaban. f Sin ontender mas quo yo, se cree este gobeiuador sobresaliente A los mejoi cs generales de marina. Aquellas coaas ban producido entre nosotros obnteataoiones bastante agrias y desagradnbles, hafita el punto de pretender que la Intendenoia, sin hablar ^alabra, se someta A iodbs sus capricbos^ depreoiando onantaa razonca se alegan para evitar & S. M. gastos inatiles. Creo de absolata y indispensable neoesitad que el R >^b1 (Qrado; d con «l /conooimiento que day de la sitoaeion de estas RealeaOi^as proporeiosw: AM IntendeBcia tne^d* ^/ara que pneda Iknaif loa daMM itt «ito gefe. >* ^pi' # ± MOBAUDI' DBBPATOH. 401 ^the Goveraor thinks himself superior in nautical know- ledge to the best marine officers. Those things havo prodaoed between us sufficiently bitter and disagreeable diseussions, and the Governor goes so far as to pretend, that the Intendant must submit to all his caprices, with- out having one word to say, when he, the Governor, treats with contempt aU the reasons wliich are laid be* fore him to -avoid drawing his Majesty into fruitless expenses. For these reasons, I think it indispensably necessary that the King should do one of these ^ • things: either confine the powers of this Governor wi» i ji the limits which his Majesty may deem proper to p^i scribe, or, taking into consideration the informatio ^ have given as to the condition of the royal treasury m this colony, supply me with the means of satisfying, the exigencies of this officer." Morales, among the sources of unnecessary expenses which he enumerates, mentions the establishment* of couriers between Pensaoola and Savannah, the costs of which he has not as yet been able to ascertain. *' But, ^ far," says he, "they have been of no further use than procuring gazettes from that section of the country ; and we all know what faith is to be put in the news to be found in the northern gazettes, in which any one m&f insert what he pleases for four reals." On the 30th -^f April, 1799, Morales wrote to his government to acknowledge having received from the Viceroy of New Spain $48-1,238, to pay the expenses of the preceding year, 1798, and also $50,000, which were due for the budget of 1797. The misunderstanding between Gayoso and Morales * Jm eomot que tu y vienen de P«iumo1« & SaTanntb, qu« »ua no •£ A qaaato Moi«j)d« * "^ ■' v/'w ■ y m l:»Si i 4os morales' ooMPUdim. I; ^t «g>. went on. daily increasing^ and, in a despateh of tlie Slst of May, the Intendant observeid^* tba*, considca-ing it was no longer possible for him to. continue to he in a state of open warfare against the Governor, he found himself under the necessity of supplicating his Majesty to relieve him from discharging the functions of Inten- dant, and to transfer him to some other point of his Ma- jesty's dominions in America. He then goes on giving ;" minute and positive proofe," as he says, "of the violence and tyranny exercised towards him by the Grovernor, who transgresses that moderation and urbanityf with which those in authority ought to be treated, who itisults and threatens the intendancy, and commits all the ex- cesses which are recited." The Federal Government had ordered Wilkinson |;o Washington, to confer with him upon all the important matters relating to the West and to Louisiana, on which he was supposed to possess the-most extensive informa- tion. He accordingly descended the Mississippi from Natchez, and departed from New Orleans for New ^York. In a despatch of the 10th of July, Morales speaks of Wil- kinson's late visit to that town, and communicates to his government all the intelligence he has been able to ol> tain in relation . to the political views of the United States concerning Louisiana, by pumping the American general. " Conceahng," says Morales, " what we kaaow} of his reprehensible deportment towards us, we have given him as kind and as favorable a welcome as his * Dice que no siendole posible por mas tiempa^l continuar en pugna abierta eon aqnel goberrador, se ve en la precision de stipUcar i S. l£ so sirra rele^tavle del oarga de intendeikte'jrtnisladarle 4 'Otro panto deles dotouuMdeAaieriiea. f Gontraviniendo & lo que presoriben la moderacion y urbanidad con que deben ser tratadtts las personos eonstituidas en mando, instdtando y amenazando d la intendeueia, y coDi«tietidd' los -demas exbesoa qoe refiere. ^ - .. % Disimulahdolo quo sabemos su reprensible oianejo ,«'«3gfak IMoa raeter, ice., Ac • % % m s* MORA£l» AKD^ WHXINSOm 408 raiik reqttirediisid ouc inesm pelrditted in tbh country. Oik the er^ <^ los departure, I prevailed upon him to fbraisli me tiri^ a eopy of tlie instructioiis wMoh h^ liad leftr with Major Cnslii&g, Ms sticcess<»', as to th6 manner in which this offiicer was to demean himself towards the Spaniards. They simply amotmt to this,— that the American officers are, by all posdble means, to cultivate ottr friendship and to preserve the good understanding which so fortunately eidsts between the two powers. « It would not be justifiable to draw favorable or un- favorable conclusions from the mere outward show of such demonstrations.* But, as there are certain moments when the individuals of that nation are in the habit of opening their hearts, I will not conceal from your Excel- lency, that, in those moments of effusion, when the General was with peraons who possessed all his confi- dence, he manifested the same sentiments which I com- Dftunicated in'my confidential despatch of the Slst of May last. No. 23. In a few words, the policy of the United States may be said to be reduced to these twov points : I'— to prevent France and England taking pos- session of this province by cession, or by the force of arms ; 2*^— to repress any sd^eme of separalion which may be entertained by the Stat«^ of Kentucky MidT^ii- nessefe. The General gave it even to be ' understood, that he thought it proper, and therefore would propose td the President-trthat he should return with full author- ity to help us with aU the forces under his command in case the English should invade the colony, provided we do not, in the miean time, declare war against them, the * Nd pnede tovmvti^ jttici<\iii dc^ttcirepoMqaenc^M advsnas nlfeypmUeftde MunrMJfltiti^ ezt«rior«d»d«K; pfiro con todo^ eomo Ijii jjidiTtduos do aita naoion ■9«I«h ^txM tnomiettioi «ft ^ «i eorasoa se ^{ttndi^ livtookdtMtf jl Tt &t g«uk ta lei qu« ]i»°{^do JieiioifllMif^hr^q^^ UifMtaddlb nwiano que eqpiiM A V^&ij||pji)i rtipitMnUimon roMrrikda del SI lUyo nltioMN Na 28. flWf Ur'}\ >*■> ji* 404 k FmE IMPOSED ON CABQKDELET. ^ Americans, because it is more to the interest of the United States that this province remain luider tibie do- mination of Spain. But, to accomplish the two obje^te they have in view, the forces which they possess at the posts they have occupied are very limited." According to the provisions of the Spanish Jurispru- dence, and to time-honored custom, Gayoso had received the commission of Judge of Kesidence to inquire into the ^::acts of his predecessor. It seems that, on this occasion, it did not turn out to be an idle and unmeaning for- mality, and Judge Martin, in his History of Louisiana, records as follows the result of the investigation : "One act of the Baron's administration was deemed reprehen- sible. He had been deluded by an excess of zeal for what he conceived to be the public good, into taking upon himself the responsibility of condemning to death a slave, who had killed his owner. The fact was proved, but Vidal, the assessor of government, conceived that the circumstances which attended it, did not bring the (pase under any law authorizing a sentence of death, and had recommended a milder one. At the solicitation of \ number of respectable planters, and of the owner of the slave, Marigny de Mandeville, a knight of St. Louis and a Colonel of the Militia, who represented to the Baron that an example was absolutely necessary,, espe- cially so soon after the late insurrection, he disregarded the opinion of his legal adviser, and ordered the execu- tion of the slave. It was thought the life of a human being, although a slave, ought not to depend on the opinion of a man, in any case where its sacrifice was not expressly ordered by law. A fine of five hundred dol- lars was imposed oil and paid by the Baron." In a despatch of the 25tb of July, Morales informed his govemm^t of the death of Gayoso, in the foHo wing m ^^ i espe- tarded 3xecu- lumaii in the las not dol- GAYOSO^S DEATH. t(jrms : " Oil tlie ISth inst, it pleased Gk)d* to put an end t6 the life and government of Brigadicr-Genei'al Bon Manuel Gayoso de Lembs. He died of a tfiaUgnant f ever^ of the nature of those which prevail In this country during the summer, and the dangerous character of which was known only a few hours before it terminated fatally. H<6 had no time to lose in fulfilling the last duties of the Christian, and in making his testamentary disposition^.^ A short time before expiring, he reconciled himself witjjirf^ rae, and we exchanged a reciprocal pardon for the causes of complaint we had given to each other in the accom- plishment of what we had thought our respective duties." Governor Gayoso died extremely poor, leaving nothing to his heirs but a large amount of debts. He was a spendthrift, in the fall sense of the word. Having been educated in England, he had adopted some of the habits peculiar to that country, particularly that of indulging too much in the pleasures of the table. It is said that Wtikinson's last visit to New Orleans proved fatal to Gayoso. They had long been on a footing of intimacy* strengthened by a similarity of tastls ; and, on their recently coming together, they had carried to an excess their ooftvivialities, which had predisposed Gayoso to the ., dis^as'e that carried him off in his forty-eighth year. On his sudden death, Don Francisco BouHgny, who was the Colonel of the regiment of Louisiana, assumed the mili- tary administration of the colony, and the auditor, Don Jose Marid VidaJ, the civil and political govemment.f * "EX 18 del oorrieate At6 Dios servido pooer fia «1 gobiemo <1«1 BrigadUjr Don Mannel Qayo«o de Lemos. tTna calentura maligna de las que ofreoe «9te pais en la eetacion de verano, no eonoeida por los faonltativoa hasta algnnas boras ictes de su ftllioimianto le quitd la Tida, babieado sido forzoso andAr de pij^a para ; qu« eoollililM <9on hw otdnaoiones d« cbrist{a,no y que bi<»era teatamento, Poco antes de expilar b« reooneuid eonmigo, j qtiedaron reoiproeaOirinte Tiniitid&s las qn^jjas penoaiiles A qae did Iug*r tf etim|^iiiii«ntoi(ie bi ^tie eida nito entendia ler Bilcbligadoii. -,, ' t McnkWde^wtobofibeSStbof JalyfiY99. , #' ^ 11 . k 406 .^OJINSUS OF UPP^R LOII^UNA. The post of New Madrid was, this year, annexed |0 ITp^er Louisiana, of which ac^nsmwas made hy ordev of its eoixunandant-generalf Charleb Dehault De Las^us, which presenteil the following results : ,^. , „. St Louis, . • • • • . . • • 9^6 Garondelet, . . . , 184 ' St Charies, ......... , W6 T St Fernando, . . ^^ Marais des Liards, . . . . . . . . 8^6^ ' Maramec, .' .. . . ' . . ' . « . ' lit! - St Andrew, .,,.., . . . . . . 89.Si .... St Genevieve, ........ iM !^ev Bourbon, , ^^^gj^mm . . . . 660 Gape Girardeau, ^fl^^^^^Bv' * '^^^ . New Madrid, ' JI^I^IP • • • • ^^^ Little Meadows, ^^'S^^^^MB ^ ■ : ^jj Total, 6,028 The white population* numbered 4,948 sOuk; the free colored 197 ; the slaves 883. The commerce of that part of '^e country had Also increased in proportion to the augmentation of the popu- lation. Its crops amounted to 265,047 bushels of wheat, ^bout the same of Indian com, and 28,627 pounds of tobacco. Thirteen hundred and forty quintals of lesld were produced from the mines, and a,bout one tliousand barrels of sialt from the dalt wells. The fur trade, whi(&h Was carried on entirely through New Orleans, gave ala^ nually about $75,000. .. On beiiig informed of Crayoso's death, the Mkr^tiis de Someruelos, Oaptain-General of the island of Cuba and of Louisiana, sent over the Marquis de Oasa Oalyo to be the governor ad interim of the colony. This gentlemaai entered on his functions in the fall of the year. 'On ilie l^th of OctobeiVMorales wrote to his gdv^ffe' inent lliatj ^TiBg lieard of th^^ appointment ^Dbii '»''; '^ V* Martin's History of Louisi^ina, vol. ii., p. 1^^ .M ^|J5 -># CASA CA£Vi6' AFPOXiir^ €K)YERN0^ 407 RatAon de Lope^ y Aogdlo to the office of Intendant in Lduisi&fia, ^Ucli he, Morales, had filled ad interim for t^fee years and a half, and c(»»idering himself no longer capable of discharging the duties of his own office of eontador, he begged his Majesty to allow him to retire with Bi3:ch a grade and pension as his Majesty might think proper to favor him with. Oasa Galvo, a short time after his arrival, transmitted to th« Captain-General of Cuba, who, in Ids turn, fois^ wardied it to Madrid; a petition from several proprietors of landed estates, soliciting that the unlimited introduo- tioii of negroes be again permitted, which Casa Calvo recommended as being required by the agricultural inte- rest. On the 23d of November, the cabinet of Madrid answered: "that, permission having lately been given to the French citizens Cassagne, Hugiiet, Raimond ' 1 f^MI 11 ■■i'^^^^fifi^ SK.K/'v ( 'i^^^^^s. H^^ mW mRw- j** • ' * wyijtt^jl^p — '^ '^t^^Wml^^ WBBii? m^^m f'^j^pii^^^ '''■^^^ffil s'-y%ii^^iBXA V 'i 'fj^fKB^m^' f ^WB^^ IHi ii v-. s «:,. ii „*^ -f 40$ BISHOP PBNALVEBt's COMPLAINTS. "-The adventurers I speak of have "scattered th^msiJlVes o'^' the districts of Attakapas, Opeloussas, Ouachita and Natchitoches in the vicinity of the province of Texas in New Spain ; they employ the Indians* on their forms, have frequent intercouree and conversations with them, and impress their minds with pernicious r-uaxims in har- mony with their own restless and ambitious temper, and with the customs of their own western countrymen, who i|iare in the habit of saying to such of their boys as dre distinguished for a robust frame, whilst patting them on the shoulder: you will he the man to goto Meanco. "Such is the case with the upper part of the Missis- sippi, with the district of Illinois and the adjacent terri- tories, in which there has been a remarkable introduc- tion of those adventurers, who penetrate even into New Mexico. This evil, in my opinion, can only be remedied by not permitting the slightest American settlement to be made at the points already designated, nor on any part of the Kio Colorado. "The parishes which were reli^ously disposed are losing their faith and their old customs; the number of those Christians who receive the sacrament at Easter decreases ; and the people turn a deaf ear to the admo- nitions of their clergy. "It IS tme that the same resistance to religion has always manifested itself here, but never with such scan- dal as now prevails. The military officers and a good many cf the inhabitants live almost publicly with colored concubines, and they do not blush at carrying the ille- gitimate issue they have by them to be recorded in the paK)chiai registries as their nat/wrcA chUd^en^^ t Arni^ii SOS cttserifu con los Lidios, tienen oonfabnlAciones, la» imprin|i«n maximaa prejudiciqrlca cotiforme i su eataeter inquieto, ambioto«(^ y & ik» viticti- los qae obiiervva •son hub paisUios del Oeate, qdienes tiesen-la eostambredA palm«at «1 homoldi de bus niSos quando son mily roboatoB, diciendol«R yom. W^jf^ to Maeieo. * •• :m m, -ifrr--^=r=--^'M»^''^!^^-wttCcj5ao¥ajr ^t ie Ule- in the oipnm«n loiB vificu- # DESIGNS OF THE i^MERIOANS ON LOTHISXANA. 409 The Bishop goes on saying that the magistrates, whose doty it ought to be to give a good example to the peo- ple^are tLe first to violate all the precepts of religion and morality. On the 1st of January, 1800, the new Intendant, Don Ramon Lopez y Angullo, entered on the duties of bis office. He was a knight pensioner of the royal and dis- tinguished order of Charles III. This year had, it seems, been intended by Providence to be the beginning of a new era for Louisiamt, since it gave rioe to a series of events and negotiations which ultimately terminated her existence as an European colony, and raised her to the dignity of a Sovereign State by her incorporation with the great American confederacy. This new pow-r had determined on the acquisition, by' force if necessary, of New Orleans at least, if not of the whole of Louisiana. But it was felt that, to conduct this enterprise successfully, it was indis- pensable to refrain from awakening the suspicions of Spain ; and therefore, under cover of preparing for the difficulties which might arise from its differences with France at the time, the American government had addfid twelve regiments to the army, and hud ordered three of them, as I have already stated,, to the mouth of the Ohio, with instructions to have in constant readi- ness a sufficient number of boats, to cany down the contjemplated expedition to New Orleans. But tlm plan was abandoned, or postponed, on account of the evident determination of the people not to reelect ae president the individual who had been at the head of the government for nearly four years. It waa thought more l^rudeni to leave to his successor, ^ho would cc»ne £^h Irom the people, and to the unimpaired vigor of a new f^D^mstrtttii^^]^ management Qf so lm|K)*rtant li %•,-• it. t Mm ilO BONASABTE AND .LOXTIBIANA. Id the mea&timef the extraordinary man who ruled thf destinies of France had fixed his eyes on Louiaiana, which he resolved to acquire, as one of the elementsvof the great system he had devised to carry to the highest degi'ee of splendor the commerce, navigation, and manuv faetures of the country he had made so illustrious hy war. In furtherance of the views which he hu con^ ceived, he had ordered his ministers to collect from all |tealuable sources the imost minute information on the resources of Louisiana. There is extant ojri this subi^ct a very remarkable m^mmV, submitted to the First C ansnl of the French republic by M. do Pontalba, who had long resided in thf" colony and occupied in it a dis- tingnished official position. He gives a very accm'ate topographic description of the Western country, and then says x>f its inhabitants : '^ All this proves that the only commercial outlet for their produce is the Missis- sippi; that Louisiana can never cease to be the object of their ambition, as they depend upon her in the most absolute manner; that their position, the number of their population, and their other means, will enable them to invade this province whenever they may choose ta do SO) and that, to preserve her, it is necessary to conciliate and control them by keeping up intelligences with the most influential men among them, and to grant them privileges, until this province be sufficiently strong to defend herself with her own resources, against the tctfi'ent which threatens her. Should its waters be^l^t loose^- there is no doubt but that they would eweep e^ery thing on their passage ;i for the Kentuckians, sin^ie handed)^ or allied with the inhabitants of the neighboring districts, may, ^ when they choose, Bsach I9'ew0]^ean»>)(rith twenl^or thirty thousand men, irani^ p<»t0d o&'Iai^ flatboa^ »iMih m v ^^llie Ei^kh, in the same peace treaty which 1&^ ocmchided at ihe same ?time with th^^^D^iited States^ * t ■0 # • ^^' « «■'• VOVTAUBAJa XXMOZB. 4l:i abandoned to tbem all that was marked in the old maps a« a part of the United Provinces, as far as the Missis- sippi) without exueptirig that part of it which hU Britaiu me Ma^ jsty had ciready detached and awnexed to Western Florida; and the line which was determined in that treaty, by running i: the middle of the Mississippi to the 31st degree of latitude, surrendered to the United States all the east side of that river as far as the spot lying opposite the mouth of the Red Biver, 86 miles below Natchez, and by running west and east from that point to the river St. Mary, left to them all the district of Natchez, which was the most populous portion of Louis- iana, thus restricting the possession of Spain towards Mobile to a sandy tenitory which did not extend beyond six miles, and reducing the country back of Pensacola to t hirty miles of barren soil. ^* Ever since the year 1786, the United States had aimed at taking possession of Natchez and all the terri- tory which was assigned to them by the said treaty. Spain had constantly opposed such pretensions, and had succeeded, through her intelligences with the western provinces of the United States and through her negotia- tions, in suspending the hostilities with which she had often been threatened, and in eluding the unfounded claims of the United States down to the yeai* 1797, Avhen she was obliged to accede to them in order not to expose herself to the loss of the whole province. ^'As the Americans therefore are in possession of these new frontiers, it becomes more ui^ent than ever to secure a barrier for the protection of Mexico. There are two ways to accomplish this object. TheJbst isi,,to estabMi^ in Louisiana a population sufficiently lai^; to defend her^against all attacks ; the second is, to lEBm a union with Kentucky and the other districts of the Westwn€ountryj witl^ the oMigstlon on tiieir part W m* '^^ # 'St ^ 414 U FOUTALBA^S XEIfOIB. serve 88 a rampart against the United States ; antl, nnti] it be possible to execute one or the other of these pro- positions, my opinion is, that, by all possible means, peace must be preserved with the United States. ^'This is what the Spanish Government has never ceased doing from 1787 to the present time. It was as- sisted in this policy by a powerful inhabitant of Ken- tucky, who possesses much influence with his countrymen, and enjoys great consideration for the services he has rendered to the cause of liberty, when occupying high grades in the army of the United States ; who, from that time, has never ceased to serve Spain in all her views ; and who will put the same zeal at the Command of France, because he thinks with reason that on intimate union between her and Louisiana is more advantageous to his country (Kentucky), than its present relations with the United States. " This individual,* whose name I shall not mention in order not to expose him, but which I shall make known when his services shall be wanted, came to New Orleans in 1787; He informed the Spanish Government of the state of things then eidsting in Kentucky and the ad- joining districts, and of the efforts which the inhabitants of thos» provinces were making to obtain their indepen- dence and the free navigation of the Mississippi. He also declared that there was a general disposition amoag ithose people to place themselves under tho protection of Spain, should Congress refuse to do justice to their claims. - ^Itison that refusfl that this inhabitant cif ^en.tuc% had founded all his hopes, and, in that, cafie^. he had oifisri^ to declare himself the vassal of his GathaLie J4a- jestyt fie promised, as such, to give information of aid thiat the inMbitants of that region would tm^irti^loi^ * 0«n«ml WilkiiiM& '^ife» ^^"^ ^^NTJ^XBA^S MEMOIR. 4 •■ TT^ or agaiiuit LoQUiana, and he proposed, as another tneaus, io promote emigration irom the Western IKttricts ad- joining Louisiana, in order to increase onr strength. It is with these dispositions that he went back. '^He returned to New Orleans, in 1789, to renew to l^e government his propositions to employ all the means in his power to procure for his district of Kentucky its independence from the United States, by forming with Spain an alliance exclusive of all other nations, and actively to foment, at the same time, emigraticu to Louisiana.* "He notified the Spanish Government, in 1791, that his hopes of success for his schemes had vanished. He attributed the cause of it to the granting by Spain to the inhabitants of Kentucky of permission to take down their produce to New Orleans, and to sell it there on paying a duty of 16 per cent. He pretended that the fertility of their soil amply indemnified them for the payment of that duty, and, the next year, he wrote that \\l ideas of emigration from his district had been entirely v^ven up, ever since the inhabitants of Kentucky knew that his Oatholic Majesty had declared that, for the fu- ture, instead of purchasing annually two millions of pounds of tobacco from the emigrants, he would take only forty thousand pounds. "It results from all this, that Spain conld not succeed in gaining over to her side the people of Kentucky^ The same motives have stopped the emigration which mighl; with reason have been expected, considering that Louisiana, which contained twenty thousand soulsain * Tbk> nQt« is to W|i>imd«t t^ bpil^m o| tli04?»g« in,tlit« «ri({(ooI ipa^uwiapt; "Four iiaum, from llM to 1792, preparations wiere made id fentaoky iaird Cnm- Verlindto attaek Louisiana, and, every tiau^ tltiis ii^e I^K'^idoal dauaed #«n 1^^tiii|m^«Jlu%ittflMaj(Mi,over y*,«9unM^i9<9ff. J,miki^-tb«sa J^o^kfatm^ to '^42d degree, it becomes more important than ^ver fes^' ,*fj;'le the Western side, which is better susceptible of n. „ :. .oas and flourishing establishments such as New Miidrid^ the banks of the St. Francis, the Arkansas, the Ouachita, and Red River, together with the posts of Natchitoches, .Attakapas, Opeloussas, &c. "All these districts, on becoming populous, might defend the province, by easily concentrating their forces at the point where it might be required according to circumstances. The lands watered by these rivers iare the most fertile in America, and afford us room £[>r the finest establishment, which would be of an immense extetit, and which would be contiguous tO' the Mngdom of Mexico. "l^ese were the points which the court itf Spain was afraid of stodtdng with population cm fttoouni of the neighborhood I hav^ mentioned, and thsreare eadtiant in -the ar<^ivesiiof IxmiBiana the most pre^^drderoJtot to |lerniit the establishltient of any teiily (sm^^Kiliiiar f^ ^ ■ ^,(. ysM^oi ^ HitiTe is-tfae :iiiost direct 4H>in m^w Biiiit^ do not extend t^on the eaati ljcjy6iid ike &lst ^«gree, »ti?d j:«^M%Mfeli fe tMrty-6ix mSes below IfatcbeZjiaariJie^;^ ali^^wtjF sdid a'feo's^. ' But, nMwithstaadiHg thi»t the. TOi^ States ective nations. This is what th^ aamas ohiefe wh^ they i^ice^diHiie ^to g^ ^^^ cl^fe difeapproyed d»o the act i)f the aboVd m6a^^3abS ■^ff'i # «' •i # m .ttr. FON^MiBA'S VSiWm^ i> Til i ^ i :»» **It is crery Impo^ftQt that tkiB Afotesaid nfttibifi fe* maift tinder ^e protection of Fraticey in the sapie wn j. they were under that of Spais, because they sea-v^ ;as a bamer against the United States, on a spalce 0f rane huiidred miles which it would be neeessitiy to go '^ver^ through those nations, in oi tion from the provinces of Ge<»gia and Qouth GaroMna. " I do not doubt biit that the Americans would oppose; with all their power the extending of the prelection ^. France Over those nations^ as they have always oj^tosed Spain, by sending commissioners, eveiy year, t^ endeavoir to detach those Indians from her. They never could suc€>eed in these attempts. They could onlytgam aver to their side the Indian chief of whom I ha^e spoken, with the m&Di of Ms village. None others allowed them- selves to be persuaded by the letters which were written to them by the minister of war, Knox, by Dr. Franklin, and € J by General Washington. They delivered those letters to the Governor of 'Louisiana in proof of their fidelity; but, as it may be possible that the United States shall Ihink proper to use force against them^ and ad it is against the law of natioiis to prevent i^ese people from choosing their protector, justice nnd the interest of France reijuire that she should offer them her assistance according to the exigencies of the ease. ** Should even the United States undertake to form establishments on the terHtory of ihe aforesaid nations, as they have already attempted it, it is not doubtM but that "^ose natibns would oppose it with all their mighty and that they would call in the aid of the got^em»)mt of ]x«iiman% wMoh ought then to assist l^m witi^ all itsloneesi, in dirder not to risk iKhe loss of ao essentiiil^ "Tb.ose nations have always been drapoeed to by force all attempts to invade their tettitory. f '* ft. ■«* ^^Rf ^" ^qKm|x#:A.8 Mxnotm k> m wlui>t'>£nioceii]Ted between tlieOh^okeee, the Creeks, the • Talapottclies and tiie United Stateer: the Indian«)i^ tilflinied for their Hnxit the Comherland liver, the lAme- ricans, thci Okony. It is foi* this cause that they have been constantly^^ a:t war until 1791, at which iime the ha^breed Alexander McOiMivray was caEed to New Yoi^ by president Washington, with divers -Greefe^ chiefe. ^ey then filmed a treaty of peace, whit^ the nation refused to ralify, because McGilUvray had ceded m^retenitoi^ than: his instructions authorised him to do. /ilt was even contrary to the thirteen 4tptin>l?*i:0sf the treaty wet had concluded at the congress held at ^en-^ s^eola in 1784, with the Creek nation. ^^ 5* The cession made by McGilHvray gave up to the Americans a considerable portion of the best limds of the Creeks, who opposed it, and have, ever sirice,^ con- stantly opposed the taking possession of those lands by the Americans. France ought to assist them in their resistance, and, to do so successfully, it would be proper that, on taking possession of Louisiana^ tho^IV^eh go- vomment should call together a congress of Ihfkt nation at Pensacola. Although such an operation would 'Ibe explosive, on account of the presents which it is the custom to give the Indians (»k radi oceasicma, und be- cause they ai'e to be supplied with provisions whHst they stay at the place where they have been Unveiled, and on their way back, still such a measiu'e is indii^nsablei In this congress, the French Governor will iHK)w "What influMice has'been retained by McGilHvrayf over ^loie pQO|i^ fio&oe 1^ treaty whidi they » dkafypvoved. '^^ ^He will tni^ them feel how mueh n^ore ^idivoirtageous to: thek n the protee^on oi Wtsia^j which they iy(ve'>not ?■ Epa|«lb.* h«dt^e«ii it) th«;^plo^,<>f Spain. f It«Miq|i that ModilUVrajf'rdeal^ ^bloH 6c m llp6, bad not roa ^$ '<^ E\./.. [ ■■«ft •I 4 -[ ^ ip mmJik}XA%iWgmak fm'g^tt»^ymiL 4^ oi the United Sla*es,^wli0 itiiil it nothing «^e than invsdiiig tliek' lands. ^f^0^4CbQctaw8t and AlibninQtis, fg^eiR^ ih9 convened in congress, wiUi ask foe one in tb^ii? I^n^ wit ^tnll be indispensable to grant it) isT^xrderta clieckt^ constant efforts made J^iihe United States te^^^^^^^ Sfnem. from the goyemment of Iioai8iim%to#£a^ i^ they fed considerable affection, and nnde?? tlie).$toteQ|«9zi ol whi^h th^y have always been placed, «»* . ; w ^i i *f[I>Qriiig the Frwieh^ domination, the Qm&m^ M Lonisianft used.to ccafivene a Congress oi thosit nuitions, every year at Mobile. The consequence ia, th»t thehr old men speak of that time with grateful remembxfifDiQe, and those people will see the return of, their former pro- tectors with a satisfaction equal to the umbrageiyi^hi^ '4he United States wiU take at it. ;.?* Notwithstanding the advantages which the An^teri- cans have obtained. by the establishment. 4^ the limits above designated, there is a circumstance which w^l always^ keep the inhabitants^of the West in the depend- enee of Louisiana, and which wiU render their eimgration to it; advantageous to them, although the lands they now possessore of extreme fertility'— and that is, the dilfi- oulty \,^hich they experience, on account of the ^distance at which they are, in exchanging their produce for the commodities they want^ although th^y have the free use of the navigation of the river, because the most valuable produce^ they have for . sale is, ihw. tobacco md flmuv wltt©h do not fetch A M^ price ^^theAt^ so that the iaihabitants of the W^t would be ^ig©d^ to giip^e tiie^ »!ray ahaa^ foavsjaothiiig to ^est advantage in New Orleans ? ^^^"Thaje circumstances are very powerful motives to ii^4ticfe the inhabitants of Kentucky, Whose example TVduld'iBhortly be foHowed by those of the other WeslJem diMets, to separate themselves from the IMted States in order 'to*^ibtkU ati alliance with Pranee| under ^e pb- ligationof their deeding Louisiana in case of an attaek from the ITnitea States. ^Jljs'Spfdn hail granted them all that they have asked i(^;M^sis it is to be presumed-^at they will ongag^^ nOhoistili^, FraxiOelHll have time to mature tHssel^mie, a^^^it'fihibii^ \i^ ikHo hftve time,to convlifete-^etnseivesllit theiy'cannot^^ haj^y and jwos« W^- m PONTALBa's HEMOim t ■^' If- perous ei^er Witibont this aUiAtloej of withou§^<^e%oii quest .of liouisitma. Either one or ihe other .oifUteae events is coiamanded by the nature of thfe country; t It is for France to provide for tiie one, in order to avoid the other. To succeed in this, it is necessary to employ atnan who should appreciate the importance of success, as well 33 the situation of those Westan provineeft in, relation to Louisiana and the United States, and wh0 should renew the intelligences which the <70vemment <# Louisiana had with the individual . of whom I have spoken. .. •'■-oh- ■ ■ :■.■■■*■■■:-. ^■;; ..;«vJ 'W-« ■■ ■ -ft'-,'t». /' Whilst attending to the execution of this pmjeet^ it would be of the greatest importance to employ, ttt "the same time, extraordinary means to people Louisiana, so that she might ultimately defend herself with her own resources. Should this be accomplished, the desisted alliance would become less necessary, perhaps even use^ less for France, and, on the oonti:ary, would be solicited by the above mentioned districts. " At first sight, it seems dangerous to people Loui^ar na with aliens^ but its singular position in relation to th% inhabitants of the banks of the Ohio is sudii, that it ma^ be considered as their honie; for it may be set down as^ an axi(Nn, that it would be easier for tiiese inhabitants to invade liouisiana from those distiict^, than to rebeil, if they w€^e settled within its limits-*-with t^is (M^er^ne^ in the ^toase^ that invasion Tfrould be to them a soui^ ofglory, and, that* nvhen. embarking on the Ohio, being favored by the rapidity ctf the current, they would pp;^ rate a junction of their forces in Louisiana before i| lif loiQWA there tiiat they ha^ formed any such 4^0^ > ifln^t having once enn^ated and being received among u% with a proQiise of ii dling with their domestic ^iffiurs, or with their religion. ^ Ab s^on as by such means the affection of the first generation shall have been secured, the succeeding ones will of course know no other country than the one in which they shall have been bom, and it will then be left to the wisdom of government to imprint on the tender and impressive hearts of youth the true senti'^ents of patriol^m and justice^ M ^cl^-ino*iv8S determined the king of Spun, in 1790, to cause to be sent to the Governor of Louisiana asufl^ cient qiM^tity of provisions to enable him to receiveittQ the emigrants that should come firom the aforesaid db* tricts. He authorized that officer to nu^ concessions of land to them, and divide those settl^nents into is^t^ eein mile districts, in the centre of which th^e shpuld be a church, a house for the commandant and an Irish dur&te^ but with instructions not to disturb them i^ the eit^Ercxse of their' religion. '^M^ chief f^m. tfi to^ Indicfite the m^ans c^^peoplmg Loty^a^ie^ ^ frinalk :# ■•'f. * - 'X A- ^^u^^ f K»t«ALB4'8 MXHOm, «^ * bated tty^O fOAfiotion ia>whi<^ I nm-^>^^^Auiik Ltkti^Lna im^^^of^Amm^md theMftxro ctf tho faighett im-' p6Tttt&o«. r In tMs re8f)«et^ «h0 h$iti fot^B long tittie pagt, beMI thwotjeot of the ambition o€ the IMted Ststteffl^ tiiuit ^Jieynrtyiild be cieopfy c^Bgosited if they mw her pass iiito^ the hands of so pr«fM)iic^ratifig a povrer as Fratfee ; attd they would have invaded her long agO: if they hilid fbreseen such tai event. ^'Ilie pi^irehaseof ^hetobaocoTMsed by theemigraatift' eoald not be bardensoime to Franoe. ' > ^ain nsed, b«fot# the war, to buy annually two millions of p6tinds of tb^ baiiioo at N^w Orleans, althongh she <$onsuttied biit little of it. <*f teaow in the most positive manner, from informa- tioh given to me by the officer who is personally intrusted with this administral^n in Spain, that, after reserving^ i^ siidy thousaiid pounds which > are sufficieut forthe ooRSUmption of Spain, because s^e uses none but- Ibn' ra^peie/'Sikieexported tiie rest, every year, to Holland and l^rance, aid that, according to the returns df the bilH of sai§s,^thcf 'royd treasury was greatly benefited*' by that o|HM%tioxi. This circumstance induces me to propose ^Ms^^means as the one which promises to be the most sm^^^Ad'; without being onerous to the republic. "***The crops t»ftoba^1co made by said Inhabitants wer6 bbi%Mt,1tt t^90 and 1T91,' at the rate of 8©i per pomid, by th^i Sptti^h ge^ernment; which derived consideraMe |M^ #oi]ir%; knd tikos^ hihabitiuits were thems^es so #€1 Ittlft^dMti* that 1^ #dtild deem titt^^eilves exceedingly happy if the govDmiftentr . ^itrtilM#bttf4^ Ma(&^ii|tt^fti!^t»f tobaccd atsii^^ ii^i^ df^^. <'Sh6Q]l^4 b^^^etidedta^lbur niili^^ of i^iMdB^/yeM^i%'#^^ to attraet a good ^' ttf Ijo^i^^ii^ ;^fbr; fi^^ iE^ >ol Maceo idt^t6^t>idy ^fiii >i m o^wistaiio^ coaviiioeg.im» that the piiMluMe^4ifthisv«rtiole bjp^th^ gaveromea^ would poii^rAi% oQn^bate to iiioif«i»0'^ popoJatioit of that fMtrt of Louiinana* ^ h^ ^^Frapoe wiU easily find an outlet Ibvtiidae fofir nil- IJMPIr^jf pomidf of tobacco, eoauderiog*tiMt,4l'4fifNBa made moDiey bjr the «fi«ffa«ion wh«n die paidieig^^eetits per pound, Fiance, paying only tix cents fi»rihe>aaii[e aFtiele, would aell it cheaper, andwonkl '^erefoire iteUy £iod, not <^y a home market, but also one in Holland andin Spain. ,4^ It would not be necessary fS^r fVanee to make 'any adroncesta accomplish this object, because she might enter into an arrangement with Spaing by whiek that power wouW, annually, send $240^000 from Vera Oruz to Louisiana, to be reimbursed to her in Europe after iihe sale of the tobacco by France. This arrangenient would be equally advantageous to Spam, because she would receive that sum without risk, with alittle delay, to be sure*— but that delay would be com^petuated by the saving of the costs of troni^rtation^ ^^'Shouldthi^ measure be adopted, it would beoome necessary to establish regulations determiiung'l&e quan* tity of tobacco to be bought firom every. new 8ettl«>, in tl^/^ay in which it was ^ene by the> %>aiBieh gl^era- ment. Such was the {^n which it ft^owed, and' whi^ wasintermpted by the war< ^ . /^ The commercial intercourse granted by the^l^^'te the InliabitantB ef Louinaiia, all^ugk^^^a^lad ta^^^ posts: ef B^'Anoe and of her colonies in tmieof^ace^^itDd extBftdbd ta tbe potta oif the^Dmted^^iMieis&jtimeef waryillf^iUy sil^eiettt ixjkp^oi^ 1^iat>^)s^6it6e iritli^ ^h»me at^ eonvdieniiae ^ of it lbi»d# way to ti^e 0O#d^ o^ flii k^^twn s^.. L;P.:>''.' %| vst ¥, 1 Ij 1 i 1 JwT ^'^^^^^K y -M^^^^ n f Wm *;.|f SV:: 1 'U^^h^DBr 'i . 1 p #' ii IBPr" POUTAIAA'b 3113101% 11 f»' I f 3 i i i I ft merchandiae o£ which she may stfwid in need, and^ procure an outlet for her commoditiefii, with the oxoep- tion of her tobacco, which the royal treasury usedtlto purchase, but it is not sufficient to promote a rapid inetease of population.^ M. de Pontalba then goes on with an enumeration di^ all the means best calculated to attract, in a short time, a large number of emigrants — among which means, is the grant of free trade, if possible, with a^^ the nations of the world— -and says, that the duty of six, per cent, which is the only one hitherto levied by the government, would, in that case, on account of the development which the resources of Iionisiana would require, be soon amply suffiment to cover, and more than cover, the five hundred and thirty-eeven thousand doUai's which are the expenses of the present colonial administration. "The means," says he, "which have, so far, been used to people Iiouisiana, instead of being onerous to. the public treasury, have turned to its advantage; but what would be a still more powerful lever, would be .the ap- propriation of three millions of francs to be loaned in the Western country in this way: to every emigrant one hundred francs to j&^Bilitate his voyage, and to provide for the first expenses of his establishment, on condition that this sum shall be reimbursed in three yeai's, the head of every family and the last surviving member 0% it being responsible in solidoj and should this suni Isna advanced tO; unmarried men (provided they be laborers and not vagabonds), four of them would be required to become parties to this obligation^under the same condi- tions. Th& woidd provoke emigration, and I doubt not t^%tin 4es8; than twoxyeaiis, that .sum of three mipons of francs w^uld thus have been employed, and would hare prdciM^ thirty thoi!^ ^^® JS®*?* ment may rest assured, that there would be no loss; qj^ M ^P' #- VWfiUMAJB 424) hato the rei^olution Of relying on nothing else than their courage -^which was the sole resource remaining to wem. The r^idt Iras the exptdsioiik of the SpainiA^ Govejcnor, 'Moa. ■ "CSeilly amvefil mth an army. He had caused himleM^to Wp^e^e^by^j^^ o^ peace, £ the pftst?- The coldi]^, :^r ; har ^e^^iiE»ve which -die rejected. Th&fg&ve themselves up to the hope of an endurable condition nnder a new maoter^aAd xecei^ed him without remstance. O^ReiHy's conduet "ifi but too well known. It exasperated fevery hearty and caused the new domination to be abhorred. "The €ount of Galvez made his appearance, and inspired- the public ' with confidence ; for he was dis^ tingt^hed for the affiability of his manners. *he sWie^ ness of his temper, the frankness of his character, thd kindness of his heart and his love of justice. Receiving, in 1779, the ndwsi of the declaration of war against the English, he convened the colonists around himi s^iaet them who love me follow where I lead," said he ^ and the next day, fifteen hundred Creoles, among whom were many heads of families^ gathered round hiin, and were ready to march to l^e enemy. *' The I^lish were attacked before they knew thftt an expedition had been formed against them, and allth^ establishments on the Mississippi were carried sword in hand,* before the artillery which was following us wfu^ half way on the road to its destination. These are the men* of Louisiana^ who aret,: undoubtedly^ well wotthy of returning to the>'bosom* of France. What is it that can- not fee expected 'from them, when they «hall' be under the inftnenee (^ the great n^n who is gomg to iMi^^re ^id go¥«rii iiduisianalV ^^r«&»^" *^^^^ (^; - ♦' ^i Aft^ -jgoing iiKtp itke ' expocotion/ oi? i^^ ^isfyim^e tti«atMreii whi^iaxe to be^ adopted for* t^ Loufisiam^, M. de Pontalba thus resumes his if'. .'; ■> ■.., ,■- ■: ,; ."^ . ■ ., , : ' ., A-.- , : ■ . ':^-.r (*:''■■ .: * Tlii* in not correct* the fort 4 Bi^toii Bonge ]l*Til|i|| ^ifi^^mbwrdf^i^ flftrri«d oAly by the artiQery. Se« pi|* 120 of thiii VDnifabl: f # bli^ Hem ap ta tKe la^terjaad tsoadt^ 4& ranee, -faid B was di»' the swft» iractefj 1^ agaiiist tlie lim; r^iaet Id he; and «f horn were i,? and wei© aewthftt an ad all thek d aword in ring ns wfi^ lese are the itvthatcan- lybe^ nnder to^q^mve ■ .*< .■ ,*, , . 