USA > Louisiana > The history of Louisiana : from the earliest period, Volume II > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
Chabert and Reggio were the ordinary alcades for the year 1787.
The population of the district of Opelousas and Atakapas was heretofore supposed to be so incon- siderable, that it had been thought one commandant was sufficient for both. Don Nicholas Forstall, a re- gidor, was now appointed commandant of the for- VOL. II. 12
.
90
CHAPTER
[1787
mer, and the Chevalier de Clouet, who before presi- ded over both, was left in charge of the latter. On his departure, Forstall claimed the right, as he was leaving the cabildo on the king's service, to appoint a lieutenant, in proxy, to represent him in it; but that body refused to recognise such a right.
The four Irish priests from the seminary of Sala- manca, chosen by the bishop, according to the re- quest of the king, reached New-Orleans, and were sent to Baton Rouge, Natchez, and other parts of the territory conquered from Great Britain, during the last war.
Altho' no treaty had been entered into between the United States and the Catholic king, the latter had sent a minister to the former. This gentleman, Don Diego de Guardoqui, now formed a plan for encour- aging migration from the district of Kentucky and the western part of North Carolina, to the right bank of the Mississippi, between the settlements near the river Arkansas and those near the Missouri. George Morgan, of Pennsylvania, who offered himself as the leader of the emigrants, received the grant of a large tract ofland, on which he laid the foundation of a city, which he dignitied with the name of New Madrid. A company of infantry, under the orders of' Pierre Foucher, was sent from New-Orleans to build and garrison a fort near the intended site of the city.
At the same time, Don Diego admitted the propo- sition of the Baron de Steuben, a general officer, who, having served the United States with distinc- tion during the late war, had, together with other officers of rank, and a number of respectable citizens of the United States, solicited an extensive tract of country on the same bank of the Mississippi, for the,
-
91
THE FIFTHI.
1787]
purpose of establishing a military colony, chiefly composed of such persons as were lately in the army, and were left without employment, on its disband- inent. The cabinet of Madrid, however, did not think proper to encourage the formation of a colony, composed of such materials, in the Spanish domin- ions.
Morgan's plan had but a partial execution.
The foundation was now laid of a commercial in- tercourse, through the Mississippi, between the Unit- ed States and New-Orleans, which has been continu ed, with but little interruption, to this day, and has increased to an immense degree; and, to the future extent of which, the imagination can hardly contem- plate any limit. Hitherto, the boats of the western people, venturing on the Mississippi, were arrested by the first Spanish officer who met them; and con- confiscation ensued, in every case; all communica- tion between the citizens of the United States and the Spaniards, being strictly prohibited. Now and then, an emigrant, desirous of settling in the district of Natchez, by personal entreaty and the solicitations of his friends, obtained a tract of land, with permission to settle on it with his family, slaves, farming utensils, and furniture. He was not allowed to bring any thing to sell without paying an enormous duty. An unexpected incident changed the face of affairs, in this respect.
"The idea ofa regular trade was first conceived by general Wilkinson, who had served with distinction as an officer in the late war, and whose name is as conspicuous in the annals of the west, as any other. He had connected with it a scheme for the settlement of several thousand American families in that part of the present state of Louisiana, now known as the pa-
-
-
-
1
-
92
CHAPTER
[1787
rishes of East and West Feliciana, and that of - Washita, and on White river and other streams of the present territory of Arkansas. For these services to the Spanish government, he expected to obtain the privilege of introducing, yearly. a considerable quan- tity of tobacco into the Mexican market.
With a view to the execution of his plan, Wilkin- son descended the Mississippi, with an adventure of tobacco, flour, butter and bacon. He stopped at Natchez while his boat was floating down the stream to New-Orleans, the commandant at the former place having been induced to forbear seizing it, from an apprehension that such a step would be disapproved by Miro, who might be desirous of showing some in- dulgence to a general officer of a nation with whom his was at peace -- especially as the boat and its owner were proceeding to New-Orleans, where he could act towards them as he saw fit.
