History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 4

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

USA > Iowa > Scott County > History of Scott County, Iowa > Part 4

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HISTORY OF IOWA.

There seemed, however, to be little prospect of success till the application began to be seconded by the evident approach of a new European war. That made a great difference; and shortly before Monroe's arrival at Paris, Livingston was requested by Talleyrand to make an offer for the whole of Louisiana. That was an extent of purchase which had not been contemplated either by Living- ston or by the administration which he represented. It had been supposed that the cession by Spain to France either included, or would be made to include, the Floridas as well as Louisiana; and the purchase contemplated by the joint instructions to Livingston and Monroe was that of the Floridas, or the western part of them, with the Island of Orleans. The highest amount authorized to be offered was 50,000,000 livres, or about $10,000,000 Should France obstinately refuse to sell, the ministers were anthorized to enter into negotiations with Great Britain, with the view of pre- venting France from taking possession of Louisiana, and of ulti- mately securing it to the United States. Bonaparte presently suggested, as the price of Louisiana, 100,000.000 livres in cash or stocks of the United States, and the payment out of the American treasury of all claims by American merchants. This offer was made through Marbois, the head of the French treasury, instead of Talleyrand, who was suspected by Bonaparte of having merce- nary motives in this and other affairs.

Livingston and Monroe, after consulting together, offered 50,- 000,000 livres, minus the American claims. Marbois finally offered to take 60,000,000 livres, the United States to pay in addi- tion American claims not to exceed 20,000,000 livres; and on this basis the treaty was finally concluded. This treaty, after setting forth the title of France as acquired from Spain, transferred that title to the United States, with a proviso that the inhabitants should be secure in their liberty, property and religion, and should be admitted as soon as possible, according to the principles of the Federal Constitution, to the enjoyment of all the rights of citizens of the United States. The ships of France and Spain laden with the produce of those countries or their colonies, were, during the next 12 years to be admitted at the port of New Orleans on the saine terms as American vessels, and French ships ever after- ward on the footing of the most favored nation. The payment of the 60,000,000 livres was to be made in six per cent. stock of the United States to the amount of $11,250,000, to be redeemable after 15 years in annual installments of not less than $3,000,000.

HISTORY OF IOWA.

Claims of citizens of the United States on France were to be paid at the American treasury to the amount of $3,750.000, these claims to be adjudicated by a joint commission in France.

The news of this arrangement was received with great exulta- tion by the president and his cabinet. The assumption of power by the ministers in bargaining for the whole of Louisiana was cor- dially approved. At the same time Jefferson felt himself in an awkward predicament, for he had always insisted upon a strict construction of the constitution, and such strict construction did not permit the United States to acquire territory by purchase. Jef- ferson privately admitted this diffienlty, and proposed to get over it by amending the constitution. As the treaty required a mutual exchange of ratifieations within six months, his plan was that Con- gress should go on, notwithstanding its want of power, and trust to a confirmation of their aet under an amendment to be subse- quently made. To hasten the matter, he issued a proclamation calling Congress together; but as the elections were not yet com- pleted, the date fixed just preceded the expiration of the six months. When Congress assembled, the treaty and conventions with France were immediately laid before the Senate. After two days' discus- sion their ratification was advised by that body, of which a strong majority were in politieal sympathy with the administration. Nothing was ever said about any amendment of the constitution to sanetion this proceeding. The ratifications were immediately exchanged, the bargain was completed, and this vast territory from which Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa and other great States have been formed, was a part of the domain of the United States.