4feft«»ve >serv#|^: 0fos!miB£s^.:3fme3fm, m '^- ^^J^mmii^m iBSkyhe called *© the ni^l)^ briHianl de!9^es« \/hat « series of ^prospeiities 49^ pot promke' to her the prependeranee of the . re- Jtobj^ipi: : Alld^^^^ Ik^^e nietaK>polisl To seeure thig, aU that is neoesh 8^!^ j% to adopt ft^ proper (K)mbmation (^ all 1^ metns ^wMeW>oagllt to make her pK)spferoQe. - *^ No situation in the naiTers© offers so many advantages aa^bers^-and what remains to do r is to know how to tise tlieoii^Mlli^ fertility of her imatense territory, the abtm* dance of her rich agricultai»i pnodaets which- now seoore t^;thjd planter an interest of 26 tper cent, on the capital invested — ^these are her least adivan^iges. ' ^*:^ew Orleans^ lAe capital of Lonisiana,!}' the only outlet for the; most fertile of all countries, ike; extent c^ wliich in length exceeds si^ l^ousimd mileSj and the pt^ralation of which marches onward with gigania^e strides. That towa must, of course, serve as a plact ef (UpS$ for the products of tiiat immense country. :"i|rance holds in her haads the key of Mexico when sh^ possesses Iiomsiana, sincei her Sutlers on ih#w^t side of tkeldlsfflssippi extend beyond Natohitochetto^^ gates of St^ jAntonio, whichiis adependency of Mesif»o<^ ■> i^^The effeminate people that oocu{^ 4&e more than fifteens hundred ■■ miles of territory whiek lie between ^^at point and Mexico would easily l;^cnni» the^p3?e|r iof ^^ first X invader who «hould present himseiJI < evefir t^^tith modejate forces. But Spain, when cedii^ Loidwciiiiito France^ rightly sees in^^h^ naoght >bnt.;a pioteoti^w^ is more^qapablei than «he isi6f< guarding':Me^ao>ttgaia[M} the pV4iBi<»i "^P^tii vdneh Jthat .leoittitry < ig^ tkraatened ; >lRad a 9if|(icMe retttm aiift ^mi^^gaa^hr iMai^^ £fae6KdfofMenco. *■ *'. ♦ t ^'*lv ^. ;4" m m t. %' m m < <. vonnAfjiA^B ]ci$tt#il; I si M-^r ?! I' I a • •-f ' >* 8|i«in^ fey thia meftns, would remove aiiy temptalaoii that JVance miglit have of invading Mexico; fdr it becomes. nioi'e advantageous for France to trade with that oonntiy through Louisiana than to acquire its posses- sion. .Now, should Louisiana eiyoy the privilege 6f fi?ee trade both with France and the Me^can provinbeSj what portion of the earth would be more highly favored ? Where is the province that would offer so many advan- tages? From every part of the world there would be thereto a rush of men led by ambition and the desire of bettering their condition ; and less than ten years would be ^niO&cient to people that province, so as to^ make her formidable to her neighbors. "The western districts of the United States, which are now tenanted by individuals of aU nations, would soon be deserted, and would retain only such of their inhabitants as should not be able to find lands in Louisi"^ It is then that these people will hasten to detach ■•fi ana. themselves from the United States, fmm which Nature has separated them by a chain of mountains^ and will solicit) if not their annexation to the Republic, at least their independence under the protection of France. All that is necessary for this is, so to favor the inhabitant of Louisiana as to make him love the government that protects him, and to render precious to him the domina- tion that makes him happy; then, both^iis interest and ihclination will urge him to defend that government and donunation. " Almost all the Lonisianiaus are bom Fl'eiiehj of aiui»iaDa, if mad& easy on- this point and in relation to the impoFtBimd 'the duties to be paid thereon, would giye hatf of his hlood to fee re- placed under French domination, and woidd shed ^ the last drop of the remaining half to defend that domi' nadon. "The facility with which man can supply his wants in that colony is such, that two horn's of daily labor are sufficient to 'procure him all the means of existence^ Th? necessities of life are satisfied with hardly any la-puble lor expense. Several districts, such as those of Attakapas, Opeloussas and Natehitoches, furnish the colonists with thousands of heads of cattle— so that an ox, weigh^ from seven hundred to eight hundred pounds^ costs ao more than four dollars. Flour, comes frcMn the western provinces of the TJnited States in such abundanee, that bread is not higher than in France. i^^^^^The crops of rice and corn are so abundant, that the average price of a' barrel of rice of one hundred and eighty pounds is from four to five doIUirsi and that^ of com from forty to fifty cents, and this ife what constitutes the main food of the planter and of his negKoes. Every sort of game and fish is so plentiful^ that they searc^y fetch any price at aE An exception m^usti be made ^ to wagies, which are very high. It is the ease with ev^r^ newly settled country in which p(^ulati(^ has not yet become dense. ^^The produotB of. thifi province 4toni^ of ^TSigar, indigo, tobaceo, e<>tt«to, rice, >corn^ miBe^ essenee^iooiamon lurs, timber, board^^» pUmlE^ 9hh;i^leSj aad bjla^^ the &r vana..sogar.:.A; ■■'^('■■■': ■:i--^.'^ ■/■r-'^-i./i.,--*'- ;■;....;'.,--, "The want of success in the cultivation of indigo, ># JBik ■ '%»,■ * m. poirriiLBA^s listfotit. iU #li«fre' tlie pftey of ioaeetB, ^be dtnall'Testiltft dbudned fr^ aiiy oilier agiicTdttirid labor^ ba^e determined tlie planters h ti^ again the Experiment whieb^ had pre^'. otisiy failed^--that of e^blishing sngar cane pkntations. Fonbferly^ there uras oonraderable difficulty to be sni* nioulited. It had always been thought that winter was a grifiiat obstacle to that culture. Experience has proved the contr^y. '**The st^jar cane, which requires in the West India islaaids eighteen months to reach its perfect mati^ty^ i»? fit for nse in Louisiana in seven months. It begins to spring up in March, tO'-Jirds the end of the winter, and is cut at the end of Octobf r. "The impression was, that the pknters would have, for the manufacture of sugar, no more time than the month of November and part of December^ when the witttier should happen to be mild, because the canesr wohld be spoiled, if frosted when standing in the field. To obviate this danger, it would have been necessaiy'- for the inhabitant who occupies fifty negroesin plough^i mg his land, in planting and weeding his canes, to have four nulls and more than two hundred negroes, to e«ifc« and grind them before the setting in of winter* •• / ♦^Notwithstanding this, the planters M not gi**® way to discom'agement, and experience has demonstrated th{£t the sugar cane which, at St. Bomin^, -becomes^ souis two days after its being cut, contihneff^acMEHid 4it^ Louisiana, when cut down and covered with its stobl^le on the ground; until it be mann&ctored in«omigar.'i il^^ ia an invaluable advantt^, which' s^<$ire«« the smtam-M.- BUgttr i^tates in lAuisiana^ and is theetroae Mi^ vatkm Ji^this province/has beoonoter as lioiteat^ttMl^olt indu^i^-^i^^?*^ m mxKhhxiijp9Mmmi^fisi^^ nnp6^t«nt colonies. Ay f'^ P' <>it ix^' imanoxJ^ m' ^Itis ki 1795, that, with a small gang df thirty nie* groe6, the first sugar pkntatioii w[>4 esl^ablMi^d, e^d with such success, that th^ jndindu&l'i* ?.lio had mtt^ the aadertrikiug, sold his crop of hpowtt f ;?gnr to the Amisri- cans, in 17^6, fm- twelve thois^ayrd dollari. :; The quiiiSi^ of that su^^sir was found i»t least equal to tha! 6f MiB^rti* jpique. Tlii3 was enough to eXcite the emulation of aS' the planteiH who had some meanp, bo mUch so, fchat, notwithstanding ihe difficulty of procuring, in time of war, sets of kettles- -notwithst'^ ding the pi-phibitlon of the introduction o{ iiegroess, which checked the increase of cultivation, there are, to-day, more than sixty ^ugar estates in Louisiana, which produce, annually, four mil*^ lions of pounds of .sugar, which yield from twenty td^ twenty-^ve per cent, on the capital invested. * j "This sketch is sufficient to give an idea of th« pro- gress which this branch of indust^ is destined to makey as soon as the colony shallenjoy the blessings of peacfe* "The districts of Atfcakapaa and Opeloussas, situated at one hundred and seventy-four miles from New Or- leans, on the banks of the Teche and Vermillion, which lie on the right side of the Mississippi, are of an immense esf^nt, and the sugar cane succeeds there as well as on the river, and also in the Lafourche district and others^ / "The indigo would be one of the most advantageous products of Louisiana, if it could be cultivated sudcess- ftilly; but it is exposed to so many casualties, that it has been abandoned by most of the inhabitants. Thus, this crop which rose, some years ago, to teee hundred ^ thousand pounds, has been reducsd to one-third, and the cultivation of that plant diminishes every day, sincie the #iablishment of sugaif phmtations. But the impresabi^ % that th^ sugar cane de^rc^ the iuseots ^hich afe nomous to the mdigQ^ and a piece of land, which has jBdt * Jdftn Etienne Bor6. ^M i&d with iftde tbe B Ameri- >f Marti^ on of aifl so^ tMat, time of bitionof } incTease Kty Sttgar foupmil* weBty to the pfo- [ to makcy of peacfe. 3, sitmateti New O^ WK« 4 on, L imnicAise veil ad oil adotbeiPBi aiitagetons d sn^esB- , that it . Thns, hundred d,andthe^ Bincie tlife ptmAon hich ttis shliaifi* VOJSPtJLiAXQ M^OIB. |J||; ailongtime been used ibr the cnlttration'df' the sugar c^ne, may with stiecess^ it is thought, be turned over to the cultivation of the indigo. This article goes directly, in tinieii of peaoe^ to the ports of Franc % and can go ilo- where elsei It is there that it is always sold tb the best advantage. It is worth from seven to nine francs the pound* " 1?he district of Natchitoches is the only one which is addicted to the cultivation of tobacco ever since the dis^ trict of Natchez belongs to the Americans, when the new demarcation of limits took place in IT 97. The'* ,* qvuMQitity of tobacco thus produced rises to two hundred thousand pbunds. In time of peace, the greater portion of it is exported to France, and the rest to Vera Cruz and Campeachy. "The exportation of cotton from Louisiana does not exceed two hundred thousand pounds. This branch of agricultural industry is profitable enough (since the in-: - vention of certain mills to sepaifit.; tne seed from the silk) to justify small planters in consoling themselves for not having sufficient forces to go into the plantkig of the -%'■■ sugar (Suae. w ."That cotton is very fine, but the silk is short, lb ' time of peace, the whole of it is sent to France, whei?e itisiiQ. doubt used to better advantage than anywhero else, since it sells there better than in any other countiy. " fJ^eregoes out of Louisiana, annually, more than on<^ hoAi^ivd thousand dollars' worth of fura, cottsistitig ptin*-' cipaHy 4>f deerskin. Bear and beaver ddns, tdgether with' the hides of wild beeves^ and particularly ftirs ofifitte quality a^e comparatively scai?ee. They meet with a ready sale in the ports of France. " I^Ouk^ana su^pHes St. Domingo with a groat deal 6f- timbeTt p^Anks, shiiigleBj b^ essences,' ice. She si^HiV ^^^' m^Mmx^a ^m^mdm^. wagesaT^ twice as high tb«% w in th^IJmted Btot^ iMcaose also the quality of ihci woo4 l^^eing hai^doPt ?^ (jmrea^more laboFf and because the Toyiigea^ooki JjooIs- Ijiina are lotiger. '^Nevertl^lessj it is evidenttbat it is more adv#iita- geous for St.. Donungo to be 8up|>Ued with timbcor Jtpn» Louisiana than from the United States. In the ftrat place, t^e quality is infinitely better ; in the nextj the Amcericans,. when introducing cargoes of tiinbea* into the French colonies, carry also thither a great quantity of , dry good% manufactured either by themselves, or by the English, and take molasses in return to the amovnt of only one-half of their exports, as the other half of the return caigo is always in specie, whUst the vessels com- ing from Louisiana, far from draining St. Domingo of specie, bring a good deal of it, in order to purchase their return cargoes, which consist of _goods of French miftnu- faeture, and also of 'vines and eatables. The shipownei^ are .satisfied with a slight profit on the timber, which covers the expenses of freight. The cargoes of timber are a mei|P^ pretext, because every vessel sailing with a cargo of this nature, valued for instance at fifteen thou- sand livres, comes back from St. Domingo with af cargo of merchandise worth three or four times as much, and everybody knows that, with every cargo of timbei^ there goes in* contraband a sufficient quantity of dollars 40 pay f^r a return cargo, and, if those ships had not this olgect in view, their timber cargo would :be an insiaii- cdent cooperation to induce them to undertake siKifa i^yaget. This trade, which has been inteiri^ted'sini^e the Twar, will t£^e more extension und^r the donuniitiicm (^France, when the e:q>0i^ttoniof specie; shall no longer be ^x)ybilted. ^ > - v f Th« «q)oi^|ttipn :of .sp«4ie,&«m Loulabitf l«^ % * m ^JamA^B laatom. m M^9P&9 trade vHdi'«ompietiJ[iostBhipB in Louisiana is tlifit-<)'f!)03Ees,iritfa wUeh this proviiuje^fapj^iee the island of Oab^ HaTana alone consumes two hundred thousand sngiir'boxeS) which constitnte about My cargi^. Those bt^es,^ ^at fl% cents a-picce^ give to the planters a revenue 'ofp|7tet trade, imd these saw inill^ should ial^^oiiutI^>w9iil4 l»$eome vi^ueleSK 3« ooiiM^l»:Ii}iilif#£udd^ fi^ht m :'A^i ! ,J- ( PO" ^ m VqifTUXjaA^B MBMOtB. of all tlievossels which trade with Havana, and it would therefore deprive this ccdony of a preoioua commercial resource. "It was to reward the iuhabitants of Iiouisiana for the seal they disphiyed in 1779 and 1780, when they conquered under General Galvez the English settle- jnents on the Mississippi, and the towns of Mobile and Pensacola, that his Catholic Majesty granted them the privilege of free trade with France. His Majesty, should he be reminded of this fact, would not come to the harsh conclusion of depriving them of so interesting #a branch of conmierce as the supply of those sugar boxes, of which they have been in possession for the last thirty- four years — ^that is— ever since they have* been under Spanish domination. The benefit which accrues from it to the inland of Cuba deserves also some consideration. "About ten thousand barrels of rice are annually exported from Louisiana to St. J)omingo and Havana. " The chief resource of the province of Louisiana is the money which is spent there by the government for the pay of its agents and officers. Five hundred and thirty-seyen thousand dollars are annually sent to New .Orleans from Meidco in three ships, which arrive at a re; ^lar interval of four months. This sum is divided among so many persons employed by the government, that each one consumes what he receives, so that it soon goes into the pockets of the farmer who feeds him, and of the merchant who supplies his other wants. The whole ends in finding its way into the coffers of th^ merchant, who supplies the farmer, whose crop, besides, is generally insufficient to pay his debts to said m^- chant. "Iliis/ sketch demonstrates pretty clearly that Louisi- ana, still remains a burden to the mel^opolis, siuiCse the atmual disbursements of Spain to keep up t]^t colony ■#•■ :h -M. r:' irnKTAJMA^ lUBMOlB. 411 itncmntf to rouf himdi^ and tbirty-Mven thousand dol* )»{% over and above the revenue derived thi'ough its custom-house. From that sum there may be deducted one hundred thousand dolliH^, which are uselessly spent at Pensacola. There remains a deficit of three hundred and thirty-seven thousand dollars, which the succesH idone of sugar^making in the colony justifies the govern- ment in the hope of being able to cover in a few years, as soon as a general peace shall permit the slave trade to be resumed, and as soon as the government shall take * it in hand to people Louisiana. « .: . j. . *' These are about aU the aiiddes of exportation which are supplied by Louisiana, in retnrn for the objects of importation which she receives fi'om France in time of peace. There may be added to the above statement about one hundred thousand dollars, in return for the commodities which are smuggled from Lojoisiana into the harbors of the Giilf of Mexico ; and, in time of peace, it ift the commerce of France and St. Domingo which gets hold of iU this specie, in exchange for wines, oils, soaps, eatables and other articles of French manufacture. ** Tj|ie planter does not hoard up, however considerable ^^ ^■ mi^%6 the result of his agricultural labors. After hav- ii^ consumed so much of it as is necessary to supply his fraiits, he employs the rest in improving his efitite. Ambitiou and activity ai'e his characteristics ; all that he requires is encouragement. * ^^ f 't The only taxes known in Louisiana are a duty of slsp pier cent, on the exports, valued according to a veiy nli^erate estin^tion. The same duty is paid on all .|?^^imp■ #% nm -# Jt^ ^li 4ia a8fi«i%4ii mtnm fov the eommoclittei ske reoeiTes from Wxmxm and St Domingo in time of peaoe, bnt wliiob, in tjittexxf wmr, ihe lias pennissifon. to procuie, wherever she eA% ilk the ports of neatral or allied powers. 4»000^000 lbs. lugftr at |8 per 100 lb. ^000 b«nel« of molM«e% »t |18 «Mh lOOkOOO Ibi^ indigo .... 8OO.OO9 Iba. tobMoo ..... Fan of divert kind* ..... UnlMr, 4ar Aimiahed to 8t Domingo in tioM of p«M« 300,000 boxea, annuftlly lent to Havana, and sold for 2,000 barrels of rice^ annually ezportod to St Domingo^ Ouba, •adOampeaoby, at the average prioe of J>oUMrei imported 1>y the Government to meet the annual ex* penae* of the itolony - . . . . (The extraordinary expenaee of the Oovemment abaorb the amoont of the Gnitom>hoiMe dntiei^ amounting to one hundred thousand dollars.) Hie returns for the contraband commodities itttrodnoed by the Teasels of Lonisiana into the Spanish porta of Oaba and of the Oulf amount to • .*. • 1820,000, 60^000 lOOOOO 1«,000 100,000 60,000 220,000 00^000 MY.OOO Total in dollars 000,060 |1.»S8,000 "In time of peace, it is the commerce of Bordesini, Marseilles and Nantes which absorbs all this capitalyand the whole trade is even engrossed by vessejb from these ports. As soon as they have deposited their cargoes at ;^ew Orleans, they avail themselves of the time required fb^' the sale of those cargoes and the collecting qi the deMa due to them, to make a voyage to Hayan% or Yei , j Crnz. They carry thither a cargo of sugar-boxes^ and neyer fail to dispose at the same time of the objects qf hixury which they brmg from France for that purposes^ ^i^L^ on thelrr return to New Orleans, they find, their ^ cargo^ for J^ifppe ready prepared. * "it is only since the war with Great Britain dpee not pxe^^ent any intercourse with JVance^ that; J^eJOpg of Spaiii hes allowed, the^ province of Xioi^siana. to ,tr^e pt^ nentcid Aa.ti^||ij^^^^^^^ the Court of Madrid conld ^'»* « ^-1* % ^rK:.:, ■;4 «!,; vi I m mm ■-5*^ 1, ' li imm T01!PIAIjBA'» l^EMOIB. %^ not but be aware that tbe colony comd iiot do withoiit;: that , fomgii trade. Whereupon, it has so turneiqll out that the United States now monopolize the commerce of Louisiana, which, by this meaas^ has hardly suffered at all during the long period of the European wars. " It would be much to the interest of France and Lou-?^ isiana to prohibit the introduction of timber from thf^ .United States into the French colonies. Then the price of the Louisiana timber, which is better, would be kept up, and the merchants of the province, instead of export- ing thither twenty cargoes of timber annually, would send two hundred, and, instead of taking for their return cargoes melons and dollars, as do the Americans, would bring back French dry goods and French liquids, which they would pay for in specie, because the sale of their timber cargoes would not be of sufficient amount to sup- ply them with retm-n cargoes. Besides, wages will diminish in Louisiana in proportion to the increase of population, and consequently its timber will become cheaper. '* By this sketch it appears, that the objects of expor-* tation from Louisiana amount at present to $1,958,000 j; but, from the moment that France shall be in possesion of it, if that province is not permitted to continue its commerce of sugar-boxes in the Gulf of Mexico, the impoi'tation will be limited to the agricultural producia of its soil, the value of which amounts now to about $696,000; but then ihe deficit will be $1,260,000, which it now receives from its trade in boxes and i^ appendages, and also from the disbursements of Spain to meet the necessary expenses of the colonial adminis* tration. "I must not omit to say, that every sort of paper money, by causing the ruin of this province, wciidd in the end become onerous to the government, and jMtiiftii \0, Jfc,. \ M TBEAI^ I^F (ST. tIkDBFHOirSO. ablaelily to soiiie stockholders, whoare always interested ittiproposmg itia isstie. The gQveMiment will easily prt>- eure ftihds in Lomsiana, Iby resorting to bills of exchange on the niationfil treasury at home. It is useless to say, that this resource would fail from the very moment they should not meet with ready payment on their becbming due. ** The; good intelligence which exists between Frauc and Spain would also afford to the former the resource of drawing to adv^antage, for the expenses of the colony, dollars from Vera Cruz, on making reimbursements for them in Europe. Spain would find it to her interest to^^ receive her capital without other costs and risks than those of transportation from Vera Cruz to New Orleansi " This is all the inform*ition which I have been able to gather during a residence of eighteen years in Louisiana, where I was employed by the government in a superior :t)ffice," Bf 'i 3! -0 still some knowledge of it had at last ti-anspired^ and Mr. Bnfiis King, the United Btates Minister at Lontlon (for they had nojie at the time at Paiis), wrote the fol« lowing despatch to the Secretary of St&te at Washing- tor, on the 29th of March, 1801 : " In con&*mation of the rumors of the day, Carnot's answer to Baillenlf published during the exile of the former, states the pKK ject which had been discussed in the Directory, to* obtain from Spain a cession of Louisiana and the Flori- das. A reference to that performance, copies of which I, at the time, sent to the department of State, vill show 'the manner in which it was expected to obtain the con- sent of Spain, as well as afford a clue to the views of France in seeking this establishment. What wais then meditated has, in all probability, since been executed. The cession of Tuscany ta the Infant, Duke of P'^rma, by the treaty between France and Austria, fynia a more compact and valuable compensation to this branch of the house of Spain than was formerly thought of; and adds vt..^' gr*Jat credit to the opinion which, at this time, ,irevaiLs both at Paris and London, that Sp^dn has, in r turn, actually ceded Louisiana and the Floridas to Frarje. There is reason to know that it is the opinion of certain influential persons in. France, that nature has marked a line of separation between the people of the United States living upon the two sides of the range of mountains which divides their territory. Without discussing the considerations which are sug- gested in support of this opinion, or the false con- sequences, as I wish to believe them, deduced from it, I am apprehensive that this cession is intended to have, and may actually produce, effects injurioiis to the Utiicai and consequent happiness of the people of the United States. Louisiana and the Floridas may be given to the French emigrants, as England onse thought of # '*«w''' BUTUB king's DE9f ATOB*^ 44U giving tbem to the American Tories * or they may co«- stitute the Reward of some of the armies which can be spiired at the end oiiho war. " I learn that General Collot, who was a few years ago in, America, and a traveller in the Western conntrjf, and who^ for some time, has been in disgrace and con- finement in France, has been lately set at liberty; and that he, with a considerable number of disaffected and ' J exiled Englishmen, Scotchmen, and Irishmen, is soon to proceed from France to the United States. Whether their voyage has any relation to the cession of Louisiana is a matter of mere conjectm-e ; but, having heard of it in connexion with that project, I think proper to men- tion it to you. "WW **ffftet a plain and judicious representation upon this subject, made to the French government by a minister of talents and entitled to confidence, would be likely to have, is quite beyond any means of judging which I possess ; but on this account, as well as on others of importance, it is a subject of regret that we have not such a character at t^is time at Paris." On the 1st of June, Mr. King, resuming the same sub- ject, said: "On this occasion, among other topics of conversatio:^. his Lordship (Hawkesbury) introduced the subject of Louisiana. He had, from diiflferent qiiarters, received information of its cession tx) France, and very unreservedly expressed the^ reluctance with which they should be led to acquiesce in a measure that might be followed by the most important consequences. The ac- quisition might enable France to extend her Infiuenee and perhaps her dominion up the Mississippi, and through the lakes, even to Canada. This would be realizing t^e plan, to prevent the accomplishment of which, the '^even Years' War took place ; besides, the vicinity of the Flpri"'^ das to the West Indies, and the facility with which the i ^9 • ■*4 . msm WB9^m' mm ''''T^sBHh m^BwSti ^Bm\ IJHIpli mSm fllffi;. 9Hy f'i^SwK 9^^Hf s|^g ^^■hS^ 'mm Wml 'm^ ^^f t't^'h ■^ I tip ^IH m * BXJFUB. xinq's j^mPAnca, ■^' «\ trade of the latter might IbO' mterrupted,' and the Jslauds even invaded, should th^ transfer be made^ wor^ sttong reasons why England must be unwilling that the te^- tory should pass under the dominioii of France^ As I could not mistake his Lordship^s object ii^ speaking to me on this subject, I had no difficulty or reserve in ex- pressing my private sentiments respecting it; taking for my text the observation of Montesquieu,, 'that it is happy for trading powers, that God has permitted sTui'ks and Spaniards to be in the world, since of all nations they are the most proper to possess a great empire with insignificance.' The purport of what I said was, that we are contented that clie Floridas jemain in 1^© hands of Spain, but should not be willing to see them traiis- feired, except to ouraelves." On the 9th of June, Mr. Madison, the Secretai^^ of State, addressed Mr. Pinckney, the American Minister at Madiid, in these terms : "On different occasions since the commencement of the French revolution, opinions and repoiia have prevailed, that some part of the Spanish possessions, including New Orleans and the mouth of the Mississippi, had been or was to be transferred to IVance. Of late, information has been received through several channels, making it probable that some arrangement for that purpose has been concerted. Neither the extent of the cession, however, nor the consideration on which it is made, is yet reduced to certainty and precisdon. The whol^ subject will deserve and engage your early and vigilant inquiries, and may require a very delicate and circumspect management.'' Alarmed at the consequences of a cession of Louisiana by Spain to France, the government of the United States lost no time in sending a minister to France, and gave that important mission to Robert IL Livingston* On the 28th of September, 1801, the;.%scy©taiy of State wrote % r# f the islands T&i:e sttpttg b the teijri- gace. As I jpeaking to serve in ■■;,: &m m UVINGATOffV OXBPATOU TO TV¥V^ SITSQ. which mii8t threaten hei- islauds, in ome a respeetablt* estabHshinent should be made, by France in Louisiana, which will not fail tc^ b • the caBe, as the territory \» nn- commonly finej and produces sugar, and every iM^icle now cultivated in the islands. *' l suggest these hints, that they, with many otherHr which may occur to you, may be made use of with tbj^ British ministry, to induce them to throw all i^e ob* stacles in their power in the way of a final settlement of this business) if it is not already too late^ You knowy however, the importance of not appearing yourself, or permitting me to appear much opposed to it, if you find, the thing concluded, since it might be made use of to embroil is with France, and Britain will have sufficients, address to endeavor to keep up a mutual jealousy, if t- possible, between us." "On the following day (Slst of December), he wrotcs to Mr. Madison : " The business of Louisiana is very dis-w+ agreeable to Spain, as far as I c&n learn. If it should be equally so to Britain, perhaps it may meet with some obstacles. It is a favorite measure here. Marbois told noye yesterday it was considered important to have an outlet for their turbulent spirits ; yet would not expli- citly acknowledge that the business had been concluded." . "ii the fall of' this year, the Intendant of Louisiana, Bon Bamon de Lopez y Angullo, surrendered his office into llie hands of Don Juan Ventura Morales, the comp- , trol^r, who was to fulfil his fujuctions ad interim, and. I*' prepared to depart. for Spain. But, in settling his ^icyf ^ counts^ it seems^ that he got into serious difficulties with Immoo^sso', w^ brought. some accusation against him ' befere the^anish -minfetry. In answer to it, Lopez coniplained Mttorly of lilorales, who, he^ said, threw* in * FonuAndo.im diUitltdo pro^eso por la co«a jnas olara^insigQifioante, iBfundada '^ 6 injiista, y como lia as^lkyperreM tna^litpiidad de sa ocMM^o^^^^^ ''%-. BEVOLUnONABT SFIBIT W TBB OOLONT. 465 his way interminable delays and litij^ation on the cleai'est and most intign&ficant points, and on grounds wliicU were nnfonnded and unjust. '' Wherefore," continued he, ''^dfiidering that the crafty and intense maligni- ty of Morales and of his satellite, the assessor (Berano) who is also my mortal enemy, know no bounds, I again beg your eT.ellency (the minister in Spain) t;; ^..^^^nd' your (ie' until," &c, Ac. Gov '^'^Icedo seems not to have bee yeiy r^ell {leased spirit which prevailed in the c«>lony ; for, in I; ^... h of the 2d of March, 1802, he violently complaiu(id of the choice made by the Oabildo, or city council of New Orleans, of one Jose Martinez de la Pedrera, ns their assessor, and he even begged leave to diive him out of the colony. He represented that this individual, ever since his arrival from Bayamo, had busied himself in raising up parties, in fomenting dissen- sions and in breathing the fire of discord into the breasts of the principal members of the community, and had treated with proud contempt the only two men learned in the law who were to be found in the province. He add«d :" It is important to repress* the pen and tongue of the said Pedi^ra, who is a bold man, and a dangerous character among a population, the larger portion of which is composed of foreigners, disagreeing in their religious opimons and customs, whose natural dispositions are op- poised to a prudent and gentle submission to the laws, and who fure anxious to introduce innovations harmoniz- ing with the maxims of liberty which favor, as they B«t«j^«ij»,-y tambi«k.<»ii«migo mortal mio,, notiraen lunite% reitero d V. £. \m BupUoa que le tengo booha de que suBpende bu jnioio, Ac., Ac. * Qne es importante oonteneif la plutaa y la lengua d«l dioho Pedrera, hombre wSftm, en im {>aijarfion9||n$ato-por la mayor 'jprfSe de- evtraageres de .pene|braeiott, de religion y eostnmbrea diTersas, contrarioa por natnraleza i la prudente y mo- derada ^i^jeoion & las leyea^ y annoeos de introduoir novedades analo|^ A lar nKoiaaa de fibertaui que iMil^fB^ I" M,-ff '- ■^Sr '■*!f IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 E?"^^ la ■ 2.2 L25 III U 116 I.I Sf US, I <^ v. f ^^ '/ Fhotographic Sciences Corporation 4^ ^ <^ ^. v\ 23 WBT MAIN STHIT WnSTM,N.Y. t4SI0 (7U)t73-4S03 6^ «»; t m DBEAD OV the AMBBIOANfl. m imiigine,tfaeir tastes and oaprice».^ The Botert^P'p^ bably alluded in this despatch to l^e Americai^ whibie number was daily increasing in New Orleanik ;• ^ Ithe fact is, that rumors of the cession of Lotmiaat to France had reached that province, and had produoed a d^dp sensation and a variety of feelings among its motley population. The Americans were not the least excited^ and showed themselves very hostile to the contcoK^pIaited measure. That class of the population had always %etssi looked upon with a suspicious eye by the Spanish Go- vernment, which noTT became more averse than ever to permitting their number to increase, partiotilarly on a©- count of the critical situation in which Lowsiana' was placed ; for this reason, the Baron de Bastrop having ceded to Moorhouse,* a citizen of the United ^tes, a part of the large gi*ant he had obtained from the Baron de Carondelet, in 1Y96, on the Ouachita, the king disap- proved of this arrangement, and, by a royal decree of the 18th of July, 1802, forbade the grant of any land in liouisiana to ii, citizen of the United States* Acting under the influence of the same policy^ and in order to prevent the afflux of Americans to New Orleans at a time which involved peculiar difficulties, the ioten- ^dant Morales issued an order suspending the right of deposit at that town, by a proclamation of the 16th of October, 1802. This measure was extremely prejndieia] to New Orleans, where it almost produced a £umne by stopping the supplies of flour and other Wdstera pro- duce necessary for the daily sustenance ol-its poptdation. When this news reached the Wefitenii p^ple^ diey were flred with indignation at an act which smpeiiMi tbeif comm^ce with New Orleatu9) and deiprived ^th^ of on ouliet without which they could s^'-/ '■*. # •v * iSMii^t oiiaxAsum*, rot il, |>. liO. 9 n #' MOtAIi^r PROdilUf ATtOV OT 1802. m Hmnef^oa appeals, p^titionct^ and even violent tlixeats vrete addri^ssed tQ the genei^ govemmeiit on the anb- j^, atkd the protracted embat^raesmente of the West were exposed to the whole people of the United States in so impressive a manner, as to command their deep attentioil and to force the government into immediate abd energetic action. Here is a specimen of the lan- gQag0 used on the occasion : *^ The Mississippi,^ said the Western people, "is ours* by the law of natnre; it be> longs to us hj our numbera, and by the labor which we have bestowed on those spots which, before our arrival, were desert and barren. Onr innumerable rivers swell i% and flow with it into the Gulf of Mexico. Its mouth is the only issue which nature has given to ourwaters^ and we wish to use it for our vessels. No pow'pert8nikigf beoanse the olrdkliwfsv filt« Hiii!&'!&^^ of ^li^6lr Spain provided ihiU^lb^ dethat^tadbQnal a&d sobstaiit^a^ its ae^ ti^^M^ be4h«r eoncuirenee of* liiioli ax^ara^i^^^^^ii^vti^l^ abo prodaced no small inconvenience to tl^e»ptibHM'' h; '' Bat let ns retani to Eor^ and s^^at Wli6']^asi|ig thero'in relation to Lonisiana. The Amencflifr iMilifiti^li had not be^n sleeping at their pcjots^ aiid llj*; livh^ipi^ had^ on the Idth^of Jannary, ISOSy^thtis ftddry^i^ r^ Secretary of State at Washington t ^'My formea* Mtc^ left, yoa little doubt on the subject of the^^eiiB£d<:^^%f XiOuisianat By the inclosed copy of the late ^eatj^bii** twemii J^canee and Spain, you will find that i% ill' a t^aiai^ action of pretty long standing. '''** ..# The absence minister prevents my applying t© him for the former treaty, which her will =hiKrdIyto6w^ how to fgive me after absolutely denying* that attjrh«#' been formed on the subject By the secrecy and dti|JM^' city practised relative t<> this object/ it is cletlr to me i^at they apprehend some opposition on the p4it 6^ AMerica to their plans." >' 'Two days afber, Mr^ King communicated also MsTlfeWj^ on tke subject to J' Miidison: "I have b^^^ ^en- tioned to you thnt th .^ssioa of Louisiana (of ^irhieh it seen^ to me w(i can have no doubt, notwitiuM;ttttdiiig what nmy be said^o amus^us) was not once atopic of inquiry OF disi^iSBiott in the tsegotiation of Idte i>r^Umi^a^ ries;* and^ for the same reason that It wisutiiiJt h»i^ o^t^iittfc oaoasiioay 'lidrd Hawkesbtffy has recently lb'- fOTmpd-me^ that tH-had not befen^ ittid would im ^ mestionied at! It is ifnpiOBBible for iifie td siipi * tti« pailfinUiftHtt of t>igiii^e iigreti to bettreea l!niiiee aftS 9lri|^4 on,'^^ HettfOet^f tsic:. ' . " OQu the tehoii of a deflnitire peaoe between the two tfationi ' * 8i]«»t«" c3a^$s0(ki»fmA thBmystetj with wlu^h they had shitit^dd t^tlfite tr&jidaction, w^e but too well eakidsted ^ eal^i^ theiffirudeities c^the Ame;racaii Ministers at Piuns^ Mfi^id, a^ X^iidoa, aad they were exceed^ly desirous ' o^^afeeartaining^ whether the treaty of cession betweci^ f^^loioe^aitid Sf^it inclttded not only Lcnisxanabnt^ also> th^^wastMdasi On the 20th of Febmary, Mr^IMng^ ston addressed to the Minister of Exl^rior BeMons the fojldwing ndte : "The undersigned, ri#y inma^Qg such frank and open communications to hinij as would have enabled him to satisfy the government (rf the United States, that «ieith«rtheir boundary,nor the na* vigation of the Mississippi^ secured by their treaties mth ^pain^ Would be, m any way, affected by the measpe*' It would also have been very satisfactory to hini tohaVe> tal^en si^h arrangements with the Minister of Extoiiop Ralatibns as would have had a tendency to dissipate the ahtnos the people of the Western territory of the United States will not f^ to feel, on the arrival,ite of ^those pipwers^ tha^b .At^ iSf0ir^j»^d£a keepli^ Ihe two Be|>ubiie8 from oeoienting their oiniiie^xioiL ifte poHijy. of' the fcin&ef fl^v^numefit oi IM^ M it 4p im>i«^ilrfi«»^^ ^Nmttot^ny wi^ m -V .,-r # 4m |.(V|^08TQK TO TALLEir]l4in>. I I- ! -^ # ■*? the Umted ^tatciS) not ovXj hy d^clinmg^ to posa^af ^ny ^mtofiff m t\mr neighborhood, but «l£K^ % stlpi^jl^ a«rfer to }iold any. The i:ndei«gned does not, %, t|i38 reCei^nee to the 6th article of the trealy of l11M^m0^ to <^laim (my rights under it, since by the cpn^ entip# ^f Paris, September SOth, 1800, it is understood to be Te- v'oked ; but merely to lead the Frepch government to reflect, how &r a regard to the same policy might )r it conducive to the mutual interest of both natio^ to cover, by a natmral barrier, their possessions in Amen(^ as France has invariably'sought to do in Europe. ,. , ^ " The undersigned prays the Minister of Exterior Ke- lations (if the request is not inconsistent with the views of the government), to inform him whether East and; West Florida, or ^ther of them, are included in the treaty made between France and Spain ; and to affoi^d^, him such assurances, with respect to the lin^its of their territory and the navigation of the Mississippi, heretvj;, fore agreed on between Spaiu and the United Stated as may prove satisfactory to the latter. " If the territories of East and West Florida be inclu- ded within the limits of the cession obtained ^y F|?^np&^^ the undersigned desires to be informed how far it would be practicable to make such arrangements betiveenthe^*. respective governments as would, at the same, time,, 44 ttt^ financial operations of France, and remove, by a strong natural boundary, all future causes of d^content between her and the United States." gs On the 26ith of the same month, Mr, lAviog^fi |% fortn^ Mir. 31(1^8©!* t^t he^^^^^^ no rejj^ty to the abovf ncrte ; thai.,he had discovered, howo^er,^^thgit the p^ectedestabHshinGnt inXpuisi "bfwexj statesnian in France, a? QW that woidd: occasic^^ m^mi T^iii^lig^: men and money, excite ^niv^tliM wii^ the Um^ St«t«ij |^ld pro^^ 'Ml W # *ttT&ftlxe]!«£»re, that' those about him felt themselirea ct^jp^Ui^ tO'^nj^rt it J and that General "^BeirnaMto |iB mderstood to be designed for theconmumd.of the i^ioiiUmy^ and to have asked ten thoosand tpoops. KotMthinanding all his exertions; the American pinia- tei'iBC^tiiraed to remain in the dark in relation to the; d^gns of France on Lomsiana and the Floiidas, as ap^ pears by a communication whi^ he addressed on the. ^ik of March, to the Secretuy of State at Washing^tonr "On the business of Louisiana," said he, "they h&ve, m yeffc, not thought it proper to give me any explanations^ tho%h I have omitted no opportunity to press the sub- jeeit in conveirsation, and ultimately by the note sent you on the 26th of February, with the copy of another ndte enfe)rcuig the above, to which I have as yet received noanswer," ■■■'- , ~'J:-"'^.^ ""Ihe fa^t is, they believe us to be certainly hostile to the measure, and they mean to take possession of Xioui- siana as 0arly as possible, and with as little notice to us as^l^ycan.^ ■ ■ ■■:-. ■ -.c...;./;^- . . ..,> "Th^ are mude to believe thk is one of the most fer^ tili^ and important couiitries in the world; that l^ey have h much greater mterest with the Indians thfin lny other people ; that New Orleims must command ike trade ollfonr whole WesteA comitry ; and, <^ course!^ that they will have a leading interest in its politics* It is a daifiUng obje be ftble toitnprew, ihat it must have an instant and |K>wer- Meffeeiin changing the rek^ns between Fraaoe and tiie United States. The oha%e is /obvuras ^ and the nioreit can be developed in candid and IHen<^;f appeals to. ithift reflections of the IVench Government^ the more it will aig9 it to revise and abandon the project* A mere mighhrkxid could not be friendly tQ the harmony which both oonntries have so mneh an interest in eherii^&g ; bat if^ a poesemoti^ of the mouth of the Mimmjo^ is ito be added to the other causes of discord, the worst events are to be apprehended. Yon will consequently «pare no eflfort*, tibat will consist with prudence and dignity^' -to lead' the councils of i*rance to proper vie#s of ^^fchift'lil^ jeot^'fii^d to an. abandonment of her presents pm^poae; You mil also pnrsne^ by prudent '^leans, '^e rjiqu^iifiho the extent of the cession-^particult^iy f whether it Mi(#8 the Fh>iddas as well as l^ew'^^Orlea^fs-^^'-imd md^i^F to aseertain the price at which theses if mclndfid'mtiit cession^ woi:dd be yielded to the United Statesr I Ist^ pres^ statf^of thkgi, be more Jipad^ #«mito obiierve 1^ in every^vi^ it^^tli0bmg^ ^^'^^ip^tM^mt^im,'^^ be |]tdv%ed. %»,^ 'MUgiind^ 1^'^i^M^'biMil4iilliiti«^^ »-^ Wf 4 ft w o 464 MS. UNCh AND JuOBD UAWKmVUUJ, it ••<» t .•'.H. %i' yrritten ft note to Lord Hawkesbary, iDquirlng vb^th«r the British government had received ftom the govern^ ments of France and Spain ai^ oommunication relating to the cession of Louisiana, and whether his Britaaaic Mfjetty had, in any manner, acquiesced in, or sanctioned the same, so as to impair or affect the sti]palations con- eeming the free navigation of the lifisBissippi. ^Ib a word,** said Mr, King, *^ I entreat your Lordship to open yourself on this occasion, ^ith that freedom which, in matters of weighty coiicerUf is due from one friendly nation to another, and which, in the present instance, will have the effect to do away all those misconceptions that may otherwise prevail in respect to the privity of Great Britain to the cession ixk question.'