History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 3

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280

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HISTORY OF IOWA.

son" was erected and garrisoned on the Mississippi a few miles above the southern limit.

The result of these operations was the addition to the chartered limits of Virginia, of that immense region known as the North. western Territory. The simple fact that such and such forts were established by the Americans in this vast region convinced the British commissioners that we had entitled ourselves to the land. But where are those " monuments " of our power now ?

HISTORY OF LOUISIANA TERRITORY.

LOUISIANA PROVINCE.

The province of Louisiana stretched from the Gulf of Mexico to the sources of the Tennessee, the Kanawha, the Alleghany and the Monongahela on the east, and the Missouri and the other great trib- utaries of the Father of Waters on the west. Says Bancroft : " France had obtained, under Providence, the guardianship of this immense district, not as it proved, for her own benefit, but rather as a trustee for the intant nation by which it was one day to be inherited. By the treaty of Utrecht, France ceded to England her possessions in Hudson's Bay, Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia. France still retained Louisiana, but the province had so far failed to meet the expectations of the crown and the people that a change in the government and policy of the country was deemed indispens- able. Accordingly, in 1711, the province was placed in the hands of a governor-general, with headquarters at Mobile. This govern- ment was of a short duration, and in 1712 a charter was granted to Anthony Crozat, a wealthy merchant of Paris, giving him the en- tire control and monopoly of all the trade and resources of Louisi- ana. But this scheme also failed. Crozat met with no success in his commercial operations; every Spanish harbor on the Gulf was closed against his vessels; the occupation ot Louisiana was deemed an encroachment on Spanish territory; Spain was jealons of the ambition of France.

Crozat failing to open the ports of the district, sought to develop the internal resources of Louisiana, by causing trading posts to be opened. and explorations to be made to its remotest borders. But he actually accomplished nothing for the advancement of the colony. The only prosperity which it ever possessed grew out of the enterprise of humble individuals, who had succeeded in insti-

HISTORY OF IOWA.

tuting a little barter between themselves and the natives, and a petty trade with neighboring European settlements. After a per- severing effort of nearly five years, he surrendered his charter in August, 1717.

Another and more magnificent scheme immediately followed the surrender of Crozat's charter. The national government of France was deeply involved in debt; the colonies were nearly bankrupt, and John Law appeared onthe scene with his famous Mississippi Company, as the Louisiana branch of the Bank of France. The charter granted to this company gave it a legal ex- istence of 25 years, and conferred upon it more extensive powers and privileges than had been granted to Crozat. It in- vested the new company with the exclusive privilege of the entire commerce of Louisiana, and of new France, and with authority to enforce their rights. The company was authorized to monopolize all the trade in the country, to make treaties with the Indians, to declare and prosecute war to grant lands, erect forts, open mines of precious metals, levy taxes, nominate civil officers, commission those of the army, to appoint and remove judges, to cast cannon, and build and equip ships of war. All this was to be done with the paper currency of John Law's Bank of France. He had suc- ceeded in getting His Majesty, the French king, to adopt and sanction his scheme of financial operations, both in France and in the colonies, and probably there never was such a huge financial bubble ever blown by a visionary theorist. Still such was the condition of France that it was accepted as a national deliverance, and Law became the most powerful man in France. He became a Catholic, and was appointed Comptroller General of Finance.

The first move of the new company was to send 800 emigrants to Louisiana, who arrived at Dauphine Island in 1718. In 1719 Philipe Francis Renault arrived in Illinois, with 200 miners and artisans. The war between France and Spain at this time rendered it extremely probable that the Mississippi Valley might become the theater of Spanish hostilities against the French settlements. To prevent this, as well as to extend French claim, a chain of forts was begun to keep open the connection between the mouth and the sources of the Mississippi. Fort Orleans, high up the river, was erected as an outpost in 1720.

The Mississippi scheme was at the zenith of its power and glory in January, 1720, but the gigantic bubble collapsed more sud- denly than it had been inflated. and the company was declared

HISTORY OF IOWA,

hopelessly bankrupt in May following. France was impoverished by it, both private and public eredit were overthrown, capitalists suddenly found themselves panpers, and labor was left without employment. The effect on the colony of Louisiana was disas- trons.