Wilkinson, having stopped at a plantation on the river, the boat reached the city before him. On its approaching the levee, a guard was immediately sent on board, and the revenue officers were about taking measures for its seizure, when a merchant, who was acquainted with Wilkinson, and had some influence with Miro, represented to him that the step Navarro was about to take might be attended with unpleasant consequences; that the people of Kentucky were al- ready much exasperated at the conduct of the Span- iards in seizing all the property of those who naviga- ted the Mississippi, and if this system was pursued, they would probably, in spite of congress, take means themselves to open the navigation of the river by force. Hints were, at the same time, thrown out, that the general was a very popular character among those who were capable of inflaming the whole of the
5
93
. THE FIFTH.
1787]
western people, and that, probably, his sending a boat before him, that it might be seized, was a scheme laid by the government of the United States, that he might, on his return, influence the minds of his coun- trymen; and, having brought them to the point he wished, induce them to choose him for their leader, and, spreading over the country, carry fire and deso- lation from one part of Louisiana to the other.
On this, Miro expressed his wish to Navarro that the guard might be removed. This was done; and Wilkinson's friend was permitted to take charge of the boat, and sell the cargo, without paying any duty.
On his first interview with Miro, Wilkinson, that he might not derogate from the character his friend had given him, by appearing concerned in so trifling an adventure as a boat-load of tobacco, flour, S.c. observed that the cargo belonged to several of his fellow citizens in Kentucky, who wished to avail themselves of his visit to New-Orleans to make a trial of the temper of the colonial government. On his return he could then inform the United States government of the steps taken under his eye; so that, in future, proper measures might be adopt- ed. IIe acknowledged with gratitude the attention and respect manifested towards himself, and the fa- vour shown to the merchant who had been permitted to take care of the boat; adding, he did not wish that the intendant should expose himselfto the anger of the court, by forbearing to seize the boat and car- go, if such were his instructions, and he had no au- thority to depart from them whencircumstances might require it.
Miro supposed, from this conversation, that Wil- kinson's object was to produce a rupture rather than
94
CHAPTER
[1787
to avoid one. He became more and more alarmed. For two or three years before, particularly since the commissioners of the state of Georgia cameto Natchez to claim the country, he had been fearful of an invasion at every rise of the water; and the rumour ofa few boats having been seen together on the Ohio was sufficient to excite his apprehensions. At his next interview with Wilkinson, having procured fur- ther information of the character, number, and dis- position of the western people, and having resolved, in his mind, what measures he could take, consistent- ly with his instructions, he concluded that he could do no better than to hold out a hope to Wilkinson, in order to secure his influence in restraining his coun- trymen from an invasion of Louisiana, till further in- structions could be received from Madrid. The general sailed in September for Philadelphia.
. A lucrative trade had begun to be carried on be- tween New-Orleans and that city, at which the colo- nial government appeared to wink. Guardoqui, however, finding that he did not participate in the profits of this new branch of commerce, his friends not obtaining the consignment of the vessels engaged in it, notwithstanding various hints and threats thrown out to the captains and super-cargoes, pro- cured a list of the names of the vessels, captains and owners in New-Orleans, real or pretended, and for- warded it to Navarro, with a severe reprimand ; add- ing, that he had informed the court of the disregard of the laws in Louisiana. He so worked upon the fears of the intendant, that, apprehensive oflosing his place if he did not recur to severe measures, the lat- ter prosecuted, with apparent impartiality and unre- lenting rigour, all those against whom information was lodged, seizing vessels on their arrival, confisca-
-
1787]
THE FIFTH.
96
ting their cargocs, and imprisoning the owners, cap- tains and crews. These were all condemned to the mines for various terms of years.
The spirit of the government and the venality of its officers was, however, apparent. 'The favourites of those with whom the officers had connexions in business escaped, by bringing proofs that were thought sufficient to destroy those sent by Guardoqui, by receiving timely notice of their danger, by orders forwarded to the commandant at the Balize to favour them, by not suffering them to enter, and allowing those who had entered, but not reached New-Orleans, to return and put back to sea, with such part of their cargoes as they could not conveniently land on the plantations along the banks of the river-the owners having ordered those vessels to foreign ports, pro- tended they were lost during their voyage, and they were ignorant of any thing concerning them since they left New-Orleans.
