USA > Louisiana > A history of Louisiana, revised edition > Part 12
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The revolution which broke out with such deplorable vio- lence in France was followed in the French colonies with even more bloody exhibitions. In St. Domingo the negroes,
* Gayarré, Spanish Domination.
t A few years later Pere Antoine returned and lived and worked in the city until 1829 He made himself so beloved by the people that Ins memory is still cherished by both Protestants and Catholes.
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not satisfied with the freedom granted them, resolved to rule supreme. A general massacre of the whites was plotted and carried out with revolting cruelty. Those who could escape fled to neighboring countries ; many came to Louisiana. Among the refugees were a company of French comedians. They opened a theatre in New Orleans, originating the regu- lar French dramatic performances which still continue in the city.
Miro was permitted to retire from Louisiana and return to Spain in 1791. He had endeared himself to the colonists by his kind manners and fine moral qualities and had done much to reconcile them with the Spanish Domination .*
Carondelet. 1792-1797 .- Francois Louis Hector Baron de Carondelet, like his predecessors, was a colonel in the royal army. He was a native of Flanders, and at the time of his appointment was governor of San Salvador in Guatemala. He is described as a short, plump gentle- man, somewhat choleric in disposi- tion, but not lacking in good nature.
As Miro had done, Carondelet tolerated the open disregard of the duties imposed upon the Mississippi trade, and New Orleans was per- mitted to stride forward to the com- BARON CARONDELET. mercial position which her geo- graphical situation warranted. Numbers of Philadelphia merchants established branch houses in the city, and Ameri- cans began to crowd in to fill the lucrative positions daily offering. But as before, whenever prosperity seemed most assured, events in Europe disturbed it.
* Miro had a census of the population taken in 1789, with the following result: Total, 31,433, showing a doubling of the population since 1769. The slaves and whites were about equally divided; the free colored amounted to 1100; the number of Acadians to 1587.
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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
News arrived that the French Republic had been pro- claimed, and Louis XVI beheaded; and with it came the declaration of war by Spain against France.
The Spanish reconstruction had never gone to the hearts of the Louisianians, they still were Frenchmen, had never ceased to' speak their own language, nor to long for an opportunity to return to their own nationality, and they had been French Republicans in spirit ever since Louis XV had thrown them off and abandoned them to the vengeance of O'Reilly. They saw now a chance for changing their government for one animated by the freedom and progressive spirit of the United States, but French in language and nationality. One hundred and fifty of them boldly signed a petition addressed to the new French Republic, praying to be placed under its protection. At the theatre in New Orleans, the new French patriotic hymn, the Marseillaise, was demanded from the orchestra, and in all drinking saloons stirring revolutionary songs were sung.
Carondelet had another paper signed, in which other colonists pledged themselves to the King of Spain, and to the present government of Louisiana. The orchestra at the theatre was forbidden to play martial or revolutionary music, and revolutionary songs were prohibited on the streets and in the drinking saloons, and six of the most violent partisans of the Republic were shipped away to Havana. The fortifica- tions of the city were strengthened and repaired ; the gov_ ernor himself going on horseback every morning regularly to superintend the work. Fort St. Charles was built imme- diately above the city, and another fort, St. Louis, immedi- ately below. In front of the principal streets was placed a strong battery, which commanded the river and crossed its fire with that of the forts. In the rear of the city were three other forts : Burgundy, St. Ferdinand and St. Joseph. They were smaller than those in front, and connected with a ditch forty feet wide and seven deep. With the earth taken out of the
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ditch, a parapet, three feet high had been made, protected by a palisade twelve feet high. The two batteries at English Turn were abandoned. A large fort (St. Philip) was built at Plaquemine Turn and a smaller one placed on the opposite side of the river. The militia was drilled and disciplined.