^ To this communication Lord Hawkesbury gave the following answer, on the 7th of May: *'It is imposaible that so important an event as the cession of Louisiana by Spain to France should be regarded by the King in any other light than as highly interesting to his Mfjesty and to the United States, and should not render it more necessary than ever that there should subsist between the two governments that spirit of confidence which is become so essential to the security of their respective territories and possessions. , " With regard to the free navigation of ^Mississippi, I conceive that it is perfectly clear, according to the law of nations, that, in the event of the di^ci of Loiiduana being ceded to France, -(hat country would coigae into possession of it, subject to allithe engag^3ae|M!& whidi apj^rtained to it at the lame o^ cession ; and l^t t|M9pr«Mii governments could ccmsequently al]^<^iio oq^i|ib^. pretext iw eidudisig his Majest/s aubl^fstft; # tM^30bpis o£tl^ XInited States, from ihe pa^^^iiq^^ .tyr.riv^,]y^Bpi9Sippiv'v :;■;.: '\, ■ ;:,.v-v -■'-./'■ ■ ^ With n^egard^ijo the <^5C^ qwea*M^1^^ t ^ «t' WL,Ma0sUKh IX^ MXWImBV«T. 4dft W" (KMi bftve no diAeoHy in iaftviliing yoiiiillfli no commiN mm^Om iHiAtever ha« bMn reeled by Mi'lli^eaty lrQii:tli»govenmi6Dt of F!raiH« or BtMan^ relalive^ any oonT«illiDn or tr«aty for tho oMsion of I^otilniiDA, or the floiid%i; lean, at the same thne, most tml^ a«iire you d faith owed us, against giving their cession the coi^rucdon France would wish." The note to' which Ml'. King alludes here was addressed by him to Che- valier D'Azara, ambassador of His Catholic Majesty at Paris. " Ou the 80th of July, Mr. Livingston informed the Sebretary of State at Washington, that he was earnestly engaged in preparing a lengthy memorial on the subject of the mutual interest of France and the United States relitive to Louisiana, by which he hoped to convince Frande that, both in a commercial and political view, the '^pdesession of it would be disadvantageous to her. ^ In m;y list," said he, '*I hinted to yon my su0picion8 that France and Spain did not understaill each other on^itlie sn1>ject of ^nisiana, and communicated to yon my letters td tile Spanislt ambattuidor, calenkited to sound this^bn- finees and uocterpoae some difficulties to ittih execu^n. I& answer ocyhrm^d my opii^^ Xhavesinitsieti^eei^ircid, verb$^ 1^ dp^ aflin»^aii» that the FIcp^^A '&^t^C^in '^^ec^^ ope <^ liihe idtdmsti^'l^^ j^^y^.. " 4 ^. HlB TtiWi OV TBS CMKOif 69 LOVniAlf A. 407 iSf Aitieri<>ft, hy 'LoMr^nk Ton oan eMfly conceive my i^^Wer. • • • ♦ # • # • ' • # • • « ^llie'Frtocli, yoa know, have ahrayi extended it to Bottth Carolina aiid all tlie country on the Ohio. Since \h^ poMefliion of the Floridas by Britain, and the treaty &t^H^f I think there can be no doubt as to the precise meaning of the terms. ♦ ♦ # # « # • » • « # *^In the present state of things, until the point is set- tled, I think it probable the expedition to Louisianib Will be postponed. In the meantime, all that can be done here will be to endeavor to obtain a cession of New Oij^ani, either by purchase, or by offering to make it a pk>rt of entry to France, on such terms as shall promise advantages to her commerce, and give her hopes of in- Lroducing her manufactures and wines into our Western country. An arrangement of this sort, if they listen to itf woidd certainly be beneficial to both countries, and ooly hnrtfal to Britain.'* On the 10th of August, he said: ^Our own affiiirs have advanced but little, since the whole attention of those in power is turned to objects nearer home. I have^ad several conferences on l^e subject of Louisiana^ but can get nothing more from them than I have already coinmunicated. I have thought it best, 'by conversatioik and by writing, to pave the way, prior to my appHcor tion,tiU 1 know l^ter to what object to point Wot thia pt^pose, I hiite written the inclosed essay, whieh I haf^ iiiaiislii^d, slid of which I have struck off twenty copieU; 1 havepliiced some of them in such hands ad I 1|id|^fQl M Tall«^nau{has|^o^ %o to^i^itan litten^ve pernsal; after wl^h, "px^p^MoBu f^ i^5*ttui* iiViloa^ hcwiBvw, r^K m -'^^ «t f ♦ i>- A MB, JjyiNOSTQV^ JTBaOXU^HdMS. as to w£[tM/ tem^ you woiild comileir it, as allowable W offer, i| l^iey can he brought to eelo of the Mc^i^^m^^ e^hm ll^tli or without ISfeir Orleans ;*wrhic!h last ph»0^ T^lhe of little conseqijence, if we possess ih« Sloi$|as^ because a much better passage may be fomed -oh tlie east side of the river. I nu^ perhapSj carryvaiy testis mate of them too high; bu% when I consid^, first, the expense it will save us in guards and garrisons, the risk of war, the value of duties, and next what maybe raised by the sale of lands^ I should think them a cheap pai^* chas9. . I trustj however, that you will give me sQm#^ directions on this head, and not leave the responsibility of offering too ntuch or too little, entirely at my door. I speakj in all tliis business, as if the affair of the Fl^- da8,was furanged with Spain.; which, I believe, is not yet the case." It seems that Spain was desirous that the Buchy of Parma should be annexed to X^;idcatiy, which had been erected/ into the kingdom of Etruria in favor of one of her princes; that she might, for such a consideration, have been willing to let the Floridas go wi^ Loimana; !(ad that some negotiation to that effect was on foot let that i^e.? >= Qn the Xst of September, Mr. Livingston resumed the inter^ting topic, in a despatch to Mr. Madison, in which hd said : v*I yesterday made several propositions to the mini^tef on the subject of Louisiana. He tolj^ mie frankly that 6[very off&r was premature ; t^t the French go^ y^fninent) iu^ llffiNpnined^ to. take v|^eSsioii #8t^| jso thait you j|i»t#j^^ ticnied^ ai$ w$Q be J^ea% in a^^ ev0^jn0ason^jf»JM»^^ih!^^^l^^ $re, not j^sl^^ I^^ wdl^ ^^^pesent #iMa^ of^SmJia^ ^^ISilMnef^ 1^ m. ■^humfoifsom^^AastD ^tmspBimu^ABrx, m ^ibletcr t)efiif had beep of one of aderatiot]^ Lionisiana; onfbotsfe BtiineA the I, in "whicb. the M^ ^^05^^ iio fegfeli^^ One dM % ^very- aalc^ • ^ niinfete» are nietfe i^^ aJid G<^i^ii8eU6i»^^^ "^^ Thoiigh I^h^s^ # 6vils!^ i^6tit into his hands a copy of the memoir on'Iittoiaftc^^M^ I sent the Se(aretary of State. 1 took occdJaion to tfeMI him that the interest he had taken in^ettliiig ih^^^fi^r^ ei^ between our respective countries had entitled him tototar <»)nfid^oe, and Ihat I should take the lil^e^t^ a^ him his advice in matters that Were Kke^ to Mlirb the h^mony that subsisted betWeetf our respec^vefTe- publies. He seem^ pleai^d at the obo^hmBiit, anl t5ld mfe he would receive with^asure aiy^x^^ I o6n}d ihafce, but, as he Would nofSd^td app^&i*^t# iul^^f^with the minister, he begged iji:ty doiilfi^^ ti^s^g}^ be'MDimaliahd im^gn^^^ ^ilt bdcaose I should act with less dan^ of c^ii)^!!^ of couike, wi^ tiadl?*^^ '*y|f imb^not, how©v«^ l!t'a«it«edly%j iny'birtQrtiBM'^ltf;^^^ bat we «i?t ge!^ P ..^ I i4 i M iii) I 470 MB. UVmOiTO^ i^D JOeXFH BOKAfAETX. H#; ''' pugkt otherwise be passed oyer^'' l>|k«Q asked Jiim whether he had Tead my notes oQ jMf^i^iinia. He toid^me that he had, and that he had coi^Teraed i^n thesnbjeet with the Mrot Consul, who, hefonnd^ had isead them with attention, and that his brother l)uadto|^]^ that ho had nothing more at heart than to be npc]>nA^(9 best terms with the United States. I e^ressed tq ,|u^ my. apprehensions of the jealousies that would natora^y be excited from their vicinity, and t^® impossibility of preventing abuses in a military government established at so great a distance from home. "Wishing to know whether the Floridas were in- cluded (which, however, I had pretty well ascettaiiii^d before), I told him that the only cause of difference tha,t might arise between us, being the debt and Louisiana, j conceived that both might be happily and easily removed by making an exchange with Spain, returning ihep Louisiana, retaining Kew Orleans, and giving the latjber and the Floridas for our debt, " .^ " He asked me whether we sliould prefer the florid^ to Louisiana? I told him that there was no comparison in their value, but that we had no wish to extend our boundary across the Mississippi, or give color to the doubts, that had been entertained of the moderation of our views ; that all we sought was security, and not ^ fusion of territory. He replied, that ,he believfed aigr new cession on the part of Spain would be ext^«m4y difloult; that Spain had parted with Trinidad and Lon- islfijB^with great relucta^ Gn^iihe 11th of November, ])ir, I4vingston hastened jb# jVlrrite to Hr. Hadis<»n;*| France has cut the knot. iik» J^&d^f r^ktave to Panna and Hac(^i^,y ;)|^ s|(^p«eid the expedition to I/>Qisiana, Jias ended bj ## ^iking^lposBiession of the ^% as you see by: the enc ^aper. Ordc^ps aire giyen for lie im^ xlP' IN. iM' 9 toll! hiin (tabbed were, in^ 3cettsdi^^d rence thaitt Qixisian%,:| ling <^ep le Florida somparison extend ouir lor to the eration Qf ad not ^ Sjievfed aay d aad Im- haste^ the kaot. ^'%' m!bari DAznfBDb 'fdjisKB''iin>. oindOLiS :vioioiL 4n #t^!d<^ j(two ^demi4»igad^) ^ 1^^ ifiriD tiifdl' ilk ab^ttt W^ days frdm,^o3li^ ^vetn- &^t liiBr$ will l^iye no tSc^svim io my liotcl dni^ snb- j^ ^^Fhey idfll say itolildBg on that d^ot^ lii|li^ 0c c^ dor right under %» ^y^isMi treaty^ Gy$ii haa been pireseiited to General ^iiito is a merchani^ &^»m Im^ iinioiia. Ihe (skndral did not probably conceal his viewg) #hich aire nothing short of taking exactly what^^they ^d convenient. When asked what they meant to do ae to 6nr right of ^>i^r^^, he spoke of the treaty as waste paper; and the Prnfect did not know that We had any Btich right, though it had been the subject of many con* versations with the Minister, and cf three different notes. The sum voted for this service is two millions and a half of francs ($600,000) ; as to the reist, they eiq>ect to comlpel the people to support the expenses of the goyerh- merit, whi5^^e ix0t^ of 1795, and closed the IfisBiAdpj^i to ^e^^act^md cQmmetoe of the tlMl;^ States from that pm,rl3te f^bserved tlmt this^poM^&g/<>^ ^ ^^^ vimpj^h t a vio]bi^<3»h:of that treaty, w£% in c»nd!i>j», k^^ao«ill4rot but inipnte ittatli^r to th6 Intenidiitot adH^fy tlfiii^^^ inirtrBj&tions of his gofdf^im^t; 'He '«dicM^^:^i|^'^ # # ,..♦ # IP THJB meVA' OJT D17QBIT AT JOSW OELEAITS. 47l «©tii **^?omiA«U»ver sotiroe J^e measi^ iiaye pro- ceedfld* iihd jPresident expects tliat the Spani^ go^^, a^^iVUl iie&hep liise a moment in cotmtepmwidii^ ii^ n^F li^sitate t0 repair erery damage which inay result feom it V You are aware of the sensibility of our ^West- ern oifefts to isttch an occurrence. This sensibility is justified by ihe interest they have at stake. The Missus- s^iommis&vet^thihg; Jt is the Hudsm, the Betfiir tmrsiths PotoftioGy mid all the namgUie treaty wai be rq^irted in every ^ay which justice 4ind a i«gard %« frl«ii% Mighboiitood «a«y reqaire.. j ♦ * r - %f • " :SJn,ike^mmi^PE»^'* .eontHwed *M£MidkdnyHt ia to beri^B^^^i«^i^|iifen^|i^ wiU biT |ed:t9^9^v^ wic^Eedf nothing can temper l^e irritation slid £ridi§n»' tiou of the Western country bat a persnaidon t^u^rtite eneigy of their goremment Hill obtain fhun the ^tts^ ticeof that of Spain the most ample redress* ^ ' "It has long been manifest that, whilst |ha injuries to the XTnited States, so frequently occurring fix)m the 60I0* nial officers scattered over our hemisphere, and in our neighborhood, can only be repabed by a resort to their respective sovereigns in Europe, it -mil be impoeslbl^'t^l guar^ against most serious inconveniences. The inataniiil before us strikes with peculiar force, and presents an occasion on which you may advantageously suggest to the Spanish government the expediency of placing in thehr imnister on the spot, an authority td control or eCMrrect the mischievous proceedings of their colonial officers towards our citizens ; without which any one of fifteen or twenty' individuals, not always among either the wisest or best of men, may, at any time, threaten tl^ good understanding of the two countries. The distance between the United States and the old continent, and^ the mortifying delay of explanations and negotiafsons Aicross the Atlantic on^emergencies in our neighborhoocl^ render such a provision indispensable, and it cann6t be long before aU the governments of !Europe, having A&erican colonies, must see the policy'!of making it.^' It is evident that there was a mareh ^ events whic^^' if not checked, would soon have broi^t on a critos of ^ the most s^ous nature. Mr. livingston had now been twelve months in Paris, ^$M had not been so fortnnati'' as to receive a conclusive foswer in any one of the affioiA that he ha4 had' ^6^ transact with the Minist^ df iB^- U^^ ^Rela^ions. This state <]€ things WM iMiciQiiu^ mtdMuf^ and. wi^, certainly oflbns^e ^th^^&gi^^ ^j .?*• M naaifttl^ wMoh, t^ngli coiiip«ra%47 weak at n^.tune^ 0til| lud i^e oooBciovMieBS of ito glowing . strength and «|fJ^p|roiiil destinies. In relation to the ' mgns^li^ble ^fih^ end inysterious reserves on the part of France, I^Myingston, on the ^th <^ Beoember^ thuS n^rOte to a l^rench statesman: ''. Congress are now in session; they will infey feom every paper submitted to thcim by the -Pi^ident, that the French government are disposed to show them bnt little attention. The obscurity that ooyerSrthe designs of France on Louisiana (for not the leest light can I, officially, obtain on the subject)' will d0vible their apprehensions ; this, added to the clamors of ruined creditors, and the extreme severity wi^ which CiOOfie of their citizei& have been treated in Bt Domingo, And the extraordinary decisicms of the Connctl of Prizes, <&c., will leave a 6ur field for the intrigues of the enemies of France, and even enlist the be^ patriots of America on their side.** lA. few days before (15th December) the President of the United States, in a message to Congress^ had thns expressed hia sentiments to that body on, this i^M^resting subject : ^^The cession of the Spanish provinee of l^on- isiana to France, which took place in the counge of the late war, will, if carried into effect, make a change intthe aspect of our foreign relations, whilh will doubtless l^i^e j^ weight in any deUberations of the LegisMl% 00^^ nected wi^ that subject." Such language W.as su^- cii^ntly. eigniflcanty land was abundan% justified Jl>^^ ea^StEhgeircumstancee^ . I ? I $|iet^9s^^o0sr avert our ej^es fiiom^e dipLomatie cSr^es of ^ip|$^|M^ li^ t^ <^ Qm greiKs^in^^ Oa t^^d of Decegb^, i$^ thi^VRpes&tttjaeB^i^^^^^ .n|||||g%^,.iiL:;^ii^^ r.f Vib«t^ he- wiullft^^ .•4iU': #' «#s -ll- # lit/ -h i^ i ^ m f THE F9BSIDEM7 TO XOmtOaS. ♦ ■ of tl^i^figatioiid to mftintaia in dU cases thevTig¥%'€f tW Bi^os, and to employ for tlifCb inirpoae tliose^^^^t aijid !tete ihe tFnited States f— to whieh,tliatbodyj shortly i^ftWi replied : " That relying, with perfe?5t confidence, on the wisdom and dgilance of the Executive, they wonld wait the issne of such measures as that department of thegoy/T element should have pursued for asserting'the ri^ts of the United States — ^holdiag it to be their duty, at the same time, to express their unalterable determination to maintain the boundaries and the rights of navi^tion and commerce through the river Mississippi, as established by existing treaties." Before the gathering of the storm, which already darkr ened the horizon, it became the pilot who held the helm of the State to look round for aUthe resources he had at hand, and, on the 10th of January, 1803, the President wrote to Mr. Monroe : "I have but a moment to inform you, that the fever into which theWestem mind is throtrn by the affair at Kew OrleanSj stimulated by the mercan? tie and generdif the federal interest, threatens to over- tififtr our peiwew In this situation, we are obliged to^o^ on you for a temporary sacrifice of yourself, to i^event 1^8 gresfctest of evils |n ike present proffperous tide cl t^^&tk r shall to-morrow nominate you to the Senat^i ft^n^ extraordinary mission to F^^noe, and the ^ii?' ^^nt^tances toe such as to render it imposdble ta ^ (^ I because the whole public hope mJlhmest^i:m^ f) ^ihe Senitf» h«vit^"«ancti<^^ J0iaiim again^ #»otei on tiw^ sii^ in #heiid % jfot^^^^ of ihis B^pnblic. If we tafi$^ by a pnirohaee of the country, ensiiFe to piii«^ve3 a ipmrs^ <^ pei^nal peace and £rieiids%>V;With all iiatio|i%ithe% a» war cairnqt b^ far distant, it behoves lu idHmediatdy to be preparing for that course,, without, howdver, hastening H; and it may be ne^ei'sary (pa your failure on the continent) to crosa thc»cDannel. We shiM get entangled in European politics, and, figur- ing more, be much less happy and prosperous. This can otily be prevented by a successftil issue to your present mission. I am sensible, after the measures you have« taken forgetting iiito a different line of business, that It will be a great sacrifice on your part, and that it pre- seutSj £rom the aeason and other circumstances, serious diffi^ties. But some mln are bom for the y)tibjiic. Natnre, by fitting tham for the seryioe of the hu^i^ai^ race on a broad scale, haei stamped thom.with the eyir dences of their destination and their duty."* On the 1.4th of February (1803) Mr. Boias, firom B^c^ sy|y;aniiii^ said in the Senate : " He was fully awape i^t the Ezeeutiye of the United States haid aojbed ; tliat .he had sent an Envoy Extr«vrduilu7< to Europe. , 1%!^ wi^ tlwi ^peculiar province, and, perhapf, the dpity ;df ^e, Frenident. He would not say that it was. jutwise ^ iihiB state of our i^ks to prep{^ for remonstrance and n^p* tiation^ miph less was he then abpnt to propose any m,e&. sure that would thwart negotiation or embaixass the !l^!«lddfliit.f Oa thet other hMid, h^ w;as> cQin^Qe^,;!^ more than aegotitttdoB, wa«.«b^lntel^ nece^eu^i iM' mooie pamm wA ii^<»re,^niea]^ jOOipi^t to b^ .g^Vi^ ^ ^ Freio^si^ in puder Ito x^4er: }M$.Mgl^tia,^])| fffica^i# # Mm MMii«i.'Hiit«r •f Loay«^ ►,< * ;^ # MA. ^ 'P^ 478 1XKBATS& VX OOXOBBae. ConldHie Prendent proceed fbHto eyieii il Ho ^(mjjkd more y^orous measm^s proper and lacpd^^entt ^Mt in bit power to repeal and pnnish th^iiidignit)! patiVpon the nation? Could he nse the pttblit^lbroe to nmeas onr wrongs f Onrtainly not. TUb must be the lict of Qongre». They are now to jndge of ulterior meamam} they must give the power, and vote the means to tindh cate, in a becoming manner, the wonnded honor and the best interests of the country. > ' i*' ^*To the free navigation of the Mississippi, we had an nndoubted right from nature, and firom the position^ 6f our western country. This right and the right of depdiit in the island of New Orleans, had been solemnly ad^iv- ledged and fixed by treaty in 1Y96. That treaty had been In actual operation and execution for many years ; and now, without any pretence of abuse or violation oil our part, the of&cers of the Spanish Government deny that right, refuse the place of deposit, and add the most offensive of all insults, by forbidding ns from landing on any part of their territoiy, and shutting us out a» a eom- mon nuisance. ^ " By whom has this outrage been offered ? By those who have constantly acknowledged our right, and noiv tell us that they are no longer owners of the coiintrj^l Th^ have given it away, and, because *;hey have no longer a right themselves, therefore, they turn us out, who have an undoubted right. Fortunately for thk fcbtitttry, there could be no doubt in the prAnt eas* j our national right had been aeknowle%ed^ and solemnly jBectired by treatf . It was violated iiiid ^^iedwil^eiiit provoealdon or apology; The treaty then lra»' |i<>> i^iiJil- 1%. His evIdiBHt rights was one^ the securiity^pl?wl|ftk dt^t not to be pree^^tus ; it^asind^pensa^lei^^i^ l0i^](gyyih^t of it fihonld be plais^ l)ey6nd^^(^ifete p^ It^th^efbre, to be hi« fixtnli^ « ":k 'ji A $ Mii Momm CTi onrAxs. 479 tW* iir importune A ri|^t would nmw be fleoore, wliile iito^MCwdr of t^ BfifltbilptA was eidudvely in the hands fil%iiu«ida C^priee and enmity ooeariou oomtant in- tenr^ptioiu VtHm the vefy poaition of our comitvy, from Hi'lraogMtpldcal ahape, from motives of complete inde- pendenoe, the command <^ the navigation of tlie river onght td-he in oar handSk '"We are now wantonly provoked to take it. Hos- tility in its moat offensive shape has been offered by those who diselium all right to the soil and the sovereignty of that coantry~Hin hostility fiital to the happiness of the Western Wwld. Why not seize then what is so essen- tial to ns as a nation t Why not expel the wrongdoers 9 Wrongdoers by their own confesnon^ to whom by seisnre we are doing no injury. Paper contracts, or treaties, have i»roved too feeble. ^Flant yourselves on the river, fol^ the banks, invite those who have an interest at staked t6 defend it; do justice to yourselves when your adversaries deny it ; and leave the event to^ Him whb controls the fate of nations. " W^y submit to a tardy, uncertain negotiation, ai6 the &alf m'&aaiB of regaining what you have lost^— a n<^^- iAtn with those who have wronged y^oti ; with thoae >id|o declare they have no right, at the i^ment ihey depllve you of yours ? When in * possession, you will neg^iate with more advantage. You wUl then be^ the oonditlbn fo'keep otheMi out. You will be in the actual c^en^pe of '"jiltia^Myn over aU your clainiai yoor people^'lrill hii)f^ tlie b^efits of a lawful commerce. W^en ypur ^£$iiKiia^natioii is Iqiown^ will xni^eBi)^ easy and an l»3iomM»iiioocaJa^ witb mpoi^M^a^ f^sem^pmrntm pr«(;j9iiGe to oon^aiit^^ f^Wdetjant '|ii§^ d^^s^l^^^.c|NiH^ t kn ^. pP 48^1^ v| HouBi OF vtnmJtmAWim to tki senate. t fill ftr^tttly rapport yon in the wmtmK if i^ oon^l^ 0011169 Af^sMsary. Their ail will be at i^e, and lyeithei their jBealnQr their ooorage need be doi|bted. . *VBat after negotiation shall have Mv4» a^ a pow- erful, ambitioiu nation shall h»ve taken poeiMisioA cl ikp hey of your Western country, and forti^ it ; nl^ the garrisons are filled by the veterans who have conqnesed the East, will yon have it in your power to awakjB^he generous spirit of that country and dispossess them I No; their confidence in such rulers will be gone; they will be disheartened, divided, and will place no fiirther dependence upon you, They must abandon thosf who lost the precious moment of seizing, and for ever securing their sole hope of subsistence and prosperity ; they mufrti then, from necessity, make the best bargain they em with the conqueror." On the 15th, a confidential ft<9ssag^ was brought from the House of Hepresentatives to the Senate, transmitting to that body a bill which had^pafi|sed the' House, ^^^^ enable the J^resident of the United States to coimnenee with more effect a nc^tiation with the Freanh and Spanish governments,, relative to the purchase of the island of l^ew Orleans, and the provinces of £ast and West Florida." This bill placed two millions Cff dollar^ at the disposal of the President, and the impression got abroad that ihia sum was to be used to secoHiKtEe asnst- ance of some powerful personages in Paris «p43ladri^ in the negotiation winch wfis to be opened^ wUh fVaiio^ and Bpfun. -> -On the 16thf i^ JU^ss^agiim ,tool|#^ fioor^ mim^ r^iiess^intp |h»r o^J^f^^ know," saidLJi% ^^biatjoii^^^p^^ p^ode of ^c<^i]D^lii^ ^i MB. BOflt^ ii»oi.imon. 481 libiiorJilBary proceeding,* I am fbrbldden to speak oo tliia oeeaiion ; I \vill not^ therefore, tooeh it But I will ask honorable gentluueo, eapeoially those from the Weiteru comitry, what they will lay, on their return home^ to »- people pressed by the heavy hand of this oakn^, when they inquire: What has been done? Wh9t are oar hopes ? How long will this obstmction continue 9 Yon answer: We have providec^a remedy, but it is a secret! We are not allowed to speak of it * lihere, mnch lets here; it was only communicated to confldential men in whispers, with closed doors ; but, by and by, you* will see it operate like enchantment ; it is a Sovereign balsam which will heal your wounded honor ; it i* a potent spoil, Or a kind of patent medicine, which wDl extinguish and for ever put at rest the devouring spirit which has desolated^ so many nations of Europe. Yon' nsvto can know exactly what it is : nor can we tell you precisely the time it will begin to operate; btti operate it certainly will, and effectually too! You wiU see strange things by and by ; wait patiently, and place Ml faith in us, for we cannot be mistaken I — ^This idle tide may amuse children. But the men of that country will not be satisfied. They will teU you that they expected better things of you, that their confidence has been misplaced, and that they will not wait the opsflfation of your newly invented drugs; they will go and redress themselves." -Then Mr. Boss read the following series of Besolu- tions: ^MestHmA^ That the United States have an indiS|)tttar b|e iHghi to the free nnvigation of the river Mississippi, and to a conyoatet^ plaee of deposit for theh* prodn^ and1iittl7«3iiai3i^ '^'ll^theJiiiiii^^ riglHrii an aggresstoii liifii^W ll^lr io^ ^rest. 81 >. ^S■ ^183 MR. imsmB SPEEGB m qS3i SBI^ATB. % \ *tTh»t it does aot consist ^^^^ t%ii%^^,i of this tJmon to hold a r^;iijt so'impipttant bj^At^opre 80 uncertain. r ■; *^ That it materially concerns sneh di^the Aioeslci^ citizens as dwell on tfa^ W^tem /watery and is essenit^ to the union, strength and prosperity <^ thetie Statfl%>^t they obtain coinplete security for the Ml aad peacefl(b|6 enjoyment of such their absolute ri^t. ,, ; v v " Hiat the President be authori^d 'to. take^immediilte possession of such place or places, in the same^ iBland,,i)r the adjacent territories, as he may deem fit and eonve- nient for the purposes aforesaid ; and to adojkt such 0]^r measures for obtaining that comjdete soenrlty iui^'h|m in his wisdom shall seem meet. vii^ ;^ "That he be authorized to call into actual service any number of the militia of th%. States of South Caroliha, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee^ or the Mississipjpi territory, which he inay think proper, not exceeding ififby thousand^ and to employ them^ together with c^e military and naval forces of the Union, ibr ^cting^^he objects above mentioned. "That the sum of five miliions of dollaiB be appro|^ri- ated to the carrying into effect of the foregoing resolu- tions, and that the whole or any part of that sum be paid or applied, or warrants di^awn in pursuance; of siiqh direction^ as the President may, from time to lame, think proper to give to the Secretary of the Treastiry.'* These resolutions were seconded by- Jllr. WeUs, fi«m the StAte of Delaware. They were taken up on Uie 28d of Ffebrtwiy, aad Mir. "White, fi*oni??the same State, sup- f|>orted themto th^' fuU^t eadieBt. vff As to thti^ip^tig of the putt of >t7#w <^^ i^j^ liB^i^iad a^iSM tnttil and cbtiVic^o^, tUid lii^ ^t^ipted tct'disiji^edii 0v^ iiKie isfviderice of his owi^ s^^ ^iBijM^ Sii^ itis iioi d<^i**i% tfe^bf otit^ right of deposit ty vfhitloi we have "been aggrier^ ; it is % a iystem of measiires ptirstied airteced^t and snbse- qtieit to that event, equally hostile and even niore insulting. I have in my hand a paper, signed by a Spanish officer, Which, with the indulgence of the chwr, rMlilread^ to the Senate. ," ' AdterUsmmt. Undef date of the i6th iMi (De^ cember, 180^) the Intendant-general of these provinces tellj8 tiie tliat • the citizens of the United States of Ame- rica cak have no commercfe With hi»Majes1^-8 subjects-^ they only having the free navigation of the riVer for the ekportation df the fruits and prodiKJe of theif establish- ments to foreign countries, and the importation of what they inay #ant from them. As such I charge you, so far a^ respects you, to be zealous and vigilant, with par^ ticuia'r care that the inhabitants neither purchase nor s^ anything to the shipping, flat-bottomed boats, bar- ges, or any bther smaller vessels that may go along the Sver, dtestined for tjie Ami^rican possessionSj or profeeed- inj^' from them, &c. "*OaBL08 DE QfRAmJ^EEi- " These ^^^' the measures that have been adopted by the Sfaniaipdis^^excluding us from their v shores for .the cBstance of two hundred and seventy milla^trea^g^ns like a nation of pirates, or banditii, whom they Je^r^d to ^i«t Ibt lliM^^^untiy, Spmt has daarad. us % ^ tna^ and )xow Mdf ^ d^fiaikee pshe is yet kirposslasfitioa anSS^toiin ^ni^^p^^ ^Nff ii sittftli^ eaey edit- q)jy;f W€i ishttt^hi^ io «lfteimiiteiH^e 6nly arw « 484 ■iiti, yfsatsi vst t^ idsifAXE. w # inactive and unenterprisiiig people ; but hb^ may a few montlid vary this scene, and darken our pros^ots! Though not officially informed, we know that the 'Span- ish provinces on the Mississippi have been ceded to me French, and that they will as soon as possible tak^ pos- session of them. What may we then expect ? When, in the last extremity, we shall be drawn to arms in de- fence of our indisputable rights, where now slumbers on his post with folded arms the sluggish Spaniard, w^ shall be hailed by the vigilant and alert French grena- dier, and in the defenceless garrison that would tiOw surrender at our approach, we 'shall see unftirled the standards that have waved triumphant in Italy, sur- rounded by impregnable rampaiis, and defended by the disciplined veterans of Egypt. " I am willing to attribute to honorable gentlemen the best of motives ; I am sure they do hot wish to involve this country in a war, and, God knows, I deprecate it9 horrors as much as any man ; but this business can never be adjusted abroad ; it wril Ultimately have to be settled jipon the banks of the Mississippi; and the longer you May, the more time you waste in tedious negotiationis, the greater sacrifices you make to protract a temporary and hollow peace, the greater will be your embarrasi^ ments when the war comes on; and it is inevitable, un- less honorable gentlemen, opposed to us, are prepared to yield up the best interest and honor of the nation. I believe the only question now ip our power to decide, is whether it shall be the bloodless war of a few monl^, oi* the carnage of years. " These observations are urged upon the stlppoelticfn that Tt is in the power of the government to restrain thd impetuosity of the Western people, and to prevent their doing justice to themseltes, which, by the by,^ 1 beg t6 be Understood aa not believing, but expressly the bofti »;■« UR. J^OKBOK m 'mXf^9XX(ATE, 48e twtry. They know their own streng

  • ^r ra^ it^psj which they mny, too la^ iift^0 to to^h*^ ^-•Tirhfa tiey c^n have T^uTBO t9^^ao.^rtih(E*,«ipti^^^^ may. procure a redress of the iWyopgiCOinplaJ^iBdof^ f f .f,I am, myself^ of opimtM* iihat New (M^wis lai^^ l(Eing to the ^lilted States ; it most JSQipae iPi !» Jbv^^^ course of hmnaneveats, although notat the pre£lfEitv4a3f;ii for I do not wish to use force to obtain it, ii| we 9^;^t a redress of the injury done to us; yet it will nat^idly fall inA our, hands hy gradual 1?t^ ineT?ttahle^u^«i,5«3 sure, and certain m nianufactures arise fron^ in0^^a#^d popnlatioa and the plentiful products of ^gHi^tuf^j P-ml commerce. But let it be noticed that, if .NeWiOtl^^lias, by. a refiisal of justice, falls into our hands by force, |he EJoridas, as sure* as fate, fall with it. Groodvfaith forbidft. encroachment on a pacific ally ; but if hositility -shows itself against us, interest deman(3s it; Qeorgi^, in; such case would not do without it. (yod a»d nat^e ^ave destined, New Orleans and the Mondas to belong -to^^^^^^t^ great and rising empire, , As natural bounds to tjie South, are the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and th^ Mississip^ and the world at some future day cw^j|ot hold th.i?)|si from us. 1 i "Sir, we have been told much by the gentlemanfrc^ , Delaware of Bonaparte ; that he is the hero of iVance, t^e conqueror of Italy, and the tyrant of Germanyjpi that his legions are invincibli^. . W^hav^ be©ft tol4 tjbft we must hasten to take ppsisesawm of New; Orleans whilst ij| the hands pf tihe slug^^SpaniardB, and nptiW^it ^M, it .is in t^e iron grasp,,of ;^e;X388^r; 0^^ t3p#^ ]^nt much as I respfict .the fam^ and exploits oSJ^jpi$$iu^ tir»ordinary man,X believe, ^e should ha^ li|i|t|e|i%o?59sjfe ^ ff^r fr^m him, should it b% necessary in the, e^d tp. jcdir tod with him for the possession of New %|e| MB. Jii^KeKW-nr TSA SBRATIr m tltiiggiah %aiiiaird». ; B<^ Sir, in our Si^ilkMii 4Xm]i%) W6tiid be loii^ with a91 hk martial tidei^; iur IkiHow Bq^oaptiB and horse artillery trould be dfllKs^i^rvieetta bim is the midst of our naoniases and wdodil^ '^^^ lie woqM meet, not with the efaampaign o6|E^it#]pfut these w^ the steps taken by him. Shall we then bot negotiate ? Shall we not follow the leading feature 0f our national policy ? I hope we shall, and by doing so, we shall become unanimous. We are all actuated, I hope^ by one view, but we differ on the means ; let us do jus- tice by requiring our neighbor to do justiee to us, by a restoration of our rights ; let us show the nations of the earth we are not anidous for war, that scourge of man- kind ; that we bear patiently our injuries, in herpes of redref^s, and that nothing but absolute denial of justice, which will be additional insult, shall induce us to it. Butj Sir, if forced to war, contraiy to our policy and wishes, let us unsheathe the sword and fling away the seab'bard, until our enemies be brought to a sense of justice, and our wrongs are redressed." Mr. Cocke, from Tennessee, rose also to advocate peaceM measures: "When the gentleman from Penn- sylvania" (Mr. Ross), said he, " opened hi& war project, his resentment appeared to be wholly confined to Spain; his sole object, the securing of the navigation of the Mississippi and of our right to a convenient place of deposit on that river. We were told by that gentlet&an that we are bound to go to war for this right which God and nature had ^ven the Western people. What are' we to understand by this right given by God and nature f Surely not the righ^ of depog^tj £»r thi^ #as given^Hy treaty ; and, as to the ri^ht of nai%atiojnf tih^t has be^ neither su^ended nor brought into •Ill- IP ■.•i■^ WBL OOCCB or THX BWATH fii]tc>^4kr0 id^ by th« saoie g^tleroaji, that the poeses- Sum 0f Hew Orleans is neoesflory to oiir compete seeu- titf, hbimjog to the gentlemaa'aOH^ consdence to se^v^ question -as to the motaUty o£ takm§ that place, becaiise it would be. convenient, I beg to inform him that the possession of it would not give oa complete security. The island of Cuba, from its position and the excellence of its harbors, commands the Golf of Mexico as completely as New Orleans does the river Mississippi, antl, to give that complete security he requires of the President, the island of Cuba must likewise be taken possession of." . Mr. Morris, of New York, maintained the doctrine that Spain had justified the United States in seisdng upon x^eTT Orleans, by her having made the cession of ifc without their consent. ^^Had Spain," said he, "the right to make this cession withdut oui* comenti Gen- tlemen have taken it for granted that she had. But I deny the position. No nation has aright to give to auotl^ a dangerous neighbor without her consent. ^■thjsi is not like th& case of private ddzens ; for there, when a man is injured^ he can resort to the tribunails for redress ; and yet, even th^re, to dispose of, property to, one who is a bad neighbor is always considered aS; an act of onkindness. But as between nations, who con redress themselves only by war, such trimsfer is in itself an aggression. He who renders me insecure ; he wh^ hazards my peace, and exposes me to imminent dai:^, commits an act of hostility against me,^ and giveft me the rights consequent on |)hat act Suppose Great Br^in should give to Algi^» one of the Bahamasi, and eonCrir' bute thereby to establish a nest of piratjBa n^er your coasts^ wo^ you not consider it as an 9ggre$8ion?; Sup- poie^^ring te lato you had ei / t'. >,r . L-; ' tiift ^ 4m 1C& MORBIBt nr IHB SKirAtS.' route lyyi^; lakes into Oanada, would not Britaiit htki^ cossidiBfel and treated' it asim aet of direct liosi^ity^ It ia aauii^ the first limitatioBS to the exercise cf -Ule rights; of property, that we most so nse our own aa not t<; injure another; and it is under the imnocdiate sense of this restrictioi^ that nations are boand to act towards each oiher.*' ^^ He further said that l^he possession of Louisiana by the funbitious ruler of IVance would give him in the new world the preponderance he had already obtained in the old; that it became the United States to show that they did not fear him who was the terror bf ^; and that it specially behoved this young and growing republic to interposey ia order to revive the energy and resistance of the half conquered nations of Europe, and to save the expiring liberties of mankind. To this his colleague, Mr GHnton, replied in the following strftin: " Sublime as these specuktions may appear tothfeeyea of some, and high sounding afl^they may strike the eai-s of many, they do not affect me with any force. In the first place, I do not perceive how they beai* upon the question before me ; it merely refers to the seizure of New OrleanS) not to the maintenance of the balance of power, Again: of aU characterSj I think that of a con- quering nation least becomes the American people.* What, Sir ! shall America go forth, like anoitier Don Quisote, to relieve d:9t»ress€d nations, and to rescue fix)B4 the fangs of tyranny the powerM States of Brittdn^ Spain, Austria, Itciy, the 'Netherlands ? Shall she, like another Phaeton^ mt^y ascend the chariot of Empire, aiid spread desolaibids and horror over the worldl Shall she attempt to- restrain the career of a nation which my honearable coMeague repres^its^ to have beeii irre^ible, an# wM^ he declares has appilHed the B^tish lion and the imp^dfift e%te^ the house of AusMat Shall ^e * mi-'^q^Misw^m.t'jfm-stKjax, 4m WMklKm)^ oomfc dmUme^fmf «ikI tii^^wM^^ idl tlie maxims of ]»»H^,i!r)i}^Ha«^ 4(%g(mnSL >ait in^ fi^ee Republic ? I^et us, Sir, never^ oai^ qqi^ • utm^vi^ the t9ixit0H«»ol* other n^^tions, waHem we, Met oompwUed to tfk)c» thfpi up in jielf-defeiMe. A pacific t^mt >r is o£ ai^ 0^1% ;iao8t importanl^ ior qs to estajb^ jmi Tsmor tmu Wit^^ a seft coast of two thoiisand milea irdeiited with harboiiB aikd lined with oitios, with aa v^xteiMled ccmmeroe^ 4nd with.a population .of six : milHona only, how are we to set up for the avengers of nations 3 ,^-Can gravity itself Te&ma from langhter at the figure which my honorable colleague would wish us to nu^e on the theatre of the world? He would put d, fool's ci^oa tiiur^heii4 and dress us up in the particolored robes of a harleqmnj for the nations of the world.to laugh at ; and, after all the puissant knights of the times have been worsted in the tournament by the Orkmclo Mma$o6i France, we must « then^ forsooth, come forward and con>- sole themioritheir defeat by an exhibition of our foUiest I look, Sir, upon aUr the dangers' we have heard- about tlie French possesdions of Louisiana^ as vimonary aodt idle. Twenty years must roll over our heads beforl France can establish in^ that country a pi^ulation of two hundred thousand souls. I^at in the meaatime will become of your Southern and We^t«cn States,?* , Are they not advancing to greatness with a giant's stride ? Th0i Wdtem paters will then contamon>thek boarders mipjliQns- ^of &ee and hardy republioanSfiable to aruel^/ every daring invader of th^ lightft A J^nm^ na«yi!(f|}l spring ^m the b^)>som of the Atlmttic @jM#^ r Wink* s^ch means, wh*t ^ffUl we have to fi^ar Icoinrj^^ i^^ m^M # -f i^. r .^ ifc «" 49S MB. BRSOKBirBIBOX^S a jLXmOVBTS'ntM 8XNATB. ||P leBolutioni, of ft milder oharaoter, whidi lli^ 'beon pvo> posed aa amendments bj Mr. Breckenridge, of Kenl^okjTi were unanimousbr adopted : ^^Meaokedy That the President 'of the United Stot^ be, and he is, hereby authorial, whenever he shall judge it expedient, to reqnire of the Executives of the several States to take effectual measures to arm and equip, according to law, and hold in readiness to march, at a moment^s warning, eighty thousand effisctive miUtia, officers included. "lliat the President may, if he judges it e3q)edient, authorize the Executives of the several States to accept, as part of the detachment aforesaid , any corps of volun- teers, who shall continue in service for such time not exceeding — months, and perform such services as shall •^be prescribed by law. "That dollars be appropriated for paying and aubsistmg such part of the troops aforesaid, whose actual service may be wanted, ?nd for defraying such otheSj. expenses as, during the recess of Congress, the President may deem necessary for the security of the territory of the United States. "That dollars be appropriated for erecting, at such place or places on the Western waters as the President may judge most proper, one or more arse^ nals." These resolutions were referred to Messrs. Brecken- ridge, Jackson and Sumter, to bring in a bill accordingly. On the 26tb, Mr. Breckenridge reported by a b^l ^^tled "An Act directing a detachment £rom th0 mii^^ of the United States^ and for erecting certain arsenals ;^' and, on the 2$th, it was adopted. Let us now enter the hall of the House of B^preseQta- tives and aseertam what had there occurred in relation ta'^ei'samesuhjecti: - - '"' -- ■"■■■.■'. -^^/' ■ ., m MB. oBiiwouD^ sMoumoml m tbx uovbi M Oik the llth of DeoemW, 1809, John BanddJ^of VixgiaAik tiiored the following rasolntion i ^That the President of the United Staies be re- qttetted'to canse to be laid before thb house snch papers as are in the possession of the department of state, as relate to the violation, on the part of Spain, of the treaty of friendship, limits and navigation, between the United States of America and the King of Spain f and this resolntion was agreed to nnanimoosly. On th) 22d, in compliance with this resolution, the President laid before the house the required information. On the 81st, the President made another communication in relation to the same subject, which, together with his preceding message of the 22d, wfte referred to a committee of the whole house on the state of the Union. On the 4th of January, 1808, Mr. Griswold made the following niolion: . '^Hesohed, That the President of the United States be requested to direct the proper officer to lay before this house copies of such official documents as hav^ been received by this government, announcing the cession of Louisiana to France, together with a report ezpiaimng the stipulatioiis, circumstances and conditions under which that province is to be delivered up; unless snoh dbcuments and report will, in the opinion of the Presi- dant^ di^'ulge to the house particular transactions noli proper at this time to be communicated.'' On the 5th, Mr. Griswold called up his resolution t^e^l^ecting liouisiana, and the question to take into con- sideratioii Was carried by 85 to 32. 'Mi*. Bandolph moved that it be referred to the Oo^ mlttee of the Whole on the state of the Union, to whom lii^ been ebfiaa^fted^ ^1^ B^^ of ^ Ptvndent Tfi^pee^ iii^ii^0^if of the ^nci^mQikiim to^^e Aineinkia^ ^cbt- 5-^ if.. ^ f i wi»a^!t|J 0M # i». t > Wit % 194 iMi; vtim^tpmitcirm tar tta mmm, fng))i»t#^ SjpAinftiia tliet/ilBiS Stst^oh^li^^^ that the disoiuisibn' on both ^nMdns m%ht ^ttibrftct point* mktlf connected. Mt. Sindoltjli's motion* was carried/ and the Home etpreMcd**' their tilialtilrable deteimfnation to maintl&in the boundaries and the ^ghts of navigation and commerce through the river MiMi»> i^ppi, as established by existing treaties.'