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361
CARONDELET'S PROPOSITIONS.
disposal. Moreover, should such persons as shall be in- strumental 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 Catholic Majesty, let their efforts be crowned with success, or terminate in disappoint ment.
"2º-Immediately after the declaration of indepen- dence, Fort Massac shall be 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, &c., together with a number of small-arms and ammunition, sufficient to equip the troops that it shall be necessary to raise. The whole to be transported at his expense to the already mentioned Fort Massac. His Catholic Majesty will fur- ther supply the sum of one hundred thousand dollars for the raising and maintaining of said troops, which sum shall also be conveyed to, and delivered at, Fort Massac.
"3º-The northern boundary of his Catholic Majesty's provinces of East and West Florida shall be designated by a line commencing on the Mississippi, at the mouth of the river Yazoo, extending due east to the river Con- federation or Tombigbee; provided, however, that all his Catholic Majesty's forts, posts or settlements on the Con- federation or Tombigbee, are included on the south of such a line; but should any of his Majesty's forts, posts or settlements fall to the north of said line, then the northern boundary of his Majesty's provinces of East and West Florida shall be designated by a line begin- ning at the same point on the Mississippi, and drawn in such a direction as to meet the river Confederation or
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362
CARONDELET'S PROPOSITIONS.
Tombigbee, six miles to the north of the most northern Spanish fort, post or settlement on the said river. All the lands to the north of that line shall be considered as constituting a part of the territory of the new govern- ment, saving that small tract of land at the Chickasaw Bluffs, on the eastern bank of the Mississippi, ceded to 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, Governor of Natchez, and Augliakabee, and some other Chickasaw chiefs; which tract of land his Majesty reserves for him- self. The eastern boundary of the Floridas shall be hereafter regulated.
"4º-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 necessary to reduce said Indian nations, extend its dominion over them, and compel them to submit themselves to its con- stitution and laws, his Majesty will heartily concur and cooperate 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 shall 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 it, but will, in the manner that shall hereafter be stipulated by treaty, defend and support it in preserving its inde- pendence.
"6°-The preceding proposals are the outlines of a provisional treaty, which his Excellency the Baron de Carondelet is desirous of entering into with the inhabit-
363
CARONDELET'S PROPOSITIONS.
ants of the Western country, the moment they shall be in a situation to treat for themselves. Should they not meet entirely with your approbation, and should you wish to make any alterations in, or additions, to them, I shall, on my return, if you think proper to communicate them to me, lay them before his Excellency, who is animated with a sincere and ardent desire to foster this promising and rising infant country, and at the same time promote and fortify the interests of his beneficent royal master, in securing, by a generous and disinterested conduct, the gratitude and affections of a just, sensible and enlightened people.
"The important and unexpected events that have taken place in Europe since the ratification of the treaty concluded on the 27th of October, 1795, between his Catholic Majesty and the United States of America, having convulsed the general system of politics in that quarter of the globe, and, wherever its influence is ex tended, causing a collision of interests between nations formerly living in the most perfect union and harmony, and directing the political views of some states towards objects the most remote from their former pursuits, but none being so completely unhinged and disjointed as the cabinet of Spain, it may be confidently asserted, without incurring the reproach of presumption, that his Catholic Majesty will not carry the above mentioned treaty into execution; nevertheless, the thorough knowledge I have of the disposition of the Spanish government justifies me in saying that, so far from its being his Majesty's wish to exclude the inhabitants of this Western country from the free navigation of the Mississippi, or withhold from them any of the benefits stipulated for them by the treaty, it is positively his intention, as soon as they shall put it in his power to treat with them, by declaring themselves independent of the Federal Government and
364
CARONDELET'S APPEAL TO WILKINSON.
establishing one of their own, to grant them privileges far more extensive, give them a decided preference over the Atlantic States in his commercial connections with them, and place them in a situation infinitely more ad- vantageous, in every point of view, than that in which they would find themselves, were the treaty to be carried into effect."
To back these tempting offers and to smoothe difficul- 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 coffee. 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 himself of his intercourse with Wilkinson, to ascertain the force, discipline, and temper of the army under that general, and to report thereon to Carondelet. 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 treaty, which has bound so closely together the .United States and England ; the army is devoted to their talented and brilliant commander ; it requires but firmness and reso- lution on your part to render the Western people free and happy. Can a man of your superior genius prefer a subordinate and contracted position as the commander of the small and insignificant army of the United States, to the glory of being the founder of an empire -- the liberator of so many millions of his countrymen-the Washington of the West ? Is not this splendid achieve- ment to be easily accomplished ? Have you not the con-
* Martin's History of Louisiana; vol. ii., p. 145.