Heretofore Louisiana had been a subordinate dependence, under the jurisdiction of the Governor-general of Canada. Early in the year 1723 the province of Louisiana was erected into an independent government, and it was divided into nine districts, for civil and military purposes.

Notwithstanding the company had embarked largely in agricul- ture, and had established large plantations on the river, still it refused to abandon the idea of discovering boundless wealth in the mines of Missouri. They still believed that gold and silver inines were to be found in the Illinois country. Desire begets credulity; and the directory, ever ready to receive and encourage extravagant accounts of mines, offered rewards proportionate to the importance of the discovery. In this way the attention of the company was diverted to the search of mines in distant regions, as far as the sources of the St. Peter's, the Arkansas, the tributaries of the Missouri, and even to the Rocky Mountains, while they neglected the increasing hostile indications among the Chickasaws, the Natchez and other tribes immediately contiguons to their princi- pal settlements.

The year 1723 also witnessed the first outbreak among the In- dians. This was by the Natchez, a peaceful tribe who were ernelly treated by the French. The Natchez were subdued for a time, but in 1729, with the Chickasaws and others, fell upon the French vil- lage of St. Catharine and massacred the whole male population; two soldiers only, who happened to be in the woods, escaped, to bear the tidings to New Orleans. The colonies on the Yazoo and on the Washita suffered the same fate; more than 200 were killed; 92 women and 155 children were taken prisoners.

This massaere and consequent war was disastrous in the ex- treme. The province had been in the most prosperous condition. The company had controlled it for 11 years, and raised it from a few hundred idle, indolent and improvident settlers around the Bay of Mobile, and along the coast west of that place, to a flourish- ing colony of several thousand souls, many of whom were industrions, enterprising and productive citizens. But now New Orleans and the other settlements presented for a time a scene of 2

HISTORY OF IOWA.

general commotion and consternation. They speedily recovered themselves, however, and at once took measures to completely crush the Indians, and prevent future trouble of the kind. This, however, was a difficult task, and required three years of constant war. The result was complete vietory for the French. The Nat- chez were never more known as a tribe, the scattered remnants seeking an asylum among the Chiekasaws and other tribes hostile to the French. Yet no tribe has left so prond a memorial of their courage, their independent spirit, and their contempt of death in defense of their rights and liberties. The city of Natehez is their monument, standing upon the field of their glory In refinement and intelligence, they were equal, if not superior, to any other tribe north of Mexico. In courage and stratagem they were in- ferior to none.

To the great joy of the whole province, a partial and temporary peace now succeeded. But the company had been involved in enormous expenses in this war. Their trade with the Indians, too, was diminished and less profitable. The state of things following upon the disasters consequent upon Law's failure, alarmed the directory, who, believing that they were not secure from similar disasters in future, determined to surrender their charter into the hands of the crown, and abandon the further prosecution of their seheme. Their petition was readily granted, and April 10, 1732, the king issued his proclamation, deelaring the province of Louisi- ana free to all his subjeets, with equal privileges as to trade and commerce.

During the 15 years from 1717 to 1732 the province had increased in population from 700 to 5,000, and the improvement in character and prosperity had been equally marked. Settlements had sprung up farther inland. The Illinois and Wabash countries, comprising all the settlements on the Upper Mississippi, from "Fort Chartres" and Kaskaskia eastward to the Wabash, and south of Lake Michigan, contained many flourishing settlements devoted to agriculture and the Indian trade.

From 1732 till 1764, the end of French dominion in Louisiana, the province was under royal governors. M. Perrier held this office for two years, and in 1734 Bienville, who had served before, and had been successful in his treatment of the Indians, was again commissioned governor and commandant-general of Louisiana. Bienville, though old, still thirsted for military fame, and desired to chastise the Indians who had sympathized with the Natchez. He

HISTORY OF IOWA.

demanded from the Chickasaws the surrender of the Natchez refu- gees. This being refused, he determined to punish the Chickasaws. Then ensued several years of war, with here and there a peaceful interval. At last peace was established, on terms unfavorable to Bienville and the French. Bienville, who for 40 years, short intervals excepted, had ably managed Louisiana, was recalled in the spring of 1740. IIis publie career ended under a cloud of eensure, and the disapprobation of his sovereign. The Marquis de Vaudreuil succeeded Bienville as governor. During the latter's adminstration, in spite of the continual Indian wars, the province had gradually increased in wealth and population. About this time cotton, the fig-tree, the orange-tree, and other tropical products were introduced into the provinec.