^ B)it the Oo¥U- mittee of the Whole reported on the 11th of Jannaiy against Mr. GriswoWs resolution, lind it was eonse- quen%loet by a vote of 61 to 85, as it Was thought that; if carried, it might interfere with the negotia* tions already begun by the President. The other proceedings and discussions in the House oh this subject were of comparatively little importance, and the excite- ment there ^ems to have been less than in the Senate. Affcer having thus exhibited the interest it took in the cession of Louisiana by Spain to France, Congress ad- jbtirhed Oh the 4th Of March. In thie^ meanwhile, thfeEtecuflve had not been inactive, and Mf. Madi^dh had written, on the 10th of January (1803)^'«o m UhitedStfites' minister at Madrid: "You will find by the printed documents herewith transmitted, that the subject (%hat had takien pliace at New Orleans), engaged the eirly and earnest attention of the House of Ilepre«tehtativiEa;'^and that all tbe information relating to iti j^d^ses^ed by the Exechtive prior to the' receipt of that letter,* was repo red ih cohsequerice of ft call for it. 1?'dh will Md, alsb, that tl o House has passM a resolulion e3$lict% itefelaring that t^ie stipuM^ rights of the Uhited Stat^ on the MSi^^^^ -^ be invioial%r ^* ^TOfe* cfispbMi^ bf toafiy mem^^ %iAiM«l^^t^ aMMWeof tibiii {^mdMit^Mfaig the p«vl of lfi«rOr^«^ to tbe AwttPieilOS ▼(II wiUii^v^ liuiraotioM froji? hia govvrfnnenlif And ftdqii^e| j»« .iv^ *^ MB. mumoB^ tn^Jmm to wmmnov. W5 giTM ihe Mtolation « t(>iie and oom|>l%xioii still stronger. To tiiese prooft of the ieosation #liieh has been pro- dttcedi it is to be added, tbat repreientatf ons, expressing the paenliar setitibiUty of *the Weatem country, are on the way fhttn every qiiai^fler of it to the government. There is, in fhct, but Such, indeed, has been the impulse given to l^e public mind by these^ events, that every branch of the government' has felt the obli- gation of taking the measure most likely, riot only to. re^ establish our present lights^ but also to promote arrange- ments by which they may be enlarged, and more effec- tually secured. In deliberotiiig on this subject^ it has app^ed tot^e President thAt %.e impottance of ^l^e cr^ called fer the expeimnent' of atoi ei^raordinary misciion, oavryitigtwith' it 'theweight attached to^suehils Qieaidin&y as weE^as llie ad:vantage of a more thbfRMigh ^owledge 6i the views of the goverattfent, and the sen- eSMty of the»p«0¥'^^haMftiad^ be^^ conveyed. .S' »» '^^ m 496 MB. MADISOK^B DESPA!feOH TO IlVlK0S7Oir. " Mr. J^nroe will be the b^ferer of the instnictioiis under whieh you are jointly to negotiate. The object of them will be to procure a cession of New Orleans afld the iloridas to the United Stfttes ; and consequently the establishment of tho Mississippi as the boundary between the United States and Louisiana." Previous to these insiructions, Mr. livingston had, on the 10th of January, sent a note to the Minister of Ejrterior Eektions, in which he proposed that France should cede to the United States West Florida, New Orleans, and a certain portion of the territory of lioui- siana: "These propositionsf with certain accompani- ments,*' said Mr. Livingston, in a desj)atch to Mr. Madi- son of the 18th of February, "were well received, and were some days under the Ilrst Consul's consideration; I am now lying on my oars in hopes of something expli^ cit fi'om you. From the best aoeounts I can receive from* Holland, the armament (destined for Louisiana) will be detained there till about the last of March, so that you wUl not have them in New Orleans till June ; a precious interval, of which you may think it prudent to arail yourselves." On the 2tth of February, Mr. Livingston submitted to the First Consul a memoir detailing the reasons for wMeh he urged the cession of a portion^ at least, of Loui- siana by France to the United States. "That France^" said he, " will never derive any advantage from the colo- ni«a1don of New Orleans and the Floridas^ is fairly to be picsuined, from their having been pdeseseed, for more thim a century past, by tluFeedifferefiit nations.* W%ile the other coloi^eB of theseii«1a<>n»w«temcreasing rapidly^ th^ have always retoaine^WeiilE and lEmgiB^ aad ad ezpemave biu^den to i^e |K)«8eiKM3^ !Even at this mo* A • UK* Itaiol^ «lM Eogllali, ana ^ 8putiit»« If* M- IJVING8T02r*8 PBOFOSITlOira TO TALL^YBAITD. 4^7 meaty wil^Ji all t|^ advantages that New Orleans has derived £rom fpreiga capital, and an accession of inhabit- i^ta from the United States, which has brought its free population to abont seven thousand souls, the whole of the. inhabitants east of the Mississippi does not more than double that number; and those, top, are for the most part poor and miserable ; and there are physical reasons that must for ever render them inadequate to their owiji support, in the hands of any EuropeiEin nation. These provinces are, however, important to the United States because they contain the mouths of some of their rivers, which must make them the source of continual disputes. The interest that the United States attach. Citizen First Consul, to your friendship, and the alliance of France, is the principtd cause of their anxiety to pro- cure your consent to their accession of that country, and to the sacrifices that they are willing to make to attain it. They consider it as the only possible ground of coir lision between nations whom so many other interests unite. I cannot, then, Citizen First Consul, li^nt express my doubt of any advantage to be derived to France from the retaining of that country in its whole extent; and I think! could show that her true interest would lead her to make such cessions out gif them to t)te United States as would at once afford supplies to her islands, without draining the money of Fr^ace, and rivet the friendship of the United States, by removing, all ground c^ jetaloiisy< lidiative to a ipountry of little value in, itself, aiii^ which will W perpetually eiiposed to the attacks of h^ liilurdi eneiQy, iip^ well from Canada as % sea." Qn l^e 2^iClMi^cih, JiTc Ma^iaon f^ Ipii^|Q%ipd Monroe thek eredentials ta treat trith thei gi^vei^tunitlit )E^ the French^ Bepublic ,on the subject (^ ibke Mifli^^ the territories easWi^d thereof an^ without thid;^li^^:Q^^ "The 82 ± 498 OBEDEimALS TO HOimOE AND LITIITGSTOir. ' ^'object in view," said, he, " is to procure, hj. just an4 satis- , factory arrangements, a cession to . the United Statcis of New Orleans and of West and East Florida, or as much thereof as the actual proprietor can be prevailed on to part with." The principles and outlines of the |>W on which the ministers were authoiized to treat were an- nexed to their credentials. In the meantime, Mr. Livingston was very pressing in his endeavors to obtain from Bonaparte the recognition of the right of the Americans to use New Orleans as a place of deposit, and, on the 16th of March, he addressed an energetic note on that subject to the Minister of Exterior Relations : " The First Consul," said he, " has done me the honor, through you, to inform me that he proposes to send a minister to the United States to acquire such informa- tion as he may deem necessary, previous to his tajking any measure relative to tlie situation in which the acquisition of Louisiana will place France with respect to the United States. If, Sir^the question related to^ the formation of a new treaty, I should find no objection to this measure. On the contrary, I should rea^y acqui- esce in it, as that which would be best calculated to render the treaty mutually advantageous. But, Sir, it is not a new treaty for which wc now press (though one mutually advantageous might be made), but the recog- nition of an old one, by which the United States have acquired rights, that no change in the circumstances of the country obliges them to relinquish, ipd whidi they never wiU relinquish but with thdr poUlical existence. By their treaty with Spain, their right to the navigation of the Mississippi is recognized, and a rig^t of 4epdt granted, with a providon, on the part of tlie ^^ing of Spain, to revoke this right, il^ within three years, he found it |»ojadiciaI to his interests, in irhich case he is f * % ■ wiviET HB. ti3rvi!lrMl>oif%' S AtlDHaESlQ. 499 to assign anbtlier equivalent establishment. The King of Spain has never revoked that right ; biit, after having made the e2q)eriment of its effects npon his interests for three years, he has continued it. The Uiiited States have, by this continuance, acquired a penn&nent and irrevocable right to a dcp6t at New Ch-leans, nor can that right now be called in question, either by Spaiu or Iby any other nation to whom she may transfer her title. Even the assignment of another equivalent esftablish- ment cannot, at this day, be forced upon the United States, without their consent. The time allowed by Spain has passed, and she has preferred to have the dep6t at New Orleans to placing it elsewhere ; and I will venture to say, that, in so doing, she has acted wisely ; for New Orleans derives its whole value from iti being the market for American produce, and their principal port of entry; and, if this consideration was important to Spain, it is infinitely more so to France, the produce of whose agriculture and manufactures will then find a ready exchange for the raw materials of the United States. Under these circumstances, at the very moment that Spain is about to relinquish the possession of that country to France, she violates her treaty with- out any apparent interest, and leaves the country with a stain upon her character. " in what situation. Sir, are we now placed ? An ar- mament is about smling for New Orleans; that port has been shut by the order of Spain; the French command- ant will find it shut. Will he think hitils^lf authorized to open it ? If not, it must remain shut till the Envoy uf ]^*ance shall have arrived in America, and made #e necessary inqmries, and transmitted the res^t of tiiose inquiries to tl^ Mat Coraul. In the meantrhile, all ^ produce of ^e States 16 1e^^ itot upon their; haadsi There is only on«$ dWoKii in iffliW^ iia^^ ■*Wh- ■»r..,''f4 '■■' '•■!;.■ 500 MB. uvmosTrnM wsrEm^mc Aj>j>iima, Mississippi is practicable. Tliissi^oii must necessarily- pass before the Eivvoy of $Vance can aitive an^ Jaake his report. Is it siipposable, ^ipj that tJ^C' people of the Waited States will tranquilly w^t the progress of nego- tiations, when the ruin of themselves ;^nd their faninlies will be attendant pn the delay? , Be osaiired, ^, that, even were it possible th&uthe government of the United States coujd be insensible tp their sufferii^, they would find it as easy to prevent the Mississippi from rolling its waters into the ocean as tp control the impulse of the people to do themselves justice,; Sir, I will venture to say, that, were a fleet to shut up the mouths of the Che* sapeake, Delaware and Hudson, it would create^ less sensation in the United States than the denial pf the right of depdt at New Orleans has done, fe I can never bi-ing myself to believe, that the Fii^t Consul will, by deferring for a moment the recognition of a right that adnnjbsof no disoussion,'l3reak all those ties which bind theJJnited States to France, pbliterate the sense of past obligations, change every political relatipntliat it has been, and still is, the earnest wish of the United States to preserve, and force them to connect theu* iifite- rests with those of a rival power; and this, ^, for an object of np real moment *n its|elf. Louisiana is, ^d ever must be, from physical canvas, f^ miserable cpuntry in thft hands of an European poTver." ; j 4* ' Whilst these negptiatipns were^gpingon^ war was on the eve, oC bre^»g out agap betwe^m %eat Britain and^ance, jiptifl^taiiding thPihollp^ peac^ of ABtiicns, and, on- i^et 3d pf Apri^ wr^fromljondon to the Secretary; 9^ ^t«$§ jrf^ 'W^sh^^^m; "In a^l^ joofersatapnvwith ldiiv4#d^^bo% he pl)S€^ ^p irar hi^a^ pejph^; Jm 0B|| #^ihetrj^ »^^ itc^ ws^^^ I "^'^P^^ him Jqr J;,hop^^i|ft:;JB]lti^ ^n. KINCk Ain> MB. ADpiNQTOXf. 501 before it should be attempted ; t^at, trae it was, we could not see with indifference that country in the handa of v|Vance; hut, it waa equally true, that it would be contrary to our views, and with much concern, that we should see it in the possession of England; we had no objection to Spain continuing to possess it; they were quiet neighbors, and we looked forward withouc impa- tience to events which, in the ordinaiy course of things, must, at no dtstant day, annex this country to the United States, Mri Addington desired me to be assured that Bnglm^ w&uld not cumpt Ike covMry^ w&re all agrm^ to give it to her^ that, were she to occupy it, it would not be to;ikeepit,;but to prevent another power from ob- taining it ; and, in his opinion, this end would be best effected by its belonging to the UnitecV States, lex- pressed my acquiescence in the last part of his remark^ but obsei ved, that, if the country should be occupied by England, it would be suspected to be in concert with the United StateSj and naight involve us in misunder- standinga with another power, with which we desired to live in peace. He said: If you can obtain it^ weUy otU ^ not^weougM ^opreomi Us going mto the haruds of FiHmoe^ though ym may rest assuredy continued Mr. Addington, ^f nothing shaU he done in^wnous to the interests of the United States. Here the conversation ended.**'.- ,.:-";^^>-.v..^:;,';,r. On the 11th of the same month, Mr. Livingston, whose exei:t|on8 were incessant, liprote from Fans to the Secre- tafy^of ;Stat,e at Washington.: "My note^ wiT tell you ho# far I ^ye officially pressed the government on the subject of IlOtti^|fll^ I have omitted no means, in oon» veraataoBi of eradic^tmgtl|,^r prejudices in its favor; and^I ittformed 5«)tt Aha# X hii4 r3*«»8oh to ^hink that 1 had l^en succeas^witib all^il^^ sul, to vwjbop I aM^I^ W^^i^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ i I 503 LIVINGSIOK's OSALINOS with TALLEtBAND. that you liave seen, aud which were attentively read by him, as well as sevel'al informal notes to his brother (Joseph). I had reason to think that he began to wavei:; but We had nothing to offer but money and commercial advantages: of .the latter, I did not think myself entitled to be liberal; and of the fint, I found ^ in them a certain degree of reluctance to treat, as dero- gatory to the dignity of the government. The al£ur of New Orleans gave me two important strings to touch : I endeavored to convince the government that the ITlu- ted States would avail themselves of the breach of the treaty to possess themselves of New Orleans and the Floridas ; that Britain would never suffer Spain to ^ant the jBloridas to France, even were she disposed, but would immediately seize upon them as soon as the tran»^ fer was made ; that, without tho Floridas, Louisiana would be indefensible, as it possesses not one port even for frigates ; and I showed the effect of suffering that important country to fall into the hands of the British, both as it affected our country and the naval force of all Europe. " These reasons, with the possibility of war, have had, I trust, the desired effect. M. Talleyrand asked me this day, when pressing the subject, whether we wished to have tho whole of Louisiana. I told him, no; that our wishes extended only to New Orleans and the Flo- ridas; thai the policy of France should dictate (as I had shown in an official note) to g|ye us the country above the river A^l^aJisaS) in order to place a barrier bestween them and Canada. He said l£atj if they gave ■•'N<§^ Orleans, the rest would be of little value ; and that he would wish to know * what we would give for the whole,- I told him it was^ subject I had not thou^t o^ but that I suppose^ i^ should not object to tw^ty jl^llions, ptwid^ (Mo^ ci&ens were paid. Bor itjolft i# AS* LIVINOSTOiir's DEALOrOS wuh tau^tsand. 508 fciiat this was too low an offer, and that lie would be glal if I would reflect upon it, and tell him to-morrow. I told lum that/ <» Mr. Monroe would be in town in two days,. I would delay my further offer until I had the pleasure of introducing him. He added, that he did not speak from aui'hority, but that the idea had struck him. I have reason, however, to think that this resolu- tion was taken in council on Saturday. On Friday, I received Mi> Ross's motion. I immediately sent it to Mr. Talleyrand, with an informal note, expressive of my fears that it would be carried into effect ; and request- ing that Genera! Bernadotte* might not go till some- thing effectual Was done. I also translated it and gave it to General Bernadotte, and pressed upon him the necessity of asking express instructions, in case he should find the island in possession of the Americans. He went immediately to Joseph Bonaparte. These, I believe, were exciting causes to the train we are now in, and which I flatter myself we shall be able, on the arrival of Mr. Monroe, to pursue to effect. I think, from eyery appearance, that war is very near at hand; and, under these circumstances, I have endeavored to impress tlie government that not a moment should be lost, lest Britain should anticipate us."— ^Mr. Livingston added in a postscript ; " Orders are gone this day to stop the sail- ing of vessels from the French ports ; war is naeyitable; my conjecture as to their determination to sell is well founded. Mr. Mom'oe is just arrived here." Ori^ the 13th, Mr. Livingston^ returning to the same subject, s^d in a despatch to the Secretary of St^tej "By my letter of yesterday (he means ^letter Qf the 11th), you learned that the Minister (Talieyrand) had asked me whetli^r I WQU^d agree to purchase. Louisiana, ■ ^ m ^ m m ir« 504 TALLETUAND SHKUQB HIS SHOULDEBS. «. ifec, &c. On the 12tli, I galled upon him to pwss this matter farther. He then thought proper to deolare that his proposition was only personal, bttt still requested me to make an offer ; and, upon my declining todo fo, as 1 expected Mr. Monroe the next day, he shrugged up his shoulders and changed the conversation. Not willing, # however, to lose sight of it, I told him that I had lo-^^* been endeavoring to bring him to some point, but, unfor- tunately, without effect ; that I wished merely to have the negotiation opened by any proposition on his part ; and, with that view, had written him a note wLiich con- tained that request, grounded upon my apprehenaion of the consequence of sending General Bernadotte without enabling him to say a treaty was begun. He told me he woidd answer my note, but that he must do it evasively, because Louisiana was not theirs. I smiled at this assertion, and told him that I had seen thfr treaty recognizing it ; that I knew the Consul had appointed officers to govern the country ; and tha,t he had himself told me that General Victor was to take possession ; thp-t, in a note written by the e2q)ress order of the First Consul, he had told me that General Bernadotte was to treat relative to it in the Uiiited States, &c. He stilt persisted in saying that they had it in contemplation to obtain, but had it not. I told him that I was very ^eU ^ ^pleased to understand this from him, becausfe, if so; we should not commit ourselves with them in t&kiitg it from Spain, to whom, by his account, it atiU bel<>nged ; and that, as we had juat cause of complaint against hey^ ii Mr. Monroe concurred in opinion with me, we sHoidd n€^tiate no further on the subject, but advi^^ o#; gqv^nment to take possession. He seemed ahtmied i>;4 the bohiness of the measure^ and told m© h#^woiiM answer my note, but that it wcmld be evaavdy. vl tdi^f hiin Is^iQttldteceii^ any odmmui^ai^&Qm^^ BABI^ UA^BOIS^S WAtK iir%!B GARDEN. 505 pleastire, bnt that we wero not disposed ito trifle; that the tl .xva were critical, and, though I did not know what instraotions Mr. Monroe might bring, I was per- feo^tly satisfied they would require a precise and prompt hotice ; that I was very f&arfiil, from the litdb progi'ess I had made, that my government would consider me as a very indolent negotiator. He laughed, and told me he would give a certificate that I was the most importu- nate he had met with. "There was something so extraordinary in aU this, that I did not detail it to you till I found some clue to the labyrinth, which I have done, as you will find, before I finish this letter; and the rather, as I was almost cer- tain that I could rely upon the intelligence I had received of the resolution to dispose of the country V ^"Hiis day Mr. Monroe passed with me in examink^ my papers ; and while he and several other gentlemen were at dinner with me, I observed the Secretary of the Treasury (Barbe Marbois) walking in my garden. 1 sent out Colonel Livingston to him ; he told him l^e woldd return when we had dined* While we were taking c<^e, he came in ; ai'.d, after being some time in Ihe room, we stroUM into the next, when he told me he heard that I had been at his house two days before, when he was at ^t. Cloud ; that he thought I noight have sometMng par- tieuhtr tp say to him, and had taken the finrt opj^rtunity to call bja me^ I saw this was meant as' an opening to one of those free cou^^sationS which I had freqnentiiy had with him. I accordingly began on the sitbjeot of tfedet%«ndf elated to hmi the extraordinar]^ cbndndt of the Mnisler (Talleyrand), <&;o^ <&c. iid tcid me^^liat to soli^i^iii^ impoHanl^ that haid^^^ fsA to hiiiQk at SH;. 01^ piaryv ne ihougl^' l'4«^f^i!i*ter «aft ^^to* i^ i^'^^ir- m 1, 506 THE BXBUGULE 07 THE DZPLOMAtlSTB. iu. before eleven Aat night. He went away, and I followed him a little after, when Mr. Monroe took leave. He told me that he wished me to lepeat what I had eaid in re- lation to Mr. Talleyrand's requesting a proposition from me as to the purchase of Louisiana. I did so ; and con- eluded with the extreme absurdity of his evasions of that day, and stated the consequence of any delay on this subject, as it wc.Od enable Britain to take possession, who would readily relinquish it to us. He said that this proceeded upon the supposition of her making so success* ful a war as to be enabled to retain her conquests. I told him that it was probable that the same idea might sug- gest itself to the United States ; in which case it would be their interest to contribute to render her successful ; and I asked him whether it was prudent to throw us into the scale. This led to long discussions of no moment to repeat. We returned to the point : he said, that what I had told him led him to think -that what the Consul had said to him on Sunday, at St. Cloud (the day on which, as I told ^ou, the determination had been taken to sell) had more of earnest than he thought at the time ; that the Consul had asked him what news from England? As he knew he read the papers attentively, he told him that he had seen in the London papers the proposition for raising fifty thousand men to take New Orleans (Mr.* Ross's proposition in the Senate). The Consul said he had seen it too, and had also seen that something was said about two miUions of dollars being disposed among the people about him, to bribe them, ^c , and then left him ; that afterwards, when walking in the garden, the Consul came again to him, and spoke to him about the troubles thivt were excited in America, and inquired how far I was satisfied with his last note. -/M He (Marbois) then took occasion to mention his sorrow that any cause of difference should 6x|stbetwe^ ■M WBAT IB LOUISIANA WORTH? 607 •oUowed He told id in re- ,on from and con- m of that r on this oBsession, that thiB o 8ttcce89* ». Itold light Bug- ) it would uccessful ; throw na .0 moment that what Consul had on which, Bii to sell) ime; that England? > told him roposition Leans (Mr. il said he ithing was led among then left arden, the about the aired how sntion his between oar ooantries. The Oonsal told him in I'eply: WeH/ you hme ike charge of the ireaaury; let thorn give you Ofie hundred mUiona of frames omdiny iMr own daiTM, and take the whole oofwnit/ry. Seeing by my looks that I was surprised at so extraordinaiy a demand, he added that he considered the demand as exorbitant, and had told the tlrst Consul that the thing was impossible ; that we had not the means of raising that. The Ck>ii8ul told him we might borrow it. I now plainly saw the whole business : first, the Consul was disposed to sell ; next, he dbtmsted Talleyrand, on account of the business of the supposed intention to bribe, and meant to put the nego- tiation into the hands of Marbois, whose character for integrity is established. I told him that the United States were anxious to preserve peace with France; that, for that reason, they wished to remove the French possessions to the west side of the Mississippi; that we would be perfectly satisfied with New Orleans and the Floridas, and had no disposition to extend across the river ; that, of course, we would not give any great snm for the purchase ; that he was right in his idea of the e:|:treme exorbitancy of the demand, which would not fall short of one hundred and twenty-five millions of francs;* that, however, we would be ready to purohas<\ provided the sum was reduced to reasonable limits. He then pressed me to name the sum. I told hin^ that this was not worth while, because, as he only treated the ipqmry as a matter of curiosity, any declarations of mine vfould have no effect. If a negotiation was to be opened, we sho;i4d CMr. llfoiproe and myself) make the offer after mature refieotip]^. This compelled him tp declare^ thai, though he was not ai^tntriaed expressly tp iijiake the inquiry from i|i©, y6t if I h14 motion any e^m « Oil the mppMi1|»ii iii^i tllc^laliM ld^liim;'%hat I deiiNid M t^iese to be importaiit con^- demim^i bi^i lihere was a point beyond^^^h we eoidd ndt go^ and^hat^£el°£ir l^ort of the ax^li^; .y«. TBV ITEOOTIATIOir rAIBLT OFKnBD. « « • « • 600 i **Thiu, Sir, you eee a negotiation ig fairly opened, and upon grounds which, I oontcss, I prefer to all other commercial privileges; and always to some a sim])le money transaction is infinitely preferable. As to the quantum^ I have yet made up no opinion. The field opened to us is infinitely larger than our instructions contemplated; the revenue is increasing, and the land more than adequate to sink the capital, should we even go to the sum proposed by Marbois ; nay, I persuade myself, that the whole sum may be raised by the sale of the territory west of the Mississippi, with the right of sovereignty, to some power in Europe, whose vicinity we should not fear. I speak now without reflection, and without having seen Mr. Monroe, as it was midnight when I left the treasury ofi&cb, and is now near throe o^clock. It is so very important that you should be ap- prised that a negotiation is actually opened, even before Mr. Monroe has been presented, in order to calm the tumult which the news of war will renew, that I have lost no time in communicating it. We shall do all we can to cheapen the purchase ; but my present sentiment is that we shall buy. Mr. Monroe will be presented to the minister to-morrow, when we shall press for as early an audience as possible from the first Con9u]» ;, I thmk % it will be necessary to put in some proposition to-mo: row. The Consul goes in a few days to Brussels, ani every moment is precious." On the 1 iTth^ Mr. Livingston thus resunied the si;ibj9ct m^ a despatch to his government : '^ On waiting," said he, f Itpoii the Muuster i(Tal)eyrand), we found M. Marbois ^JBrnOy who told me he had come to conomunicate to the libifltw wlHKt had pas0e4 between jis^.and that he il^aHy regretted the npt bein^ a^e to bri^ us to such M <^ras he might mentiaU^ tq tJbe ]^t (ik>nsul. I to^d i l; f 5lt) THE WAT to ilAKE A BABQjUlir. ''r.'p'h- him that it was Wiiecessaiy to repea pel us to limit our ofifero to a much mbre modemte iuidiv i^ £ hiad already detailed them at large ; and he knew thcrjf exceeded our means, <&€. * ♦ * "The next day, Mr. Monroe and myseliP, alter sf^nd- ing some time in consultation, determined to offer fifty millions, including our debts. "We presumed it woull be best only to mention forty in the first instance* This I accordingly did, in a conference I had on the 15th with M. Marbois. He expressed great sorrow that we could not go beyond that sum, because he wias sure that it would not be accepted, and that perhaj^ the whole business might be defeated, which he the more feared, as he had. just received a note from the Minister (Talleyrand), indicative of the Gonsul's not being quite pleased that he had so greatly lowered his original proposition. He said that he saw our situation, and he knew that there was a point beyond which we could not go safely to ourselves oi the President; but h€s Wished us to advance to thifit point. He said that he would, if I wished, go that very day to St. Cloud, and let me know the result, en t6 St. fition very lesB as no no further * ;, ;> and,in |him sMe, He said ne&tdft^, upon tl[e subject again ; and that, if he did not^ I nught consider the p^ as relinquished ; and that, if I had any Airther proportion to make, it would be well to state it. I then told him that, on further consideration with Mon- roe, we had resolved to go to the greatest possible length, a^d that we would give fifty millionfi. He said tlmt he had very little hopes that anything short of his propositions would succeed; but that he would make the best Tise of the arguments I had furnished him with, if an opportunity was offered; and, if nothing was done the next day, I miirht conclude that the Consul had changed IdB Ltimente ; that havmg given the kingdopi of Efcruria, whose revenues were twenty-five millions, in excha.nge for this country, it was natural that the first Consul should estimate it beyond its real Value.'* Now, that we have seen the Am^ican side of the ques- tion^ let us penetrate into the councils oiP France, and listen to the recital of these transactioiis, as told by M. Marbois, in his History of Louisiana. "That provincej* said he, "was at the mercy of the English, who had a naval armament in the neighboring seas, and good gar- risons in Jamaica and the Windward Islanus. It might be' supposed that they would open the carapaign by this easy conquest, l^e Krst Consul had no other plan to pursue, when he abandoned his views respecting Loui- siana, than to prevent the loss which France was already ; sustaining, being turned to the advantage of England. He, however, conceived that he ought, before parting ynth it, to inform himself respectmg the value of ^ ae> qaisition, which was the fruit of his own negotiations, and the only one thlat had not been p|(t)ained by the sword. .:.'■■ ,;■-■-..■: '■ yVv ^^. ^ ■■.. . •'■.'•'•''';-■.;. ,„,L. ^ ^ ^* He wished to hi^veti?e opinion of two ministers, who hfi^ b^en acqui^Rted withihosec^ and to one of wboon the adminurtri^in^ df :^e cc^oi^es was £Euxuliar. wm. # .w- #■ BU Bo^j^AS,m Aim Mm AjDj^ssp. He was in the habit of explaimug hiinself Tpfhput pre- pai'atioii or iv^jserve, to those in whom he had conJl^enoe. «On :^ter Sunday, the 1013?: of Upnl (ISOdS^ft'T having attended to the solemnities and cei'emonies of ^l^e day; he called those two counsellors to him, and, address- ing them with that vehemence an4 passion whipli Jiie particularly Manifested in political afl&iirs, said: 'J litip^ theiuii value of liouisiana, and I have been desijotis of repairing the fault of the French negotiator who aban- doned it in 1763. A few lines of a treaty have restored it to me, and I have scarcely recovered it, whei|, X miJst expect to lose it. But if it escapes from me, it shall one day cost dearer to those who oblige me to strip myself of it, than to those to whom I wish to deliver il;* The English* have successively taken from France: Canada, Cape Breton, Newfoundland, Jf ova Scotia, and the richest poitiona of iCsia. They are engaged in exciting troubles in St. Domingo. They shall not have tiie Mississippi, which they covet. Louisiana is nothing in comparison with their conquests in aU parts of the globe, ajud yet the jealousy they feel at the icsstoration of this colony to the sovereignty of France, acquaii^ts ine with cheir wiuh to take possession of it, and it is thus they wUl begin the war. They have twenty ships of war in the Gulf of Mexico; they sail over those seas aa apvereigne, whilst our affairs in St. Domingo . have been growing worse every day, since the death of Ledcvc The conquest of Ijouisiana would be easy, if they only took the trouble to make a descent there. I have not a moment to lose in putting- it. out of their reach. I know not whether ^ey are dot already there. It is their usual course, and, if I had been in their place,! would not have w^ted. I wi^h; if there is still time, to take itLiira^ Jrom tkem ^y idea tha)b th^y may MveolevEt^ possessing t col^^^* J^^hiakol^t^pg it to tW BOSSTAaXE Aim HKt AOYISEBS. 613 say that I <$ede it to tlifitsj for it h not yet in our po»- session. If, however, I kal^e the- least time to our ene- mies, I shall only transmit m empty title to those j'epub- lidans ^rhose Mendship I seek. They only ask of me one town in Lonidiana; bat I already consider the colony as entirely lost, and it appears to me, that in the hd&dd of this growing power, it will be more useful to the policy and even to the commerce of France, than if j[ should attempt to keep it.' " One of these ministers had served in the auiriliary army sent by Stance to the United States during their revolutioi]^ The other had, for ten years, been in the public employ, either as secretary of the French Lega- tion to the Continei^tal Congress, or as the head of l^e administration of St. Domingo. "*We should not hesitate,' said the last Minister (Barbe Marbois) *to make a sacrifice of that which is about slipping away from us. War with England is inevitable. Shall we be able with inferior naval forces to defend Louisiana against that power? The United States, justly discontented with our proceedings, 4o not hold out to us a solitary haven, not even «ii asylum, in case of reverses. They have just becinne reconciled with usj it is true, but they have a ^put6 with the Spanish go^Temment, and threaten New Orleans, -of which we shaU only have a momentf^y possession. At the time of the discovery of Louisiana, the neighboring provinces were as feeMe as herself. "Iliey are now powerful, and LouisiaaiLa isfitill in her in&ucy. The country ia scarcely at idl iliha^it^; you have not fifty soMiero there.. Where &t^ your uteaiis of sending garaiaOiw thither? Can we restore jTordficatfoBs ^lat tem in i^iks, and con- struct a long <^il|t i^li^^i^ dr«d l6Bigmi^^^^SiS0fm^ undertake these '"" * yow resources, w^-- mi muAstom m o^mEi oomronw ;.»f she will feel a secret joy in sejeing you ezhaost yonrii^lf in efforts of wUcli she alone wHl de^ve the profit. Ton will send out a squadron; but, ^^^^^ ^^^ i^ crossing t^e ocean, the colony will fall, and the squadron wUl, in ilb? turn, be in danger. , Louisiana is open to the i^glifi^'i < Irom the north by the great lakes, and if, to the soutl\ they show themselves at the i^outh of the Mssissippi, New Orleans will immediately fall into their hands. Of what consequence is it to the inhabitants wh^m tiiey are subject to, if their country is not to cease to be a colony? This conquest would be still easier to the vfj? Americans ; they can reach the Mississippi b J deveral navigable rivers, and to be masters of the country it wiU be sufficient for them to enter it. The population and resources of one of these two neighbora eveiy day increase, and the other has maritime means sufficient to take possession of every thing that can advance her coiamerce. The colony has existed for a e<3|itiiry, f and, in 's^*4,e of efforts and sacrifices of every kind, the ^ast acconnt of its population and resources attests its weakness. If it becomes a Erench colony and acquires increased importance, there will be in its very prosperii;/ a germ of independence, which will not be long in de- veloping itself. The more it flourishes^ the less chaape shall we have of preserving it. Nothing is more c'^cer- '%■ tain than the Aiture fate of the European colonies in America. The exclusive right which t^e parent States exercise over these remiote settlements becomes every day more and more precarious. The people feel hum- bled at being dependent on a small coun^ in !&u*ope, and will liberate themselves, as soon as they have a consciousness of their own fttjengtlt "The French luive attempted to form colonies in llgveral parts of the eoiotinent of Atnetica:' ^eir efforts have eveiywhere prove4 abortive.. The !|^liib;J^e If. icAikBOiB IS oABtmsi ootnroiL. fil5 aost youriielf profit. You \ dossing tie •on win, itt ils ) tli^ Ibglia;'! ', to the Botjtl', le Hlsaissippi, ► their hm^- its wh^m tiiey cease to he a easier to the )pi bj several country it will population and or^ every day oeans sufficient t can advance for a cantury, every kind, the irces attests its y and acquires veryprospe^i;/ be long in de- the less chfiUPe is more a'^^er- 3an colonies in B parent States beconies every ►pie feel h^m- py in Enr<^e, they have a eolonie^ in t.' ji^effijrts pft£iient anci labo^ns ; they do not JTear the solitude and silence of newfy settled countries. The iSrenchman, lively f^ci acJ^ve, requires society; he is fond of con- versing with neighbors. He willingly enters on the ex|»et^ent of culiivating the soil, but, at the first disap- pointment, quits the spade or axe for the chase. **The Piret Consul, interrupting these dbservations, asked how it happened that the French, who were incor . pbble of succeeding in a continental colony, had always made great progress in the West Indied. Because, re* pHed the minister, the slaves peHbnn all the labor. The Whites, who would be soon exhausted by the heat of the cS^ate, have, however, the vigor of body and mind necessary to direct their operations. — * I am agdin,' said the First Consul, * undecided as to maintaining or abolish- ing slavery; By whciru is the land cultivated in Louisi- ana?'-^* Slavery,* answered the minister, * has given to liiouidiana half her population. An inexcusable impru- dence" Was committed in suddenly granting to the slaves of St Domingo a libferty for which they had not been prepared. The blacks and whites have both been the victkns of this great fault. But, without inquiring at this day how it would be proper to repaii* it, let us ac* knowledge that the Colonies where slavery is preserved are rathet burdensome than useful to France. At the saiiie time, let us beware how we abandon them. They ^ have not the means of governing the|||selve8. The Cre- ole ate IVench ; they have been encouraged in that miade of eiflture, and in that system which now causes their fiilsfortunes. Let us. preserve them from xtew ciMMl^/ It is our duty to provide for their defence, for ihe administration of justice and for the cared of government. ■•1^^ ft^^^ would yon ^^efefc yourself ti^lsMB'^greater embarrassments in liwi* i-T Ms mj f5*l,;.,f "'''^ .5* K16 M. MAB360I8 m OABDOnr OOtJNOIL. w w laws in colHsion witli those at home. tSiPall the scourges that have affliet^d the human race, slaViay is the most det^table; but even humanity requires gi^iatpi^cauliotts in the application of the reiidedyi and you cannot apply it, if Louisiana should again beodme BVeilch. Govern- ments still half resist emancipation: thdy 1»lerate in secret what they ostensibly condemn, and tkey are themselves embarrassed by their false position. Tlie general sentiment of the world is favorable to emaiiei- pation ; itis in vdin that the dolonists and planters wish to arrest a movement which ptiblic dpinioa approves. The occupation of Louisianar-^-a colony With slaves— Jwill occasion us more expense than it will affdrd us profit. " 'But there is another kind of slavery of which this colony has lost the habit: it is that of the exclusive system. Do you expect to reestablish it in a country contiguous to one whose commerce enjoys the greatest liberty ? The reign of prohibitory laws is over, when a numerous population has deeded to throw off tiie yoke. Besides^ the productions which were so long pd^esijed exclusively by a few commercial people, are ceasing to be privileged articles. The sugarcane and'thecdffee . tree are everywhere cultivated, and at a very small ex- pense. Every people expects to raise on its own account a31 the provisions adapted to its territdry and elimate. Tliere are on the globe, between the tropics, lands a thousand times ]|9re extensive than our islands, aiid susceptible of the same kind of culture. Monopoly is rendered impossible when the productions are so naulti- ^lied, and the Louisianiaris >nll not permit it t6 enslave their commej'ce. Would you subdue re&istatic0b^fptce of arms? The malcontents tdll find s^pp^ ift the neighborhood, and you will make the United, States, idih wh(>m7 reci^Focal iiiteres^ bugllt to Qiiect uS: tor iceBtnriesj enemies iness; and^ whftev^cir may be your solicitude with respect to theirs; it liriU be for a long time, and perhaps for ever, without e£((;v J. These colonists have lost the recollection of Franco', th^y are of three or four different nations, an4 hardly regard Louisiaaa as their country. Laws whicS are inoessantly varying, chiefs who cannot know those vhom toy are sent to govern and are not known by them, Gikanges effected according to the unsettled interests of the ruling state or the inexperience of Minis* ters, the continual danger of becoming belligerents in qufM'rels to which they are really strangers; such are t'l;:, c^"3e& which have for a hundred years extinguished in their hearts every sentiment of affection for masters who; kre two thousand leagues distant from them^ and who would exchange or convey them away like an airticle o€ merchandise. In order that a country should exist and possess citizens, the certainty of stability muoc< be Ignited with the feeling of prosperity. , The Louisianians, on hearing that they had again become French, must have said to one another: Tkie dkcmge. will not la^t hnger them the others. If, Citizen Consul, you, who have, by one of the first acts o1& your government, made suffi- ciently apparent your intention of giving this country to France^ now abandon the idea of keeping it, tJiere is no person that will not admit that jovt only yield to ne^e^sity ; and even our mterchants will so(m acknowledge t^at Ikmisiana free, offers to them more chances of pro- fit than toui^ana subjected to a monopoly. Commercial esi^Heih^ents 1^ at tiik day pr^eraV% to cir^lonies, and even^without ^mper^td e^iftbMiments jit is hut.to let;^arnde takg^ carrof itself* / I Is "t- i ■ ' ', 1 mBI i¥-''- ii' 61^ BBOlsis IN THE POUNOIL. ^ The otker Minister (Decr^) was of a totnlly op^x)^ Site ojunion : ' We are still at peace with England,' stud he; * tiiQ colony has just been cedM to us, it depends on the fHrst Consul to preserve it. It would not be wi^ in him to abandon, for fear of a doubtful danger, the most in^poi*tant establishment that we can form put of Ffiu^o^, and despoil ourselves of it for no other reason than the possibility of a war: it would be as well, if not better, that it should be taken from us by force of arms. If peace is maintained, the cession cannot be justpodf and this premature act of ill-founded apprehensioiL would occasion the most lively regrets. To retain it would, on the other hand, be for our commerce and navigation an inestimable resource, and to our maritime provinces the subject of universal joy. The advantages which we have derived from the colonies are still present to every mind. Tejx flourishing cities have been created by thjis trade; and the navigation, opulence, and lujoiry Vhich embellished Paris are the results of colonial industry. There can be no marine without colonies ; no colonies withoiit a powerful marine. The political system of Europe is only preserved by a skilfully combined resist- ance of many against one. This is as necessary with respect to the sea as to the land, if it is not intended to subndt to the tyranny of a universal sovereignty over commerce and llie loss of the immense advantaM o| a ^ee navigation. To ihis you will not submit ;]^ not acknowledge by your resignation that the sovereign mistress of the seas, that she is there; j^eirable, and that no pne can possess colonies excf her good pleasure, . It does not become you to feail, ,^iiigs of Engletnil. If they should seize on Louisutili^ asS soine would have you fear, Hanover woi]ild be iin- liiediately in your hands as a certain pledge of it&res|^ ration. ■ Fi-ance, deprived of bei^ navy and Jh^t oolo9,ie|. f V M i>i^l^^ ist ms* oomrdL. m w8bippeA:<3^ lialf her splendor, and of a great part of her 'streng^b. Louisiana can indemnify na for all onr loissea There does not exist on the globe a single port, a siiigledity susceptible of becoming as important as N^w Orleans, and the neighborhood of the Am^^ican States abeady makes it one of the most commercial in the world. The Mississippi does not reach there till it has received twenty other rivers, most of which surpass in size the finest rivefs of Enrope. The cotmtry is at last known, the principal explorations have been made, and expenses have not bx<)en spared, especially by Spain. Forts exist: sOme fertile lands stiitable to the ridiest kinds of cnltare are already fally in use, and others only await thfe necessary labor. This colony, open to the activity of the French, will soon compensate them for the loss of India. >^ * The climate is the same as that of Hindostan, and the distance is only a quarter as great. The navigation to the Indies, by doubling the Cape of Good Hope, has changed the course of European trade, and ruined Ye- nice and Genoa. What will be its direction, if, at the Bthmus of Panama, a simple canal should be opened to connect the one ocean with the other ? The revolution which navigation will then experielioe will be still more considerable, and the circumnavigation of l^e- globe will be^me easier than the long voyages that are now made in going to and returMnglom^di. Louisiana wiU^b^ on tl^ new route, and it will then be acldaowl^dg^ that l^is possession is of inestimable value. **'A boundless icountry belongs to us^ to which the savages possess oMy an imaginary r%ht ' They ovemxn vast deserts^ with the bow in their httid^ in pui'snit Of w§d beaists. Bii^ l^e social stat^r^ubres that 1^ laxsj sloMd be oce«fle£^ iBtd tl^ ^i^0ii^^m %m~m^ a right to hia m!