365
FAILURE OF CARONDELET'S SCHEMES.
fidence of your fellow citizens, and principally of the Kentucky volunteers ? Would not the people, at the slightest movement on your part, hail you as the chief' of the new republic ? Would not your reputation alone raise you an army which France and Spain would enable you to pay ? The eyes of the world are fixed upon you ; be bold and prompt ; do not hesitate to grasp the golden opportunity of acquiring wealth, honors, and immortal fame. But should Spain be forced to execute the treaty of 1795, and surrender all the posts claimed by the United States, then the bright vision of independence for the Western people, and of the most exalted position and imperishable renown for yourself, must for ever vanish."
But all these allurements failed to produce their ex- pected effects. Time, Washington's administration, and a concourse of favorable circumstances, had consolidated the Union ; and Wilkinson and his associates, whatever might have been their secret aspirations, were too saga- cious not to see what almost insuperable obstacles existed between the conception and execution of such dangerous schemes. Therefore, on his return to New Orleans, Power made to his Spanish employer an unfavorable report on what he had observed. He remarked, in the words used by Judge Martin in his History of Louisiana, that whatever might have been, at any previous time, the disposition of the people of Kentucky, they were now perfectly satisfied with the General Government, and that their leading men, with a few exceptions, manifested an utter aversion to the hazardous experiments hereto- fore thought of-especially as their own Government had now obtained for them, by the late treaty, the principal object which they expected to attain by a separation from the Union.
In the meantime, Spain had concluded a treaty of
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366
WAR DECLARED AGAINST ENGLAND.
peace with France, and, on the 7th of October, 1796, had declared war against Great Britain, mentioning as one of her grievances, the late treaty which that power had made with the United States, and which was alleged to be a great infringement on the rights of the Spanish Crown. The attention of the Governor of Louisiana was called to the gathering of a considerable number of troops on the southern frontier of Canada-which cir- cumstance had given rise to the report that an invasion of Louisiana was contemplated. The Minister of the Catholic King near the United States communicated to the President his fears on the subject, and requested that in conformity with the late treaty and the law of nations, the United States, as neutrals, should take the necessary 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 1795, until the failure of his last attempt to detach the Western country from the Union should be fully ascertained, for in case of success, of course the treaty would have been annulled by the disruption of the American confederacy. Therefore, when the Spanish authorities heard of the approach of Andrew Ellicott, who had been appointed, under the treaty, commissioner for the United States, they had recourse to every artifice to postpone the exe- cution of its stipulations. Ellicott arrived at Natchez on the 24th of February, 1797, and proposed to Gayoso, who was the other commissioner on the part of Spain, that they should proceed immediately to the discharge of their respective duties. But Gayoso replied that the fort was not ready to be surrendered; that certain pre- liminaries could be settled at New Orleans only, where the American commissioner refused to go; that the stipu- lations of the treaty were not sufficiently explicit, and
367
GAYOSO AND ELLICOTT.
that doubts had risen in the Baron de Carondelet's mind as to their interpretation ; that it was questionable whether all the forts and edifices were to be delivered up in their integrity to the United States, or razed and abandoned, in conformity with formal treaties which Spain had made with the Chickasaws, who had ceded to her the lands at the Chickasaw Bluffs, Walnut Hills, and Tombigbee, on certain conditions that would be vio- lated, if the treaty of 1795 were interpreted in the manner favored by the American government; and that the ultimate orders of his Catholic Majesty, or of his minister plenipotentiary near the United States, should be waited for in a matter of so much importance. Not satisfied with putting forth these pretexts for procrasti- nation, Gayoso proceeded to strengthen the fortifications at Natchez, Walnut Hills, and the 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 demarca- tion, as provided for by the treaty, was indefinitely post- poned. It was alleged that," as the treaty of 1795 contained no guaranty of property to those who desired to retire beyond the American jurisdiction, it would be necessary to settle that point by a new treaty. At another time it was seriously urged, that a scrupulous observance of the treaty of Madrid could not be de- manded, because the United States had not acted in good faith towards Spain in conceding to Great Britain, by the treaty of London, November 19, 1794, the free navigation of the Mississippi, although this concession had been made nearly a year previous. These objections were not presented in a body, but were sprung up one after the other, and evidently to gain time. The course
* Monette's Valley of the Mississippi, vol. ii., p. 523.