This peaceful acquisition of Louisiana for so trifling a sum, secur- ing to the rising settlements on the Western waters an uninter- rupted river communication with the sea, the fear of losing which had been heretofore the occasion of so many jealousies and such serious embarrassments, was celebrated at Washington by a publie dinner, given by the administration members of Congress to the president, vice-president and heads of departments, and by simi- lar festivals among the Republicans in different parts of the Union. This peaceful annexation so characteristic of Jefferson's policy, was exultingly contrasted with the violent method of seizing New Orleans by force, recommended by the Federalists. The Federal- ists, however, were prompt to reply that the sum paid for Louisi- ana was just so much money thrown away, since Bonaparte sold what he could not keep, and what the breach of the Spanish treaty

HISTORY OF IOWA.

as to the right of deposit, and other claims on that nation for spo- liations on our commerce, would well have justified the United States in seizing without any payment at all. It was, they averred, no policy of Jefferson's, but the war in Europe, that had brought about the cession. The idea of obtaining the whole traet west of the Mississippi was, in fact, altogether too vast for Jefferson. Bon- aparte had forced it upon him. Such an acquisition of territory seemed, indeed, to many, and Jefferson himself had serious doubts on the subject, to tend directly to the dissolution of the Union. The settlers west of the mountains had already more than once threatened to separate themselves from their Atlantic brethren, and to form an independent republic. Such threats, which had been very rife in Kentucky, and even in Pennsylvania, during the Whisky Insurrection, had made a deep impression on Jefferson's mind. The Federalists foretold, and he feared, that the re- moval of all external pressure on the side of the Mississippi would precipitate this danger, "an apprehension," says Hildreth, " which time has completely falsified, the crack having been proved to run in quite a different direction." Another objection, seriously felt by many, and especially by the New England Federalists, was, that the throwing open to emigration of such new and vast terri- tories, tended to increase an evil already sufficiently felt, -the strip- ping of the old States of their inhabitants, and the dwarfing them in political importance.

Nor were these considerations without their weight in the ar- rangements adopted for the newly acquired territory. By an act originating in the Senate, that territory was divided into two provinces by a line drawn along the thirty-third parallel of north latitude. The province south of this parallel, named the Territory of Orleans, already possessed a population of 50,000 persons, of whom more than half were slaves. Within the last 10 years the cultivation of the sugar-eane had been successfully introduced in part by refugee planters from St. Domingo, and that together with cotton. had already superseded the production of indigo, formerly the chief staple. So luerative were these new branches of indus- try-the decreased product of St. Domingo making an opening in the sugar market, and cotton, under the increased de- mand for it by the English manufacturers, bringing to the pro- ducer 25 cents per pound-that the chief planters enjoyed incomes hardly known to landed proprietors anywhere else north of the Gulf of Mexico. Of the white inhabitants the greater part

HISTORY OF IOWA.

were French Creoles, descendants of the original French colonists, with an admixture, however, of French, Spanish, and British im- migrants. Under France the colonists had possessed hardly any political power; under Spain, none at all. With a cautious imita- tion of these models, which in Federalists would have been de- nounced as exceedingly anti-republican, the president was author- ized not only to appoint the governor and secretary of the new Territory, but annually to nominate the 13 members who were to compose the Legislative council. This provision, though strongly objected to and struck out by the House as contrary to democratic principles, was reinstated by the Senate, and on the report of a committee of conference, was finally agreed to.

The laws of Louisiana down to the period of the cession to Spain, has been like those of Canada, the custom of Paris and the royal ordinances of France. The Spanish governor on taking possession, among other very arbitrary aets, had issued a procla- mation substituting the Spanish code, and such remained the laws of the colony when it passed into the hands of the United States. This Spanish code, so far as it was not repugnant to the Constitu- tion and laws of the United States, was continned in force, subject to such alterations as the new Territorial Legislature might make.

All that region west of the Mississippi and north of the Terri- tory of Orleans, was constituted by the same act as the District of Louisiana. It includes one little village on the Arkansas, and several on or near the Mississippi, the principal of which was St. Louis. The white population of this region, embracing the pres- ent States of Arkansas, Missouri and Iowa, had been somewhat augmented of late by immigrants from the old French villages on the other side of the Mississippi; and by Anglo-American advent- urers, who already outnumbered the French inhabitants. But the increase of this population, which did not exceed three or four thousand, was not considered desirable. It was proposed to re- serve this region for the Indians; and the president was anthor- ized to propose to the tribes east of the Mississippi an exchange of lands, and a migration on their part across the river-a policy since extensively carried out. Meanwhile the jurisdiction over the few white inhabitants, and nominally over the whole district, was annexed to the Territory of Indiana, thus made to include the whole region north of the Ohio River and the thirty-third degree of north latitude, and west of the State of Ohio.