^ *j»> a- :m m ^1 47"" 530 DltiORite IN THE OOUKOU. r w m sistence, and this we will provide for liiin At a smaU expense. *' ' All the productions of the West Indies init ,Loa<> isiana. This variety of products has already introduced larg^oapitals into countries that were bo long an unin- habited wilderness. If ^ > must abandon St. Domingo, Louisiana will take its place. Consider likewise the iigury which it may do us, if it becomes oilr rival in those productions of which we Ijave so long had the monopoly. Attempts have been made to introduce there the vine, the olive, and the mulberry tree; a»d, these experiments, which Spain has not been ^ble to prevent, have but too well succeeded. If the colony should become free, Provence and our vineyards naust prepare for a fearful competition with a country new and of boundless extent. If, on the other hand^ it is subjected to our laws, every kind of culture injurious to our productions will be prohibited. " * It is even for the advantage of Europe that France should be rich. So lotig as bhe shared with England the commerce of America and Asia, the princes and cabinets that consented to be subsidied, profited by their com;- petition in their offers. What a difference it will make to them all, if there is to be no more competition, and if England alone is to regulate this ti^affic of Amity among princes I Alone rich, she alone would give the law. "•Finally, France, after her long troubles, requires such a colony for her internal pacification ; it wUl be for our country whatj a centuiy ago, were for Engkiid t^e settlements Ti^ieh the emigraitts from the thx^ kingdoms have raised to «^3 \igh a4egree of proaperil^;; it will be the asylum of oar r^igious aad poH^iBid dls^ senters ; it will cure a part of the maladies i^iic^th^ revolution has caused, and be the supreme concilialioir^ Mf ^^.-if.i 1 1',^ ^A % DBOxis nf . Tm oouvoxu,. 5^1 aB ihe parties into wbioh we aro divided. Yon will there find the remedies for which you search with so mneh solioitiid&V fTh« First Oonsnl terminated the oonferenoe witboat making his intentions kr^own ; the disonssicms had been prok|i^||ed into the ni(,ht. The Ministers remamed at St»')!(^mid^:apd, at day-break, Jie summoned the one who IumI ttdTiflfd t&e cession of llonisiana, and made him read J^ de9patdies that had jnst arrived fix>m London. His ;«ail:masad(tf informed him that naval and military ppepai^ons ol every kind were making with eictraor- dinary ra|>idity. ^M^h^'IBnglish^' said Napoleon, ^ask of me Iiampe- donsa^^^ibich does not belong to me, and at the same ^m^riNfish to keep Malta for ten years. This island, where miHtaj^gemus ha? exhausted all the moans of defensive IbrtMisatkm to an extent of which no one virithout seeing ii can form an idea, would be to them another Gibraltar. To'l<9ave it to the English would be to give up to them theicommerce of the Levant, and to rob my southern provinces of it They wish to keep tins possession, imd havo meimmediately to evacuate Holland . ^^ ^ Irresolution and deliberation are no longer in sei^son^ I renounce Louisiana. It is not only iNew Orleans that I will cede, it is the whole colony without ai^-reaej'va- tionf I know the price of what X Abandon, and ^have sumciently {proved the importance that! attach to this province) since my first diplomatic act with Spain had £^ its^object its recovery. I renounce it with4;he greatest regretw To attwapt obstinately to retm i% )r9uld ]^ foSy. I direct you to n^otiate thk^^al&ir with t|ie e^ vcfB <^ iJieiJmted^ States : Bo not ^v^nawM^^ th^faip- v^ of Mr. Mom>oe ;^ haveanint6ndew^t^k^ry diiy^th M^^vLivmgston. -But J re(|i»ie « s^?eattd(^>(i£ BMmey^ l^is war, and I wo!^ not like to commence it Wi^JMv ' *^''' ■,is. W w* i 522 BOVAFARTl IN TBI OOTTKOIL. oontributioDB. For a hundred years France and Spain have been mcnrring expenses for improvements in Loui- 8ian% for which its trade has never indemnified them. Large sums, which will never be returned to the trea- sury, have been lent to companies and to agricultmists. The price of all thcfise thingd is justly due to ua. If I should regulate my tenys according to the value of these vast regions to the United States, the indemnity woidd have no limits. I will be moderate, in consideration of the necessity in which I am, of making a sale. But keep this to yourself. I want fifty millions, and for less than that sum I will not treat ; I would rather make a des- perate attempt to keep these fine countries. To-morrow, you shall have full powers.* The new plenipotentiary then made some general observations on the cession of the rights of sovereignty, and upon the abandonment of what the Germans call the s&ids, as to whether they could be the subject of a contract of sale or exchange. Bonaparte replied : ' You ar^ giving me in all its perfec- tion, the ideology of tfefe law of nature and nations. But I require money to make war on tlie richest nation of the world. Send your maxims to the London maiket; I am sure that they will be greatly admired there, and yet no great attention is paid to them when the question is the occupation of the finest regions of Asia. " * Perhaps it will also be objected to me that the Ameri- cans may be found too powerful for Europe in two or three centuries ; but my foresight does not embrace such remote fears. Besides, we may hereafter expect rivalries among the members of the Union. The confec^erations that are called perpetual, only last laU one of the con- titwting parties finds it to his interest to break ^em, and it is to prevent l^e danger to which the ooloniia^ pcnveij of Englatad exposes us, thaf Iwoidd provide a remedy;^'; ^: %'"' i*^ nw i> . wsAVAsam nr ths oovixotl. 528 Tlie Minister made no reply. The ilrst Consul con- tinned : '^ Mr. Monroe is on the point of arriving. To this niinister, going a thousand leagues from his con- stituents, the President must have given, after defining the object of his mission, secret instructions, more eicten* sive than the ostensible authorization of Congress, for the stipulation of the payments to be made. Neither this minister, nor his colleague, is prepared for a decision which goes infinitely beyond anything that they are about to ask of us. Beg'n by making them the overture, mthout any subterfuge. You will acquaint me, day by day, hour by hour, of your prog^'ess. The cabinet of London is informed of the measu- .m adoj: 3d at Washing- ton, but it can have no suspicion of l >se I am now taking. Observe the greatest secrecy, and recommend it to the American Ministers ; ii .;' have not i. less inte- rest than yourself in conforming to the counsel. You will correspond with M. de Talleyrand, who alone knows my intentions. If I attended to his advice, France would confine her ambition to the left bank of the Rhine, ana would only make war to protect; the weak states and to prevent any dismemberment of her possessions. But he also admits that the cession of Louisiana is not a dismem- bwment of France. Keep him informed of the progress of this affair." Thus it is seen th:;' according to Marbois's own ac- count, Bonaparte had determined, on the 10th of April, to part with Louisiana, and that he was as anxious to «$^ as the American Ministers to pwrchase. Both parties, being in such dispositions, could not fail to come promptly to some definite conclusion, despite the little coqnettiiig and by-play acted on the part of Messrs. ]^b^ and Talleyrand, as described by Mr. Livingston, aHidw^Meh no donbt were intended to enhance the value of the oonmiodity they had to dijBpp^ o£ ^-m *■ Vi m ceNi' %€. TREATY OS" GBSSION TO '*EKE TJ. B. . The treaty of cessibn* ims ^igtted"^^ ihfi SOth 6f April. liotHsiana was transferred ; to the XJnit^ States, mtli all ita rights and aj^pnrtenanc^ as fully and in the same manner as they had h^n acquired by the French Republic from %)ain, on condition of tl^e Americans consenting to pay to France eighty miUioas of francs, twenty millions of which should be assigned to the payment of what was due by France to the citizens of the United States^ Some conmiercial adt^an- > tages were beades stipulated iu favor of France. Article 3 of the treaty, which reads as follows: "Hie inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incor- porated in the Union of the United States^ and ad- mitted as soon as possible, according to the principles of the Federal Constitution, to the enjoyment of all the rights, advantages and immunities of citizens of the United States ; and in the meantime they shall be maintained and protected in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property, and "the religion which they profess"— Wasj wrote Marbois, prepared by the First Consul himself; who said on that occasion: ''Let the Louisianiaas know that we separate ourselves fron* them wiiii regret; that we stipidate in their favor every thing that they can desire, and let them, hereafter, happy in their independence, recollect that they hav^ been Frenchmen, and that France, in ceding themyhafj seeitfed for them advantages which they could not have obtained from an Em^opean power, however paternal it might h&v« been. Let them retain for us sentiments of affection ; arid may their common orl^n, descent, lan- guage, aiid oustoms^pei^petuate the friettds^ip^^^ As soon as the ISi^isters had s^nted the treatyj-writes the samd aiitbor, who had 116^ sc^^onspicaous a p«?titi thiit'ln^ieHrtant 'events th^ rose «b^ fAkook Sm tbA Appttnd&t : i ', j^-..'- •I ^mt % BIPLOl^TId HANB^HAEEVG. Mr. Livingston, fexptessing the satisfaction which they felt, said: *^ We have lived long, but this is the noblest work of our whole li\re8; The treaty which we ha^'^e jtiSt signed has not been obtained by art or dictated by for'ce; equally advantagxsous to the two contracting pa^es^ it wUl change vast solitudes into flourishing dis- tricts. From this day the United States take .their place among the powers of $he first rank; the English lose att exclusive influence in the affiairs of America. Thus one of the principal causes of European rivalries and animosities is about to cease. However, if wars are inevitable, France will hereafter have in the New World a natural Mend, that must increase in strength from year to y ear, and one which cannot fail to become powerfiil and respected in every sea. The United States will re-establish the maritime rights of all the world, which are now usurped by a single nation. These treaties will thus be a guarantee of peace and concord among commercial stat^. The instruments which we have ju&t sij^ed will cause no tears to be shed : they pre|)are ages of happiness for innumerable generations of hur^an creatures. Th6 Mssissippi fmd Missouri will see them succeed one another, and multiply, truly worthy of the ' regard and care of Provir ice, in the bosom of equality, under just laws, freed from the errors of superstition and the scourges of bad government." As to the First Consul, when he was informed of the Conclusion of the treaty, he sententiously .and propheti- cally said : " This accession of territory strengthens for ever the power of the United States; and I have just given to ]E^|;Ia)(id a maritime rival, that will sooner or kter humble her pride;'' ' Thus closed these niegotiations, which I have thought 1:^ iia^^ ^ated ik d^ail^ and wldoh ey%tiiat6d in the mid^ ever I* ■^ uM' 1 ! -* I 626 ^VAFABTE^S FBOTRBCnr. signed in tHe nineteenth century, if it be JQipatfi the discontent of the great rival pi Fyance, who wodld pro- bably liave been \(rounded at any stipulation of A pertnar nent ?iature which favored the Zijliterrftndw^iichi^wOttl^ have been difficult to (iToid, had she. j^ett^ned %e Hght bank. W^ cea$e to have a motjiye of urgency at W^tf for ipcHning tjoonepo^i*, to avert th^ iuijiist,pfe»S!ii;e q| another. W^ sepjurate oai^lye^iift^^ ^eftl; jgft«^|p^ ■* 'If km to thi^ wkesbury [lumds to ijesty Ixm L: "As I cured oa^, le United very thing ^resident." ly, Messrs. lisition. of t^mplated L that the iced, us to svemment Eition, that iiapoaition s portion, )n mature a treaty le. * * cause of aipate t^e ^otdid pro- a. pe^ar itwoul^ at W^tf presism IMPOldrANOE OS* THE 0E3SI0N. 520 ^om the Enropeaa world and its concerns, especially its wars and ilitrigaes. We make, in fine, a great stride to m&l and substantial independence, the great effect where of wjll,we trust, be felt essentially .md eictenslvely in all oar foreign and domestic relations. Without exciting the apprehension of any power, we take a more imposing attitude with respect to all. The bond of our union will be strengthened^ and its movements become more harmonious by the increased parity of interests which it will eosomanicate to the several parts which compose Ifc wiU be recollected that when the cession of Lou- isiana by 8paiD to Prance w.^ heard of, the Ministers of the United States in Paris, London, and Madrid, had made inquiries to ascertain ^k^^ther the Floridas were included in thie cession as part of Loukiana, and had expressed the opinion that they were not. But that opinion underwent a change, at least with regard to a portion of the Floridas, soon after the signing of the treaty of cession transferring the same province to the Unit^ States, such as it had b^en acquired, from Spain, and Mr. Livingston, on the 20th of May, wrote as fol- lows to Mr. Madison on this subject: "I informed you long since, that, on inquiring whether the Floridas were within the cession of Spain, I was told by M. Marbois he was sure that Mobile was, but could not answer farther. I believed his mformation incon-ect, because I understood i^t Louisiana, as it then was, made the object (^ the (session ; and that since the possession of &e Floridas by Britain, they had chcmged their names. But the mom^t I law the words of the treaty of Ma- drid, I had no ^oqtbt but it included all th^ country that France possftssed by^rthe name ^ Loi#ilui% previous to tNir dMon to S|iiki, exeept wha^ liad be«n conveyed by siiM^eiit ttealtii^. I &ec<»r€i]%!^ inflisted with M. 84 ' I >3sm HHf j> Bi^Sn ■ Jm|<$ tPSjHK n iBn ^ WsK ifi^i ^^m ft nil ^'^. '%. ■% ^ if •m ^•f 660 TALLE¥RAND^8 WAT OF EZPLAIItTl^G. Marbois, at the time we negotiate.iii8h Minister's letter to Mr. Pinckney, in which he expressly soys, thai FraTice had recovered Louisiana as it forme dy belonged to lier, saving the rights of other powerr ITiis hiaves . o doabt upon the subjeir't of the Intention of the contracting parties. Kovv, it is well known that Louisiana, as possessed bjr Frunce, was bounded by the river Perdido, and that Mobile was the metropolis. For the tJacts relative to this, I refer you to Kaynal and to his maps. I have also seen maps here which put the matter out of disput^. " I called this morning upon M Marbois for a further explanation on this subject, and to remind him of his having told me that Mobile made a part of the cession. Ks <»ld me that he had no precise idea on the subject, but that he knew it to be an historical fact, and that on tLat only he had formed his opinion. I asked him what orders had been given to the Prefect who was to take pos^ssion, or w;hat orders had been ^ven by Spain, as to the boundary, in ceding it ? He assured me that he did tiot know ; "but that he would make the inquiry, and let me know. At four o'clock I called for Mr; Monroe to take him to the Minister of Foreign Afl&irs (Talley- rand); but he was prevented from accompanying me. I asked the minister (Talleyrand) what were the east bounds of the territory eede4 to us? He said he did not kttoW ; we must take it as they had received it; I ask^ Mm>w Spam meayt to »ve them poaseseiSn! He said, according to the words of the treaty.-rBut what did yott mean to take ?— I do not kndw.*— "Ili^ii you w ^ 0:.' WAS WIST FLORIDA CEDED? sil mean th^ wp shall construe It oar own way?— I can give jon no^ection; yon' liav6 made a noble bargain for ydnrselves, and I snppose you wfll make the most of it. _ ''l^ow. Sir, the sum of this business is, to recommend to you,> in the strongest terms, after hamg obtained the possession that the French commissarylnll give you to msist upon this as a part of your right, and to take pos- session, at aU evente, to the river Perdido, I pledge piyself that your right is good ; and, after the explant tioiw th^ have been given here, you need apprehend ''''A'yJ'T^ ^^''^''^ "'®^^«- Your ministers here, and at JJtadnd, can support your claim ; and the time is pecuharly favorable to enable you to do it Without the t smallest risk at home. It may also be important to anticipate ^y designs that Britain may have upon th^t coun|ry. Should she possess herself of it, ftnd the war tei^i^ate Wably for her, she will not .^adily relin- quish IV. With this in your hand, East Florida will 1^ Of httle moment, and may be yours whenevei^ you P^ase.. At all events, proclaim your right and take possession." Pn the 7th of June, Messre. lavingston and Monroe pm said ma joint despatch to Mr. Madison : « We are topy to have it in our power to assure you, that, on a thorough examination of the subject, we corisider it in- controver^ble that West Florida is comprised in the cesspn of Louisiana." ^ _ Letus now^ee the view taken of this question by the J^vegkn^tmot, It cannot be done better than by m^^h^ own language, "the American negotii tor| 8aidhe,-easilyagreed^^ ■W ^ .f '^ ■# I m FKEBTOH yiXrW OF THB QUBSTIOIf. *ft; 'h^ ha/m hem acquti^d by the French HepuUiCy hy virtue oj' fii4 third article 4>J the treaty conohided >mth hie Oathh Uo ^'ajeeVy at St, Ild^hmsOy on the 1^ of Odtober^ 1800^ Terms so general, seemed, however, to render necessary some explanations, relative to the true extelit of Lobi- sian^&c ♦ ♦ * * ^ * "There were some historical and diplomatic researches on the first occupation and earliest acts of sovereignty. p But they were only attended with the results usual in such cases. Travellers and historians had hot left on thw subject any but vague and general notions ; they ^: had only narrated some accidents of navigation, some acts of occupation, to which contradictory onea might be opposed. According to old documeilts, the bishopric * of Louisiana extended to tl& Pacific ocean, and the limits of the diooess thus defined were secure from ail dispute. But this was at the most a matter in expccttmcy, and , the Indians of those regions never had ai.y suspicion of the spiritual jurisdiction which it was designed to exer- cise over them. Besides, it had no connection with the rights of sovereignty and 'jroperty. One important point w«», however, beyond all discussion ; according t£ the then esdsting treaties, the course of the Mississippi,' in descending this riter to the 31st degree of notth lati- tude, formed the boundary line, leaving to the United States the country on its left bank; to the i^ght, on the other hand, there were vast regions without well defined bouncUiries, although France had fomaerly included a great part of them in what was called Upper Loiiisrana; This was particularly thfe case with the territories td the BqbI)^ ctf t^ Jifissouri. ' ^ : " The Hmits of Lotdmana and tlonda, to the south d the aist degree, were not free i&*om some diaptitijS, which possessed importance on acconnt of the ncighboi^hopd of "^t-xV * - i^4« m ai^Sa, FIUSirOH YIKW OF THE qcwnOIt, 5a»/ wwa, and the embouchure of the rivers. Hoeever this country (Florida), disregarded by the Europeail powers that sucsceasively posaeissed it, was scarcely men- tioned in the conferences. France had only the smallesfc portion of it. The name of Florida could nLt have been inserted without preparing great oUffictilties for the future. **The boundary to the north and north-west was stUl less easy to describe. Even the course of the I^Cttnssippi might give rise to some border disputes ; for that great river receives, beyond the 48rd degree, several branches, then regalded as its sources. A geographical chart was before the plenipotentiaries. They negotiated with entilre good feith ; they frankly agreed that these matters were full of uncertainty, but they had no means of quieting the doubts. The French negotiator said: * Even tins map informs us that many of Ihese countries ar^^not bet- ter known at this day, than when Columbus Iwided at the Bahamas ; no one is acquainted with Jhem. The English themselves have never explored them. TheciB^ cmnstances are too pressing to permit us to concert mafc- ters on this, subject with the court of Madrid. It would be too fong before this discussion could be terminatedv and pWhaps that government would wish to consult the Viceroy of Mesica Is it not better for the United States to abid« by a general siapolatioH, a:^ sine^ these terri^ tones arestiU at this d^f<» the most pa;rt) m possession of thie^dii^ await future arrangements, oir leave th# matter open for the treaty stipulations th»t the Unite4 State* in;r^;nafce with them and Spafaj ^ In granting^ Cfflwda td the E^lish at the peaoeof^l'Tea, we only^3&< tended to ce^pfen to the countey ihat^^e possessed^ ^ is, hoover, ara consequence of that treaty^ ite England b^^^ipied terrilory iio the Wes^^^ IWieM Oeep.' ! l^lieth^ iibe Americim pfe^otea^ ti^ 1^ themsislv^ de^i^ #afe i?a^ft<^^d to; %.. % t 684 BPADT'^ PaOTEST. .1'. them, or that these words afforded them a ray of Hght, they declared that they kept to the terms of the 8rd article of the treaty of St. Ildephoiiso, which was inserted entire in the first article of the treaty of cesMon. " M. Marbois, who offered the draft, said several times : * The first a/rtide ma/y m time give rise to diffiovHUeeythat we at ilm dwy inaurmotmtahle. Bvi if thiy do not etop you, /, at least, desire that y&u/r government shmM know that you have been woumed of thenu "The French negotiator, in rendering an acconnt of the conference to the First Consul, pointed oat to Mm the obscurity of this article and the inconveniences of so uncertain a stipulation. He replied : ' iJutt if m obsm- rit/y did not already exist, it woM perha^ps he goodjpdldcy to put one tJiere.^ Whatever was the true territorial extent of Louisiana, whether it included part of the Floridas or not, Spain immediately protested against the treaty of cession, and her Minister at Washington, the Marquis de Casa Irigo, addressed the following note to the Secretaiy of State on the 4th of September : "Through the medium of the ambassador of the King my master, in Paris, it has come to his royal knowledge, that that government has sold to that o he United States the province of Louisiana, which his Majesty had retroceded to the French Repub^ lie. This information has occasioned to the King* my master, no small surprise, seeing that the French Govern- ment had conlaractod with his Iilajesty the naoat solemn %ngagementa never to alienate the said province. In order to convince the Gbvernment of the United States of the nature of these engagements, I take the liberty here to insert a paragraph of a note presented on the 22df^ Wjv 1802, by M. de St Oyr, ambassador of the French Republic, at Madrid, to the Secretary o^ ®*^*® of his M^e8ty,>a8 fbUoiys : . ; ■.,i -'vatyamr or sPAor. /V ■ 6UT -^ j7«9 CMoUc Mo^Mty haaojppeared to wUh that France should engage not tonll nordUenate in amy Tmmner^ the property and the er^oymeiU of Zoumana. Ma wish in this respect ispetfedly conformable toith the intentions of the Spmish Oovemment ; a/nd its sole moiiwefor entetnng therein was because it respected a possession which had (ionstUwted a pa/rt of the French territory, lam ofu^hor- ized to deciare to you in the name of the Mrst Coneul that France toiU never alienate it^ '' The mere reading of the paragraph which precedes will convince yon as well as the Presidept of the United States, that the sale of Louisiana which France has lately made is a manifest violation of the obligations contracted by her with his Catholic Majesty, and that France wants the powers to alienate the said province without the approbation of Spain, aa is seen incontestably in the ^ above recited note of the ambassador St. Cyr, authorized by his government. *^The King, my master, charges me to inform this government, as soon as possible, of this important cir- cametmce ; mi, in compliance with lis royal will, I has- ten to acquaint you therewith, in order that it may, as i^oon as possible, como to the knowledge of the Preeddent of the United States.^ On the 2Yth of the same monih (September), the Marquis de Gasa Irujo retumt^d to the subject, and said in a communication to Mr. Madison : " On the 4th cur- rent, I had the honor to intimate to you the eztraordi- i^ary surprise with which the King, my master, had h&^d of the sfde of Louisiana, niade to the United %t^; in contravention of the most sblemn assurances giyen in writing to his Majesty, by the ambassador of thel^nch S^bM«;»'!ietti' luK pestion, iMitd with the con- selit and approbattoi^ of the First Oimsul. The King, my Mastery eharges me agaM to remind the American ii-.A M M^i ^;h\ 586 MR. MADISON 0:N ItUi. PROTEST. # ■« ■W i i Government, that the saiti French ambasMidor entered, in the name of his Bepablio^ into the positive engage- ment that France never would aliian^te Loniwano, and to observo to it that the sale of this province to the United States is founded in the violation of a promise so absolute- that it ought to be respected ; a promise without which the King my master wouldj in no manner, have dispos- sessed himself of Louisiana. His Catholic Msyesty enter- tains too good an opinion of the character of probity and good faith which the Government of the United States has known how to obtain so justly for itself, not to hope that it will suspend the ratification and effect of a treaty which rests on such a basis. There are other reasons no less powerful, which come to the support of the decorum and respect which nations mutually owe each other. France acquired from the King, my master, the retroces- sion of Louisiana under obligations whose entire fulfil- ment was absolutely necessary to give her the complete right over the swd pi*ovinee"; such was that of causing the King of Tuscany to be acknowledged by the Powers of Europe ; but, until now, the French Government has not procured this acknowledgment, promised and stipu- lated, either from the Court of London, or from that of St. Petersburgh. Under such circumstances, it is evident that the treaty of sale entered into between France and the United States does not give to the latter any right to acquire and claim Louisiana^ and that the principles of justice as weU as sound policy ought to recommend it to their government not to meddle with engagements, as contrary in reaKty to th^ir tnw intercists, asthey woidd be ta good faith and to tfeeir good cOTrespondence wiih Spain;*' Mr.lfadisoii comm^micated t^ Mr. living- 6ton at'PariSj. to whom h» bsM. m a despati^ of. the^6th of October: "The objectioni* tothe c^OP, a^^AJ^ced m JIB. MASaaOHf ON TKB PUOTEST. 58t by Spain, are in fact too futile to weigh either with others or with herself. The promifto made by the French ambassador, that no alienatbn should be made, ^M'med no part of the treaty of retrocession to France ; and, if it had, would have no effect on the purchase by the United States, which was made in good faith, with- out notice from Spain of any such condition, and even with sufficient evidence that no such condition existed. The objection drawn from the failure of the French go- vernment to procure from other powers an acknowledg- ment of the King of Etruria, is equally groundless. This stipulation was nevev communicated either to the public Or to the United States, and could, therefore, be no bar to the contract made by them. It might be added, that, as the acknowledgm<^nt -stipulated was, according to the words of the article, to precede possession by the King of Etruria, the overt possession by him was notice to the world that the conditions on which it depended had either been fulfilled, or had been waived. Finally, no particular Powers, whose acknowledgment was to be procured, are named in the article ; and the existence of war jetween Great Britain and France, at the time of the stipnlation, is a proof that the British acknow'ledg- ment, the want of which is now alleged as a breach of the treaty, could never have been in its contemplation. *^ But the conduct of the Spanish government^ both towairds the United States and France, is a^ complete oaswOT to every possible objecticm to the treaty between them. That goveiT^ment weU knew the wish of the United States to acquiro certam territories which it had c^ed to Franee^ and that they were in negotiation with France on the subject;' yet the slightest hint was never given that Frao^e had nicy ^li^pxt to^^alieniitejiop'even that an alienation to the United S^te&woul4 be diuagreeaUe to^SpaiUi On the contrary,Hhe mimster of his Catholic # >^-^; ♦ " i;i^] M mi »*■■ w ■ U I I m |V .-^ 58S MB. HAIDJDSON OTS THE PROTEST. Majesty, in. an officuil note, beaiing dat6 May 4tli last, gave ij^ormation to tlie ministei* of the United States at Madrid, thM the entire province of LtyudHoma^ with the Umit^Uhad when held by M'anodjWaa reiroceded to that power ^ mid that the United States might address ih&n- sehea to the J^rench goverimient in order to negotiate the acquisition of the territories^hieh wovld svit their wie- 9*est. Here is at once a formal and irrevocable recogni- tion of tlie right as well of France to conveyj as of the United States to rebeive, the territory which is the sub- ject of the treaty between them. More than this cannot be required to silence, for ever, the cavils of Spain at the titles of France, now vested in the United States ; yet, for more thwi this, she may be referred to her own measures at New Orleans, preparatory to the deliveiy of possession to France; to the promulgation, under Spanish authority at that place, that Louisiana was re- troceded, and to be delivered to France ; and to the orders signed by his Catholic Majesty*8 own hand, now ready to be presented to the government of Louisiana, for the delivery of the province to the person duly au- thorized by France to receive it. "In a word, the Spanish government has interposed two objections only to the title conveyed to the United States by France. It is said, first, that the title in the United States is not good, because France w«s bound not to alienate. To this it is answered, that the Spanish government itself refored the United States to France, as the Power capable, and the only Power capable, of conveyiiig the territory in qu^tion. It is said, next, that the title in France herself is not good. To this, ii the same answer were less dedsive, the orders of the King of Spain for putting France into possession are an ^wer that admits of no reply." * * * » ■, « * # * ♦ ♦ w ^. #■' 4 MB. ICABISON OIT THE PROTEST. 539 Mr. Madison added: *' The rightful limits of Louisiana are under investigation. It seems undeniable from the present st^ of the evidence^ that it extends eastwardly 1^^;^) at least, as the river Perdido; and there is little donht> that we shall make good both a western and northern extent highly satisfectory to us.'* On the 12th of October^ the Marquis de Casalrujo addressed to Mr. Madison another communication, in which he resumed the argument to prove that Spain wa|S right in prot^ting against the execution of the treaty of. cession: '^I have received," said he, "your letter of the 4th current in reply to those which I had the honor to write to you on the 4th and 2'7th of the last month ; and as, without entering into the examination of the powen^ reasons which, in the name of the King my master, I unfolded therein, against the sale of Louisiana, you refer generally to the explanations which, as you inform me, the minister of the United States near his Majesty is to make at Madrid, I shall at present confine my observations to that which you are pleased to make to me, fom^ded upon certain expressions which you cite to me from an official letter of the Secretary of State of the King my master, to the above mentioned American minister in Spain. The expressions 81*0 the following : ""By 1^ r^ooescUm made to Framoe af JLomaicmay tJjda pmoer Tiaa recovered Ihe sM province with the Umits which U had, and samng the rights aoqmred hy othefr powers: The United States cam, address themsehes to the French govenvment to Tiegotiate the acqvdsition of territory which may suit their i/nterests* "These expressions, which you consider as an expUeit M •iA-f-i *! For Itt ' Mtroc«don beoha.i 1« Fnaol* d« la Laisiana, reeolM;6 '«st» peteotia dusba provinoia ooa los limitM con qiie la tabo, y ssItm los dereohos aoc[mridofi pc^ otraa pdtenci8& I41 de lew Ettadoa tTnidoi poM' diligiHw al gobienio ]^n- eto {lava ncgooiar la adquideion de tenritoriqa que eonrtagan ft m iateres. it ^m # 540 QABAmU^O TO MK« MADISON. ! and positive acknowledgmentof the right of l^eUaited Stat^ and iEranceto enter iato the engagements which they afterwards did, do not, in my o|iinion, weaken, in any manner, the foundation and the force of the repre? sentationa which I have had the honor to make to you against the sale of Louisiana. "There is an expression among those yon cite, which will suffice to refute the inference you draw from them, and it is that of savmg the rights acquired by other pow- ers. Although the general form of this expression gives, in other respects, much latitude to its true meaning, it is indubitable that Spain having made the retrocession of Louisiana to France, under certain conditions and modifications, Spain has the undoubted right to claim their execution. Of this nature was the stipulation that France^ should not sell nor alienate Louisiana in any manner whatever, and likewise the solemn ar 1 positive accession and declaration oi the French government adhering to the wishes of Spain ; consequently this ex- pression destroys the possibility that, according to exist- ing circumstances, the French government should possess the right of selling the said province, or the government of the United States that of buying it. "There is another consideration still stronger, and whioh is not at all subject to the interpretation of equi- vocal expressions. It is evident that the engagement entered into by France with Spain not to alienate Lou- isiana in any manner, is much older in date than tbe official letter of M. Cevallos, whose eicpressions you are pleased to cite to me. In that letter, those which you ' have scored : that i^ United St^ites ccm address them- siA)es to the French government to negotiate the acquisi- tion of the t^ritcyry which ma^ suU ihei^ iiderests^ neither signify nor can signify any thing but a deference towai'ds France, whose government alone is now concerned .t6 # # OASA mtr JO ix) mb. mahhbon. 541 give a decisire answer to Ifae wqnests of iJie United States,-— an answer analc^mis and conformable to the nature of the previous engagements which had been en- tered into with Spain. The repugnance of the Spanish government may likewise be recognised to give to that of the United States a necessary negative, at a time when it found itself united with them by bonds of the most sincere friendship. " Other interpretations of equal force may be derived from the obvious meaning of the expressions of the of- ficial letter of the Secretary of State of his Majesty mentioned by you ; but as those which I have just made are„in my opinion, conclusive; I abBtain from entering upon others in detail, and I take the liberty to call to them the attention, as well of yourself as of the Presi- dent of the United States, in order that you may be more and more convinced of the reason and justice with which the King, my master, objects to the ratification of u treaty founded upon a manifest violation of the most sacred engagements entered into by France." Mr. Madison communicated to Mr. Pinckney, the American Minister at !;^ ? irid, all the arguments which he had used to refute the pretensions of Spain, and said : " The President thinks it proper, that they ^ould, with- out delay, be conveyed to the Spanish government, either by a note trom you or in conversation, as you may deem most expedient, and in a tbrm and style best unit- ing the advantages of making that government sensible of the absolute determination of the United States to maintain their right, with the propriety of avoiding un- dignified menace and unnecessary irritation. "The conduct of Spain, on this occasion, is such as was, in several views, little to be expected, and as is not readily explained. If her ohjcpt be to extort JUjuisiana from France, as well as 4o prevent its transfer to the .^■ 'u<^ ■f*-,i: 0- # m 542 liAOmoiX TO PINOKNET. United States, it would seem that dlie must be embold- ened by an tmderstanding witb some other yerjrpowei^ ful quarter of Europe. If she hbpes to prey:Ml on France to break her engagement to the United States^ and vbluntarily restore Lpuisiana to herself, why has ghe so absurdly blended with the project the offensive oom^ munication of the perfidy which she chargcjs on the First Consul ? If it be her aim to prevent the execution of the treaty between the United States and France, in order to have; for her neighbor the latter instead of the United States, it is not difficult to show that she »2is^ takes the lesser for the greater damage against which she wishes to provide. Admitting, as she may possibly suppose, that Louisiana, as a French colony, would be less able, as well as less disposed, than the United States, to encroach on her southern possessions, and that it would be too much occupied wi+h its own safety agaifcst the United States to turn i^s force on the other side against her possessions, still it is obvious, in the first place, that, in pro^ jrtion to the want of power in the French, che co^^ny lYQ^d be safe for Spain ; that com- pared with tl ? power of the United States, the colony would be in"^ -efficient as a barrier against the United States ; and, iu the next place, that the very security which she provides, would itself be a source of the greatest of all the dangers she has to apprehend. The collisions between the United States and the French would lead to a contest, in which Great Britain would naturally j6in the former, and in which Spain would, of course, be on the side of the latter; and what becomes of Louisiana and the Spanish possessions beyond it, in a contest between the powers so marshaDed? — An easy and certain victim to the fleets of Greait Biitaijx and the land armies of this country. A combination of these ^>fy 'ff^' MASiffiON TO PINOKNET. 543 forces wa» always, and justly, dreaded by both Spain and France. It was this danger wldcli led both into our revolutionary war, and much inconsisteLcy and weakness is chargeable on the projects qi either which tend to re-unite for the purposes of war, the power which has been divided. France, by returning to her or^nal policy, has wisely, by her late treaty with the United States, obviated a danger which would not have been* very remote. Spain wiU be equally wise in follow- ing the example ; and, by acquiescing in an arrangement which guards against an early danger of controversy between the United States, first with Prance, and then with herself, and which removes to a distant day the approidmation of the American and Spanish settleiuents, provides in tli'^ pcst possible manner for the security of the latter, and for a lasting harmony with the United States. What is it that Spain dreads ? She dreads, it is presumed, the growing power of this country, and the direction of it against her possessions within its reach. Can ^e annihilate this power ? No. Can she sensibly retard its growth ? No. Does not common prudence then advise her to conciliate, by every proof of confi- dence and friendship, the good-will of a nation whose power is formidiible to her ; instead of yielding to the ii ipulses of jealousy, and adopting obnoxious precau- tions which can have no other effect than to bring on, prematurely, the whole weight of the calamity which she fears? Reflections, such as these, may, peiliaps, enter with some advantage into your communications with the Spanish government ; and, as far as they may be invited by favorable occasions, you will make that use of them." Ith&d beea thought proper to communicate t,o I_. Pichon, the French Chargi^'Affaires at Washington, ii 1 •■>■; .'