These measures had their effect on the colonists immedi- ately under the power of Spain, but the agitation outside continued -unabated. A society of French Republicans in Philadelphia circulated an address in Louisiana, calling upon their brethren, in the name of Liberty, Equality and
PLAN OF NEW ORLEANS in 1710, by Cipt"Putman of the British Army
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Fraternity, to strike a blow against the Spanish despotism which enslaved them and join the nations of the free ; prom- ising that down the waters of the Ohio would soon come abundant help of men and money. The French minister to the United States turned his efforts to getting up an expedi- tion composed of Frenchmen and Americans, which he pro-
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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
posed to lead himself into Louisiana. Profiting by the preju- dice against the Spaniards, he gathered a large band on the borders of Georgia and even gained a strong party of Indian warriors to join the movement. August de la Chaise, a na- tive Louisianian (grandson of the royal commissary of 1723), was sent to Kentucky to recruit invaders there, who were to descend to New Orleans by way of the Ohio and Missis- sippi.
The authorities of the United States, however, firmly in- terfered to prevent this violation of international treaty, and the governor of Georgia issued a proclamation against the proposed use of his territory. De la Chaise, disappointed in his hopes, dispersed his force of two thousand men and re- tired to France.
Treaty of Madrid. 1795 .- Finally the long pending negotiations between the United States and Spain drew to a close. Spain accepted the same boundary line that, we have seen, was agreed upon between His Britannic Majesty and the United States in the treaty of 1783. The free navi- gation of the Mississippi was again stipulated and permis- sion given to the people of the United States to use New Orleans for three years as a place of deposit for their produce and merchandise and to export the same free of all duty ; the term of three years to be extended at its expiration or another place of deposit designated on the island of Orleans.
Making of Sugar by Etienne de Bore .*- M. de Boré had settled on a plantation six miles above New Orleans, on the same side of the river, and, like most of the planters in Louisiana, had devoted himself to the cultivation of indigo. Hurricanes and overflows, however, had much diminished his fortune, and in addition an insect had appeared, which attack-
* Etienne de Boré came of distinguished Norman family. He was born in 1740 in the Illinois, but was taken at an early age to France. After the completion of his education he entered the Royal Mousquetaire or troops of the King's house- hold. Atter his marriage he returned to Louisiana and engaged in planting. M. de Bore was the grandfather of Louisiana's distinguished historian, Charles Gayarre.
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ing the indigo plant, soon left it nothing but a bare stem. Ruin stared him and the other planters in the face. The manufacture of sugar had been abandoned since 1766, as impossible in the climate, and only a few now planted cane, to be sold as a delicacy in the market or boiled into sugar or made into a kind of rum called tafia. Boré determined to risk what was left of his fortune by one more attempt at sugar making. His wife, and his friends also remonstrated with him. He nevertheless pur- chased seed cane, planted and got ready for grinding and boiling. On the day when the rolling was to begin a large number of neighbors and friends assembled in and about the sugar house, watch- ing with anxiety the success or failure of the experiment. ETIENNE DE BORE. " Would the syrup granu- late?" " Would it make sugar or not?" The moment came, The sugar boiler tested again and again. " It granu- lates !" he called out, " It granulates !" "It granulates !" the crowd in the sugar house repeated. The cry was caught up outside and flew from mouth to mouth to the city .*
Insurrection of Slaves .- But the sugar planters were then confronted by what seemed another and more horrible ruin. The news of the St. Domingo revolution had pene- trated to the large slave population of Louisiana. What had been accomplished there, it was thought, might be accom- plished here. A conspiracy was formed at Pointe Coupee on the plantation of Julian Poydras, one of the wealthiest planters of Louisiana, then traveling in the United States.
*Gayarre, Spanish Domination.
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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
The plot spread throughout the parish and a day was fixed for the general massacre of the whites. A disagreement as to the proper hour produced a quarrel among the ringleaders which led to the betrayal of the plot and their own arrest. The negroes rose to the rescue, but were repulsed, and the ringleaders were tried, condemned and hanged as a warning at various points on the river bank.
In 1795 another conflagration almost consumed New Or- leans, causing even greater financial loss than the previous one. Only two stores in the whole city escaped, but fortu- nately the new cathedral, just completed by Don Andres de Almonaster, was spared. In order the better to avoid such calamities in the future, Carondelet recommended that pre- miums be granted to those in New Orleans who should re- build with terraced or tiled instead of shingle roofs.