It was the practice in Spanish colonies, to con- demn all contraband traders to the mines ; but in such cases the law was rarely carried into execution, when there had been no violent resistance or blood shed. The offender was, however, imprisoned, and after a short time, suffered to escape-the jailor re- porting him as runaway or dead. Some of the per- sons who were thus condemned and imprisoned in New-Orleans, were soon after liberated. A few were permitted to command other vessels, after hav- ing made some change or alteration in their names. One of them who had been imprisoned and returned as dead, by the gaoler, went to Madrid, where he obtained the review and reversal of the sentence against him, and came back to New-Orleans,
-
96
CHAPTER
[1787
The congress of the United States, this year, erect- ed the territory to the northwest of the Ohio into a distinct government, at the head of which they placed Arthur St. Clair, an officer of the late revolution, and once their president.
-Archives-Gazettes-St. Mary-Clark-Marshal.
-
1
97
THE SIXTH.
1788]
CHAPTER VI.
Conflagration .- Permission given to Wilkinson to trade .- Emigrants .- Census -Navarro's de- parture: His ideas in regard to the people of Kentucky: their plans .- Charles IV .- Wilkin- son .- Encouragement to migration,-Irish emi- grants .- Federal constitution of the U. States .- Washington .- Nootka Sound-Negotiations at Madrid .- Southwestern Territory .- Don Fran- cisco de Bouligny .- Don Nicholas Maria Vidal -Indian affairs .- Insurrection in Hispaniola. -State of Vermont.
The ordinary alcades, for the year 1788, were Foucher and Argotte. Pedesclaux how succeeded Rodriguez in the office of clerk of the cabildo, which he held during the remainder of the Spanish govern- ment in Louisiana.
On the twenty-first of March, (Good Friday,) the chapel of a Spaniard, in Chartres-street, New-Or- leans, took fire, about three o'clock in the afternoon; and, the wind being very high at the time, a confia- gration ensued, which, in a few hours, consumed nine hundred houses, and other property of immense value.
In order to relieve the inhabitants, in some degree, from the distress into which this event had plunged them, the colonial government made a large e ontrac for flour, to be purchased within the United States, on which it made great advances in money; and in order to induce contractors to deliver it on the best. VOL. II. 13
.
98
CHAPTER [1788
terms, the privilege was allowed them of introducing an unlimited quantity of merchandise, on paying the usual duty. Guardoqui, finding that the information he had given made him enemies in the United States, that the colonial government had seized the op- portunity presented by the late conflagration, to re- lease all the individuals imprisoned in consequence of the prosecutions he had instigated during the pre- ceding year, and to restore the property confiscated, (a measure approved by the king, to whom a repre- sentation had been made by his officers in Louisiana) and that no benefit could result to him from continu- ing his interference, desisted from any further attempt to obstruct the commercial intercourse between Phi- ladelphia and New-Orleans; and his agents, induced by motives of prudence, and perhaps by a share in the profits, did every thing in their power to augment it.
Miro now received and executed a commission of judge of residence of Galvez.
On the eighth of August, Wilkinson'sagent in New Orleans procured, from the colonial government, permission to send to the city one or more launches loaded with tobacco from Kentucky.
Several individuals from the Wabash, Kentucky, and Cumberland rivers, came to Louisiana to ascer- tain whether their migration to- the province would be allowed, and to view the country. They were in- formed that they would be permitted to introduce their property ; such as was for sale, paying a duty of twenty-five per cent; that their slaves, stock, provi- sions for two years, and farming implements, would be free from duty; that land would be granted, and protection afforded them, as long as they demeaned themselves well.
99
THE SIXTH.
1788]
A census, which was taken this year, presents the following results:
Within the city of New-Orleans, 5338
From the Balize to the city,
2378
At the Terre-aux-Bœufs,
661
On the bayous St. John and Gentilly, 772
Barataria,
40
Tchoupitoulas,
7589
Parish of St. Charles,
2381
St. John the Baptist,
1368
St. James,
1559
Lafourche,
1161
Do. interior,
1500
Iberville,
944
Pointe Coupée,
2004
Opelousas,
1985
Atakapas,
2541
New Iberia,
190
Washita,
232
Rapides,
147
Avovelles,
209
Natchitoches,
1021
Arkansas,
119
In Lower Louisiana,
31,142 -
St. Genevieve,
896
St. Louis,
1197
In Upper Louisiana,
2,093
Manchac,
284
Galvezton,
268
Baton Rouge,
682
Feliciana,
730
Natchez,
2679
Mobile,
1468
Pensacola,
265-6376
Grand Total,
42,611
N
100
. CHAPTER
[1788
The increase between the census of 1785, which gave a grand total of 32,114, is 10, 197, in three years; which is about thirty-one and a half per cent. This is, perhaps, accounted for, by the accession of popu- lation brought by the Acadians since the first census. The increase in Iberville, Manchac, Lafourche, Ope- lousas and Atakapas, the parts of the province in which these people settled, presents an increase of fifty one per cent. 'The number of Acadian emi- grants may in this way be reckoned at about 3500.