For the 10 years from 1741 to 1751 the settlements were com- paratively free from Indian hostilities. Relieved from danger and apprehension of Indian violence, agriculture continued to flourish, and commerce, freed from the shackles of monopolies, began rapidly to extend its influence and to multiply its objeets under the stim- ulus of individual enterprise. Sugar-cane was first cultivated in 1751.

In 1752, the Indians, instigated by the English, began to be troublesome again. De Vaudreuil made a partially successful ex- pedition against them, and the trouble was temporarily at an end. In 1753 De Vaudreuil was promoted to the government of Canada, and M. Kerleree succeeded him as governor of Lonisiana. The following year witnessed the beginning of a long war between France and England for the possession of the Mississippi Valley. This contest was waged for eight years with varied success, until finally the tide of war set in favor of Great Britain, and France was compelled at length to surrender first one, and then another of her military positions in New France; and at last, driven by stern necessity, the king sought peace at the expense of a treaty which confirmed to Great Britain the whole of Canada and the eastern half of Louisiana. Although Louisiana was thus concerned in this war, her remote situation seeured her from horrors of actual war, and she continued to prosper. She suffered, however, from another flood of irredeemable paper money.

Hostilities between the great powers ceased in 1762, and a treaty of peace was ratified the following year, according to which France ceded all her territory cast of the Mississippi to Great Britain.

HISTORY OF IOWA.

In the meantime she had made a secret treaty with Spain, ced- ing all the residue of Louisiana, that is, all west of the Mississippi, to that power. So that from this time the valley of the Mississip- pi was virtually divided between the two great European powers of Great Britain and Spain. The dominion of the former was des- tined to be of short duration, and to be superseded by a new power heretofore unknown, a power which was ultimately to swallow up the dominion of Spain also. This new power was to be the United States of America, the land of freedom and the rights of man, the bulwark of human liberty and the asylum for the oppressed.

The boundaries of Western, or Spanish, Louisiana, after the dis- memberment, comprised. as we have already stated, all that vast unknown region west of the Mississippi River, from its sonrees to the Gulf of Mexico, and extending westward to the extreme sources of all its great western tributaries among the Rocky Moun- tains. It ineluded also the island of New Orleans east of the Mis- sissippi, and south of the bayou Iberville. The French inhabitants were so loth to be brought under Spanish rule, and manifested so much dissatisfaction, that his Catholie majesty did not insist on actual possession until two years after the cession. Even then, the prospect for disturbance was so alarming that Don Ulloa, the Span- ish governor, deemed it best to withdraw to Cuba. Not until 1769, when a formidable army arrived from Spain, was the prov- inee formally occupied by the Spanish authorities, and the French flag lowered at New Orleans. Thus was Louisiana forever lost to France. During the 70 years of colonial dependence on France, it had slowly angmented its population, from a few desti- tute fishermen and hunters to a flourishing colony of 13,540 souls. The exports at this time were valued at $250,000 annually.

The first act of Don O'Reilly, the new governor, was to order a complete census of the city of New Orleans. This showed an ag- gregate of 3,190 sonls. The total number of houses was 468. The population at this same time of eastern Louisiana, now called, under British rule, West Florida, was about 1,500.

Up to this date but few settlements had been made on the west bank of the Mississippi above the month of the Ohio. The most important of these was St. Louis, begun in 1764.