.v- .1. i''.'\i' ly,M. Rchon addressed to the Secretary of fetate, on the 14th of October, the fblljowing note : * *^> ^The undersigned, to whom the Secretary of State has been pleased to communicate the proceedings of the Minister of his Catholic Majesty to the United States, in relation to the treaty by which the French Kepublic has ceded Louisiana to the United States, thinks that he owes it to his own government as well as to the American government, to present to Mr. Mfvdison the observations of which those proceedings, as far as they attack the rights and even the dignity of the French government, have appeared to him susceptible. :ir: "The Court of Madrid, according to the notes of its Minister, considers the cebsioa made by France to the United States as irregular and invalid: 1° — ^becauise France has renounced the right of alienating the terri- tories in question: 2'— because the treaty of St; Ilde- phonso, by which Spain retroceded those territories to France, has not been fuUy executed with respect to the acknowledgment of the King of Etruria — ^an acknow- ledgment which was one of the conditions of the retro- cession to be fulfilled by France. " On the first point, the undersigned will observe that the treaty of St. Ildephonso retrocedes Louisiana in foil sovereignty, and without any limitation as to the fiitm^e domain of France. To operate a limitation so t iscntial as is that to which the Court of Madrid appeals, nothing less tn >ald have been necessary, according to the nature of contracts in general and of treaties in particular, Hh&n a stipulation to tiiis eff^t inserted in the treaty itself. A promise made fifteen months after the signature of this pact, axid wtiic^ mighty m. one side, have been yielded to the solicitations of one &£ ^e con- tracting parties, and, on the other, dictated by the dis- im\' i '•AIL THE FBENqS O0ARO£ 0K THE PBOTBST. 545 pdsiliQus wlullijQ;iig]it then exist la the other party, bat which tdteriar circamataaces onght have changed— ^uch a promise cannot create in favor of Spain a right saffi- cient to Enable her to charge with invalidity- the trans actions which hav^ contravened it. The contrary pre- tensions woald certainly confoand all the principles relative to the nature of obligations, and woald de- stroy the solemnity of treaties. These general reason- ings would receive a new force from the circumstances which are pecoliar to different nations in relation to the subject of pacts; but the ulidersigned will not eat.6r into the examination of these circumstances, under the persuasion that general principles sufficiently repel the pretensions of the Court of Madrid. ^ "On the second point, the objections of that Court do not ajppear to the undersigned to be better founded. It is known that the King of Etrmm wns placed on the throne since the treaty of St. Udephonso. We have a right to suppose, that his Catholic Majesty was satisified from that period with the measures and efforts employed by France to cause the title of thia Prince to be adbnowkdged by the other nations. It is at least what m%ht be concluded from facts within the knowledge of the whole worid* In the treaty of Aimens, concluded on the 27f the colony to France, as is proved by the royal ceduk^ which the undersigned has received add exhibited to Mr. Madison ; a cedula, which, as aU the World knows, was long ago forwarded to the Captain Grmieral of Gubf, who sent the Marquis de Casa Calvo to New Orleans to superintend its execution. *V^!0 these conclusive observations the undersigned % 35 1^- m ^Hr m ■■■'■">■:■■, #' 1?= I \ m 6 THS FRENCH CBABJQ'A OK TBE PBOTEST. will add, tbat the Court of Madrid D^^t have been informed in the course of the month of February \tiat, hy its Minister to the United States, tha,t the Americlin government was sending to Paiis a Minister Extraordi- nary, in order to negotiate with the French Government the acquisitioif of Jf ew Orleans. If the Court of Ms^ drid had seen, in the object of this mission, an injury offered to its rights, what prevented it, after being thus early apprised, from informing thereof the Minister of the United States at Paris, and the French government, and from interposing, before the conclusion of the treaty, its intervention in a form adapted to suspend it? It does not appear that that court has taken, at Paris, any steps of this nature. To suppose it, would be inconsis- tent with the instructions which the undersigned has received from his government, to accelerate as much as is in his power the execution of the treaty concluded on the 80th of April last, between the French Republic and the United States. "The undersigned therefore hopes, that the American government will not see in the proceedings of the court of Madrid, in order to obstruct the execution. of this treaty, any thing but specious reasonings, and will pro- ceed to its execution with the same earnestness which the French government has employed on its part. The undersigned has received the necessary orders to ex- change the ratifications and effect the takii^ of posses- sion of Louisiana by France, and its transfer to the United States. He does not presume that the court of Madrid wouM wish to oppose the execution of the firat orders. This supposition would be as contrary to its loyalty as to the dignity of the Frencu government. In any event, as soon as the ratifications are exchanged, the undesigned will proceed without delay, in concert with the commissary appointed for that purpose by the First M. THfi PREBIDENI^S MESSAOB IN 1808. ^ 647 tJoiwril, to tUf ittiiv^ify of th« colony to the persons whom the IMd^t of the United States shaU aj^int to take pdsse^on of it** On the 17^ of October, Congress aasemWed at Wash- ington agreeably to the proclamation of the President of the United States, who, in his message^ tl^iia refenred to the purchase of I^^nisiana: > , " Congress witnessed, at their late session, the extraor* dinary agitation produced in the public mind by the suspension of our right of deposit at the port of New Orleans, no assignment of another place having bc^in made according to treaty. They were sensible that the continuation of that privation would be more injurious to our nation than any consequences which could flow from any mode of redress; but, reposing just confidence in the good faith of the government whose officer had Committed the wrong, friendly and reasonable repre?en- tfttiofls were resorted to, and the ri^t of deposit was restored. " Previous, however, to this period, we had not been unaware of the danger to which otir peace would be per- petually exposed, whibt so important a key to the com- merce of the Weston country remsdned under a foreign power. Difficulties too were presenting themselves as to the navigation of other streams, which, arising within our territories, pass through those adjacent. Propositions had therefore been authorized for obtaining, on fair con- ditions, the sovereignty of New Orleans, and of other pOssessic«i8 in that qualter, interesting to our quiet, to sudi exteiit as was deemed practicable; and the provi- sional appropriation of two millions of dollars, to be appHed and accounted for^by the President of the United Btates, intend^ as part of the pnce, was considered as liMweying the sanction of Congress to the acquisition pro- posed. The enlightened gov^rtiment of IVance saw. nn m 548, THB PRISIDENT^S MESBAQE IN IbOl i^ with just disoerament) the importance taboth nationB of ^ such liberal arrangemeiitB«Bmight best and peraianently promote the peaqe, interests, p. »d friendship of both; and the pi'operty lind sovereignty of i^ Lenisiana, which had ])een restored to them^ has, on certain conditions^ been transferred to the United States^ by instmnients bearing date the SOth of April last When these, shall have received the constatati(mal sanction of the Sei|at%they will, without delay, be communicated to the Bepresen- tatives for the exercise of their functions, as to those conditions which are within the powers vested by the Constitution in Congress* Whilst the property and sovereignty of the Mississippi and its waters secure an independent outlet for the produce of the Western Statesy and an uncontrolled navigation through their whole course, free from collision with other powers and the dangers to our peace from that source, the fertility of the countiy, its climate and extent promise, in due season, important aids to our treasury, an ample provision for our posterity^ and a wide spread for the blessings of freedom and equal laws. "With the wisdom of Congress it will rest to take those ulterior measures which may be necessary for the immediate occupation and temporary go^^emment of the country; for its. incorporation into our Union ; for ren- dering the change of government a blessing to our newly adopted brethren; for securing to them the rights of conscience and of property ; for confimung to the Indian inhabitants their occupancy and , self-govemmentf esta- blishing friendly and commercial relations with th^m; and for ascertfdning the geography of the country acquirefi'^ .Onthe.26th of October.ra bill to enable the Bresidient to tiike possession of the territories ceded by EVance to the United States, by the treaty concluded at Bans on the SOth of April, was adopted in the Senate by a vote ■Mf '■I |>E]UTES nC 0Ol7OBI»8. 549 in the affirmirtive of 26 to 6 in the negative. Tho§e who voted against the bill were John ($mey Adams and Timothy Hokeiriag from Massachnsetts, James Hillhouse and Uriah Tracy from Oonueoticat, Simeon Oloott and Williani Plnmor frttm New Hanipshire. < On the 2d ^ Novemljer, the Senate resumed the second reading of a bill €lntitled : " An aet anthorisriT: -? the erection of p '■' ck to the amount of eleven milKord two hundred \- thousand dollars, for the |>t|r' \i of carrying ii. the convention of the 80tL of Apra, 1803, b( le United States and the French Republic^ri Tliu bill nad come up from the House of Bepresen^ves, wher^ it had passed on the 2&th of Oc^ tober* Oii'ihe question : Shall the bill pass ?— Mr. James White, from Delaware, moved that the fbrther considera- tion of the bill be postponed until the second Monday in December next, stating as the gi-ound of l^e motion he had the honor to make, that the question was then in»> volved in much difficulty and doubt. He couM not ac- cede to the immediate passage of the bilj, "because," said he, "by the day I have named, the Senate would bo able to aet mom understandingly on the subject, as it woi:dd then probably be ascertained whether we fure likely to obtain the quiet possession of Kovv Orleans and Loui- siana under the treaty or; not/and th^e would stall re* inain a groat' sufficiency of tkue to make the necessaty provisions caa our part for carrying the treaty into i^e^ ou1aon,if^it should be deemed necessto^ i v ; ; ( ? >* Admitting then,** continued he, "that his Oathoiiis Majesty is bostije to the ces8it>n of this tenitoryto the United l^tet^ and no honcn^ble g^ailemiiin .will^en^ it, what reasoiiiB h^ve we to suppose that the B^nch JBrefe^ provide the %fataiirds should in1»!r£rare^ea&rgive to fi» ^ f^mmmm^ tie coUBtifi|^^H<» m aisknow- tb^e in BO pal]^|^|i^;^«^^ itfelbdieA wkb no f ■ * 1* ,1 m ^, - ^ ^t^^- IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I UilM |25 ■^ Itt 12.2 2.0 lU ■ 4.0 1 1.25 II 1.4 II!II33 II < 6" - » S^. ^ / M^- > Hiotographic Sdenoes Corparalion ;\ 23 WBT MAM STRHT WnSTII,N.Y. MStO (71*) •72-4503 i ;\ -it; n 550' MB. 1!J[9ITB TO THB, $K1|AT^ authority, nor )mh»& single 9oJdier to entree Wft ordera. I epeaknow ftom mei^ prolmbiiitieB. I wkh npt to be undfi?«tood 99 pro^inlf thi^Jife© lV«n<^ to xm ^0 actual and qwet pqsselsion of the ^^t<^. I hope to God they Inay^ for poasesskth of 4t we n^ ha^e^^I mean of New:>(Me«a0, an^W iuich other pi^- tion* on the 3MSasi88ipin fts may l)e necesawy to ae<^ us for ever, the complete and nninterfupted nayigplaq^ of th4 river. T^Js I have ever Imn in favoi* of ;, I timik it essential to thfe peace t^theUnit^ States and^ % prosperity ©four Weftem^conntry. Bnt a«| to LouisUiois this neir, immense, nnhoundcd ^w^orld, if it j^|i4 eve^^ be incoipOTafed into this Unions whkh IJ^pna idea can be done bnt by altering the Constitntioi^^^Kcve |i will be the greatest feurse that conld at presieat i^fajj i; it naay be prodnclave of jannmerablc e\i|p, and eipciii& (rfone that I fear even to look npon. Gentlemenjon ff sides, with very few exceptions, agr^e that the se'ttlei^eiiA of the country will be highly^njuriouB and dang^r^us to the -United ^tates ; but, as to what has-been suggested of removing the Creeks and other nations of j^l^ from the EastOTn to th« WestMBbanks of the Missi^^ and anaking the fertile regions of Lomsi^a a howfetf ii^erness, never to be trodden 1^ the foot of civiji^ man, it k imiH'aoticable. j Thagentleman §^m Tennei^ (]5*r. O)^) has shown h»u8iil,oandiw,onthip<)Cfi«pi^ and I believe with hma^ to use his strong lai^n^iger thii you had as well ^etend to proWbit ihe fish^om iwiB^ mingin the se% as to pi^^t the ftp^ilf#^ 0^ tlm oounti^ after its 8ov«pe%»ty shiiflb^^ |b every njan^i^fpaaited wi^th^^^^ enterprsniig4iemp^ oi^p^ p^0^ ilittl. #i^ th^ fMpn^ in. Tdileh ow^-^^^esteitnioini^t^ idea mnst be chmiemai iie I.^,^^^^^, ^ strong^"thit^#m be wipoiiMlio to re^^ * '% 6wi^' tsowtjiiMl&xii^Mm^^^ will becpffii9. se^j^ if w» &i^ %^^^^^ wil^ ik^metf |H^[NiUticHi tBAt \#ti^ «!»^klaiiifto part of ottT i^reMOt ^rritor^, Wnce <^ t«^ ior ihriie tliOnsiviid ii^6» ^m ihe oiq[>ital of tlwtMon/ where they will scarcetyjever W t^« y*y8 of thc^ Qtis&^nSL ^Temment ; their affecticois^iiHIl become alieiutted V they wBl gradually begin to view tnadj^^w* I' gers ; they will fbrm other commercial ooimeetiioiSiind our iijteresis will 'become distinct* ^ "l^ede, with other causes that huipn wisdW m^ n6t now foresee, will in time eflfect a sepa^tlon^ aii4,l feiir on^ botfndswill be fixed nearer to our hojoses th^ii the W«ter of the Missisw^i. We have already territory ^wa/^s^ and' when I contemplate the evSs that ma^. a to ihescStal^ frofiftthis intended incorporation o^. lana into the Union, I would rather see it given to |I^M^ to Spain, op to any other nation of the earth, ntK>n the mere condition ihat no citizen of the United Stflftes shoold ever settle within its linuts, than to see the territory i^old for a hundred millions of dollars, and w« fetaia^e sovereagnty. * * *' * r * Md I do say that, und^ existing circunstao«e8, ev€^ s^)|k)»ing that this ext^it of territory wa9 a deipirable^ ac^liasition, fifteen milHons of doUars ^?9#a, ^opt eno^ mon^ sutt to give." Mr. Wells^ of the si»ne ^it^, Ispok Ih^' game view of the quesidon with has cc^eague^l^. "W^lte.' MrirBdEerisg, ftom Massachuse^ spoiNe also ag^infi^ the \M^ is he^»^ughi ihi^ Congress was not hcnHssA to eai^4h«tt«%1ii^ execution: ^"Bise Ooagk^siiei^v^ ib^ ktvi <^ the Ualiied States," said he, **made.in purstii- a^ thetec^lttdr iii tirealaes mad% orwhkih sh^ be S^'ij^t thtfi^wtty 4^^aie li?»i!tod ^t ti^ fbaT^ luB M istfpjed^ law <« tlie la|id But a ti^t^ to belto .fe mm 4, *? .1,^^ ?^>' 552 MB. VS!0KSSa3!t& QT tmi^SSJiltE, obligatory^ maiBk not <}0]i<«rftve&e tlie Cbiiftiita^iatiit^. i^^ cbntais any stipidalaoiiiB irlMi 'traoseeii^ ilte^ ^poWe» tfa^^hi given to the I^reeideat aiidiSenote; ^^016 j^ betweeu the United Stattes afi^ i^e^ iPi^^Mh'tE^pi^tkkk}^ profes^hig to cede I^nisiiisia tt^ the triiite4>'S^^ pears to me to contam snch an '^ixfieptiion^ I^QBr^a stipi^tion irhieh' eannot be «^eetif^ci^M^ ^€ Ufidonyi^e Frendi govmimieiii.iv^ l»vetlm ngl^ to deckre ^he whole^. treaty T(»d. iTe must then abaiir don the eoimtry, or gd to .war to nHiltain-opr jgoBB^asiott. "^1 ".#• r ,«p>^. m ^'Bvt^^iiMi$AMm IlcfenagR^IJmve never donibted .^ ligH of tlie United Stat^ to JKi^|«ii« aew teiritoiyy eJPcff l»y ^ixsli^ or ijyconijoest^aiwl*^ govern the tpRtc^ so «oqiii!red ttl a depmident^prot^ce ,' And in tli^ iray mi|^t' Lonkiiuia iiaye lm6oiBm»^i&jm!bmj^ the XJoMied Stot«^ a^d have t«ceived » Ibntt of ' g<>vem- men*- iBlb^tely fsie^iral;^ to ^aft to w^hK» ^habit- ante: ane^Q^cnilij^ .:,;-^. :-,.:, . Mp. ^racy^ £r^ Connecticiit, followed in' fhe^me Kneof argtunentj ohjeoting also to what he cabled giving a commereial preference to the forts^ of the ceded t*pr|. tojy overihe.othei' porta o^the JJm&tt, m conlbrh^ty with ilhes^rth article of the treaty, whkh st^ the ^Wps of IVance and Spwn shoirfd be adnrftted f<^ twelve yea*Biiito1he ports of Lonisiana, free of foreign ^irtj. He oontWed with the Mlowing sent^netflit ^^ We can hold t«pritefy J bnt to admit 1^ lyiaMtaat* into l^e IMon^ to make dozens of themand^SlMites, %' treaty, we oaimot ccaistitntionaQy do; and no^sttbaeon^t act c^-legi.^ion, or even ordinfoy i^e^dmetit' td^dnir Cdnstttntkn^can kgaiwe sudi^ mea«ure& If done at %ffl, tibey miMTt he done by laavetsalfciMiseiit of afl to States dr pi^lciefs.of iHtr^j^^O^ a^p^i'nicions^titeasare' as ^^wS^^miai^if^>^»vMmiAj^^ we^M-^r-^md sid^ aworldr^to onr'¥ii«df&< '• !^8*W0W jpE^^Abscwbbg the mf^i^bim'B^^ *^l^' ifil^ ii»ignii^canti^in ihe Iiyon aa^th^oagiit 1^^^^ ^li^ o^ cic^sait^ the :&ei!#gpei»£n»i^cd^^ii# M^^i#^< ^heNMid; iiiit^eeito' ii. m '0' %■ m MB. BRBQXIBJifBIDGE IN TOM SVlfJiTB. ^P aoliieii^ 18 one o£ the most tiplendid which tlie imiials of any nttkioii onii produce. To acquire an emipire of ^e^ haps half the extent o£.the one now posaeflsed', firom thct most poweiM and warlil^ nation 6n eaith, without bloodshed, without thd oj^iession of aj^gld indiiridnal, wi^|K)int in the least embamssing the ordin^o^ations of your fiances, and ali this thTongh l^epead^l^ forms of negotiation, and in despite too of the opposition of a odnsi^ei^hld po^on of the commnnity, is an achieve- ment of which the archives of 1he> pi^eeessorsy-at least, of those now in oflplce, cannot fbmish a parallel. • '^ The gentleman from Massachusetts has told ns, that this aoqiHBition wiP, from its extent, soon pmve destrnc-' tivetp the, Confederacy. ^^,>,^ :.■:••''•■ *^.Thi8 is an old, hackneyed dootiine— 4hat a republb ought aot to be too extensive. But vhe gentleman has assumed two facts, and then reasoned from them: ^t, that the eaitent is too great; and seccnidly, that the coraitry wiE soon be populated. I Would ask, Sir, what is his standard extent for a republic ? How does he come $.t that standard ? Our boundary is -ali-eady ext^^ siye. Would his standard extent be violated by indiud- ing the island of Orleans an believing in the doctrine that aj^ublic ought to be conned iviihin narrow limits, I b^e^fS on tibe contrary, that the morQ\ extensive iti domlnioi^ ^e, more safe and mote ^^urable it will htn, Jif. pii^3if^0ttam to the number of hands you intniist the pr6 •..'■* , . ♦ . . * ,. . # ^ , V * ■■'."■' « '■ ' 1*Pat i|o]fliing,so yemote is more clear to me^Jiitti that t|^ ac^^tion iwU tend to ^^^ lii^evi^ty as this country has passed out of i^ hands of Spain, thai whether it remained with Spain, or shoidd be acquired by Englwtd, its population'wonld ha^e >een attempted. Such is the policy of all nations, bttt Spain. Whence would that population conje ? COTtainiy not fbpi Europe^ It would come almost exclusively fironi the Unked States. The question, then, would simply be r le the (mfederdo^ more in dcmgerfrom L&tmimm, when cf^cfrmedhy Am^Hma people wider Ain&riam jvai^^ tum^ th^mwTm populkxted hf Americam imder iheemtrot of some famgfn, pomrfuly cmd rived noHarkf Or, in other wprds, whether it would be safer for the United States t^ populate this country when ioid how th^ pleased^ or permit some foreign nation to do it ^t Aeir expense'??'/ .'■*., ,:.•,,... ■ ■.■ ^.- 7'.'.v-., ITbe adoption of this bifl was advocated by Mr* Jolin QwiM?y Acbons, w^o y^t Iiad v^ted, on the 26th <^ Qe%^ ber, ag(|inst %e ^mss^ of the bill to eniibk |he Bresi- dent to take possessioaof the teipitori^ ceded % france^ tO;;the '"Pnited' States.. ■. . . ., ^^■;'.; ,;yv.. >V/: .--rc''--,r!'rn - ^^'l!; has baenargaed,'' said Jfe 44awK^ " th»fe the^^^^ oipfhi not to passj because the tceaty its^ is, wi un^- stifcu^^on^va^ j^i^ €ionn|B^Hiicut, an extra-constitu^onaJlact i Ibecsw H cfi^^iwaftt^lgp^^ whidt tljfi pqwerai 1^, J^ ns^'fMcaia^^ ' h^ ^jQintiiid^^L^ #;% f ^' 4 t ■r |h«t di^ cnssion is. past Bnt, allo^fing even jthat this is a case for which the CMstitntion has not preyed, it does not in my mind foQov, that the treaty is a nnllity, or that its. obligations^ either on ns or on France, most neceasar rily be caOceEed. For my own part, I %m free to cow fysB^ that the dd article and mcnre e^)ectflHy Uie 7th, eontedn ei^fagentonts placing xm in a dilemma, from wh^ch I see no possible mode of eztricating^ .ourselves bat by an amendment, or rather an addition to, the Con8rt;itQ;jbirmer oeeasiont ipd in<^this day^s debate^ appears- to hf^e shown 1^ to demoivtratii^n. But whftt is this, mor^ than sftying^ that the Bresident and Senate have bound the nation to engagements whieh reqiiire i the Qpopera^n of more extensive powers than li)fiir% to carry^ them ^ into exectttion ? Nothing is moi^^conpiiosn i| the jiegotiations b^ween naticm a&(d mitioQ,tthan for^ a mimsteT to agree to imd sign artMes beyond/ the -^^ tent of his powers. This is what yonr niinistem, inJ^ vw^ case (^befom^ BE^ ^ve cos^ss^ed^ dopci;^ |t is, weU kao^ that theiT' pow^ia did not pnthoaflw themito^43i||ii^ iS«de^&i»Atreii^l^^^^ ^t^^aot^ j^ihi^l^^ coifti^ aM« to^^KW^ to^^wft^iflltion^^^^^ poeee^i^^ ed^ Mr wrerK h^k(y^mgpm0m^ of m * Hi' joHir adhma nf ifiH Bitf ATE. 1 , , ... cfliW9, obnld kot ftmend it iii ibii^ witbcyntexoeedrng ib«q9| j)Owera^ftnd this k the extremeit poilKt ta whicb aii|^ gim^kman on this fioor has e:tteiiddd hii acFn]defH-fiiip- pose all this, and there still remains In t|ie^ country a Ifower oontp^t^t to adopt and sanctioir «i^ei^ |Mfft of d^enga^iements, and toeadi*^ them^cntirely into execn- iion. ¥&t, notwithstanding ihe objections 'imd i^^e* hensionii of many indxvidiials^ oi rwfioj ^r^^ #bi)« and excellent men in various parts of the Union, y«t«|«h,l8 the pnl^ fikvor attending the trmsaetson which^e^'> menced by the negotialion of this treaty, and which, I ho|^, will tenmnate in onr fidl^ undisturbed and mi^ puted possession of the ceded territory, that L firmly bcUe^elf an amendment to the Constitution, amply suffix ci^nt for the accomplii^mcnt of everything for ^ich we have contracted^ shall be prc^posed, as I think it ought, it will be adopted by the legislature of evtty Staite in the Union. We can therefore fuMiour part of the convention, and this is all that France has a right to require of ua France never can have the tight to come and say : Jam diaehar^^ from the o&H^Uiom of ^i^ treaty^ hbcmee yom* Breaideni cmd Smctteym rai^- in^UyesiBciaeded^^t^^ lor this wd^ldbdint^je^njg i4 ihe' internal airiangemeni of Oujp gc'/emmeut;.: It would be intermeddling m questions with which she has no concern, and whieh must be settled altogether by ourselves. The only questioner France is, wh^«r she has <$ontracted with the department :of oar govern- ment autlidfized to make treatiee^ and il^ bemg'diear, her only iSgH is to require that the e(mditij»ii^j#t^pii^«ted in our name be ppn6tua}3(f and i^i^Mji^ pxhem^*^ ^ I trust they wllii»e so per^Mimed, and will (i^^prwy I^end my haiid to ev«ry act aiecessary ft» the |nn;poae^ is .For J consider ihe b^eci as of- the lu^jhest adVwita^ to us; and the gentlen:^ ftoni Kentuck^r ,^9i^i^PrtBi •■*; M. % *■ • i ^ -# £S8 ■■*■ ridge)^ who lias dlsplf^yedwiih do nmoK elo^^neiu^ the immeM iinporfance to the Union df iht pmMcmhf the ceded territory, cannot cany hii idoat ftirtber' dn tlifttimbjeot than I do.^' MMj^ the bill pcased on the dd of l^oyeiaoiber, by a votie of 26 to 5. Those voting in the negatiire #ere: HmeB EQllhoQse and tJriah Tn/cy ftom Oonnec^nt, Pickering from Massaohnsetts, Wells and I'Thite from Delaware.' ' ' Y' w-' \';- ''•'••■ v Descending from the Senate into the LOWer H^^nse let ns now see what had been done there. i^ Oii the 24th of Ocftober, Mr. Oriswoid, front Oonnec- Hcnt, iQoved the following resolnMon : Resdked,— ^''to the PredderU (f^VnMi &tateS he requeet^tocame id be laid before M home a cop^ofthe treattf hhteen the Frerieh HeptMic cmd 8pamyofih» let of 0(M>er^ 1800^ together w^ a oop^ of the ^ed of ces- eumfronv /Sjpamj esoeeutedm'pm'sxmioe of ike etimeired^j^ e&mefyim^lAmeiamt to Frande {if awy eiMh deed eotsiiste) ; oho cojpiee of 9w>h corresp&ndei/ice'hetween, the g^overimi^it ^the Wniied Statee ckd ihe ^eminent ohminiister of a^in (4f mi/y mush cOrreapondeme hm t^ikm^^l^mie)^ ae ^M^ehaw the decent or disa&nt df Spam td M purchase if Ii&itiieiana b^ the United 8tke^ ; tog^r with '(^^^ ifmidh oiker doGvime/nta aif imy h in th^ di^fkjirtmaktr^^ WkUeyVr afiA^ other d^ixtrtment of Ms g&verrimmytmii^ to oedmidfi, iffhdher ^ Uviked Skmtee hciveim^^^ ^xcqvm^ mv^ tkl^ cf IMdma % #« "!Ht# bellei^ it #(^ be adiid^ tiSlSf % the e^^ J^iiws of the 1^^ 'ac^jijM^niew'tei?^^ *^^i^^^i^ sMIij^ " by ^fetat tre^ thj^ Bpaji s%tih^ e^ tO-Ma^ litK>n certaiiBL^ ctm^tabns^ t3ie pto^nfe^ 1^ * Annals of Congress, by Gales and Seaton. '^'■ 1# ■#- Mb' X* iOk OBBWOLD' nr tav. noms. |iM^ Jlke^l^^ and the IfieiMsh foveninieiit doM ncHi iiisiirtlilii ipikM iaha» lut^ev bm ^s^yinified witk*^ l^oe, br whether the cdM|io]i Itas beon adtttttlly mii^ ^^ Bpia to^ Frtmce. pH^rlii^ and Bpaiii fias iMft di^v«if»d tii« frotiwse to ^Vaiio9) then U reiHiIlB 1^ Fraaee hitd no t^, lu|d of (sonseqnenoe tliat t)ie United* fitates leave ao^ittf«0d no ti^e f^ France; If t\m lie eotfeot, the edaiitt|iiisiiice will be that we have a(M|iiii«d noitew teMtbt^oi^ iieV iiibi«^ and tiiat it % pei*feotfl}r idle to jsp%tA tfane in pabsinl^ laws for possessing the teriitoty^ ind ft^re^ the {ie<^ IMi l^«a^ not b^ atieeHakSit^^e latigiii^ of the traaty; itv}nay*b» Itt^^i^i^ doouiibBii'iiv^at may sal&fy thu H«^ wheiiier the ][J|iited St0^ have aeqnhred n^# t^ttltol|jr c^ new lab- jeetK In the treaty late^ oon^liided ^riili i^ra^^ treaty between Jlranoci atid Spimi la refbred tof Mj^ a part ef it is copied. The treaty *eftfpred to mnst 1^ a pttbiic treairp'. In the nature of l^ungft it ^mt bjD |be tit)e4eed fSe the province of LtMoisiana.^ The €k>vem- ment nink have a c^ipy of it. Aa tiiereria but a. part recited; it in evideh%'bi^(ttfe^. It beeomei tibeMfbre necessary to be IM$h«d iriih the whole, in order ;to asoeitain the conditbn»^rd|tUve to the Dt^0 «f Pan^; H also' become neeessa^y tdr get the'deed ofeesi&qer^, 'lor iSte prosine to cede Is n^ «e«^i pre8ii]]|i«v is in the fmmiAoWistpomftmx^^ It is alito kf^MHant to Im<^^i|dei*''wM^4[ii;cta^^ . Loinsiaiia jpi to Wti^en pbj»esli^o& of, aiid%li0(ihpr'w:ith the (xxQSQiit oiBpi^ as she is «tUl poiamM^^'' ^|t is to ^ tal$i|t)^feie^^ dltm^wiU be ffliMeilhley 1^^^ necessary; bn^lf it is to b«f iKti^ jp'•% ;'%. '*=/ * 560 MB. c«»woia> joK tat BEoma. -%. sition to Sptiiif a differaiit pfovkricm xmiy be neo^iMrf . From theM^on^eratioiu I tidnk it proper in the Hoiiee to call npou the Ezeontive for kfonaation ba this pomt.** ' . ^,"}'< This Beeolntioii wae Tiokntly oppeeed' by th^ ftietidil of the admii^tratioii om thegromid that, in l^e pfesent stage of tho proceedings reiqpeoting the treaty and eon- mention with Fraiiee eoneeming Lonisiana, it was im- }m>per to embariuss l^e bnsinees by an nnseasonable* eaU upon the Ji^eei^ye for papen ; rmat^on was akoady on the tables of 1^ House ; that tiie Presi- dent hfid put the House m possession of it fh>m his otm sei3se of dutyi tha* he hadv communicated such int^Ui- gidiee >is he had reeeijved; and that if he T^as possessed ^^anything else oeedM for the examinatbn of theHotisej it was to be presumed tdiat the chief magistrate of the Union would have apontaneo^y imparted it j that al- though the r%ht of the Hotve to reaiitest ihe B^esid^ent to gi^^ ec^ttesvof the papers mentioned; hi the Be^Itetdbn xuuM? debate was a<^owledged, yet i^ this fjonbt of oar having aoq^^red niMNP.te0Eiiun7.4zKl pe*^ to govetn^ Coidd I £f»r a t *♦ *« « 4iJJ«iw%i^ every quarter, tlurtt it will receive tbie .^oardial ,iipp«^^ tion of a tHomphant tufii^ty of thie Hofuaek If wcji be the geoeraL opinioa-— if we are i^i Ibar^y Mjtisfied with the tera» of thiB ;1a^eaty, but lost m m^m»^«0 at ^e aH-impOi'tant bencits which w« hff!|^ ap dieaply acquired, to what purpeoe do we ask isig^ii^EQa^oB. jtrevpectiog tl^e detail <^ the negotiatioal Miufmj &6 ventided to h|nt disapprobation of the eondu^ of the Utt^steff^trho have ^eted this negotiAtioa ? Bas any oiieiiuaiuiated that our interests live been betipayed? If,,theny we ve ^tisfied as to the terms of the treaty, «tt4'«^*Ji the con- duet of our BMUsters abroad^M ™ pa«» the laws necwh sary for carrying' it i?itQ e%(^ To r^&i8e«-to delay, upon the T>lea now offered, iai.t& jeopcr^ze it^ejiest in- terest of the Ifelon. Shall we take exception to aw owntitle? Shall we refuse the oferedpoBiieasiott? ^hall this reftwal proceed from those whp so laMy affirmed, th^t we ought, to piH»ue this iferyotjipct ai eyery ni^onal hazard? I should rather suppose t^eag^l|es«ti %a» ibat-'bf a vote o^ Wffi^ toW * Qn tli6 26th (October), ^ Hcmge ws^e^ & 'tJMniiMe of the WUote to^* tdt^ ^ttsS^%»^^ i^moite to ado^ thei^iiisfefflMTf Bieas^ tty#ifce^cfe'1htd'''*^fe«s6:"-'^^^ - •'■ •■^"-^•,-- -^:^-;;.: ■% m. 6.1 1 ^ :* » #d4 to both ooBstnictioiis. ' ^ ^ Br^ la my ^^ktioi^v^eiffceiy .possible £^ »m g«iKUe- mftii Oik;tliisiioor to ftdvaa^oe ib» ^sserfibii thliit ^ftjitvo^ deniond Senate, may add to tl^^nmbflrs of tlie llnm^ by a treaty whei^^v^er tbey plei^oi^m ih^ ^rd£» ol the States a ifofeigst iifttioa iv^ho^i^m iiitie^^ or amS^oD^ may wiah' to become a m^Biber of our , gov^fume^^ Su<^ a power would be^ dbeoHy r^pogfiant to the Q^^^ nal compact b^ween the States, and Ajiial»tiottx)Ci:Sl«r principles on which tiiot compact waaibno^d.- It has been alreadywell obserYed thait^he U!uonvq|.^e.^tateii was formed on the principle of a .cofNu*tiiQaih^^8ad: ft would be abdnrd to suppose that 4ihe ageu^^ of rf^tha parties, who have been appointed to execute the buis^ ness of the compacty in. behalf of the principaks i^ld admit a wm par^erf : without l^e^ consent of |h6 p^siit^s themselves. fAnd yet, if tip first eonstnii^to. 38 «Sr suni^d, such mtist be the ca«eMtod(Qr this Cona^tutioBf and the President and Senate may admit at will .any foi^ign nattoA: into thi^ c»partnersMp without the cou" sent of the States. / ' ^*%e.t;|;oveniinent of this -^country, is fenBedl by a UnioiEcif States^ afid the people have declared tlftt the Oonstltntioit. waai eetabhshed i to. fmn/^^a- mm ^/«CC wmnof^^ VnMl 8mM, The^ Ufiited^»tei ]|m»^^ jdoentioiuid eaniiot be- miitakeiau Ihey were' ^ i^t& '^un «is^ eastenee^ and fiu^ io^et%st^^m should ^^ ^Imed AiUfibift; the 4he& Ha^ta of; ^> Un|oii,^^ce# £xrmabi3^1;d^?ille^^^re'«iiMe>i^ #f^M^ taeasui^^tikM!(ifktt;^wl^h,^^i$i(i»^t6^^M^ imaten^ Il» Ifi^ee lfef«ltt'.l^^ & vin^m^ tteiliiit^nlteiitt^ieaqpf^^ 1^. Opit&ld^^^ ineorporadon of a foreign: ma^on kto the Umo% eo ttk * iJ^ % m iK§^^MimafWem^'BiM!ie^ !m ^xmndiit^^ with. respMivfvMl^^ oift^ci'^bjic^llMMir o^i^ ^gch^e^^ #- # 't? >. S2 fi^*/ >¥' ^Pp be^lo^orp^mtted into ^ tj])ii<»)^ iup44^ #1^ «t|i$prp6ratt 1^ js^pk 0^ the c^de^ ti6|t4^(^|^ ^IJi^oi^ bat B%9l^^a^^M^1^ adia(4tte4 Jteoc^ding^^ t^^^ ifal^ ^tk of tae xi4^tiQn,that ^fMS^ aii^# i^ j^\»c%^ On this p^mt i i)riU 9l^»W%^%^ no aiflewHwe itt prioeiple betwrn a J»*4 i»M«W*««Sffl b|r the words pift tr^ty, mi^ fi stipiiUtloiLthikf^^iuiii^^- poratton shall take place ; because, if the fisiil^ of ;^« m^on is pledged in the latter i^ase, the ineorpora^n post t^e place, audit is of^o oonaQquence wiM^herthe treaty gives the inco^poratiohf qr vprodacesthe I^w wbich gives it;. in both casesj llie trejiM<^ produe^^ tlm,0^; and the ^i:iestion. still returns : Does there e^ds^* nnd^r tJ^e Oonslitution, a power to incorporate Into ^, Union by a treaty or by a law, a foreign nfttion^i^ people ? M it shall be admitM tbat no snch^powerjejdsta without an aniendment to the Oonstitutioii, and if it shall be s^ th^t the treatyina^ing power migr stipulate for SQch. m omendmeoLtf. it will be a sii^cisnt answer tO'say : l^fit no pow^r can reside j|]L,any.€i| the naitio^aHlibpiitifi^ to atipjolaito^^th a for^gn natios^ for «ft.4iJaeil3inent.,to the GiK^titutiqm ,^Sk» oonpiidtiitodr^hei^st^. af 0^.;£r#^ h«^e been eteftted to vjmsB$B, €iu^'%>l!mlM^ to climige or sttp«ti|e: iS^ ^(^^t»s^fi$g i^m^k^^^ ^a$im^ eifiB |fty,^,Bttttei,:^aide^:^i>ro#eMs i>W^0(Mkio make tl^p^foiXI^ .iS<^alatoMhei^e£^ ^■^hm,.mr t^ whici^ flreate>n<^ ob^gfw^^ vf^- yfMut^^. ^ k- >'l-^!'. .to.. ■# tjl.' ']il^'iiii'^tf::ii^'«iiB^ Ift^ now fitttnd^l^t^'sM^ of J^cA iuid B^ at^ lijE^He t6aa ei«si» tbimi^^^i^ to a duty f6*tei ^^^ftie *i«*l^ deelftiPW 'iWv m 1^ porlp ^ Hie d^e^^^if^ea^^^^^^ iiii|>of%^d tcauiage ^^^^c»^^i9«ei!| ^de<^^ m the 8th «e0la^ o£ the ■■^i # ^OQl»df o^i^iia^^ iee0iiitM»Mtoi^ _^ •lie(|4M^ltoi^^|B^1^. ,|l^ ll # 41* ■:. ,:# # eq^ually fatal, and prove that %^^il«d Aitidfe b tpi^ clared i^t if the iiiliiil^ttofiivdPidl»«iiM now, 6v should hetealu^ he^ iMit^tt^ittto ikm^^^M mtM he a viiABdiM of that jbIaiis^ t' Gi^ "^^ neqmim&DB^ the ii4e of CSiiiiadit an^^^fae 'N«teliez eoidd be^tedf ^littl €^« gM^liii#^ex^i«8*0d, kt thor own «6ti^ ft sofotttt'Mog^ % •ft i« «%■' n m ^^'■- ..jt'. '..J,, M ■*r- B¥aa^ Itfid Si»itt wi^ to fi^litf Ik^jM^^S^g^^ by* tiiiBT i^ettt^ ; that thd f$iiimmc» 6tiMmfsmi^St^ iii»$^ll^ BO teodoif ^rilbNMgiii^i^^aie €dlltt^ liiivt» it in th«tF powo^ «tt£i^ W^'iidi^^'^^sM^ tt^m^^lBfiiilty^ li^r tfvkiig'off imtti i^|^|)8 <^ %^ «|id B(imi» iitoH dn as #ere li%li6r'^tluiii iiiB' dis^ paid' by 4^eftoi vewek, so as to fmt all the Ainieridiltt porta mi iiursaiiye lev^ wi^iNeK^OifloatofcV > " ^^ ' ' ^ Wbea I say tlds,'* co!atiitao# Mr. litoinas Bwidolpli^ ^^afel(^^dl(Hn^ 1^^^ iio^fo myself I ^itor^H^I moi^ to taJi^ ^f lAum b^avy d&Mi av 1^ ttofe'fiBie|#^Moa £; of 1^6 eonstttBtional objeot^ns urged by %f!ia^^m^)m The article of tbetfeatyy 80 often qilotad^ sbows that i^ preferan^la givt^ to om port o^er ttaotker^ Yet, lof tQn^g to our statute bookSf it wiE be ^pere^red ^«^' 4it|^re8^tbei^^fiiN9S(MD« porta ^itl^d^^t^^^ wMiili^erp^rtsdonotenioyr ibat tbey are sieit tt^pt Ibr partii^siktf ^b|ec^ a&d partioalarly for tiie^try'M llMiiito brot^ firotn b^^d ^the ^ape^ (^ €ood Bc^ Aoeoifdi]^ ilier^fbr^f to the dbo^^ -^^iNIl^^ ^kli a violafion of #e C/oastittilion." f ' > H* Mr. Smilii^ i^m ^ennajdi^attia, iliotigbt tbat lire ti9^ of annezii]^ territory TTMinddentfd to all gcmakimetM ; tliat sticli a power moat be ireirtisd in bodbs of tkedeptt^ nnoxts of tke goYexDinetti o£ the United &&0»; 4k«t dU«»ly it tiras iM^ yested in tbe States' kidJr^ti]^, as t^y w^«^«s^teiH$|^ dlTaslied «f 1M f|^^l^%eitig de^ p^^ <&m^p€mm! of iSi^ek&l^^rMimM UMng'vmt^ W;4M"it o&iM tiSsida^la :fiie«. Ssiivpal Goirenui^eiit 4)ili^Bj(;;»' •- V.-.- ',\'., ■f..-H.;.«« >v,i,-t ' > vJ ; . . >-■ •-' v' ,■l-■■ ^'Ml^' B^dbaj^vlri^n- D^Hisilrat^ ,#iid: "1%aV by the #4 t '# t ■fpti^^if^i^mm'^*^^ mmwun^fm' ".T^tcn^ n#M^ lio^^i^ 0lip«l«doii^^ m tiie treaty of JU>iidfl%c;,'«|[6|9 Ijiii t]^aty,,whar«by the Umt«idtajl|(epi»wer»pl6a§0d Horfe l%lie:;4litiiiB#vtlu^ p4d i^fKtiDL sq<^ iipi^^^ b^Q^t intQ 1^9 iyQie^^oaa AtlaAtiG p9artB j^i ;4sa0v^ bottoms* *> la tWB 4^^ a?ail ; ports gen«n%? l!her«by malong' ^M(^>«tf^^<(l^^ enceh^fing that very j^r^i^Br^nditf^to^^iioee^fM?^^ p^rts ol certain etaitee^wMolih^ telB^naeannot o^pBtlkw« ikmi^ l9#^iN»i to the port=ol'Neir;0rleiin8^^^id^ti^Bg||i thaVv |)^% not within aiiyvtat^^ and, lillm |^61^)ei,^id| mitted ' into the Unio%' itvipii]«^v be>}& yidati«nk^'ei?;4^ (Oiftnsi^ of ili^^iOooititi^^ t&#»ieetalkf$i^ ment ol im wCcoBk nde}^ jHvt9iniliaatio% jotix^t tfa^ tyaf^^aio^ f9%809ibe#^ o^ ]ttw^^l>v«|iiliH B^l0d;^a!oni^-'onp^eetem'''peel«^^^ •^^ tii«tf^^«iiie)^lM|t:% ^t * * ^ m fmtieaim «lit6i»(ilttoe tiw» p o thepaptMn^ hy th6 United States of Mt9 dm % FtanOi to ciHami^ the United States^ he Hfeirred to the Oorh miUee of Waye and MimM. ■ These JeedlutiotiB were carried by « vote of 90 yeaa to 25 nays. The nay 8 were: l'fh)tii Vermont, frMn MatsadhuBetts, 5 from Connecticut, d fi>om New YoiIe, 3 firom New Hampshire, 1 from Maryland, and 4 ftm. Virginia. On the 28th, the bill ft*om the Senate entitled : " An Act to enable the President of the United States to take possession of the territories ceded by France to the United States, i^ js^mfi^^ if ^ iiiid terrik¥^^\ aU the iniUuirjlf, *i'. m^- ■^^ CyBCv # wbat bhui unallt adopted. m potMM eoMroUed hj the oj/ire"\' of the emsting government qf the eamey -vA^ be ve^ffd in anch person and pereone^ and ehaU be exe, ised in mwh mammm'^ as the President of the Uhdted States shall direoty for mamtaming mid proteoting the inhabita/nts of Louisiana in the ftdl enjoy- ment qf their liberty ^ property amd religion. On the 29th, the House adopted by a vote of 85 yeas to 7 nays, " an Act anthox'iaing the creat:on of a stock to the amount of eleven millions two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, for the purpose of carrying the treaty of cession into effect," «Src., &c. Such were the congressional proceedings on this memorable occasion. I ';!H V'A !«1 '■ .'''.'.•'va**'- •t #■ r * '■)*! «$ h¥fspsi^^iSl£m ' :«W-«^.. >. ''.t'vl;4#^#Sj *,v; ■; ' "v';ft;Ar mAEum^. '. J !,f"J^':-» / Ki^'eSv'v*; '..,(,.> $k1J0mQ^ ADmX^BfSBiMll&JSr. ■■w. 1801 to iS98. ••v;- I HATE endeavored, in the two pi relate with fidelity, and with as much condensation __ fcthe nature of the finhject" would admit, all the tnatea(^ tions relative to Louisiana, which, in 1802 and 1808, hai occurred m the United States, France and Spain^ I ahali now call the attention of the reader to Hie evenly jjrhich, in the meantime, Kad happened in the colony itself, and those whieh weip the result of the transae^ tions I have recorded. Thus, on the 26th of November, 1802, the Marquis de Casa Irujo, the Minister of Spain at WasWngton, had written to the Intendant, Mo^ks^ and represented to him the fatal consequences of hk haying closed the port of Kew Orleans to the Americans as a place of deposit, and of his having refiised them the free navigation of the Mississippi, "giving," swd th6 Minister, "to the dtiaens* of the United States good caus0 for daimipg indemnities in return for the ser^oul damages which tlieir commerce will mevitably su&r^ On the ]l6th of January, 1808, Morafea answered wi# some tartness: "That the orders alluded to by #t * P^4o ^ los cincUdiUMi de lot BttodM Unidai lay p & ^^Hrnvfiimm A4 jA- imidMMiu Jim loi gnita pajuidM po^^ to the Minister proper persons j^f;^^^ ■ nature of 'the case;-.^-:.'?^-'-^^:' ^M^' sy-^-:--ii fs.-''v^ u.^y^-v*-* ■ " Copies of every deBberatiojnw€8re to bA sent ye^ to^the-Mnisterv '-y ■". ■■ '■■>^'^ '•■^ ' ■■^.'■■' '''■". j ■ "Vacant lands were to be giAl^i byth^^ Oap<^ Generai And Colomal Prefect J but^ in c«»e^) ment, the opinion of the former was to prevaiii ^:^. ■T * M«rtio'« BUtory of Lonuiana, tqI &, jp» ilfik # ite- /,;.^^),y:-.V'*- :r tETimm^ ^OSbli&ikJkiBJ^^ THE COLONY. 579 • -:|i^#jtti^^^ ^awial' lie- jfe0t-:a|3^;J5^aM6ife^ hy the j^ig^^^f^lmii^^ appoint-- ' T^ tO; be iffj^i^i^d^s^: hyii^i(^kiU>jn^ hy ** ^e dcJiiwP f|^«fWs powers ;ext0ttd«d ^ «MJNl^^^ate <^f tJbe 1^ the gen^rid Aceotiiitai^k^ and iie$|uia^n of all officers of adnunistratipn. ]B[«,^^ ieihai^f^r^witk ilw jpe^m. 6i tlie^c<)S<^viiii-^ > ;Cl(isi|6m ib&is^' i^ ^gay of the ti^9P|t0^/^ (^ sltiiv^^^ id^iiirays^ k intt^TWtipix aiife|f^ s]^#(e ^pi^ snd^ g^era^j^^ tfie ppwers exipe&B^ l^ IntezucUuits^ and or^a^ing (QomtilildMQres ; Qrdo&Qateui^. In. Ilie ^ assQSsinent ^of . taxe^he WHS to cons^t three mercliapts and tbre^^^ipl^^ tie;iR|,v,^.-Ia;Xiai*e^ -to^ - be ::^^e^eni|||f %. ^' oiiQ#-#«d^ tieaBt in- riHi]c^.^*i;.i.i>; v -.-y ^ '^ ^Tlie do|a]Qa^ssar J o| «Fi»tioe ha4 the'4nip^r»b^ .# «dl'.thd^€OiiH«^'O|;juitio@'^0d;tlk^ he Was to have on e^B^/l^ thejrcg^^adimKU^^ j^tic^vthefiafety and s^abnt^ dltct of offieera and «ler)E6, ottd ^iii^kftriuttedlwii^^ lii(ieof v^ai9|ts. He might p^dt^ em^'roie3ia^^^(ic0ma^^ o^' j^<^ he WAS to reqiui^ moi^^ ease, ^med i^oijti the Presideiit aand: clierlia o£i)ii^t|}]|4Q«^ aitd ^^e V (oonuooimieatedJ ihei^: .to ■-•ih,e^^Ossj0^iia^&^is^^ H^ was a&tb^aiM(df4oe ^p3:ti without l|ie Comioissa^ to give ftR ac|)6^'' 1^ and the name thus e^t, in ]i despnteh from^M^ of the 2i^tli ^f March, tdllie Spanish goyernment >' ^e Louidioman^f^ #Ay8 Barbe Marbois m his History of I^dnisiana^ ^had^i^on to fear for thenoselvea the ciQamitiies trhich had beeUj fbr many years, ruining the other colonies of France. Si Domingo was the most j^tated and nnfortunate of alL The loni8ts repeated with horror^ at New Orjeans, thesfe words which the First. Gonstd had caused to be proclaimed, in his name, in ffireyolted' colony, aiid which were addressed to all clj^i^ses. **" If(h0lntant0 of SL I)l4c,^^ General Leclerc^ oi^t his aflival in the colony, had saidte?*" ^^ I promise liberty w ii$thetmh^Mm^ • . ,^ *-:,,%^.V >y^;'"r '.■^.■.. '^' Some of the re^g^ colonisife of St. Domingo had bi'ought a p^tt of .their negroes to Louisiana^ and ^i^re thierefar^ siBcretiy^ im jfrom deisirkig another removal, ot participating in the views of those who had lost py6ry thing. They easily madei the Lotiisianiand acqua^ti^ i^th theilanger that^heyt would in(^j in case the Frene]^ BepubliCj as the suprenie Legisla^ye power, shoiild onf| dayproelium manuinisioft and feeedom in this colony ' * vf fL V f , ♦ > From all those disasters ^ LoTip&nlffi&s^d^lpeeted.to be preserved, if ^ sovereignty of ^e Catholic !lpQg was not transferred to tl^e French M theie fa(^ had b<^iL ttd^n i^ (Ine coifidei^^ an (^^(^#ithes8, spdaloii^ x^ the sediments which were i-i' (ll I «.tj ■% SV '^- ^ ^: out ^piii^jpWAiid i(t!^^ ]n«giatriM«^ who xioixies to oe, it^i^o^mpaiM^ his ypiwj§ and beautiful family, and preoei^ ^1^^ jM*bUp «ateei^^ l&^Mng has bem^abl^ to;4imiiiJ^ Ms Bois^oBu 091X008^1 Hi» |ffo«l)^a!riow»hi^t0ibee]aih©a|^^^^ somec .i^j'twdjwMv 8«d( by^heg^^ part ©f the inha-r bitants jrith ^et^me^^ M^foenee aft the beat of ^the dmot is listened to, wh^n^it jinnoBn^\^^^ea0«pf oi, » elave m a.siilOvft::auetiQnv' ;:, v.; ■^' *•''-■ ■ Oim of I#u»M*;(s'i* to* capes w oji^ions whieh^elev^nv yearn before^ had been er^et^d by ^ ©wx?n de Garoi^^ ^ifih he: gwre o^ them, to th© minister I>^cm;v"J^ foistij^eii^tos^ham^ n ;^tig kto ibeay ; th& ditch^ j^ theitew»tare crumbling down; the palisadef are wanting; *^prc«tten; the brieves have given way, or consist only; of one or tw0ibfis««af^e gates ai« <^jt^!^hinge%and dKe^lying on^e gsound* It had la*% be»tt ji?<^^ ofc^am tovisaa^ or tMi lfi«# igr©«%; ict fe^to^^ as ibemg useless and ©^ei^miat^e wl^«3i jeveigr^year eanf^ off the most vidu^fo po^^aM o|;^e popriii^on x)|i^ tlssiRl^e when were dng ipund it the»« JilcheB s^^ of sta^iatuigfi^aterc Tli0 p^aoiiiWip t|^|a%iai^ l^oyerniipittl^ atone prevented it;il^^:i^Mdha|^ oUv^bos^jp^^ " Witi ^?egtqrd to |)u]Wic edifices, l^e which ^4?