The number of white persons was 19,445; that of free persons of colour 1,701 ; that of slaves 21,465.
Don Martin Navarro, the intendant, now left the province for Spain; and the two offices of intendant and governor were united in the person of Miro. Na- varro's last communication to the king, wasa memorial which he had prepared, by order of the minister, on the danger to be apprehended by Spain, in her Ame- rican colonies, from the emancipation of the late British provinces on the Atlantic. In this document, he dwells much on the ambition of the United States, and their thirst for conquest; whose views he states to be an extension of territory to the shores of the Pa- cific ocean; and suggests the dismemberment of the western country, by means of pensions and the grant of commercial privileges, as the most proper means, in the power of Spain, to arrest the impending dan- ger. To effect this, was not, in his opinion, very difficult. The attempt was therefore strongly recom- mended, as success would greatly augment the power of Spain, and forever arrest the progress of the United States to the west.
The suggestion was well received at Madrid, and became the ground work of the policy which there- after actuated the court of Spain. :
---------
101
THE SIXTHI.
1788]
It would not have been difficult for the king of Spain, at this period, to have found, in Kentucky, citizens of the United States ready to come into his views. The people of that district met, this year, in a second convention, and agreed on a petition to congress for the redress of their grievances-the principal of which was, the occlusion of the Mississippi. Under the apprehension that the interference of congress could not be obtained, or might be fruitless, several expedi- ents were talked of, no one of which was generally approved; the people being divided into no less than five parties, all of which had different, if not opposite, views.
The first was for independence of the United States, and the formation of a new republic, uncon- nected with them, who was to enter into a treaty with Spain.
Another party was willing that the country should become a part of the province of Louisiana, and sub- mit to the admission of the laws of Spain.
A third desired a war with Spain, and the seizure of New-Orleans.
A fourth plan was to prevail on congress, by a show of preparation for war, to extort from the cabinet of Madrid, what it persisted in refusing.
The last, as unnatural as the second, was to soli- cit France to procure a retrocession of Louisiana, and extend her protection to Kentucky.
It was in the western part of the United States, that the inefficacy of the power vested in congress was mostcomplained of. With a view of remedying this evil, a convention of deputies from all the states, except that of Rhode Island, met at Philadelphia; and, on the seventeenth of September, submitted to their fellow citizens a plan of government for their
1
102
CHAPTER
[1789
adoption, calculated to effect a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to them and their posterity.
The choice of the cabildo, for ordinary alcades, for the years 1789 and 1790, fell on Ortega and Al- monaster.
Don Andrew Almonaster succeeded Reggio as perpetual regidor and alferez real.
According to the king's order obtained by Forstall, Don Carlos de la Chaise took his seat in the cabildo, as lieutenant of the former.
Charles the third had died on the 14th of Decem- ber last, in the seventy-second year of his age, and . . was succeeded by his son, Charles the fourth. Fune- ral rites were performed, in honour of the departed monarch, on the seventh of May, with as much pomp and solemnity as the smallness of the chapel of the hospital could admit of. This chapel, and that of the nuns, were the only places of worship which the con- flagration had spared. On the next day, the new sovereign was proclaimed, under repeated dischar- ges of artillery from the forts and shipping, and the acclamations of the colonists. At night, the city was brilliantly illuminated, and theatrical exhibitions were presented to the people.
Wilkinson visited New-Orleans for the second time. Miro informed him he was instructed to per- mit the migration of settlers from the western coun- try ; but he was without information of his sovereign's will as to the grant of land for colonization, on the large scale proposed, or the introduction of tobacco into the viccroyalty of Mexico.