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368
GAYOSO'S SUBTERFUGES.
pursued by the Spanish authorities gave rise to an excit ed correspondence between them and the American offi- cers; and the people of the district, who, being of Anglo- Saxon descent, and emigrants from the United States, had all their sympathies enlisted in favor of their coun- trymen, became highly incensed. On their showing some signs of resistance, two of them were arrested on the 9th of June, 1797, and confined within the Spanish fort. As this evinced on the part of Gayoso a determi- nation to enforce vigorously the authority of Spain, in a country which he ought already to have abandoned, the people flew to arms and drove the Governor to seek an asylum in the fort. Public meetings were held, violent speeches delivered, extreme measures contemplated, and Lieutenant Pope, who commanded the military escort of the commissioner, Andrew Ellicott, declared that he would for the future repel by force any attempt made to imprison those who claimed the privilege of citizens of the United States. He also notified the people of his inten- tions, and assured them of his protection and support against any arbitrary military force which might be brought to operate against them, or in any way to infringe their rights as American citizens.
" At this time," says Monette, who relates these events with great accuracy, and whose narration I can do no better than partly to borrow, "it was supposed that Gayoso might order reinforcements from other posts on the river, to aid in maintaining his authority. Lieutenant Pope had resolved to permit no such reinforcement, and called on the people to sustain him in repelling an attempt to reinforce the garrison in Fort Panmure.
"On the 14th of June, Governor Gayoso issued his proclamation, exhorting the people to a quiet and peaceable submission to the authority of his Catholic Majesty until the difficulties between the two govern-
369
EXCITEMENT IN THE NATCHEZ DISTRICT.
ments could be properly arranged. At the same time, he promised the utmost lenity, and a pardon to all who repented of their misdeeds, and, as an evidence of re- pentance, abstained from all acts calculated to disturb the public peace.
"The people, already highly irritated by delays and disappointed hopes, took great exceptions to the word ' repentance,' as highly offensive to free citizens of the United States. Things now assumed a serious aspect, and the opposition to Spanish authority had taken a regular form of rebellion. A number of respectable militia-companies were organized, and ready to take the field at the first notice, and open hostilities seemed inevi- table. Both parties were in a continual state of pre- paration to repel force by force. Gayoso made great efforts to reinforce his garrison, but without success, while the militia were drilling throughout the settlements. Confined to the walls of his fortress, and too weak for offensive operations, he interceded with the American commissioner to use his influence in calming the popular excitement. But Colonel Ellicott felt little sympathy for the unpleasant position which he had brought upon himself.
"In the meantime a public meeting had been announced to be held at Benjamin Bealk's, on the Nash- ville road, eight miles from Natchez. This meeting was assembled on the 20th of June, and was attended by many of the inhabitants. The subject of the existing difficulties was discussed, and the meeting dispersed after appointing a " Committee of Public Safety" consist- ing of seven prominent men, to represent the people thereafter in any negotiation with the Spanish authori- ties. No measures adopted by the Spanish Governor should have the force of law until the concurrence of this Committee should render it obligatory.
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370
THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
" Up to this time, the Spanish commandant, as well as the American, kept an active patrol continually on duty ; and during the greater portion of the time since the month of May, a heavy piece of ordnance in the Spanish fort had been brought to bear upon the Ameri- can commissioner's tent, which was in full view.
"On 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 the house of Captain Minor. To meet this appointment, Gayoso, in great trepidation, having left the fort by a circuitous route, made his way through thickets and cane brakes to the rear or north side of Minor's plantation, and thence through a corn field to the back of the house, and entered the parlor undiscovered. Such were the visible marks of anxiety in his person, that Colonel Ellicott says his feel- ings never were more excited than when he beheld the Governor. The humiliating state to which he was reduced by 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 Gayoso in their official capacity, for his recognition and approba- tion. He did not hesitate to recognize them as repre- sentatives of the people, and cheerfully acceded to their demand, that none of the people should be injured or prosecuted for the part they had taken in the late move- ments against the Spanish authority; also, that they should be exempt from serving in the Spanish militia ; unless in case of riots or Indian hostilities. The pro-
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371
GAYOSO'S CONCESSIONS.
ceedings of the public meeting, the recognition of the Committee by the Governor, and his acquiescence in their demands, had all tended greatly to quiet public apprehensions and to allay the popular excitement.