HISTORY OF IOWA.

DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA.

The District of Louisiana was annexed to Indiana for one year, and then, in 1805, was erected into a separate Territory of the second class, the power of legislation being vested in the governor and judges. A section of this act, by continuing in force until altered or repealed by the Legislature, all existing laws and regula- tions gave a tacit confirmation of the system of slavery already established in the settlements on the Arkansas and Missouri. The first military commandant and civil governor of the "District of Louisiana" was Major Amos Stoddard, an intelligent and highly mer- itorious officer of the United States army, and author of a valuable work on the early history and resources of Louisiana. His head- quarters were at St. Louis, the capital of Upper Louisiana. The District of Lonisiana already contained the germs of two independ- ent States on the west side of the Mississippi, comprised in the few detached settlements upon the Arkansas River and upon the west side of the Upper Mississippi, south of the Missouri River The remainder of this immense district was an unknown savage wilderness of forests and prairies, traversed by a few roving bands of Indians, and explored only by a few French traders. The first authentic American explorations were those conducted by Lewis and Clark, 1804-'5, to the sources of the Missouri, and thence to the Pacific Ocean by the Columbia River. Next were those conducted by Lieut. Pike, in 1806-'7, for the explorations of the regions near the sources of the Arkansas and Red Rivers. The principal object of all these explorations was to establish friendly relations with the Indians; thus preparing the way for the subsequent sale and relinquishment of lands in advance of the adventurous pioneer.

In the year 1805 this District of Louisiana was erected into the

TERRITORY OF LOUISIANA,

with the first grade of Territorial government, administered by a governor and Territorial judges. The first governor was Gen. James Wilkinson, who held the office until the close of the year 1806, when he was succeeded by Colonel Meriwether Lewis. Under his administration, assisted by the Territorial judges. the Territory of Louisiana remained a dependence of the United States until the year 1812, when the State of Louisiana was admitted into the Union. During this period the town and post of St. Louis con- tinued to be the seat of the Territorial government. The Territory

HISTORY OF IOWA.

was divided into six judicial districts or large connties,-St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, New Madrid, and Arkansas.

Immigration continually augmented the population of the Terri- tory. In 1810 the population was 21,000. Of this number 1,500 were within the limits of the present State of Arkansas: the remainder were comprised chiefly within the confines of the present State of Missouri.

In 1812 the Territory of Orleans assumed the ranks of a State, and as it adopted the name of the "State of Louisiana," it was deemed expedient to change the name of the Territory of Louisiana. An act of Congress passed June 4, 1812, provided for the organi- zation of a representative grade of Territorial government upon the west side of the Mississippi, including all the settlements north of the western portion of the present State of Louisiana. This territory was known and designated as the

MISSOURI TERRITORY,

and extended from latitude 33° to 41º north. Its remote western limit was the Indian and Mexican Territories, in the remote West, 500 miles beyond the Mississippi. St. Louis was the seat of government.

The first governor was Gen. William Clarke; the first Territorial assembly consisted of a Legislative Council, composed of nine members, appointed by the president, and a House of Representa- tives, elected by the people, in the ratio of one to every 500 free white males. The first delegate to Congress was Edward Hemp- stead.

Population began to augment faster, but not till 1815 did St. Louis lose its French population, aspect or usages. By this time, however, the language, manners, customs, laws and usages of the American people were rapidly supplanting those of the French in- habitants. By 1817 the Territorial jurisdiction had been extended over 20 large counties, including 60,000 inhabitants. This number of inhabitants being sufficient to entitle the Territory to an independent State government the General Assembly made appli- cation to Congress for anthor.ty to form a State constitution, preparatory to admission into the Federal Union. This applica- tion raised one of the most alarming political storms ever witnessed in the United States The " Missouri Question," as it was called,

HISTORY OF IOWA.

continued to agitate the Union from one extreme to the other, until many experienced statesmen were apprehensive that even a dissolution of the Union might result from the zeal of the enemies of slavery, pitted against the persistent defense of its friends.