O'Reilly ruled with a despotie hand, and began by punishing some of the prominent citizens for the discontent they had mani- fested. Five were shot, others were imprisoned. He then intro- duced Spanish courts, laws, language and customs. Though his

HISTORY OF IOWA.

government was severe, it was on the whole salutary for the peo- ple. Confidence once restored, immigrants began to flock in in large numbers from Spain. O'Reilly was recalled after one year, however, and was succeeded by Don Antonio Maria Bucarelly as Captain-General, but the administration was supervised by Unza- ga, Captain-General of Cuba, who was really an intermediate be- tween the crown and the king's officers in Louisiana. Under his mild and judicious rule Louisiana flourished and grew rapidly. St. Louis, at the end of his administration, was already an important town, with a population of 800.

U'nzaga was succeeded Jan. 1, 1777, by Don Bernard de Galvez. This was at the time when the colonies were making their great struggle for independence. As a Spaniard, De Galvez had no pre- dilection for English rule, and his sympathies were enlisted for the colonies. The United States procured many military supplies through their agent in New Orleans. In fact, Spain and France recognized the independence of the United States, and joined in actual war with Great Britain. De Galvez, now General Galvez, in 1779 commenced by attacking the English posts in West Florida. In this he was successful, and before the end of the war, all of West Florida was in possession of the Spanish.

During these Spanish successes in Florida, an attempt was made by the British commandant at Michilimackinac to invade Louisiana from the north, and he marched against St. Louis with 140 troops and 1.400 Indians. They encamped within a few miles of St. Louis, and began a regular Indian investment of the place, which had been temporarily fortified. During the siege the inhabitants sent a special request to Col. Clark, then commanding at Kaskaskia, to come to their relief. Hle immediately marched to the Mississippi, a few miles below St. Louis. He remained here till the 6th of May (this was in 1780), when the grand Indian attack was made. Clark crossed the river, and marched up to the town to take part in the engagement. The sight of the "Long-knives," as the Amer- icans were called, cansed the savages to abandon the attack and seek safety in flight. They reproached the British commandant with duplicity in having assured them that he would march them to fight the Spaniards only, whereas now they were brought against the Spaniards and the Americans. They soon afterward abandoned the British standard, and returned to their towns. Such was the invasion of Upper Louisiana in 1780 from the north.

HISTORY OF IOWA.

By the peace of 1783 all of East and West Florida were confirmed to Spain, and thus terminated the last vestige of British power npon the Lower Mississippi, after an occupaney of 19 years.

Relieved from the danger and privations of active warfare, the conntry began to prosper once more. Immigration onee more set in. In the spring of 1785 a complete census was taken by order of Governor Galvez, which showed the population of Lonisiana to be 33,000, exelusive of Indians.

In the summer following Galvez was promoted Captain-general of Cuba, and he left Don Estevan Miro as temporary governor nutil some one should be regularly appointed by the king.

In this year an attempt was made by the Catholic anthorities to introduce the inquisition in Lonisiana, and a priest in New Orleans was appointed "Commissary of the Holy Office" in that eity. Gov- ernor Miro, instrueted by the king, forbade him to exercise the duties of his office. The reverend father, deeming it his duty to obey his spiritual rather than his temporal master, was then sum- marily seized at night, conveyed safely on board a vessel about to - sail for Spain, and before daylight the next morning he was on his way to Enrope. This was the first and the only attempt to establish the inquisition in Lonisiana. The following year, 1786, Miro was confirmed as Governor by the king. Under his wise administration the province continued to enjoy a high degree of prosperity.

It was about this time that the Spanish began to feel the en- croachments of the United States. A portion of eastern Louisiana was claimed by the State of Georgia, as well as the Spanish. Then, too, the trade of the Mississippi was subjected to various duties and annoyances by the Spaniards. For two or three years the Spaniards pursued a conciliatory course with regard to the Mississippi. They then began to vigorously enforce the revenne laws, and were only checked by a threatened invasion from Kentucky. From 1788 on, the Spanish government continually sehemed to extend its posses- sions, and to hold its own against the rapidly growing United States.

In the year 1792 Governor Miro was promoted to the Mexican provinces, and succeeded in Louisiana by Baron de Carondelet. In 1793-'4 the French minister to the United States (France and Spain being at war) endeavored to aronse the West, and provoke a hostile attack on Louisiana. This attempt failed, and the minister, Genet, was recalled, at the request of the Federal government.