"Yet there were persons in the Committee whose fidelity to the United States was suspected by Colonel Ellicott; and one of them was particularly objectionable to him and Lieutenant Pope. In order to insure har- mony, he prevailed upon the Governor to dissolve the Committee, and to authorize the election of another, by proclamation-which should be permanent. A new Committee, consisting of nine members, was accordingly elected about the first of July, "permanent in its cha- racter," and created by virtue of the Spanish authority. The organization of this Committee was highly gratifying to Colonel Ellicott, who declared that this Committee was the finishing stroke to the Spanish authority and jurisdiction." And so it was; the concessions made by Gayoso were ratified by Carondelet, and a sort of truce ensued between the two adverse parties.
Leaving, for the present, matters as they stand under this compromise, I shall proceed to notice some facts which had occurred in the meanwhile, and which are to be briefly chronicled.
It appears by a despatch of the Intendant Rendon, dated on the 28th of April, 1795, that the expenses of the province had amounted in 1794 to $864,126, and that the custom-house revenue had not given more than $57,506.
On the 15th of June, he describes* the sad condition
* Manifiesta el triste estado á qne está reducida la provincia por falto de re-
cursos. El estado, (dice) á que los hurricanes y incendio han traido esta provincia y lo exhaustas de caudales que se hallan las Reales Cajas para subvenir á los indispensables gastos que me ocasionen las repetidas expediciones de fondos á que nos obligan las tentativas que la sedienta ambicion de nuestros enemigos for- man para apoderarse de estas posesiones y abrirse paso á Nueva-España : Los
372
INTENDANT RENDON'S DESPATCH.
to which the colony had been reduced by the want of capital, by the disasters produced by conflagration and the repeated occurrence of hurricanes, by the exhaustion 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 of the insatiable ambition 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 means of attending to numerous objects urgently requiring their immediate consideration, and prevented them from maintaining, in all their integrity, the authority of the Government and the honor of the arms of the King. "All that remains for me to do," said he, "is to repeat my most earnest entreaties that the necessary funds be sent to me as promptly as possible."
On the 30th of November, he informed his Govern- ment that a French privateer, called "La Parisienne," with six guns and a crew of forty-five men, commanded
diferentes puestos y fortificaciones que ha sido forzoso aumentar en oposicion á sus designios, una escuadra de galeras que defiende la navegacion del Rio, im- mensos dispendios que se hacen en las tribus Indias nuestras aliadas, y otras inumerables extraordinarias evocaciones que casi diaramente ocurren, habiendo- nos reducido á la mas deplorable indigencia por faltarnos ya todo medio para atender á tantos y tan urgentisimos objetos, y mantener con el honor debido la autoridad del Gobierno y de las armas del Rey. Solo me queda el recurso de reiterar á V. E. mis mas eficaces ruegos, á fin de que se sirva franquearme con la mayor brevedad los fondos necesarios, &c.
373
TAKING OF THE BALIZE BY THE FRENCH.
by Captain Alexander Bolchoz, had taken possession of the post of the Balize, at the mouth of the Mississippi, on the 13th of October preceding. The French occu- pied that post until the 21st, when, on hearing of the approach of Spanish forces from New Orleans, they retired after having destroyed everything they could. The French vessel had presented herself under the Spanish flag, and the chief pilot, named Juan Ronquillo, with sixteen men out of the twenty who were stationed at the Balize, having gone out to meet her, were made prisoners, and twenty of the French, well armed, availed themselves of the Spanish boat to go ashore, and easily overpowered the four men who had remained to guard the post.
In the same despatch, Rendon 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 30th of January, 1796, he stated the revenue of the custom-house in 1795 to have been $114,932-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 1793 and 1794.
In April, 1796, Don Francisco Rendon departed from New Orleans for the province of Zacatecas, of which he had been appointed Intendant, and his successor in Loui- siana was Don Juan Ventura Morales, who, on the 17th of July of the same year, informed his government of some changes which had been effected in the comptrol- ler's department (contaduria), and by which, on the resignation of Don Francisco Arroyo, Don Carlos Anas- tasio Gayarre, the grandson of the Contador Don Este-
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