During the previous year, 1794, the first regular news- paper had made its appearance in the city. It was called Le Moniteur de la Louisiane.
Carondelet completed his extensive works in the city by digging the Canal Carondelet, which connected the city with Bayou St. John, giving access to boats from the lake. The convict labor and details of slaves contributed by the plant- ers were employed at it. As affording drainage for the city and bringing into it wood and small products from the lands across the lakes, the canal has more than justified the Baron's high expectation of it. In 1796 he established eighty lamps for the lighting of the city and gave it regular police protec- tion.
The revolution in France turned at this period a tide of emigration into Louisiana most acceptable to the Spanish authorities. It was composed of French royalists flying from the new Republic. Among the most conspicuous were the Marquis de Maison Rouge, the Baron de Bastrop and M. de Lassus de St. Vrain. They proposed plans for a large emigration of their countrymen and generous
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tracts of land were granted them on the banks of the Onachita. *
Appointed to a command in Quito, Carondelet left New Orleans in the autumn of 1797. He was succeeded by Gayoso de Lemos.
Gayoso de Lemos Governor. 1797-1799 .- De Lemos governed for two years.
As like his predecessors, Carondelet had also hoped to win the Western States from the Union, he had delayed the giving up of the forts Panmure and Walnut Hills, held by Spain within the boundaries of the United States. Now that all hopes of such a secession from the United States was ended by the firm allegiance of the Western people, Gayoso evacuated the territory.f General Wilkinson arrived with federal troops and took up his headquarters at Loftus' Height (Roche a Davion). Don Jose Vidal assumed com- mand of the Spanish fort at Natchez.
The three years fixed by the Treaty of Madrid elapsed and a royal order was issued, prohibiting New Orleans as a place of deposit and designating no other place in its stead. When this became known in the Western States, it caused the most intense indignation and an expedition against New Orleans was openly advocated. President Adams, obliged by popular opinion to make some demonstration, ordered three regiments of the regular army to concentrate on the Ohio till further orders. Twelve additional regiments were ordered by Congress to be raised and other preparations were made which seemed to indicate an immediate campaign against Louisiana.
In the midst of the excitement Gayoso died suddenly, and Don Francisco Bouligny, colonel of the regiment of Louisi- ana, assumed his office.
* These grants were made on certain conditions which were never complied with and a full title was never vested.
| By act of Congress, the land ceded was organized into the Territory of Mississippi.
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the peace of the Union and our connection with the other States. No protection, no allegiance." *
QUESTIONS.
Give an account of Miro's administration. Of the importance of - the Mississippi to the Middle States. Restrictive duties of the Span- ish authorities. Effect on the Western people. Inquisition in New Orleans. French Revolution. Carondelet's administration. Treaty of Madrid. Making of sagar. Administration of Gayoso. Casa Calvo. Salcedo. Last demand of Western people for free navigation of the Mississippi river.
FROM COLONY TO STATE.
CHAPTER XX.
THE THREE POWERS.
The first years of this century witnessed some very impor- tant events in the history of Louisiana. By these events the whole current of affairs was changed. The great territory that then bore the name of Louisiana was brought from under the Spanish domination and joined to the American Union. It must be noticed, however, that the interests of the Louis- ianians themselves were not at all consulted. Their country was simply a valuable piece of property ; two other nations, we shall see, sold it for as high a price as they could obtain, and in the end the Americans carried off the prize. It was a splendid bargain for the United States, and the inhabitants of the purchased territory soon found that under the free American Government a glorious future was opened before them.
* Quoted by Gayarre, from Marbois' History of Louisiana.
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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
Let us trace the history of these important events.
Napoleon's Bargain with Spain .- In the year 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte, who was then at the head of the French government with the title of First Consul, determined to induce Spain to give back Louisiana to France. It was his intention to establish once more the power of France in America, and to use Louisiana as a point from which he could attack the possessions of the English, with whom he was constantly at war.