To conciliate the feelings of the Western people, Carondelet re- laxed the restrictions upon the the river trade, and peace and har-

HISTORY OF IOWA.

mony ensned. The Spaniards continued to intrigue, however, with the Westerners, with a view to winning them over from the United States to Spain, and till 1795 were thus engaged. In thiss year all difficulties were settled by a formal treaty, known as the " Treaty of Madrid." This provided for the trade of the Missis- sippi, and fixed definite boundaries between the United States and Louisiana. It turned out, however, that this treaty was only a measure of policy with Spain, and she still coveted the West. The fixing of the boundaries by survey and the surrender of certain posts, were delayed in such a way that the bad faith of the Span- iards became apparent to all. Troublesome negotiations and threats of war followed, and not until the middle of 1798 were the provisions of the treaty actually carried ont.

In 1797 Gayos de Lemos became governor-general of Lonisi- ana. In the following year Daniel Clarke was received at New Orleans as American consnl, though not regularly appointed The first regnlar appointment was that of Evan Jones.

Gayoso died in 1799, and was succeeded by Don Maria Vidal. The province continued prosperous, and in particular Upper Lou- isiana, the population of which was now over 6,000.

It did not require the spirit of prophecy to predict the speedy termination of Spanish power on the Mississippi. The rapid ex- tension of the American settlements, the increasing trade from the Western States, and above all, the rapid immigration from the States, thoroughly alarmed the Spanish king. Rumors reached Lonisiana to the effect that the province had been or was seen to be ceded to France, and the arbitrary acts of the Spanish gov- ernor again irritated the Western people.

France had never been satisfied with the cession of Louisiana to Spain in 1762. This had been done in a time of weakness. Now France, under the guiding genius of Napoleon Bonaparte, was the greatest nation in Europe, and her emperor had resolved to secure Louisiana to France once more. This was effected in a treaty made Oct. 1, 1800, but which was kept secret for a long time.

Ever since the alliance between France and Spain, it had been strongly suspected by the United States Government that France intended to obtain the retrocession of Louisiana, perhaps with the addition of Florida, also. Our ministers at London, Paris and Madrid were therefore specially instructed to defeat this cession; but this cession had been already made by the secret treaty, Oct.

HISTORY OF IOWA.

1, 1800, to take effect within six months after the complete exe- cution of another treaty, concerning the then republic of Tuscany.

Even for Spain to command the mouth of the Mississippi, thus holding at mercy the trade of the Western country, now in so rapid progress of settlement, was a very uncomfortable thing. Out of this circumstance had heretofore grown intrigues, on the part of some of the leading politicians of Kentucky, to break the union with the States east of the mountains, and to enter into relations more or less intimate with Spain. Should an enterprising nation like the French-for which such partialities had been felt,-obtain the key of the Western waters, who could tell what might happen? This state of things, wrote Jefferson to Livingston, our minister at Paris, "completely reverses all the political relations of the United States, and will form a new epoch in our political course.

" We have ever looked to France as our natural friend-one with whom we could never have an occasion of difference; but there is one spot on the globe the possessor of which is our natural and habitual enemy: that spot is New Orleans. France, placing her- self in that door, assumes to us the attitude of defiance. The day that France takes possession seals the union of two nations, who, in conjunction, can maintain exclusive possession of the ocean. From that moment we must marry ourselves to the British fleet and nation; we must turn all our attention to a maritime force, and make the first cannon fired in Europe the signal for tearing up any settlement France may have made."

Much was added to the same effect, as reasons why the French government should consent to the transfer of Louisiana to the United States,-suggestions which Livingston was instructed to make in a way not to give offense.

Livingston, though he labored under a good deal of embarrass- ment at first in having no authority to offer any particular sum, opened a negotiation for the purchase of New Orleans and the ad- jacent tracts on the Mississippi. Finding that nobody had any special influence with Bonaparte, or pretended to entertain any opinions different from his, he had managed to bring the matter directly to Bonaparte's personal notice, without the intervention of any minister. By way of additional motive to sell, he pressed the claims of American citizens, recognized by the recent con- vention, for supplies furnished to France, but upon which nothing had yet been paid.

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History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 3

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co. Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280