^d v. , a^qsf *J^rfiSiri(p|M*<#R S0rt»r^ ■mm *• .# JiktmM!i (^ T&ft 8fMS Of 1^ ooLomr. &dd IMfiM^ llif 1u^ wMcl hikd b^^ left^ by the French, tlbl^ d|aiii&^ %aife notmade &ny solid and pcirman^nt nsi{^ctib^ lliejr «<^to^ tli^]rtt6€ilVM with renting, 6ii when obmpeUed W cb so, %M <^ edi- fl^^NfhMi t^6fm vilta^ -'A: iMi %«tdii!Fd^ however, (^^ likMo«teer) hai»im^^^i^ %tiek find mor- iixCBii^i^^ haQ, and a ehnroh.'' ' As to^th^ adl&iiktra^oiii '^f Justice under the Spanish Governmeiit, Lauss&t thus e:^jfireesed Im o|)Snio!i in a des- patch of th¥24th df May: *»*'f wttJ'iow proceed to aayioir justice is fsdBBdniatered h6M, 'i^Wch is #or86 thatt in Turkey. "** AJI}tii%fiients fef6 given iathfe name of the<3^ovemoifi e^i^t in inilttei^ iippeii/afinilkg to the revenue, in which ^ %tetoi^^f '^e ifttfeft^ ■ '^ile Gk>v#Dor uigni his name as a: mere formaU^ his sig!^l|itur^ i& a mattelr of <^ttrse and entitles him to a fee, ^%his id dife of ther brai&t'heB df the contingent salary tilloWed to his office. ^ **©tit kt th6 cftbaW of the Governor is what is called lit iiud|te^ tdid % s^'sort'bf Lieutoiant-Govemorj and ih#Gm%i^T«a^ tiur}f Ikai^^ the advice o€ thb ifidr^iatuftlj \irh6 fe^ fecti t^ sole •^'-^ both in ci^ril a^d ciin^i^'cais^s. Assessors are not even req^uired to a^^rith iiiii as liafi&stan A pow«r which a jA^ce of the pead6'in Fj«ii«^^ not exercise in relur iron to ait amouift bf ti^enty ddUars, id' allowed to the atiditbr -in N^W Orlewis as to any amOutit. For theS6 r^asbns, hli^ ji^gnients ard not rali^ on^ and command nb^i%fi^t» Whether they be »»rreet op notj they, never iiil to be iiMe ^^^^^ ^ *^ A;t liifi^^t^ a^^^ aocusatioii, 1ife* On tke r^^t of d^xmt whicii' had been granted by tbe Spfthiards to the Americans, Lanisataaidf in a de- spited td his Government: ^^ The consequence of this jnivilege is, that the Ani^Americans oan^ke^ their goods and effiBcta in deposit; at New Orleanf^ /vithont paying anything else than storage. So far, this d^)08it has been effi^eted on the single declaration of the owners of the goods wh^ putting them in the 8tore» of indi- viduals^ whereby the prints of the storage accrued only to the merchants in whose hands the merchandise Wte pliiced. But the Government made nothing by it, be^ cause in an open city and in an <^p^ province like thescyi every soit of fraudul^t importft^on may bo sately car^ ried on, To remedy this evil, aU that is necessary is, that the goods of the Americans be d^)0sited in the stores of the Government, out of which they woidd not be taken without its knowledge ; or^ in conformity with the fight reserved by Spfun to establish the place of de- posit elsewhere alter thft; expiration of a certain time, shonld it be reqmred by her iniierestSjit woidd bepropep to designate, instead of !^ew Orleans^rt^e Ba^^^orsomo other untenable spot.^ It appeal^ by t^is document that the French Prefect, Laussat, was quite as hostile^ the contifjuation of this privilege in Iftvor of the Americans, as the Spanish Intendant, Morales. - ■^^ ^trUe^ with the neeessi^ of increasing as soon as poE^ sible the population of the boundless provincehe had been sent to govem, Laussat h^Btened to wiite to €hap^ tisly the Minister of the Interior, that it 'was of 1r,j|dr0d:ftamUe%^fi^^ departments contigncN* to Bwitserhknd, the Bhine, c^ the ^1) f 11 «■ t *. 586 / . tdilfflMAl'B l^OClMUr /ON. Lo^ Ooontritt^ ^ becavse^^ fluid ktt, H tlM enignuits'fitwi the sirathera protinoes are g0bd Ib^ iictluiig«* A t$w days after luy^iurriihilf Itflvriii^ issiied'a pfo^ oknfttdcra Itt the name c^ tlto I^ndi Itopublio. TM^doriaied a^ noble dontratrt; ^vrinh which every hearfriii iVatiee WAB now mdved^ aftd Would !cng^preMrTe the remembFanee ofi 'The BVenehel^l rei\id^ibered>1^i^ la |k>Hioi!i of the'i&ha.bitant8 of Iionisiittia "Here their de-'^ S6etidJwtitBj with the same Mood roMiittg lit their ye\m; As idon'is Francej by » prodigii^iis st^icesiioii' of ti^mphs hi thl!^ late revekrtion, ^had reeoverwl her^ owft freedom and glorjr, sh^ tni^^d heneym^toWards ' Louisiana, i^e ret^eMk)i of which signalSfl^ Ler ^fit peace, -fiiit the p^Od Wlttrnotf yet ari^idd-^it wat) necessai^thaitAiuftn, 1^1^ is a stinger to hotiiflig^^PMi k jianimons; orjnstf who,'t6 themostdistiijigtiiih*^ taleM ^rconqnei^, addf) the rare one (^obtaisiiig for his cfott^neife tiie happiest ri^roltSj and who,^^by the '■tamO'- dency of te chaittctei^ at onoe st his enemies tmd Ihs^ies his allies witili eonfideno expansive mind discovered aioUcethe-<^riie#tereste of his botmtry; ^d wiw bent on restoriitg^ to^EVance her pristine p^^Me^^mA*^^ lost pos8e«^oiti»'-tehoiild «c^ e^as^llMithi&inlH^^ /r>, ^ "11^ 'ma^*^^ii*fe#l?efi^^^^^ ovw^the d«h iMeami i^timie^ and Lotiyaini, te^ insure their Itiliia^v .* w t fijLiniUs^ widddaCixibir. !^7 tlitfiMkaiitfigMi of wMtk ]Mitiin» haft been lo pt'odigiU . towftrdsherj . me&t ^ Hvd' it •^ peao# tatid ftmiity' tirUii^^ ttng^boriug indbmi^iitid "lev proieoi th« ooiimienMio^. tte oolosy, eu- ocwmgefft^ftgrieiiltiiiiie, p0Eypl•lt84«a0C^ .pMHUoli) labor lUid- iatotrji feftpeet |taK>pe]1y/^opiiik>ns^»<«|ii^«;]^^ jifoteot p^biKo'W'Ca'ritip)«^|itiMnre th« aii^iift^x>ltilie laws, toAetki. theib ttibw^ ftod^^tb tbe liglit 4>f ^"eisj^isieiioo ooXfy maintaiii a regolar, pcliei^ lintgoidiica ptBTiaiftir v ofder and ec(«B( ds^ri ; bixl^ net maB^ ebMogestof tbe^nuaMm/bad^^pcqlied since "^7 wece >ii^redf trb'. ADDRBM or WM nmAWf jLxm ov imw oruuns. 589 friendi, are called back to the botoiii of their beloved mother. Their grateful tears will wash out the traces of the blood you have shed, luaag ago, we proved to the Spaniards, in the plains of Baton fi^nge, of Mobile, and Peiwacola, that we did not consider them as the accomplices of these atrocities. We have become bound together by family connexions and by the Itoods of friendship. Let them have the antrammelled ei^oyment of aU the property they may own on the soil which has become the land of freedom, and let ns share with them, like brothera, the blessings of onr new position.** The inhabitants of New Orleans presented also an ad- dress to Laussat. It was signed by M. Fortier, Cavalier 8r^ Etienne Bore, Labatnt, M. Lefebvre, G. Debnys, J. livaudais, P. Derbigny, N. Brontin, St Avid, E. Pleach^, L Ghabot, B. Durel, A. Garidel, F. Blache, S. Hiriart, «!*. B. Yerret, B. Dncros, and many others. It read thns : "Citizen Prefect,— France has done justice to ctir sentiments, when believing in the unalterable attachment we have preserved for her. Hiirty-four years of foreign (i^imnatiou have not weakened in our hearts the sacred love of country, and our joy in returning to our national flag is equal in intensity to the grief we felt when we were torcibly separated from it. Hapjjy are the colonists of Louisiana who have lived long enough to see their re- ^ union to France, which they had never ceased to desire, # and which now satisfies their utmost wishes ! "In an age so fruitful in astonishing events, it is un* <|:piestionable that some have occurred, which luo greater, more imposing and more memorable, but perhaps none offer a spectacle as interesting and as affecting as that of Tictdrioi* and triumphant France holdmg out a pro** tecting hand to her (Mlar^ dOt away, of M^ from her , in consequence of the weakness and prevarication ^ vfflui # nt %. 4 . 4if> «' Al>Dl!Mi# OiJ^'t1l^flEN!H^E^^ yiira. of & pisififtniiidus govemmeiit, ^d cM^ ^feal ^ # share iffttoe^^itd of a glofbiis p€iaee,^wliiioiCRa3 tei^ nat^ iff id? brilKaiit atmottB^ ^N m»^ ^l^oidf 4flA terriblfe^rfe^titkit. :■■'■-' '>■■: ■'•'' ''^'■■■'^^'.,:\ ''■''''-'•■'%':/ ■ titii Freiicis GovermrieBt, by staikingfy attttetiliitti^tj^ its tieniBfieetit viewisi/ Your |H«^amatb^ ^ !|tiibi^tt<^]|ig ^ti&M. Wmj has 'filed: ^witih: gifatittiae for iMf i^ei^ care of B^nce. TiiiB blessings of otir^ tinion: with^^fe French Rej)^iW5* begin ^ready to be MIj/ fl^e fttrtn* nate selection of the patriotic dHe^whom shig has des|g< nated to govern ns,atod\/hose honorable repntaticm fe already reached the colony; the dioice tr6i9|» she sendk for oiif protection, are sure pledgesf 0f the prosperitsy' whieh she has in s#6re l&p ns.' Iff rettiiii'\^e tender ier ouir zeal, obe^en^e and lovej and ^vte swear to^ jwove ourselves ever irortby ^f bet% iffeoi^orated witb her. • "Perhaps France would attach less value to the homage of our fidelity, if she saw us relinquishing with- out anyregfei our 'allegiance to the sovere^ii who has loaded u3 with favdr^, during aH the tim^ he has deigned over tis. Such ctlipable indififereffce is not to be foutid in our hearts, in which our regret at oxxt separating^ frormi him ^occupies as much space as our joy in securing the nationality w*e had lost, and it is by keeping up an eternal tedbUecticm of his favots, that we intend 1» show ourselves' worthy of the parental attachment and of the benefits which we expect from the FreadiOovemmeat." Thesfr twi) addresses are very remarkable' testimonials iff favor of the Spani^ admitliirtration in tiouisiaaa. it is Ittot ofteff ihat'deptfirting power k greeted Witk siu^, hosanffas, and that the Hhh^se^ of public wprE^tp is 6fifer^toi^^«€*tiffgftfttt.= -^ ' ', On the imhof Apnl| Bebaiitian deGaso^alvo>dela Puert» y O'Fadil^ Ju^rquiis de Oasa (Mvo,- who,^ it will % ^' spjkpwa !Q(mJtaBsi(xk3S^^ ^1 bet ]$^QUeQ||34^ii9di< sop* l^der the pravmce toi the Frracli Bepntflk^ and 4$0la^ that ibis <^MigestyrteMi^ig as eYe(r the d^e ap^onfoF Iji^iahibitanifea ol'I^^^ and 4ef^l¥ti|giito Qo^itinae to. theta^ the. js^mw^ piiotecAicm whiich.' tl^ had ei^oy«d, had det«rxain^d^ J V ' y That the c^aaion of the; colony imd^islaBd of Kew %ieans should be onthe sait^t teriB» as those of the oesH^n made ^hy his most ClhiMaK to his OathoHo Ji^esty ; ondtha^ coBfl^qne^ on /bot^ sid«9 of the ^mer . St. XKnus^ or Missmippi^ shouM con^ tinue as they i^enjained %':th«4^h'M^^^ treaty of jwace concliided >at Paris on the '10th of December, 1763, and accordingly, the settlements frofii tb|^, J8ayo^ Manehae !to t^^^ the dommionaof Spain andi those of itha linked States* shoi^ild rem^ ji, parfeof ^^ mpniuHjhy of %»ahi an apneifed^tP thp prpvpkJt«G|.W^8ft>iE^ .' • :;i vs :V se?yie%jii^ wish^ ip jp^hiwh nnder hisfgo^tiii^ i^t).s^ight>proeoftt dp^inions, unl^s h^|>,refei^^g^fe^^ s^mce 41 p£^e l^ench Bep^hUo, ^})lah^ pm. pe»D»tted ^4i^p l^^H^y i^tJ'Q^iQI^ pmYeQ^ his km^M^depfOT^^ ^ow| ^' ;<^|Jk^,iWs^^ ^c^d^malc^'^iu^^ . i?^hed they sh^raJd'iM^ *: *^. ■■<■ J. II i * : ^ t "W. 592 SPANISH CO10IIi98IOKEBS' EBOOLAMATlOir. " They declared it to b^ the etpeetation of th^ Kmg, their master, that, from the sincere Mendship and aIM- ance wjiioh existed between him and thd IVench Repub* lie, orders would be given to the governors and other officers employed by Prance in Lorasiana, to tli^ effect that the clergy and the other religious institutions sl^ould be permitted to remain in the discharge of their offices within their respective curacies and missions, an% enjoy their former emoluments, privileges and exemp?' tions— that the tribunals established for the administrar tion of justice should be allowed to ^ntinue to adminis- ter it according to the former laws and usages of th€| province— the inhabitants maintained in the peaceable possession of their property, and all grants made to them by the former governors confirmed, even when not ratified by the King-^attd finafiy, that the French Gove^rnment should continue to the people^ i^ouisiana the favor and protection they had enjoyed nnder Spain.r ^ i,; In relation to the effect produced by hjs amiral and by the news of the cession of Louisiana by Spidn to France, Laussat wrote to Decr^s, the ministear of marine, a confidential despatehyin which he sai^: "My arrival and my proclamation excited the enthusiasm of the colonists * On all side^, I received addresses tp %p First Consul containing ry sam6 individnal, pi'ecitoly on an occasion of this kind, introsted witb the mission of offering them the welcon^e to %hich they are er titled, of delivering to them a colony whieh th^ Spa- niards therein living and those iii Cuba regret to part with, and of settling y^ xm so mad*y interestiiig and important qnestions in which we shaU have to, doubt his go6d difi^j6(9iteis.';^,^ . ' ^'':;, '■r: /\'' "--y-'/ 'VHardly had the 3^arq#^fet too^ln this p^ hJS^ summoned alt the Mittary officers (and j^a^ to the inilitift system there is flcarcdy an in^ak^tai^^t^y consequence whatever^ who is not repicrted a iniKtaify offi- % XAUSPAT's DEsi^A'TOH T6 HIS GOiuBNMBHT. 695 cer) to come to his lodgiugj atid declai*e hy yea or Tiay^ wh^tte fev intended to remain in the service of, the B[jng ot %)ain. Redae to' observe, Citizen Minister, that the fortutife And the pelisions of many of them depended altogether on the mature of their answer. The Marquisr^ W(6nt So fitar teto eicaict a declaration in the afflrimrntivc frotii two companies induced those siinple-mitided men to ptotiiise that they woiild. follow the Spaniards. "Odei^s hiive been given to the commandants at the several postSj to subject the inhabitants and the curates to the sMiie ordeiS. The whole clergy had to go through it. r ^^Arid %M^ ei^diid^ does not arrive ! And I see li^se ^ings without ctai^Jig to tak^ exceptio^i^ for fiaar of iSakikg tdiim w^e 1 - **%e Spanish fiuthorities have shown themselves ex- eee&giy redei'vedi inore captious, and even almost h^^i^fey td#^ds ine. Our co#es|k>i^dence jgyadnally tre<^^ sharp, lit fiipst about trifles^ and on account the Governmei^t has an eyasi?e answer ready prepavod. It shunB, isolates and watches me. It takes mnb^rage at the least of my steps or proceedings, and even at my language, however insignificant it may be. . It isf afraid of complying with my plainest requests., Firmness and dighity are all that I have to oppose to thfir prejudices and unreasonableness. But, frequently, j ami .obliged to keep pent up within my breast my, feelinggof , vexation, because the Spanish authorities migh^ take, offence at them and reyenge themselves, without my being abk to prevent it, pn the Mends of the .French. "The Attakapas are peopled with French families who could not refrain from expjfessing their joy atonr Vetum, A native of Bordeaux^; named Bt. Julion, who is an honest planter and much esteemed, had the impru- dence to head some of his letters, with the word Citizen. Thereupon^ a great conspiracy was suspected, and the Spanish^Goyemment ordered this individual to be made a prisoner and conducted hWe. i|i the meantime, xyhilst he was airiiig JiimseH on his gallery at night, two shots were fired at him| one of which Mlled his wife.^ He defended himself ; and his i^ailant8,bi:ea]dng six of his ribs, left hjm lying 'lown. apparently dead- What fal- lowed ? ffe was aocueed ofhemgoirp^^Miid (M msae- ^Uywiifili^ Ttm^dmedMsow^wifei a^d who 1M wlmi- taa^jpwIfM in adding 0pndM0^ The command- ant of tfci^t.pqsli, J I, De Blanc, a imBtKif' o^filce? M of honor, apd fiie deip^daiit of BtJ)®?^ the founder of I^^tcl4t0ch00, w^ in Hew Orleai»j when that oeeurrenee tQ(^ pijac^; i1^ iw heis w»It knoi«pi1|o^hi^ to Irfn^i^i^a^ d^opri^d |of ^i^^ * ThM'*ttur, 'wMi otb^^^^ tibureaieD<>d| to.];>rod)(rho in his district hftve any sympathies for the Frensdt; - i*eople shdoit at each .other, and civil war has began. The au- thorities here conceal these facts with sedulous dare, Aiid are anxiiems to keep me in complete ignorance of what is going on. '*The planters who stiU preserve their attachment for uSj inquired of me secretly^ whether they must give it up* -; ' ■ ..■>■..,:■•.■ **That wretched Burthe* has, also, too long contri^ buted * by his indiscreiet and intemperate language ' U^- cause the arrival x>f om* troops to be apprehended, an^, by his out1:»*6aks against me^ has assisted in di^rediting the infliience of our governmenc^. ^ *^^eAnglo-Americaaas have spread the rumor that* there wiH be oo; ces^ioii^ or that, should there be one, it would only be as a preliminary to a second cession in f3avai*i^theXMtedBtate8.^^^^^^ ^ ' J^ * * « ■„";■:.%« r^::;/-v',;.. .f# ;■ • ♦ ■, ♦ ■; ; :--^* ♦ ., ' '^ '*■ -.; H At all ev^nt^ it behooves ^ honor of 1^ f^Wfnoh nation to ' takie^ < cfure thaj;^ii6ne' shrill suffer for hUVing - shown attachment to I^ranco.^' !i!be^i]]rhumor displayed mthi^de^atch was the resulit off tlie Awkward' poaitbn in w!^6h I^^ himsel£ '{hc^^t iSj that he had ^^sccyvered ihe^round on tipMeJht %e srtopd to be besfet iHtli^^ffiwmlli^j^^^ seepbd to f^cken ; up(Hi .him ad he attempt^ to.ptish his ipray th»>ii^ th^ The^p«niar^«i^- their li^hfe^ retttei h# no <^ii80 td b# 4i8p^>«i^ ■€' W 1 '.k ;■,.! ■'■:A 598 QUABR£I£ BETWEEN B0STHE AlTD LAUSSAT. among the native of Lonisiaiia^ and ^ven among tlie French) some of ^rhom feared the doctrines of which he was supposed to be the representative, whilst others thought that he was not sufficiently progressive.* Be- side^ A furious conflict of authority had sprung up between him and the Adjutant-General Burthe^and was carried on with such animosity as tp betray both parties into disgraceful acts and eicpressions^ For instance, the Prefect Laussat, having been invited to dinner by the Marquis de Casa Calvo, and finding, on entering the saloon of the Marquis, that Burthe was one of the guests, retired abruptly, much to the astonishment and mortification of the punctilious Spaniard, who even took some offence at the frenchman's unceremonious retreat. In illustration of General Casa Galvo's habits, turn of mind, and extreme comtesy, it may not be improper to relate here the following anecdote. One day when, in company with his private .*eoretiuy, l|e was sauntering in the strefste of New Orleans, a negro having bowed to him, he took off his hat with as much respectful courtesy as if h^ had been saluting an equal. Being under the impression that this had been done from sheer, abpence of mind, his secretary remarked with a smile; *' Your BxceUency did not observe that it was a negro.^-^-" On the contrary. Sir," was the jceply^ " but did you thijijLk I * Aoertdft indiVidttAl, Banned IVetM^ #h6 WMlldtorioatforijhlBtai&d't:::i:;I(s- tion of his Nd repifibUoAiiunfi, esUod Qii^.J^WMtt^ ««]b^r( Vl^^e f^t;:Mtek tiiftt itaiUstipiiaTy hi tfae ooi<^ny. Frettfi bWst inWtWmfeet^Vajpkrt^^^ w{iifldeBnten9ft.of a^piaU^^aii^a^^^ ''CJitiziBp, I cpm«i to t^^iio^^^at ^e^ tbe jaoobin»6Jr iTew: 0T2lera^ jba^^ rQ8olT«d,"J|(o. i||0., — " wlib k ntis foolr «k«la!in^ Ltraaoat; Uterraptitig t^e iptnider «a^1iM>ilwg at. hit <4eoi^w^ P^i^pt^^^ r<)p|yin]j^ Dai^^i^qui^tl^goi tip ^i;<|«&,bif <«at, v^ to sopje attendahWin tke next roct^ and citjunn iV«ti^ Wafi muob horrified atih'e expe- djtfon with wldfi^ he Vf his Ci^thoHc Misgesty's subjects in Louisiana as ini^ cbsose to Mve nnder the aul^icMrity df the French Republic. A..riNiord^iii»^pi!tfide o^ tl^ese ^proceedings in #■ m •%• 000 P068BBSION OIVEN TO THE FBKNCIL French and SpanUb,* and the three commissiouera walked to tne main balcony, when the Spanish flag was saluted by a disciuarge of artillery on ita descent f^pom a pole erected on the public sqnare in front of the CityOSall, and that of the French Republic greeted in. the s^me manner on its ascent. The square was ocicupied by | the Spanish troops and some of the militia of the colony. It was remarked that tle^ militia had mustered up wi^ difBculty, and did not exc^d one hundred and fif^y men. It was the indication of an unfavorable £9elipg, w^ioh had been daily gaining strength) and which Loossat attributed in his despatches to the intrigues of the Span- ish authorities. Although the weather had been tem- pestuous in the preceding night and in the mornings and continued to be threatening, this crowd round the public square was immense, and Med not only the streets, but also the windows, and even the very tops of the neigh- boring houses* On the same day, Laussat issu^ this prbdamation : '^LoinBiANi4N&: " The mission which brought Me among you across the sea, through a distismce of seven thousand and "ftve htm? dred miles, that mission on which I had lon^ tested so many fond hopes, and so many ardent wishes for yonr happiness, is now totally chained; and th^ one with which I am now charjged, less gtAtil^g, but i(^ eqii^y flattering to me, offers me one B0tdp<^ of consolatioii-^ which lyings from the xeflefetion; that it will, iii Its results, be mor^ adrtthtageotis to -yofi^ "The OonmiiBSioners of h» Catholic m eon- fbnmty with the powers ia&d di^# whiifth they^^^l^ have respectively I'eceived^'hSbVe just deUvei^ M^ !pibS' *» , >% * ii. ■■* lai^sat's pkoola^cation. 601 ^jiMmoa of the province; Yoa flee tUjCi flog uf tbo Fi'endi ti$lepabli<> now displayed, and yon heav the rejieated do- .to^lkiions of her guns, annonncmg'to yoU) to^y, on all siaW| the Tetnm ci Erenck dominfiititfn. It^ill be for an instant only, Louisiaoians, and I am o^ tl\e eve of tranafeitring the posBeaakm OiT this edony to th6 Gomn^ionen of the United States. Th^ ate near at haac^I expect them soon. '* The approaching sti'pggles of a war iK^gim under the most sanguinary and terrible auspici^s, ami threatening the salety of the four quarters of the world) had induced the J^renoh l^overnment to tuioi its attention towards ^ Louisiana^ and to reflect on her destinies. C^usidei^ft*. tions of prudence fuid humanity^ connectmg themselvea' . with those of a more vasit and durable polleyT^wuisianianSf the precious pledge of rA the ^i^ri^d^hip wHeh cannot Jill^v^^ |rom di^ to day, between the two r^pnb]^^.^iv^ whicbr nvnst iso pQW<$l^y cQit|i]^iit^ to their.fQO^^ § /V'!Che articIeJE^, Q^the^^^ ypur attentm. t% ' W^ • * ^^ i|M # ceM temtorm ^^ he ♦ .' -; '^^t ■?» A B '^' # 609^ LAUSSAT^S PROOLAMAXfON. '^Thtis are yon, LouisiftniauSf aaddefily invested with the rights and privileges appertaining toaf^eOonsd- tution and Government, secnred and gaaranteed by the force of arms, cemented by treaties, and tested by tima and expeiience. '■ . v ** You will be incorporated with- a nation already numerous and powerful, renowned besides for its indus- try, its patriotism, and the degree of civilization and knowledge it possesses, and which by its rapid progress seems destined to the most brilliant rank that a people ever enjoyed on the face of the earth. " It haa been happily blessed with such a position, that its successes and its splendor cannot, at least for a long time, interfere with its felicity. " However benevolent and pure may be the intentions of a mother country, you must be aware that an im- mense distance between the two secures impunity to oppression -and exactions, and prevents the correction of abuses. The iacility and the certitude of concealing theiii have even a frequent tendency to corrupt the man who, at first, looked upon thiem with aversion and fear. - "From this day forth, you cease to be exposed to this fatal and dangerous disadvantage. '* ^^ ^■ "By the nature of the Government of the United States, and of the privil^^es upon the enjoyment of #hich you immediately enter, you will have, even under li^ro- visionai govenlEiient, pOtpular rulers, wliose acts you wiU be at liberty to censure^ or to protest agidnst with im- punity, and who will W j)ermaneji(^ inr need of youi? esteem, your si^lffirages ^laadt your affiectioti. " The public af&irs anid interests, far d^om being ia4 ter^oted to your cdiMdc^'ttt^)^ your own a£Sfo and ifitere^ dn whkii I2b| opmic^ of wise aiui^Stnptilv tial m^n will beistlie to exercise, in the^ long rin, a pr!|- ponderating inMbod) and. to which y^u codid not e^ «* %' ■■»• -"^ LAUSaAt'S PBOOLAMATIOA. 'J' remaiu indifferent withpnt ozpofling yourselves to bitter repentance. **The time will soon come when yon will establish for yonrselves a form of government, whioh, although res- pectmg the sacred principles consecrated in the social pact of the Federal Union, will be adapted to your man- ners, yonr usages, yonr climate, your soil and yoar pecu- liar localities. ' • H^ ; "It will not be long before yon shall feel the advan- tages of an upright, impartial, and incorruptible adminis- tration of justice, in which the invariable forms and the publicity of judicial proceedings, together with the res- traints carefully imposed over an arbitrary application of the laws, will co-operate with the moral and national ohnracter of the Judges and Jurors, in affording to the citizens the most effec^ye security for their Dersons and property. ^' The principles and legislation of the American people, the encouragements which they have given to the in- terests of agriculture and commerce, and the progress If hlch they have made in those two departments of ini- dnstry, are well known to you, Louisianians, particularly from the many advantages you have derived from them Ibr some years past. "There is not and there cannot be a met|;op(^tan Gk>vemment, which will not e^tabh^ a laaove&t Imek- di^iive colwiU be to canse yon to buy ehei^qf^ wMlst setlling deai^iaod your co€^ry wlQ^b^opf «pl immi^e warehouse or place of de]:^Nni^ affording yofU costless The Nile; 6f AmemAf tiie Miflsissa|ipi^ which t. ■¥■' * # t t, # ■W x^il^i|i%^ F»0(a:«/kJC43^^ i' flo^Sj &ot l^rOfi^ f^o^ed dee^Pts^oi sii|i4¥%«* t^P^^ the most fxteii9ivean^.tlie most ferine plains, pf then^^v woild, TV&sKi»oii sec it8l>o^>m\da^^ si^ bdbngbg to aU l^e QJitioQt !^ Ihe e^^ ipg aitrl^ift quays of afiotlter ^A3exandrif^ - ^r r ^^ Among them your eyea #m I hope^ lK)ui8ianiaa9|^ al^iritys disti%aii3h wi^ com^aceacy /^ Ir^M^ ftagj and your hearts will niever cease to rejoice at the. sighi of it^ glorious iMB. This we firmly hope^ J solemi^i profess it here in the name c^my eounlry and govern-* msai^'rH^.M:4\\---f/-v'^-'^ ''.v ;■;'-•; =''■ '-v.' ,' •'. , . ■.- '■ ■■'., ."■■■ ■■■• ■^: « Bonapartfe/in s%wilatmg-by the ?|4fc Article ^the^ treaty of eeasKHii^hwt tiie Irettch shall h» permitte^f dura^ twelve yean?, ^ trade la 1^ province without ; payi% highfrdkties. than Ilie ditizens of the United' St^s, and e«ac% on the siime>footing, ihad, as ,©f his principal lanis, that of ^vii^ to the ancient rel«ti y^ labors ft^ i^l^i«»^a^ assist* yoit% w^ttiipig ^^-^^^ reluirfiattt^tribiifWfc';^'-^ ■.'■• ■^■'^:^:/--..'"^^):..>r^'\; ■'.->'-)■'. ^z-'. M# has be^fgi^Ktl^nng tocm^^ what afc^ng^v^^aCfc**"!!**^^^ in order to soothe yo«R ccJaa^i^ts of beii^ Jo^^fefflt and t^e «ffi3c^30iii^ ■ * It -t # inirr'tmc^kjasATi^iff ov !|BB €OLoimi ictf^ihe coitntry o£ yi>tiir tmoeftt^ so naiii?f of yoix to ^3ipres8. ip'ranqe and, her €byeiiiment will >|ieftr of . H wilk gralitode aod ivit^^ B' ]«eeMQBi -sha iias conlerred iipoa yoti the^ ixtost ©mineiit iti^tbe moiM^iz^^ ^v ,. **The J^B^ ;Ss]^ the &es^^^v^m to moidasm^ times tho ey^t^pe of' ^ol^tiolarily emftiioipatmg a. coiooy, m imita^i^ of the i^bei^^ p^ towaris i^iose eolofiies^^n^ose eiQ^teii^e we loim to i^ciill to: our memoiy^ aaoo^^tatmg one of theinQcit brOliant pf^Ws <3f the dS^of imti<|{iit^ l^is toc^iao^ aM fbr 1^tftetl2re,^a£VenehInaIIlmd aJi)^^ n^a^in aay part of the ti^^^rl^ wx^otit a miittiai f^a^mjic^te^^er emotioBy i^ti mthoi^ 0x<^i^^ the aisclioj^li^ j^ppel- iaticwii o# > hw^«E»5i! Ji^ t^r;w^>rd hereii^(i«r the only One sii£l On that same day (dOthl^oyeniber)f/^e!^|8C^ aeveral' decrees in relalloit to the prgsmizMi^ of 4^ goveinltt^t of the province*. |l«#arle^ w^ a|p)i^ted, provisi<»iaQyy AdM#|ip|or-€^e:Fid^ t^ X^^ Oustom<4on3e^«ndl^"31e%%rre^^ Eoi^theBpj^h CaHldcv were J»ibstitn^ a Itoidpsi €oiFMftl eomppae^- ^ tea nwfi^b>e J|* fi|y ^er, the foUoWiii^v list ^^^0^^ pml^llhed r J^ime l^m^^b }fyi^^i^Bmre jierfjXgny, Secretary; Beirta^han^^i^^ j^y|j^t| :Jibattdi^Sj ^^^^ iPi^^ |E)c»r(3e%i|[Ma^^^^ laio^ ^All^^^ l^iiea^ imd J^ I#a#h|^^^i^^il^ ol the^i^aldipf^ Xii!^|9l^ t4^ the gt»d(?C^t^^ of the nSlJJiMa g|^|W Oi^at%l^|^ %e c<»npaibB feH*£Qed hy the •^1.- 4,1- ■'M # #• 'W" m. ""-■ i ' ^ m 6# M ,^wiTsty6ikWi^ r 6ii' ' licB! sPAWitett tROO^. friBeitien of color, and all its other officers were mteaitmed. It is trt^e that no alfusrity was shown to accept thes^ commissions j bnt •■■-,..•■= ':;• -U ■.:^■ ■;'•:'•"* " By § special prodamation^the BlUck Code given #y Louis XV. to the province, excepting such parts' of it as were inconsistent with ^h^CcmstMiti^ Laws of the Wttited States; was declared to be in ibrcei^^ ^ , ; « *^Soon after," says Motiette, in his History of the Val? ley ^f the Mississippi, " ^e Spanish ^c^s were wi<3>- drawfi and the military posts Were evact^ted. Iiji *he city and snbittbs of New Orleans there were four imlitai^ posts ot^f&rts, r^mipished by the Spanish troops^whi^ might be exposed ^to^^ the depi-edatjons, And equally so to 4he imlawM occupant di disalfected peisons and noc' tumal disturbers of the peace. The troofis of the United States, designed for the occupation of theisie forts, no* having aawed iHthm the UmlfcB of ihe^d^ proviuib^ many were apprehe^iv^^o^ outrage aad vi6lenc#temii lawless fmddMjifife«t^ popt^bwe^ composed of ^^l^M^ * Th« Author'B &th«r. 4 Mattln's HlBtoryoflioaidana; vol. a., p. HI. f Qt&eiA d« coBtudoria. . 1* It ..' % '# 't^ WJTWSRMWJuL IGF THE t?A2aSH TCBOOfSl, '10$sBt.rii Bpiomc^yMmikamiStiB^ of ciicte >^}io4n|e!ilteS the i^tjy^^^^^a^ other ^l^i^^rly per90iis'«nei diespejradoed of aJd natioM^ who, pjc^^aded froj?^ 4he>^>: '■ :.-:^r;, ^^-i;;;;;'- ''■:'-i^'.-- '■ ■. ■^^■•' **To guard -agiUmtaay such attempt^^ditovspreserre Landry, Colond I^evbcn Kemper, (Jeorge King, Qeorge Fewman, Benjamin Mbr- ,^n, His&A Oatl^ AmttiMn emavi, iDoctor Willi«m Floodi sutoe^a distingnisbed pbyiieisn of Ne^ Orlean8> Mauasel White, ainoe i>,wealthjniM»w>hant atnd planter and a state senator, and Woodson Wren, who subsequently settled in :be State of ^Miasissippi, Where h% was lately postmaster at Natohet— JTonrtfo's VtUkj/ of rt* jr&tfMit/)/)!, toL I, p. «6i: m % %, ^^' m m 608 -^jsmm^n msesmn ar what ukvUs^ted, edi, and detachments from their aumberari^/^ip© det^ilM upoa regol^r ioumxjf duty in patroMing the cil^ by daty and 'by- might." ::-'.-;\;v ' :-.,■•■./■''■' !Fhe £»UowmgcOBfidkntiid despatch addressed by Laos- sat to Ms Govci'nment, on the coupse he deemed proper to pursue on that occasion, and dated on ^e lOihof December, wiU not be) read withottt interest y^* Citizen Minister, I deferred writing to yonr Eitcel- lency by the last mail^ in the hope t^t the eom^sion- ers of the United States were ^ to arrive he»e yesterday, and that the same despatch ^ould have^nv%ed to you the information of our taking and delivafing poesesslon, in the name of the French Republic, without itoy intlr^ v^ing delays. It seems, however, that the arrive: of ^ the Americans is post|^ned until Hf^ week. J cannot, therefore, and will not put oft any longer, giving you ^n accountof the actual state of things. * * .*:■ ■ * ■♦ ;■ ■• -*. ^ '';.■*'■ >.♦■■■.,--';♦ *'0n the^3id of No «^eteiber, General Wiiianson, one of the commissioners :^r1%e TO States, citaae to my house at six o'clock I& the evening. The other commis- sioner is Wv G* C. Claiborne, Govfernor of the t'drritory of Mississippi. " Wilkinson was returning frcin the frontiers cf Flo- rida, and Wfis on his way to join his colleague at^Fort Adams, near the dividing line between the territory of Mlssiissippd and the district of Baton Bouff&z We had Just had a conference of two hours in rerarence to the course to be ptiiBued towards the Spanish commissioners in aU possible^ contkigencies, when, on breaking up the interview and stepping out of niy rooiii^ I met the FrencL officer, dtiji^ Landak, Who had been sent to. put me in possession of the ori^nal d6cument$. eontaining the in- structions of our Government for. taking ppesessii^of Louisiana, and delivering it over to the Uiiited States. , t *v. # ;.. LAUJJ8AT*S VBBSIOir OJ- WHAT HAPPENED,, 609 ^*^ I did not heaitatei and i resolved to accelerate that evwit; fo?, you have seen in iiy pj-eceding despatches that I suspected the good tdll of the Spaniards, and it was prudenlv lW)t to giv€ them itime to know tie system of opposition which the Minister of his Catholic Majesty at Washington had openly and impetuously pursued in protestihg against the cession, because it was to lie fe'iredti\at the Spanish commissioners might in their tu;^n b6 t<»mi)ited t^Jmitate him. •*0n the morning of tht^ next day, I urged General Wilkinson to hapten his departure and to go and wait for farther information from m6 at the head of his troops, whose numbers he ttiight increase or diminish aciBordii^ly. *fM6reover, I immediately busied myself with pre^ ^panng^e gppound around me. ^ • " ^^ ^* P^®' -'' secured a chief for the militia, and! was lucky JTideed in laying my hands On an officer who had served twenty-four years, who was not person- ally well disposed towards th# Marquis de Casa Calvo, on account of his having been dismissed from active service cm unfavorable terms, and ivho enj6yed a^n excel- lent reputation and mn^h popularity in the c<^tiy.' 5e 18^ besides, the owner of considerable piropel^ in the vicanitir of the city, and his name is Deville de Gkmtin Bellechasse. Once sure of him, I availed myself of his aid in all the prmcipal and subordinate military iriea^ ijur0» which I had to conceive and execute. "I thoitght at the same time of securing, without loss of tim^^ aii,inaiK|8ing support in the civH dipartikent 6f the gpvf^naw^-^d I sele^jted for Mayor of the cit^ M, I^ia«? BoTjg, a native of l^uisiana, have, , unmediagy, a niunicipality animated with aproper dispQsi1ion,pi^^ ened, active ^dJ respectable. Under ,^e ^anish ^ domination, the munidpal council ,♦ % LATTSSAT AKD THE DISAFFECTED MILITIA. 615 the Oabildo was composed of officers appointed by his Catholic M^esty^ but that, on the eve of passing under the domination of the United States of Americaj they would willingly, in concert with the 06inmi8sioners of their Sovereign, give such assistance as circumstances might require. I answered that I would establish a new municipal Jbody: ' *' On Tuesday, I understood froih various soitfces that the militia coiupanii^s had been operated upon, and that Jhey would, not answer the call when summoned to the ceremony of the next day. -^ Mlpr the last few days, I had beeti on the best footing of intelligen^j at the request of «the American Government, with Mr. Baniel Clark, their Consul, and a rich planter and'merchanti who knows perfectly this country, in which he has resided twenty years, who is extremely •^|zealous in favor of the cession, and whose penetration and talents for intrigue are carried to a ri»re degree of excellence. r t ." 'Vyiiilst I was countftTRcting, through' M. de Belle- chasse and some other nailitary gentlemen, the practiees whidi were carried on among the militia, aiid Which were but the eontinuation of those I ha4 witnessed with- out being able to chec^ them, Mr. Clark was Ib^ming. a « numergjus company of American volunteers, and, through my fends, I caused ta be drummed up about a hundred of the IVenchmen who haVe lately come here; and most of whom had served in our amaies during the revoluto.; " I undoubtedly knew that there wouM be no impe-i diment to the executioh of ^e treaty^ but it was neees- sary to prevent its becoming a cftuse of annoyance fo* Prance in a country peopled \^h Frenchmen, who, in reaii^ love her^ pasM^aa^ It was necessai^ to avoid ihait the Coinmissionetof the iFr^ch Governinent ^ W: # #*f ..#. f -m % 014 ■1^ w X7SBATS DISmUST OF TIFE 8PANUBDS. ^' be laughed at, on aooonnt of the state of embarrassment and isolfttdon in which he might be placed. It was necessary to prevent the Americans and the Europeans from turning into a joke our mann. 7 of taldng possession. It was necessary not to run the risk of some disturbs ances, and not to be compelled perhaps to acfjoum the ceremony, and to make an appeal to the troops of the United States. * " This is, Citizen Minister, what was the conitant basis of all my steps and acts. "I will not relata to you the street talk and. fibs which were cuiTent on Tuesday, during the whole day. " On Wednesday morning, jgi 10 o'elock, Mi Fortier^ who commanded the mi|ltia, with the grade of Oolonel, who was commissioned and paid as such by the King of Spain, and who, besides, was the intimate, friend of the Marquis de Oasa Oalvc^ came- on the part of the Marquis, to inform me of tjie difficulties which were felt in the attempt to draw the militia together, in » number sufficiently large to be respectable. He pi-op^^^d to me, in the nse^k of the Marquis, to have recourse, either to the Spanish troops, or to the few militia that Qould -"*■ . be collected, as q^tJb(Ma/FiM. This was hp expression. ^'' After the mUitIa had been assembled^rather poorly than otherwise^ the Marquis ha^ said to .them: "We have mustered you up to take possession of the pi*o^ce in the ijipie of the Frenck Republic. It is for you to -$ determine if you wish to serve her for fifteen days. "My answer to the Marquis's niessage was short: ^ 'lAsmre the Mar^n^imd: % * ^^t'^i^o^mpmw^ of the mS/itia a/re not^ at 12 o^cM^y ^a^ up mderanfiB^ in, aJpe^fteetaUe mtmbe^yMdbey ^ Ofdere cf the French Me^^uhUe,. the J$^^^%^pdf rnyadf tmU ljSi/(f the ^am cmd responaibiUty whereitovghttohe^th^ . recuihed mfy.,fpt$y^ yea/r io he the dnipe of $!0i % # m ^• ;- ■ A % *im\^^ '"^ # lAVe»ATB EXOITBMKNT. # 615 cMcTs play; that Framce does not Hand in need^ on this oooasion^af the aimiUaanea he qfere ; ihat^ in the absence of the niecme wUdh he thmke are the only onee on which lom rety^ I have e^jere i/n, readineMy and that my toMngpoeaeeeim of the province vyiU he (ie^^ amd aecompUehed viihout dday^ with efftoaoy md with digni^. Fleaee fwrther to inform the Ma/rqm^ that^ as we have ai/reqdy had togetlm am imteroofUflr^ of six inmth^y I had flattered mysdf that he had had ampHe time to know TIMp " I i-edoulbl^d, however, my effisrte to have, in case of u6ed, a spontaneous armed force that might be ready to sholv itself simultaneously. ** It was not long before I ii/'as informed, that the Spanish officers were earnestly striving to draw together at least two or three compani^ of militia, and particu- larly that of the grenadiers. " A| twelve o'clock, I wetflj with a considerable escort of Frenchmen, to the City Hall, where I found the Spanish Comtiiissioners. They delivered to me the province in the form atid msiuier described in the procds-%erbal hereto annexed. 1^ % « *' As soou 819 the Frtoch flag IM been hoisted up, and the Spanish Conmiissioners had withdrawn, I placed myself in the centre of the militia com<^anies, and I pre- ■sentod to them JC Bellechasse as their Colonel and Commander! I also caused to be pi^oidaimed in their preseUce the composition df the styt ^' There #ere about one hundred and !%■ militiarmen present, among whom were abdut sixty grena^ers. "*^ I returned to the Ci^ffittt6eMMish.Midorgani4d jjie Muiiicipai body. ' «thave ptiblted afroclam^^ ^6t to displease & SpanSirds, or the^ Aimericans. J*',... A'-- ■t.^ 016 « REVIEW OF LAU8»AT^8 o6uB8fi. " Posseasion of tho province having been taken, it was proper that it should be solemnly auAenticated and irre- vocably fixed. Hence the multiplicity of my acts. " From the moment of the cession, Cria Oalvo has be- haved towards me with eoDqvdsite poUteneas,^ Such were Laussat's comments on whathe had thought and done, and on what he believed he had seen, or had been correctly infonned of. But it seems, from his own version of the facts, as related in this despatch, that if there was any indecent display of ill temper, hasty conclusions, undignified and offensive suspicions, as well as of arrogant language, it was not on the side of his adversaries ; that if there was, as he complains, a good deal of child's play, he had a handsome share in it ; and that his vision must have been singularly dimmed by his apprehensions of the supposed hostile dispositions of the Spaniards, not to have discovered, sooner than after the cession, the uniformity of Oasa Oalvo's exqumte jpoUteness, Whilst all these mutations had been going on, or had been ii^ the act of preparation, Laussat and Casa Galvo had been vieing in givmg splendid entertainments to the inhabitants of Ncjw Orleans, and the repfbliijan Prefect had struggled not to yield in pomp and display to the proud and wealthy nobleman. It was no doubt with them a matter of policy, as well as of taste or pride. A French author,* who witnessed those festivities, says: II" M. Laussat exhibited in brilliant entertaimnfents, em- bellished by the graces of his affable and beautiful wife, that fascinating Segance which seems to be one of the alftributes of the iSrench character. Theiouisianian ladies, who looked upon her as a model of taste, appeared at those entertainments with a ni^gBifice^^ whi saloon — where, on a table laid for sixty to ei^^rl- persons, arose, on the top of rocks, the tem»^le of Good F Hh surrounded with columns, and sum oui ted by a dome, under which was placed the allegorical statue of the goddess. But, farther on, beyond that room, one was attracted by the flood of light which burst from an immense pavilion, in the shape of a gallery. There, forty or fifty tables, covered with a variety of dishes, were^ spread for the accommodation of four or five hun- dred guests, who grouped themselves round them in small d^tached.parties. "The tendency of thef^ festivities was, no doijibt^ to spread the taste for j^ei:j ;e and luxury in a colony which, being in its nascent state, still needs a great deal of economy and labor , but, nevertheless, these enters, taannientsj under the circumstances in which they were given, wiare the result of a useful and enlightened policy, because they strengthened the 09mmon customs and manners which qonnected us and the cbloniEts, causing them to cherish what is French, and impressing them' with a proper sense of the grandeur of the mother cotmtiy." In the meantime, as apprehen^ons were entertained i^ ». • • '>. ' .' . m 618 GLAJBO^ITE ASrb WILKmS0l!T^S JOINT COMMISSION. '% * "by tlie'G^ovenmieiit of the United States that diffiotillies might arise in relation to thd^tiession, in cbnseqaence of the disJ)osition inaiiifested a few years "before by the Coloniitd Grovfernment of Lotiisianft to Iretain possession of ithe posts situated abbye the 31st degree, and in con- sequence of the ettel-getic pi*0tests wcently made tit Washington by the Spanish Minister, in the name of hi^ Catholic Majesty, the President* had ordered a part of the militia of the States of Ohio, Kentucky^ and Tennes- see, to be held in ireadiness to march at a mOmentV warning. Considerable forces had been assembled at Fort Adams, and five hundred TtiniiesseatBS had <;ome as far as Natchez, under the command of Colonel Do- gherty. Claiboriie, the GrOvernor of Mfesi8sippi,had oi^ dered a volunteer company of horse of that territory to be prepared to mm'ch with himou the 10th of Decem- ber. ,■ ."^ .'