The opponents of slavery objected to the legal extension of the institution beyond the limits of the original slaveholding States of the Union, and required the Federal Government to restrict its ex- tension west of the Mississippi as had been done north of the Ohio. They zealously and perseveringly urged that the new States, by their constitutions, should exclude slavery. The capitol of the United States was the arena where the contending parties met in fierce debate. The halls of Congress continued to be agitated for two years, while the angry conflict of opposing prin- ziples held the fate of Missouri in suspense, and for a time with- held from her the privilege of State government.

At length the slavery party triumphed, and Missouri was en- rolled among the slave States Ang. 10, 1821. It was provided, however, that slavery should be allowed no farther north or west, but only south of the parallel of 36 ° 30' (the southern boundary of Missouri).

Preparatory to the assumption of State government, the limits of the Missouri Territory were restricted on the south by the parallel of 36 ° 30', and the territory south of that line, between Missouri and Louisiana, was organized into the second grade of Territorial government. Col. James Miller, a meritorious and distinguished officer of the Northwestern army, was appointed first governor. This Territory was known and designated as the

ARKANSAS TERRITORY.

and at the period of its organization contained an aggregate of nearly 14,000 inhabitants. It extended north and south from 33 º to 36 ° 30', and east and west from the Mississippi indefinitely to the Mexican territories at least 550 miles. The post of Arkansas was made the seat of the new government.

At this time Arkansas was considered to be on the extreme south- western border of civilization, and consequently immigration was slow. In 1834 began a great western movement, however, and Arkansas received its share. By the census of 1835 it had 58, 134 inhabitants, thus entitling it to admission as a State, according to the principles of the ordinance of 1787. Therefore the people made

HISTORY OF IOWA.

application to Congress for authority to establish a regular form of State government. This anthority wasgranted, and the convention to form a State Constitution met Jan. 1, 1836. The Constitution was approved by Congress, and on the 13th of June following Ar- kansas was admitted as an independent State-the 25th in point of time and order, in the U ited States.

IOWA TERRITORY.

The beautiful and fertile upland prairies and nnrivaled plains west of the Upper Mississippi, and north of the Des Moines River. had remained in the occupancy of the native tribes, which had gradually retired west of the great lakes, until they commenced their aggressions against the people of Illinois, under the fierce and vindictive Black Hawk, in 1829. After a disastrous war of nearly three years on the northern frontier of Illinois, Black Hawk and his allies, driven from the Wisconsin Territory, retired across the Mississippi, and sought safety and peace in what was then the re- mote West. On the banks of Iowa River, Sept., 1832, a treaty was concluded by which they relinquished nearly all the lands claimed by them. This cession contained not less than one-third of the present State of Iowa, and was subsequently known as the "Black Hawk Purchase." This ceded territory was speedily overrun by pioneers and exploring parties in search of choice lands, desirable sites for towns, for future locations. Permanent settlements were soon made, and thrived wonderfully.

In 1834, for the convenience of temporary government, the settlements north of the State of Missouri, and for 100 miles north of the Des Moines River, were created by Congress into the " Dis- trict of Iowa," and attached to the District of Wisconsin, subject to the jurisdiction of Michigan Territory. When the latter had assumed an independent State government, in 1836, the District of Wisconsin was erected into a separate government, known as the Wisconsin Territory exercising jurisdiction over the District of Iowa, then comprised in two large counties, designated as the counties of Des Moines and Dubuque. The aggregate population of these counties in 1836, was 10,531 persons. It was not long before the District of Iowa became noted throughout the West for its extraordinary beanty and fertility, and the great advantages which it afforded to agricultural enterprise. Another vast pur- chase of land was made, from the Sacs and Foxes, who were forced to withdraw farther west.

HISTORY OF IOWA.

Before the elose of 1838, the district had been subdivided into 16 counties, with an aggregate population of 22,860 souls. This same year the distriet was erected into an independent Territorial government, known as the "Territory of Iowa;" the first Terri- torial governor was Robert Lucas, formerly Governor of Ohio.