When he proposed to the King of Spain that the province should be ceded back to France, His Catholic Majesty,* who had not found Louisiana a very profitable possession, and who feared that the grasping Americans might one day take it from him, listened very favorably to Napoleon's proposition. He finally declared that he would give up the province, if Napoleon would make over to the Duke of Parma, who belonged to the royal house of Spain, that part of Italy which was called the Duchy of Tuscany. Napoleon promised to comply with this condition, and October 1, 1800, a secret treaty was signed at St. Ildefonso, of which the third article was as follows: "His Catholic Majesty promises and binds himself " to give back to the French Republic, six months after the " conditions in regard to Louis, Duke of Parma, have been " executed, the colony of Louisiana, with the same boundaries " which it had when it was owned by France, and which it " should have according to the treaties made more recently " between Spain and other States."
Thus Spain thought she had placed between the Ameri- cans and her Mexican possessions a power friendly to her- self; if she had dreamed that Napoleon would in a few years sell the colony to her American rival, it would never have passed out of her hands.
For more than a year Napoleon kept his bargain with Spain a profound secret. His minister was the famous Tal-
* This was the official title of the King of Spain.
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leyrand, who was very skilful in concealing what he knew and in baffling all inquiries. Napoleon had very good reasons for pretending that France did not own Louisiana. England had a powerful fleet, which was always sailing along the English . Channel and watching the movements of French vessels. If it were known that Louisiana belonged to France, England might easily send this fleet across the Atlantic, seize the col- ony, and extend her dominion from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. If she made the attempt, Napoleon, who was then carrying on extensive wars in Europe, was not at that mo- ment able to prevent her.
Jefferson's Purchase .- In the meantime the Spanish governor, Salcedo, still remained in Louisiana, and his in- tendant, Morales, ventured to deny to the Western people the right of deposit at New Orleans. We saw in our last chap- ter how boldly the people of Kentucky protested against this action. If the American Government had refused to listen to their complaints, they would doubtless have attacked the Spaniards and tried to seize New Orleans. But Thomas Jefferson, who was then President of the United States, ap- preciated the grievances of which the Kentuckians com- plained, and resolved to do all that he could to remove them.
As soon as it was finally known that Louisiana had been ceded by Spain to France, he sent over James Monroe (after- wards President of the United States), to join Robert R. Livingston, United States Minister at Paris, and he instructed these two representatives to negotiate with Napoleon for the purchase of New Orleans and the right of way to the Gulf. But as Napoleon saw that it would not be in his power to hold Louisiana against the English, he very shrewdly deter- mined to sell the whole country to the United States. He would thus prevent England from seizing it; he would at the same time make friends of the Americans ; and he would himself obtain a handsome sum to carry on the war against the English. Accordingly, therefore, he opened negotiations
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`with the American agents to find out how much they would give, not for New Orleans alone, but for the whole of Louisi- ana. After long discussions with a French Commissioner named Barbe-Marbois, Monroe and Livingston agreed upon the sum of eighty million francs (about fifteen million dol- lars) as the price that America should pay. The treaty of sale was signed at Paris April 30, ISO3.
Napoleon was highly pleased with the result. "This ac- cession of territory," he said, " strengthens forever the power of the United States. I have given England a maritime rival which will sooner or later humble her pride." His predic- tion was fulfilled in the war of IS12-15, when the American vessels won many victories over the English.
In the United States, Jefferson's purchase was disapproved of by some people, but the joy of the Western States car- ried everything before it. The result was that in 1804 Jeffer- son was re-elected President.
Spain, very naturally, showed some indignation at Na- poleon's bold stroke, and maintained that he had agreed not to yield Louisiana to any other nation. But as Napoleon disregarded this promise, Jefferson refused to consider the Spanish protest. It was then feared that Spain would try to prevent the transfer of the colony ; but she afterwards with- drew her protest, " as a proof of her friendship for the United States."
Laussat in Louisiana .- We must now return to the events in Louisiana. On March 26, 1So3, M. Laussat, the Commissioner sent over by Napoleon to receive Louisiana from the Spaniards, arrived at New Orleans. As the treaty of sale with the United States was not signed till a month later, Laussat did not suspect that after he had taken posses- sion of the colony, he would be ordered to transfer it to another government.