■ ,-\, ^ " Claiborne met at Fort A^ams, Orir hiff w^y to New "Orleans, General WUkiittSon, who was coming from that city, where he had had with LausSat the interview I have mentioned. The troops who were at this post were set in motion in (»)mpany with the volunte^, and, oh the 17th of December, the two American commis- sioners encamped within two miles of New Orleans. On the day Mlowing, they despatched an officer. jto Laussat, to inqrdfe whether he was disposed to receive their visit; Lail9sa.t answered in the affirmative, and *^^ immediately sent in his carrii^e an officer ,.named "Vi- nache) with BeUechasSe, the Colonel in command of the militia, and 1^ French citizen named Blanque, to meet Claiborne and '\^^^ilkinSoti. The comjnissioners came to Latkssat^s hOiise with an escort of l^irt^ of the Missis- sippi horse Volunteers, and, oti their approadi, were sauted with jaineteoii guns. The next day, at Half past * Mtttin's Hiatory of Looisiaiu!, vol. iL, p. 1^. # %. .* ^^ ■m ■«: 1* ^ m OLAIBOBNB Ain> WltSaiNSOW'S JOINT 0OHMISSiq|r. 619 tea in the mMkig^ Liw^airt weB*^^ lidlseback ta thei^ camp ^ith. an esccai;^ oi da^y^ me»/iEuid' thxis^^ returned offieially ^he ibnnal visit he had ret^iyed; k--^, ^ On Toesd^ tiie^^Otb ^ Seeiefelier,^e Prefecfr ordered all the militia companies to be-np under arms,^ on the puhJb square iu ironfe 6f thei City HaH The crowd of spectatcas was immense, and* the finest weiEither fiivored the curiosity (^ the puH^ : ^-The comBai8sioner& of the United States lirltite^ at the gates of the city with their troops, and, before entering, were reconnoitred fujcoi^ng to miUtfcry u&figes, by a company of the militia grenadiers/ The American troops, on entering the city, were greeted with a salute of twenty-one j^tns from the forts, and forik^ ed on the opposite sideof the square, facinjg the militia* At the City HaUj the Ootninissioners of the United States eifhibited their powers to LauSsat. The creden- tials were publicly read, next the treaty of cea^ion, the powers of the French .Commissioner^* and ftttaliy the procfe-verbaL The Prefect proclaimed the delivery of the province to the United States, handed l^e keyso£ the cit^ to Gli^bomef and; declared that he absolved from their allegiance to the French lElepublic su^a of the inhabitants as might choose to p^ under the new domination. "Claiborne now rose," says Judge Hartin in his History of liouisidna, " and olfei^ to the people his congratulations on the ©vent whichB^vocftbly fixe^ their political existence, ^nd no Icmger lefbit open to the caprices of chance; He assured them that the tJnited State* received them as brothers^ and woujd hasten to extend to them a participation m t^ invahiable i^its j^»finkg the basis of th^ oi^ imexam|4ed pros- perity, and't^at, iti the meanwhile, tb^ people would be preleoted in the enjoyment of their ^berty, ftapex^y I -'& # .* w 620 THE AMEEICAITS TAKE POSSBSSiaN. and religion ; that their commerce would be favored, and their agriculture encourAgecL He recommended to them to promote political information in the province, and to guide the rising moderation in the paths of re- publican energy and virtue." . - vThe three commissioners then went to one of the balconies of the City Hall. On their making theifc appearance, the French flag that was floating at the top of a pole in the middle of the square came down,, and the American flag Went up. When they met half way^ a gun, was fired as a signal, and immediately the land batteries began their discharges, which were responded to by the armed vessels in the river. ^ A group of American citizens who stood at* a corner of the square," says Judge Martin, ** waved their hats, in token of- respect for their countiy's flag^ and a few of them greeted it with th^ voices ; fto emotion was manifested by any other part of the crowd. The colonists did not appear conscious 'that they were reachmg th^ I,a4imn' Laussat then presented the American commissioners to the militia, and delivered to them the command of that body. Afterwards, Claiborne and Wilkinlon pro- ceeded to have aU the posts* and guardhouses occupied by their troops. Thus ended the French domination, if it can be so called, twenty days after it had begun. The Spanish Government had lasted thirty^our yeaj^ and a few months. , On this day, when he took possession of the colony, (die 20th of December, 1803), Claiborne issued the following proclamation : " Whereas, by stipulations between the Governments of France and ^pain, the letter ceded to the formei* tJiOi Coliev profess; that alV laws and iivinidpal .regidatioiis *^xii were in. existence at the cesitolaoil'of the late govfcmment, remain in fnll Jotce;^ and all citil officers charged with their execution, except those whose powers haVe been specially vested in me, and eicept also such officers ad have been intrusted with the collection of the revenue, are continued in thdtr functions during the pleasure of the Governor for the time being, or until pro- vision shall othepwiSe1)e made. " And I hereby exhort and enjoin all the Inhabitants and other persons within the swd Province tobefaJth- tttl and true in then' aUegiaUee to the United States, and obedient to the- laws &nd authoiities 'of -the same, ujider full assurance that l^eir just rights wiU be under the guardianship of the United States iand will be madntained free from dll force and violence from^ without or within.'' The situation in I which ^Louisigaia was, when trans- ferred to ^hi& United States, i» fully described in a document* commuiiicated by the President to Con^e^ on the 14th of November^ "Wlien O'Reilly toofe final possession of the coloUy in 1769, its population Was about ,13,006 or 14,000-douls, «llowiug to Mew Orleans $190 sottk - In 1803, it was estimated at 49,000 or. 50^000 souls for the whole provincc,tputting dbwn iSfew Orleans at 8000 or- 10,000 80uls,t -and not bickding iks Iiidiaiis, who, scattoered >boat on -that immensiB territiDry, w«re not supposed to number more than iJo.OOO or 30^000 * Atnorican.SUte Pap(Bi^ toll, p. 8«v MieccllBneom^ f It Ib belieyiea' thftt' the popa1ati6n wm ulidert^te<( and thal^ to set it do^a Mt 60,0iK} aouls would be a oloaer approsjinatioa to trdti), Sdm (rapidly |eclining)~:20,000Me8 gl:<5ptl5pn p^ 8QQ ppunds each-*- SOOO hogsheads of sngar of 1000 pounds, each— 5000 |j^ks of molasses pf 50 gaUops each. The estimate of the produce shipped fi-om New; OrleMW in the year i80^, including that cf the sftttlements on the llississippi, Qhip, xfec, did not exceed 49i000 tons. The exports were estimated st |2,158,000, and the imports at 12^600,000. th^ revenue^ ^ffcroing to, th^ ^g'^ TiTeasnry hardly wenlup, on an average, to $} 2 0^(^00, a year, and the ex- pendituyea pf the government had j^radu^lly risen so high m to e?^eed 1800,000 ift the year 18' ^2^ i "^^en^ t^^ Spaniards topkppssessipn of the colony^ there were m it seyen millions of paper naoney issued by^ the French Government, then lo3ing T5 per cent. On its retroeessipn to France, the paper issued and to Be redeemed jby the Spaniards hardly exceeded siichnndred thousand idpllars. '^It consisted of emission made in the ea^iljr part of the Spanish administration, an^of n 4ebt dtte ^y the Gpyernmenfr for snpplies furni^ed to the trpops and theKing's stpres,f and for salaries o| officerejBid workmen, for which Uberaimta, or certificate^^ were regularly issued, pf which there was afloat, at the time of the cession, a sum of from four hundred and ;^ |ifty tp fi^-e hundred thonsand dpjlars. They bwe no 'Titerestj and were cpmmonly.tp be bought at adiscptint of feoni^ 25 ^ 50 per cent. At the jihange ; of Governr n>cnt the discoiii^t was thirty., This depreciation was no^ tl^e result pf a want of confidence, or of any apprehen- * s^on ibhat the certificates would not be paid, bnt the ♦ kartjn'e History; f lb., vol ii, p. 811; % m It fm mm <\m «^^ 624 srnjA nioir of, the oolont in isoa € l^p oonseqtence of tiie increased value <^ money, produced by tho scarcity of it in the inarket." ^^ -As ikr as I Uave been able to judgo, T tMnk 1 Jntty siafely come to the conclusion that tli<: u v'iuary ;iuid extraordii) iry ei:T)e^8 incurred l>y Spiiii in is^^latio^ f^ Louisiana, over and oJoii the small reveiiue aiio deny?;ti from that colony, may, without oxaggeifttion, be put down at about fiftei-^il miUkMia of doUars, from the fith of March, 1T6€, whenXIlloa landi^d at New Orlonos to the 30tli of l^ovembrr; 1803, »vhon tlie retrocession t(V France took j^e. *, ft \'nll be recollected thatj as preyion&ly 1 elated, the Marqaigof Grin: J>ldi, who was a member of the Cabinet of M£^l;\;l, had written, pn the 11th of May, lt67, to tl^e Oonni 01 Ifuentes, then Atdbapsador of Spain "at Ver- RalHos : *' The Duke of Fraslin (one vof the French Minis?, ters) will remember that there were doubts on our part^ as to the acceptation of the. donation tendered by his most Christian Majesty. But, as the sani^ reasons which had made JfVanee believe in the necessity of the cession, prompted Spsin to acpept it, the King gave it Ms assent, idthoMgh it was well known that we were acquiring nothing but a i annual incumbrance Of two hundred and„ fifty to three hundred thousand dollars, in con£aderation ctf a distant and negative utility — ^which is— 4hat of pos- ^sessmg. a eounta^ to prevent its being possessed by another nation.*^ }^- « - -^ v Thus Spainhad ass^imed an incum^cmee^ which cost lier in the end Meen millions of dollars, in the va,m h^pe of ; cEftablishing a barrier between her Mexican Colonies and the danger which «ho|bre6aw was to come from the Northern Col^es of England in America. Recent events haVe proved how futile was the attwnpt tO'p]^otect herself against «n inevitable evil, and o^iperi* ence has demonstrated that the application of European of: be< # 'W ^fK, # LOUISIANA AN INOUMBRANOB TO, SPAIN. 626 treasurej blood and iadustty to the creation, the pur- chase or the conquest of Colonies in America, is not destined to be a profitable investment. Spain therefore acted wisely when she at last determined to part with a possession which was a useless and expensive incum- brance to her, and which was on the eve of being wrested fi^m her by her powerful neighbors, who, by so doing, would have obeyed rather the dictates of a stem necessity, than of an ambition yet dormant in the cradle. r^: ■-''^•>:^•'■-■ L6uisiana, when in its colonial state, has the honor of having , produced several distinguished men, among whom the following 'are the most remarkable : Aubert Bubayet^ was born yx Louisiana on the Hth of August, 1*759. He was the son of Adjutant-Major Aubertj one of those officers who, in 1769^, were sent by Governor Aubry, at the request of Gteneral O'Reilly, to ar- rest the French Commissary Foucault He entered in early life into the French army, and served in America during ^ the war of Independence between Great Bniiain and the?' Ul^ted States. He was in France at the commencement of th#l£evoluldonfa^d soon began to take an active part in public afBoirs. ]bi t7S9, jie imblished a pamphlet against admitting the Jews to th<^ rights of ci^^m^p. But he afterwards became one of the pvittctpal advocates fctf iunovation, and, m lYQl, was chds^ a : member of ihe Legislative Assembly, in which ' he acted 4i ccmapi- cuous pf^i In: 1*798, he resumed his militaiiy professiibii^ attd wap made Governor of llkyenee, which,:after an ob^ stinatedeftnice, he was pbli^d to surr^der to^ithe King^; of Prussia. Aubert Dubayet then c6mmaiK^d> as. Gene^ i^l4n-cMef in^I^ Yehd6e^ and^ b^ti|^ defeatcpd at'61i8son, became the object ^^ deuKxt^iitiond' i^jainst whscb he W I <\0 ::m # .fill 636 ooNOLin>nf6 itsHARks^ ^ n saocessfoUy defended himsetf. Employed ^ain at Oli^f* boHrg, lie *as called by the Directory to the post of Minister of War, which he held only three moiiths; when he was a^.^' ointed Minister of theHepnblio at Gon- stantanc^le, where he closed a life of aotlire service; oil the lYth of December, 1Y9Y, at the a^ of thirty-seren. . Etienne Bernard Ale^randre Vi6l^ «t learned Jesuit, Was born in Ne# Orleans, OH the Slftt of October, 11r86, and died on the 16th of DeoembiBr, 1821, at the college of fbiilly, in France, where he had been educated, and where, in his tnrn, he had devoted himself to the educa- tion of youth, after having resided many years tin Atta^ kapas, where he made hiinself beloved by all the inhabitants. He is known in the erudite woHd by a very beautiful translation, & dtin verse, of F&i^lQtfs Telemachus, also by some little poems hi Latin verse which he offered to the public^ in 1816, under the title of "MisceUane$ Latino-Gallic?^^ and' by an excellent Fi-ench translation of the Ars PbciVica, and of two of Bforace's epistles. *^ ■ - Jean Jact^ues Audubon, the oelebriited naturalist, was bom near New Orleans, in 1^80, and died in the State of New York, in 1851, bequeai^ing to posterity those works which have already acquired for him ai^ immortal fame. Bronifer de Glouet^ bom in Louisimta, about the year 1764, entered the Spanish army in early lifcj rose to the grade of Brigadiep'General, was for some time Gbternor of the province of H(i»goa in the island of Ortba, was created Opimt dela'#ernandlna de Hagu^imd had just been raisdd to the Senate, by Queen Isabella II.,'when he died in Mikdiid;. lately^ in his eighty-fourth yeai. -; Daunoy, br atther D'Aundy, was boM in New Oirleansj about the year ttY€: ife?)!^^ a Spaiiiih'G^eir^ he rose by degrees to tjlie' grade of lieutdhant^Greneral, after hamg greatily disibingoished himself agaiudt the **• OONOLUOZNO BBHABKS. en fVonoh in the F^inBular war. He died at an age w'hen he was Rtill capable of rendering more services to the Spanish mpnarchy. , Joseph Villamil) who. was bom in NewiOrleans iit 1789, took a part in the war of independenee waged by the South American provinces, fought hi|.wa} to cele- brity and to the grade of General, and has^ lately been appointed Charg^ d^AfiGaires by the BepnbHc .of Ecuador near the government of the United States. Many other Louisianians, although having made them- sQlve? less conspicuous, rose to honorable distinction in the service of Frano^3pain and other powers ; an^the num- ber of those wl^Pthus diistinguished themselt^ becomes remarkable^ when taken in connexion with tie small-^ ness of the colonial population fix>m which they sprang* In conclusion, I must call the attention of the reader to a singular anomaly-^which is— 'that, with all the foul abuses and tyrannical practices with which it has been so long the general custom to reproach the government of Spain every iftdiere, her administration in Louisiana was »a8 .popular as any that ever eidsted inany part of the world; and I am persuaded that I can rely on the unanimous support of my contemporaries when! declare, that they scarcely ever met in Louisiana an individually old enough to have lived under the Spfupish government in the colony and jndged of its bearing oii the happiness of ihe pec^le, who did not speak of it tilth affectionate reape<^ and describe those days of colonial rtile as the golden age, which, with many, wa^ the object of. seeret, and with others, of open regrets. Mch a govemmont would, of cotirse, have been insupportable to us, bnt "^ is mot hence to be inferred that it did not suit tM tallies and Mii^f and^eserve the gratitude of oiir ancestoii. Thu9 endt (ihd Colonial ^story of Louisiana. 1 have to write it faithfully, accurately and impaa> h. ml i ! ' I : I iji , l\ ^ ,: S*'* y^i # '^i 1. 1 1^. % h ''iR '^ 4 628 OONOLITDING ItEUABXS. tially, with an unabating lav© for tnitli, and with an unselfish dudire of serving in thii way, if not in any other, the country to which I am bound uby so many ties— not o#y by birth, education and habit, bttt also by so many endearing recollections of the past, and even sO many family associations and traditions, which, for me, clothe with the charm alndost of priv«*e interest 4ihe rdation of public events in Ixwddlana. . . « >; ,* t ' "■v-Sr> ':»■ I 1HK ttfll* «% % ^.■■*i mt*-- '■« •W^' APPENDIX. v'^',; »•♦* (P«ft4«.) OBBTIMOAT TO QOUVP4ENBUB ATIBJI. ♦*K«U8; Cr^ABLis AcBRi, oliOTaliwr Oe I'oirdie royiri et miUtaire de St. lK»Tiis,4ii?Um ecnamwiaa^t pour SA Mi^eStA tr6» chrttienne dela pro^ce d6 la Ld^iBUmer-Hsertifions que Monsieur Etiennede G»y«rr6, con1;«d6r prmcipia de cette province ||dnr«i Mnjest^ Oaiho- %ue,'arriv6 daai cette cdUiiie «oiis I'lapMitfcn coinmaodfie par M. Stoiiie detJlloa, qtd 6tiH ▼dwt p&itea prendire poawMlon, laqueUe Km ditf6r6e pl(t dktes aeddetti impr^vna depuia le cinq mw Kiil aept cen^ acrixante-rf*. jusquTfu dixlmit •^djt dmme, qn'dle a ^$ prb^ par «on ExceUence Dwi#exaiidre O^Heffly, s'ert to^Jotors iiMdiitentt,«owpr, selon Inexperience qil<6 j'ett ai ene sons |e8 yeux et lefl sentiiiiWwlM plna diatbignfe »vec l«!wiiiaI6reifteni depmB boh ibaenoe de la fin d'octobre de ^am% dcrxa^ jittqu* 4 ce jour, tfur pluai^ aftures d^licates concemaat W servipeB de leurs H^estfis tris Oh^eimo et OatboUque, en aa qualijk* de Oontad«*i ajmt mtme fait «6U^j« le« fonctions d'lateiidant dans pUiiiewa oocasioiw, en l*abneiice ^ longne maladie de 11^. JTean Joseyli de Loyola, et jMsi aptii^dlfc ' A«rt ; accompliwant ponctueJlement toutes les oblijifatlpna dn jerviee des rois de France et d'Bipagne, avec tout le zele, r«ppli. catiouret'la conddte la plnrr^gnfiAre, qui lui ont attir| I'eatane, l'amitl6 et rapprobadon de tinis fe| tonn^tes gens? en foi de quoi, je # # /•iv. mo APPENDIX. Itti «i donnA aveo plaiiir et toute la uttsfaetion poMible, le px^Mnt, ponr lai i«ryir ^t raloir portont oil h^toin sera. Fait doable k la Nouvelle Orleans, le 23 novembre, 1769. "AUBEI." [teAmunoif.] OBETIPIOATB OP OOVEBNOE AUBRI. 1^ •If ■| %., " I, Oharlbs AuBRi; knight of the royal and military order of St. Louis, late Qovemor of the Province of Louisiana for his |aost Christi^A M<^esty, certify that Hf . Etienne de Gayarr^, Chief Gonta- dor of this province for his Oatholic Mi^^sty, who came to this colony in the expedition commanded by M. ^kUtoine de IT^oa, which was sent to take possession of it, but which ceremony had been deferred, owing to sundry unforeseen accidents, pom March 6, 1766, to the 18th of August last past, when it was aocbtnpUshed by his Excellency Don Alexander O'l^eiUy, — IiaS always oonducted hiinselt in accord- ance with the requirements of hii honorable station, faithfully dis- charging all the duties incumbent upon l||im,— -and this I vouch fpr from my own personal observation, ail well as from the exalted opinion which the said Sietur de tJlloa has always expressed concern- ing him,— and particularly since his absence from the end of last October to the present time upon various delicate ^airs connected with the service of their most Ohribtian and Catholic Higesties, !|n htis office a(» Contador, having oven often discharged the ^notions .cif Ititendant on several occatdons, duriiig the abseiiee and protrat^ted sickness of iU. Jean Joseph de Loyola, and idso after his decease ; phnctnally frdi^ning all the requirements of the service of the Kings of FrAtitce an4 Spainf, with a z^, application, and.punctu'a^ty which have won for him the esteem, friendship and approbation of all honoif- able men. In testimony of which* with the greatest pleasure and satisfaction, I We given liim thiise presents, thiit they nla;^ serve him in case of need. Gfiiren in dnpBca^ ^t New Orleans*, KoVeniber '2d,a769. ' ' ' "^ "A0BEL" 1 ■H -"^ ?# JOVMSDIX. 681 n #1 UNZAGA'S PROCLAMATION. r " Wu, Don Ltis db Unzaoa, Colonel in the annles of Iiii Ma* Jeitjr, and his Intendant and Qovernor-Qeneral in and for the province of Loniriana : *' Make it known that having, from experience, become acquainted viih the di£Perent frauds and malpractices which are apt to be com- mitted in all sales, exchanges, permtitations, barters, and generally in all alienations concerning negroes, immoveables, and real estates, which are made clandestinely and in violation of •the public faltl^, by a ^ple deed in writing under private seal, whereby the inhabitants - of^s province are greatly distressed, then- rights put in jeopardy, and the administration of justice reduced to a state of confusion ; and wishbg, first, to remedy such pernicious abuses, and next, to. esta- blish good order in this commonwealth and to govern it as are all the other possessions of his ]R(i\jesty • " We order an^ decree, that no person, whatever be his or her rank or condition, shall henceforth sell, alienate, buy, or accept as a donation or otherwise,, any negroes,%lantations, houses and any kind of sea-craft, except it be by a deed executed before a Nbtary Public ; to which contracts and acts of sale and alienatidn shall bo annexed a certificate of the Registrar of MoHsagea; that all Qther acts made under any other form shall be n^ and void, and as if they had never beenmadcii that the sellers and buyers shaU have no right to the things thus sold, bou|:ht or exchaw^^ ; that they cannot acquire, any just aijidiegitiihate Jtotfsessioh thereof; and tluit Ureases of fraud, all' parties therein concerned shall be prosecuted with all the, severity of the laW ; that theNQtary who shall make a bad use of the confidence r^jposedin him by tt6 public and of th^ fipth put in the fi toy of his JjiroMves, and who shall have th^audaclty to antedate or postdate the dia>eds executed before hhn, shall, lo; this delinquency, be -de- clared tmworthy of the office he holdB,«uitl shall be condemned to undergd all the penalties ptovided for such k case j and said Notary, should i^ forget: to annex to his acts ijbe certificfie of Ae Begistoar of Mortgages as aforesaid, sha!Il be proceedcid against aCCQxdii;ig to the circumstances of the c^se; and that no one shul plead ignorance Of this proclsanadcm we (wder and decree, that it be promulgated with the! beat of the dhim; and: that copies thereof certified by theSecre- iSEH^ of the (jl'ov^fnment ani by the Secretary of the Cabildq be ,»'■ J? W % m ;5* «*■ &32 APFSSiDlX, posted up at the maei. places in this toufhi, and sent -to all the posts depei \iLTit on thil Government. " Given at the Govemment^Houseii on the Srd of November, 1770. -^ ^ "LIJIB DE tJNZAGA." 0,^1''^! (P^^e 898.) EEGXJLATJONS OF INTENDANT I10EALE8 REGARDING GRANTS OP LAND. "1. To each nevly-arrived family, achaqMefamtlic nouveUe, who are possessed of the necessar^^nalifications to be admitted attaoug the number of cultivatoA of these provinces, and who have obtained the perinission of theGovemm^t to establish themselves on a place which they have, ehosen, there shall be grantod.^/or once, if it is on the bank of the Mississippi, fouif si:^ or eight arpents in front on the river, by the ordinary depth df forty arpeBtH; and if it is at any other place, the quantity which they shall be judged capable to cul- tivate, and which shall be dee;ggfed necessary for pasture for their beasts, in proportion and acco|ding to the number of which^the fkmily is composed ; understanding that the concession is nevei^ to exceed eight hundred arpents in superficies. < " 2. To obtain the said concessions, if they are asked for in this city, the pannission which has been obtained to establish themselves in the place from the Governor, ought to accompany the petition ; and i^ in May of the posts, the Commandant at the same time will state that the lands asked for are vacant, and belong to the domain, and that the petitioner has obtained permission of the Government to establish himself; and. referring to the date of the letter or q,dvice thiay have received. '^3. Those who obtain concessiont^m the b«ak of the river, ought to make, in the first year of their possesskin^ levees sufficiei^t to pre* vrjnt the inuttdtttion of the waters, and canidd sufficient to drain off the water when the liver is h%h ; they shdl be held, in addition, to make, and keep in good order, a pubUu Jbiigh'Wqrjr, whieh ought to be at least thirty feet wide, uid have bridges of fift^n feet over the oanalB or ditches which the road crosses ; which regulations ought to «. /■ #' w t AXVESDVL 683 itKL be obaerved, aocordiug to the usi^i^ of tibe respective difitricts* by all persoafl to whom lands «re granted^ in what^er part they are <^ta|ned.; ■ ;-■;;..,•.,,; * *'4. The new settlers who have obtained laadk shall be equcilly ^ '; obMged to cle\d obi&u^eu by concession ; onless the toller (grantor), prints and delivers to the buyer the title which he has obtained, and in addition, being carefial to insert in the deed the metes and bounds, and other descriptionliJp wMch result from tiiB titie, and the prochterbal of the survey whioh ought to accompany it. I' I. #' m >». 'f m 684 APPBIfDXX. "Si In case itlitit ihe small depj^ p£ tl^e pqints, upon which tlx) ]and on the rive^ is generally formed, prevent the granting of forty arpents, according to usage, there shaU be gpven a greater Quantity in front to compensate it ; or, if no other person asks the -concession, or to purchase it, it sh«U be divided equ^lj between the persons nearest to it, who may repair the banks^ roads, and bridges, in * manner before prescribed. " 9. Although the King renounces the possession of Jhe land-i sold, distributed, or conceded, in his name, those to whom they are granted or sold ought to be apprised that his Majesty reserves the right of taking from the forests known here uudei' the name of cypress woods, all the wood which may be necessary for his use, and more especially which he may want for the navy, in the same man- ner and with the same liberty that the undertakels have eigoyed to this time ; but this, notwithstanding, they are not to suppose'' them- selves anthorized to take more than is necessary, nor to make use of or split those which are cut down and found unsuitable. " 10. In the posts of Opelousas and Attakapas, the greatest quan- tity of land that can be conceded, shall be one league front by the same quantity in^epth; and when forty arpents cannot be obtained in depth, a half league may be granted ; and, for a general rule, it is established* that, to obtain, in said posts, a half league in front by the same quantity in depth, the petitioner must be owner of one hundred head of cattle, some horses and sheep, and two slaves, and also in proportion for a larger tract, without the power, however, of exceed- ing the quantity before mentioned. ^ • " 11. As much as it is possible, and the local situation will pennit, no interval shall be left between concessions ; because it is very ad- vantageous that the establishments touch, as much for the inhabitants, who can lend each other mutual support, as for the more easy administration of justice, and the observance of rules of police, indis- pensable in all places, but more especially in new establishments. " 12. If, notwithstanding what is before written, marshy lands, or other causes, shall make it necessary to leave some vacp^nt lands, the Ooi^mandants and Syndics will take care that the inhabitants of the, district alone may take wood enough for their use only, well under- standing they shall not take more ; or, if any individual of any other post, shaU attempt to get wood, or cut fire-wood without ha\ang ob- tained the permission of this intendancy, besides the indemnity which he shall be held to pay the treasury for the damage sustained, he shall be condemned, for the first time^ to the payment of a fine of twenty -five dollars ; twice that sum for the second offence ; and, fot ■'*- :?:■ V. m t APPENDIX. 63i tlii^ tlfird offenee, Jbadl ibe pat in prison, aceoading as the off«MHM ma^ be more Or lesil aj^arated ; the said fines AaHl be divided betveen t^ treasury, the Judge, and the InfomMr. "13. Tie neW settler, to wbom land has been granted in one Settlement, cannot obtain another concession without having pre- viously proven that he had possessed the first during three years, 4iD^ fulled all the conditions prescribed. '* H. The changes owasioned by the current of the river, are often the cause of one part of a concession becoming useless, so that we have examples of proprietors pretending to abandon tod re-unite to the domain a part of the most expensive, for keeping up the banks, the roads, the ditches, &c., and willing to reserve only that which is gooid 5 and se^ng that, unless some remedy is provided for this abuse, the greatest mischief must result to the neighbours, we declare that the treasury wfll not admit of an abandonment or re-union to the d(](main of any part of the land the owner wishes to get rid of, unless the abandonment comprehends the whole limits included in the concession or act in virtue of which he owns the land he wishes to abandon. " 15. All concessions shall be given in the name of the King, by the General-Intendant of this province, who shall order the Surveyor- General, or one particularly named by him, to make the survey and mark the land, by fixing bounds, not only in £n. it, but also in the rear ; this (survey) ought to be done in the presence of the Comman- dant or Syndic of the district and of two of the neighbors; and these four shall sign the proccs-verhtd which shall be dtttwn up by the Snrveyor. "16. The said ^oces-vfirhal, wi," a certified copy of the Bame, shall be sent by the Surveyor to tl-c Intendant, to the end that, on the original, there be delivered, by the consent of tiie King's Attor- ney, the necessary title paper t, to this will be annexed the certified copy forwarded by the Suv va^ oc. The original shall be deposited in the office of the Secretary of the Treaijury, and care shall be taken to make annually a book of all which have been sent, with an alpha- betical list, tp be the more useful when it is necessary to hkve re- course to it, tod for greater security, to the end that, at all times, and jigainst all accidents, the documents which shall be wanted, can be foiiud; The Surveyor shall alsoliave another bodk, Htunbered, in which ^^j^0ch-^erhal of the sUrvey he maL^es shall be record^, and, as well on the original, which ought to be deposited on record, a^ <^,the copy intended to be annexed *tG the title, he shall note the m li % ll rf Sk % In 1 1 \ ■% # in .1^ M aft folio of tlie l> which they are transcribed. There miist also be a' note taken in the contadoria Sr chamber of accounts) of the army ftlid finances, and that unddr the penalty of being roid. The dbanaber of accounts shall also have a like book; and, at the thi^e of taking the note, shall cite the folio of the book where it is rocbrded. " 18. Experience proves that a great number of those who have ask^d for land think themselves the legal owners of it; thoseWho have obtained the first decree, by which the Surveyor is ordered to measure it, and to put them in possession ; others, after the survey has been made, have neglected to ask the title for the property ; and, as like abuses, continuing for a longer time, will augnient tiite con- fusion and disorder which will necessarily result, we declare that no one of those who have obtained the said decrees, notwithstanding, in virtue of them, the survey Las taken place, and that they have been put in possession, can be regarded as owners cf land until their real titles are df^livered, completed witL all the formalities before recited. " 19. All those who possess lands in virtue of formal titles given by their Excellencies the Governors this province, since the epoch when it came under the power ~ the Spanish ; and those who pos- sessed them in the tinie wher i* belonged to France, so iar from being interrupted, shall, on the o'vnt 'ai-y, be protected and maintained in their possessions. « 20. Those who, without the title or pcsscstdon mentioned in the preceding article, are found occupy inr; lands, shall be driven there- from, as from property belonging to the crown ; but, if they have occupied the same more than ten years, a compromise wHl be ad- mitted to those who are considered as owners, that is to say, they shall not be deprived of their lands. Always that, after information, and summary procedure* and with the intervention of t^e Procureur of the King, at the board of the treasury* they shall be obliged to pay a just and moderate retribulion, calculated according to thd ex- tent of the lands, their situation, and other circumstances, and the price of estimation for gnce pidd into the royal treasury. The titles to property will be delivered, on referring to that which has resulted from the proceedings. 4 # # APPENDIX. 68Y " 21. iThoflO who are foimd in a- situation e^ressed in, the 18th article* if they have not cleared nor done any work upon the land tl^ey! consider, themselves prpjffietors of by virtue of the first decree ofrthe €h)vemment, not. being of the ntunbei of those who have bee i l^jadmitted in the class of new comers, in 1 oii^g deprived or admitted to compromise) in the manner explained in the preceding article : i^ they are of that class, they shall observe what is ordered in the article following. "S2. In the precise and peremptory term of six months, counting from the day when this regulation shall be published in each post, all those who occupy lande without titles from the Governor, and those who, in having obtained a certidn number of arpents, have seized a greater quantity, ought to make it known, either to have their titles made out, if there are any, or to be admitted to a com- promise, or to declare that the said lands belong to the domain, if they have not been occupied more tha^i ten years ; understanding, if it passes the said term, if the]r are instructed by other ways, they will not obtain either title or compromise. " 23. Those who give Nf'Tination of lands occupied,^ after the ex- piration of the term fixed in the preceding article, shall have for their reward the one-fourth part 'of the. price for which they are sold, or obtained, by way of compromise ; and, if desirable, he shall have the preference, either by compromise, at the price^f appraisement, and there shall be made a deduction of one-fourth, as informer. • ..." 24. As it IS impossible, considering all the local circumstances, that aU the vacant lands belonging to the domain, should be sold by auction, as it is ordaine4 by the law Idth, title 12th, book 4th, of the collection of the liiws of these kingdoms^ the sale shall be made according as it shall be demanded, with the intervention of the King's Attorney for the board of il^ances, for the price they shall be taxed, to those who wish to purchase; understandings if the purchasers have not ready money to pay, it shall oe lawfiil for them to purchase the said lands at redeemable quit-rent,^ during which they shall pay the five per cent, yearly. "25. Besides the modera*^!) price which the Ifnid Ought to be taxed, the purchasers shall be hel' to pay down theJpht of media annata^ or halfr e name of the French people, desiring to remove all snuree of miHunderstanding relative to objects of discussion, mentioned in the second and fifth articles of the con- vention of the 8th Yendemiaire, an 9 (30th of September, 1800), relative to the rights claimed by the United States, in virtue of the treaty concluded at Madrid the 27.tli of October, 1795, between his Catholic Majesty and the said United States, and willing to strengthen the union and friendship which at the time of the said convention was happily re-established between the two nations, have respect- ively named their plenipotentiaries ; to wit, the President of the United States c^ America, by and with the advice uad consent of the Senate of the said States, Robert R. Livingston, Minister Plenipo- tentiary of the United States, and James Monroo, Minister Plenipo- tentiary and Envoy Ext^aordintu-y of the said States j near the government of the TrsDch Re|mblio ; and the First Consul, h the name of the French people, the French eitizen Barb6 Marbins * The tre&ty and ooi rention are given ftom the Aneri«aa e<^^M^ snd the United States are oouMquently named first in theiu. — ^TaANS.^ .a ^ 4 AFFfi5BIZ. 641 ^ Minister of the Public Treasury, who, after hariug respectiVdy ex- changeil their ftiU powers, have agreed to tlile following articles : — "Art. Ist. Whereas, by the article the third of the treaty con< eluded at Si Ildephoiui6, the 9th Vendemiaire, an 9 (Ist October, I 1800), betweea the First Consul of the French Republic and His Oatholic. Mi^esty, it was agreed as follows : 'His Oathollc Majesty promises and engages, on his part, to retrooede to the French Re- public, six months after the foil and entire execution of the condi- tions and stipulations herein relative to his Royal Highness the Duke of Parma^ the c,/^? t r \ t % -• ) . Wo. Si. ^ " ' * , > s ^ \ ^ U ! \4 Ax " CiMv«Ml»M'^0A^^Pl«nlji.ote)ntl«i^ei^ Robert B. I4>Httgston, IGm8tet;«!nMiipotentiM7 of tliiB Utdted Stateiiraod James Hoi4>o^" Miv^itr Plenipotentiary- and fiuvoy Extritordiuarj of the said tf Aitnch^ReptA>Uo, in tfao name of thO'^ra&oh' people hat* named as P]l>nip«rffentUi^ of th0 sud Riepttblic, the Ff*en«ih citisen Bach6 MaiM«» iilM>; writM' of their full powers, whieh have been exehaitgid thMi^'day, ha-re agr««dto thelbllofHag-ftr«ieli»s: ^y " Abt. Ist. The Qov^nm&BAiifiheJSm^ States engages to pAy to &6 French GtoyeiMiM&t, in^easw^^^spQeffied in the following articles, the sn^Si of sixty millions of firnnes, ind^ftend^nt^i^ |ho^ jam whicAi shali.be fixed by another eonvention for the. payment of d<»bits. doe by I^ranoe todticens of the United Statei). < » Akt. 2d. For tho pajf^ent of th« smn<^ ^hc^ millions of firancs, mentioned in tiio preoodmg aartiele, the United States ^shall cgreftte a stofik of eleven millipns tw* hundred find: £%: thousaand 4ed]iarS( bearing an interest of riat per ceat^ per «iuiii^» p^ynblf; l^^eiurly in Ix)^ddbUars, according to the jj^rbportioiis whieh ii^idl be. determiined^by the French Qovimn9^*i to be fslA-Mf either place; M prinoii^ of Ihe said stock to be rehnbttpled At the treasiM^^ of tiie United Btateib l'^ , ann^ial payments of n#t:leS8 tinm' three niltlont of dbltptrs eaeh; of whieh the iSrat payment t^all tommence i^een jreari tStUaf ^ dste^ of the exchange of ratifications f this siodk ihi^ be i^mtfym^ ftf the d^ovemmeat of Frahce, or to suohlperson or^periMnki as shall be m' ^ ■' f' .^^ ■#"**' '^ .•;«#' I «^i« it # ■m 045 i»- aatKorfeed «)!re«6ii^ kr^dilNJto Wi^ nfolt aft«r th#ei6|taiige #the i^eiiX#>|i»^oe ti^ tTOAtjfr, and sfter Jk>ii(dana shall; b^ tak«n pQ«g«pno9(of In tbe iUWttol(iI» (^averaiticiM of the Unit«d Sta^ ^••it |« Jlrtjiiar agreed* that if the Firench tJovenunent ahotild be A»sigpm oifMr^^ the Mia ftoek to receive the eapltil iii Bntppe* at ^lii^rter twiw, that its meaikirefl % that ptirpoM «hall ^V^^»u Wi u«efc: &v«r»iii the.greateift degree poidble, the crtdit of th© Uiuted Staten^ and to raise to the highest nr^ ^e said "Abt.34 It i« kjpteedthat the diollar of the Catted BtMes, specific In the present, convention, «haU be fixed at tfv^ francs tVi^. French Jangiutge ; to wldch^^A^ have hietrennto affixed their seals^^ ^ "Done at Pans, the tenth of Floreal, eleventh year of th« French Bepiiblic {30th iSi^, 180a). " EOBEtlT B. MVINGSTOir, (Ji.S^ , \ ':'" ■ "JAMBS' HpN]5PE,''(L^^^ :''^ % .^ !■ 'A' II: No. 8. " CkmvtnUm bttwem ike tMui^ Sm»^ Amnaa mi ^iS^nkeh !• Xm President of th» United Stetea of lmtsa» koSl the i^t Qonwl of the J'rench RepuWJc, in the navtie of the French people, W^ by • treaty of this date terminated all diffieiOtiBB relative tk ^4N«pB*M« %«■. HI % i« %'^' HI ■#, 646 ■ APFEKBIZ. ♦. m M. witb the Beijond ani fifth articles of tiie ocmrention of the 8th Von deniiaipe, ninth year of the French Eepublio (3bth S«ptemh^|;i 1800), to aecnre the pajr^tdnt of th6 sum due by Franco to t|t oiti^euB dfihe United States,, We respetiitlroly noinj^t^ as Flie^# potentiaries, that i» to aay : the Pwddent of tJ»e Urfted Sta^i of Amearioaihy and -writh the advice wid owBsentvof the Senate, jloi bert E. IdMngston, Minister Plenipotentiary, ^d James Moi^oe, MiBiister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Ektraoi^iiary of the said States, ne4r the government of the French lltmiiljlic, and &e First Gonsttl, in the name of the French people, the French oidsen Ba^b6 Marbois, Minister of the Public Treasury j who, after having exr • changed their fiiU, powers, have agreed to the following articles sj^ •• ABT.^t. The debts dneby France to the citizens of the United Spates, contracted before the 8th Vendemimie, ninth year of the French EepubKc (80th September, 1800), shall be paid; according to the following Tegalations, with interest at si* per cent., ta eoniw mence from the period when the accounts and vouchersWe p^. sented to. Ae French Government. " JiRT. ad. The debts provided for by the preceding article .are those whose result is comprised in the conjectural note annexed to the present convention,' and which; with the interest, cannot efeeed the rom of twtoty millions of francs. The claims cem^ori^^ si^d note,^ldch fHH withih the exceptions of ^e folldl^ariicles* shal not be adnHtte^ to t^ benefit of this proTisioA. "Am. 34. The prindpia and inierestdf ihe said debts shall l® discharge %^ United Statel by orders idrwfn, by their ME- nister i»lenip9|^ti«ry on their treasury; these orders shall be piljrable dxty Cys after the exchange 8th Vendeua^^^^ ,1800). ,■-■ ; ■ ;:■; \ . ^ '■ ■ '■ •: ^ ; - " Ab^. ^ -^ priMseding juftMsJes sWiti^pfy only, 1st, to eap- tnres of which the Oonneil <*f Prices M hil^e erdered reiatutii 648 APPINDIX. ''* } I ii * those which, in their jndgmentu, ought to be admitted to liqui- dation. . " Abt. 9th. Jbr proportion «s the dettts mentioned 'h tjbese artici^f shall h^ admitted, they shall he diflpharged with intiUest at six pef cent.,bylthetiiMuryofthetJftM .^i ; " Art; 10th. And that no debt whi^ ghall M lia^^e' qual^ ficatipnfkj|bpTe-menti6ne|, and that no .nnjuttW exorbitant d(»< ma^'maj^be admitted, the epmmerc|wl agent dT the XTiiited Btatei at ,f arid, or Bueh cither agent tu Ihe Mbrfster Flenlpotpntiary of the united dtatee shall Ih^ proper io liiominate, shatl assist at the operations of the bureau, and co-oj^ate in the-exanriitotion '^ the claims; and if this agent shall be df Opinion that an^ debt is itQt '*\ completely proved* or if he jrihtaU ji»dge that it is not comprised in the principles of the fifth article aboTe-inentipned ; ' and if qotwith- :> standing his opinion, the bureau establi^ed ^7 ^^^ French ^prern- ment should think that, it pnght to be fl^uidated> he shidl tra!nsi|ut t.is observations to the board established by the United Stages, .who, without removing tbe docnmients, shall ma]ke a complete exanii- \ f nation of the debt and vouchers Which si^port it, «nd report the result to the Minister of the United $tai«s. The ^ttit» of#e^ United States shall tinsnsniit J^ ol^erirlttipnsy m d^ ra to the ^minister of the Tjreasury of the !l^rench Bepilbl&s. on whose ^report the Firench Government Shid)i'dedde definiidil§|y^'''' ■0 t:). 4 4 V ♦*. # ¥ « ev^ case. M 1% m " Th6 rejeotioiv of ahy i^muii s^Uh^y^ no olher effect thfya to ex^ em]^ j^e U^t^ ^tates i^oin thjs paynient of it, the Frenc^ (^ovenif*, ment resermg to itfitlf the n^t tp deAy|^ «x inonthcf firom the date of the sni^^itt|re <^j^e IQjDil^i^C^tenipoten^hi^ soonor if possible. *' * ;. ■ " In faith pf which, thejrespecBve Mitdilrtiers !DIeidpetenid^^ 1^ signed the above artietfis, both in th0 French i^d V ^ .m I ': ;'. !,•'# -#' I. % -#" •' If '% *- w ■ ^' •■ !; f *♦ ^4 * T^ APPBNDIX. •* ♦ 649 «?*■ i *4.- r i?f :«: ^pclaring, HereHhekfls, that the present treatji hu b«en originaUy ag^ on ^4 wrJtten i^lhe French Iragaage; tf MoreiilJ^ year of the rwpehBe^bUc (30th AprQi 1803),