Io wa Territory, as first organized, comprised " all that region of country north of Missouri which lies west of the Mississippi River, and of a line drawn due north from the source of the Mississippi to the northern limit of the United States."

During the year 1839, emigration from New England and New York began to set strongly into the Iowa Territory. Population inereased in a wonderful manner. The census of 1840 showed the entire population to be 43,017 persons-all acquired in eight years. By 1844 it had inereased to 81,921 persons, and application was made for authority to form a State government; this was granted, and a constitution drawn up; but Congress insisted that upon be- coming a State, Iowa should consent to a restriction of her limits, in order to average the area of the Western States, which was re- fused by 2,000 majority at a popular election. In the be- ginning of 1846, the people, through their Legislature, acquieseed in the proposed restriction, and were authorized by Congress to form a new constitution. Iowa was then admitted as a State, the fourth State earved out of former Louisiana.

MINNESOTA TERRITORY

was organized in 1849, when it had a population of 4,857. In- 1857 a census showed 150,037. The people were authorized to form a State constitution, and this being approved by Congress, Minnesota was admitted into the Union May 11, 1858.

KANSAS TERRITORY.

This country was opened to emigrants in May, 1854, and elaims were taken with astonishing rapidity for the next few months. During this time there was no regular government, but rules were adopted and enforeed by the " squatters," a class of people who soon became famous. In this same year, Andrew H. Reeder was appointed governor, and a regular government was organized. Reeder was an anti-slavery man, and was soon removed by the in- fluonce of the slave-holders from Missouri, who at the first were a

HISTORY OF IOWA.

majority of the settlers. Wilson Shannon was appointed in his place. During Reeder's time two elections were held for a delegate to Congress, but both times the polls were held by armed men from Missouri, and illegal votes returned. A Congressional investigat- ing committee subsequently estimated that of the 2,871 votes cast at the first election, 1,729 were illegal; and that of the 6,218 votes at the second election, only 1,310 were legal, of which 791 were given for the anti-slavery candidates. The Legislature met and onsted the free-soilers chosen at the second election, giving their seats to the pro-slavery men originally returned. Both parties held conventions, and the contest grew to such a pitch of violence that several men were killed on each side, and the people of Law- renee began to arm for self-defense. Shannon was removed and John W. Geary, of Pennsylvania, was appointed in his place. Be- fore his arrival there was aetnal war. When he arrived at Lecomp- ton he endeavored to restore order. He called upon all armed bodies to disband. Many did so at onee, but 2,000 Missourians, in three regiments, with artillery, and under the command of a member of the Missouri Legislature, marched to attack Lawrence. They were met by Gov. Geary and his United States troops, who induced them to retire. In January, 1857, the Legislature met, but the leading members were immediately arrested. Being left with- out a quorum, it adjourned till June. Gov. Geary resigned and was sneceeded by Robert J. Walker, of Mississippi. During a rapid succession of fraudulent elections, Gov. Walker resigned, and J. W. Denver, of California, became governor. The constitu- tion previously adopted (known as the Lecompton constitution), which allowed slavery, was now twice rejected by the people by

10,000 majority. Gov. Denver then resigned and was sue- ceeded by Samuel Medary, of Ohio. A new convention was held, a new constitution framed, and this was ratified by 4,000 majority. The first State election under it was held Dec. 6, 1859, result- ing in the election of Chas. Robinson for governor. Thus Kansas ontlived her Territorial confliets unparalleled in history, and at last arrived safely, though considerably scarred, upon a firm State con- stitution.

NEBRASKA TERRITORY.

This Territory was organized in 1S54, by the celebrated Kansas- Nebraska act, but escaped the confliets of free-soilers and slavery- men which agitated Kansas. In the year 1854 the only inhabitants

HISTORY OF IOWA.

to speak of were Indians. The population in 1860 was 28,842, and this increased so rapidly that Feb. 9, 1867, Nebraska was admitted as a State.

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History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 4

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