Ile was received with proper honors by the Spanish gov- ernor, Salcedo, and soon after issued an address, in which he
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told the Louisianians that the transfer of their country to Spain in 1763 had beeen the act of a weak and corrupt gov- ernment, but that the great and magnanimous Napoleon, as soon as his victories had given him the power, had hastened to restore Louisiana to the care of France. Laussat did not know that at this very time Napoleon was bargaining to sell Louisiana to the United States at the highest possible price.
Laussat received two addresses in answer to his own. The first was from the planters of Louisiana; it was signed by Manuel Andry, Noel Peret, Foucher, and many others. They . expressed the joy they felt in becoming citizens of France ; but they declared that they had no cause to complain of their treatment at the hands of the Spanish governors, with the sin- gle exception of the cruel Irishman, O'Reilly. "Let the "Spaniards, they added, " have the undisturbed enjoyment " of all the property they own on this soil, and let us share " with them like brothers the blessings of our new position." The second address, signed by well known citizens of New Orleans, such as De Bore, Fortier, Labatut, and De Buys, expressed exactly the same sentiments. Thus the Louisi- anians, for the most part, were delighted to be transferred to France ; but many of them, says Marbois, feared that Na- poleon might set free all of the slaves in Louisiana, as he had done in St. Domingo, and that the terrible events which had taken place on that island might be repeated in their own country. This dread of the First Consul's policy was enough to lessen their joy in acknowledging the government of France.
Laussat, who had formed great plans for building roads and bridges in the colony, and otherwise increasing its pros- perity, soon began to hear rumors that Louisiana had been ceded to the American Government. Several months, how- ever, passed before orders finally reached him that he was to receive Louisiana from the Spanish governor, and then hold
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himself ready to transfer it to the young American Repub- lic.
France Takes Possession .- On the 30th of November, 1803, Laussat proceeded to the City Hall (the old Cabildo),
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CABILDO (SUPREME COURT BUILDING).
where he met Governor Salcedo and Casa Calvo, who had been appointed to transfer Louisiana to France. The three gentlemen solemnly took their seats in the council chamber. After the necessary documents had been read, the keys of the city were handed over to the representatives of France, and Casa Calvo announced that all Louisianians who did not wish to withdraw from the colony and live elsewhere under the Spanish rule were released from their oath of fidelity to His Catholic Majesty. The three representatives then walked out on the gallery facing the old Place d' Armes (now Jackson Square). In the centre of the square the flag of Spain was proudly waving. Since the arrival of O'Reilly,
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thirty-four years before, the people of Louisiana had lived under this banner. It now descended from its staff amid salutes of artillery and the flag of France rose in its place. Before many days had passed the French flag was to be re- placed by the " Stars and Stripes." As this fact was already known, the ceremony that had just taken place was not re- garded by the populace with any great enthusiasm, though with the fondness for display which has always distinguished New Orleans, an immense crowd had assembled to wit- ness it.
When the ceremony was over Laussat issued a proclama- tion to the people of Louisiana, which in beautiful and ap- propriate words told them of the new destiny that had been prepared for them by Napoleon's treaty with America. He told them that according to this treaty they would in a short time enjoy all the rights and privileges possessed by the citi- zens of the United States. He then prophesied that the Mis- sissippi would soon be covered with a thousand ships from all nations. " May a Louisianian and a Frenchman," he con- cluded, " never meet upon any spot of the earth without feeling tenderly drawn to each other, and without saluting each other with the title of brother ! "
The old Spanish council was abolished, and in its stead Laussat appointed a regular city government. Etienne de Boré, the rich and successful sugar planter, was chosen mayor, while the council was composed of the following distinguished citizens: Villeré, Jones, Fortier, Donaldson, Faurie, Allard, Tureaud, and Watkins. Derbigny was the secretary, and Labatut the treasurer. As Laussat had no troops to protect New Orleans when the Spanish garrison withdrew, a number of young Creoles and Americans formed themselves into a company and offered their services to guard the city. New Orleans was patrolled by these young men till the arrival of the United States Commissioners, who were to receive Louisiana for the American Government.
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