1789]
THE SIXTH. 103
Accordingly, the colonial government granted se- veral tracts of land to such settlers from the western part of the United States as presented themselves. They were favoured with an exemption from duty, as to all the property they brought, invested in the produce of their country. Under the denomination of settlers, all those who had an acquaintance with any person of influence in New-Orleans, obtained passports, and made shipments, which were admit- ted free from duty. Pretending to return in order to bring their families, they repeated the speculation several times. Others came with slaves and stock, and returned. A few only remained, and they were those who availed themselves the least of the im- munities offered by the Spanish government. They had a few slaves and cattle, and but little of other property. They settled chiefly in the districts of Natchezand Feliciana, where they increased the cul- ture of tobacco, which was the only article of expor- tation raised in this part of the province. The en- couragement thus given to migration and speculation, opened a market for the produce of the Ohio. Flour was brought down from Pittsburgh; and the farmers, finding a vent for every thing they could raise, their land rose in value, and industry was encouraged. Flour was then to be had on the Monongahela, at from eighteen to twenty shillingsthe barrel, ($2 40 to 2 66.) Its quality was so inferior, that it was used in times of scarcity ouly, or in making biscuit.
A number of Irish families were desirons of re- moving to Louisiana or the Floridas, in the hope that the king of Spain would afford them the same aid as had been extended to cmigrants from the Canary islands and Malaga a few years before; but on their application, the captain-general was informed from
1
104
CHAPTER [1789
Madrid, that no settlers could be admitted in either of those provinces, whose passage out, or whose maintainance for a limited time, would have to be paid out of the royal treasury; and those foreigners, only, could be received, who, of their own will, should present themselves and swear allegiance to the king. 'To such, land might be granted, and surveyed gra- tuitously, in proportion to the number of persons in each family: they were not to be molested on account of their religion, but no other mode of public wor- ship was to be allowed than the Catholic: they were not to be required to bear arms, but in the defence of the province, should an enemy invade it. No other aid or assistance was to be given them, but land, pro- tection, and good treatment. 'They might bring with them property of any kind; but, in case of exporting it, they were to pay a duty of six per cent.
Few or no settlers emigrated from Ireland.
Don Louis de las Casas, a brigadier-general of the royal armies, was appointed captain-general of the island of Cuba, and of the provinces of East and West Florida.
The bishoprick of Cuba, of which the provinces of Louisiana, East and West Florida made a part, was divided. The southern part of the island was erect- ed into the archbishoprick of Cuba, and the northern into the bishoprick of Havana, of which these provin- ces now made a part. Don Santiago Joseph de 'Tres Palacios was the first incumbent of the bishoprick.
The people of the several states having adopted the constitution pro osed by the late convention, the new government went into operation on the fourth of March of this year, under the auspices of general Washington, the first president of the United States,
1790]
THE SIXTH. 105
The high ground taken by the British government on the attack of the settlements at Nootka Sound, and the vigour with which it armed to support its preten- sions, furnished strong ground for the belief that a war would soon be commenced. In the United States, the juncture was considered as a favourable one, for urging their claim to the navigation of the Mississippi; and their charge des affaires at Madrid was instructed not only to press this point with ear- nestness, but to secure the unmolested use of that river in future, by obtaining a cession of the island on which New-Orleans stands, and the Floridas.
The federal government was not yet ready to pur- chase this cession, for several millions of dollars, as it did afterwards. They expected that, in the security of the friendship of the United States, and the security which would be given to the dominions of Spain on the west of the Mississippi, she would find a fair equivalent for the cession; as not only the United Siates would have no object in crossing the stream, but their real interest would require that Spain should retain the immense possessions she claimed to the west.
Carmichael, the charge des affaires of the United States at Madrid, was further directed to draw the attention of the Catholic king's ministers to the peu- liar situation of these states, to one half of when the use of the Mississippi was so necessary, that no effort could prevent them from acquiring it. He was in- structed to urge, that their doing so, by acting sepa- rately, or in conjunction with Great Britain, was one of those events which human wisdom would in vain attempt to prevent. To the serious considera- tion of the' spanish government, were submitted the consequences that would result to all the Spanish pos- VOL. II. 11
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.