USA > Louisiana > The province and the states, a history of the province of Louisiana under France and Spain, and of the territories and states of the United States formed therefrom, Vol. I > Part 24
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Prior to the Seven Years' War, the Province of Louisiana east of the Mississippi extended on the Gulf eastward to the river Perdido, and farther north to an indefinite and undetermined dis- tance eastward of the Mississippi. By provisional treaty dated at Fontainebleau, November 3, 1762, all of Louisiana Province east of the Mississippi, except the Island of New Orleans; was ceded by France to England ; and at the same time and place all of the territory possessed by Spain cast of the Mississippi was likewise ceded to England. These treaties were duly ratified by the three governments, respectively ( Spain, France and Great Britain ), and hence date from November 3, 1762. On the same day ( November 3), by secret treaty and wholly unknown to Eng- land, France ceded the remainder of Louisiana Province to Spain, i. e., all of Louisiana west of the Mississippi and the Island of New Orleans cast of that river. Neither England nor the colonists knew anything of this secret treaty until about a year afterward .*
Did France cede Louisiana to Spain because she felt herself unable to retain it-because she saw that the whole of it was destined at no distant day to pass to Great Britain, and wished to throw the responsibility of its retention upon Spain ; or was it transferred to the latter, as alleged, to recompense her for losses in that war? There can be no doubt that had England followed the advice of Pitt and now pressed France to the utmost, when
* Some writers in explaining the provisions of these treaties, insist on placing the cart before the horse-on endeavoring to make it appear that France first, by the secret treaty of November 3, ceded all of French Louisiana (east to the Perdido on the south and far east of the Mississippi on the north), to Spain; and then on the same day ceded the same territory cast of the Mississippi to Great . Britain. France could not possibly have done this. France and Spain on one side ceded to England all they, or either of them, possessed east of the Mississippi except the Island of New Orleans. This was done openly, within the knowledge of the Three governments. Therefore, France could not, on the same day, bave secretly ceded to Spain that portion of French Louisiana cast of the Mississippi, when Spain already knew that such tract had just been ceded to Great Britain.
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the chance of doing so was open, all the remainder of Louisiana could have been acquired by Great Britain. The English colonies alone had ten times the fighting strength of the French colonies. After England should be in possession of all the country cast of the Mississippi, it would require only the pretense of another war to secure all the country west of that river to the Rocky mountains or to the Pacific ocean. There is evidence to prove that the French cabinet took this view, and hence that it was determined to alienate Louisiana to Spain before England could take possession of it under any pretext. It would seem that the transfer of Louisiana from France to Spain was not made in good faith, because the latter was under some sort of an agreement to return it to the former upon demand, as was actually done in 1800, when Napoleon required it. Thus it would appear that the transfer was made to escape the clutches of England. But Spain had also just been at war with England, although it was well known to the latter that she had been so because of the require- ments of the "family compact." However, the view is generally taken, and is usually allowed, that France made the transfer to Spain to reimburse her for the losses she had sustained in Florida and elsewhere.
It was a bitter experience for the French to give up to Eng- land even that portion of Louisiana east of the Mississippi, but they did so upon the orders of the king. Thus the west side of that river received a large influx of settlers-those who came from the east side, when England took possession of that portion of the province. Many of these people made great sacrifices to do this, but they loved the tri-color of France and preferred to make the change, rather than remain within the domain of England. For the first time British vessels now came up the mighty Mis- sissippi, and the redcoats began to be seen at the posts on the east side of the river. This was wormwood to the French, but could not be helped. All who went to the west side of the Mississippi, including the Indian tribes, were given liberal grants of land by the French government. It was in June, 1763, that D'Abbadie arrived to succeed D'Kerlerec as governor of the Province of .
Louisiana.
From this time forward, the term "Louisiana" was applied to the country west of the Mississippi only, but included the Island of New Orleans on the east side. By agreement between France and Spain, the alienation of Louisiana by the former to the latter was kept from the knowledge of all the world; and the more effec- tually to carry into effect this agreement, the colony was left under
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the government of France for a year before the order was issued for the transfer of the offices to the representatives of Spain. As soon as the colonists of that portion of Louisiana cast of the Mississippi became assured that they were irrevocably located on English soil, all who did not wish to become British subjects were permitted to sell out and leave, taking their belongings with them. On the lower Mississippi many thus crossed to the west side and founded Attakapas, Avoyelles, Natchitoches, and Opel- ousas; and on the upper course of that river others went to St. Louis, St. Genevieve and several points that afterward became large settlements. Soon the territory east of the Mississippi and south of the thirty-first degree of latitude which had been acquired by England from Spain, was constituted West Florida, and placed under Governor George Johnston. Above the thirty-first paral- lel and east of the Mississippi, the country continued to be called "Illinois," and was placed under Governor Loftus, a major of the British army. In taking possession of this territory, England encountered the hostility of the Indian tribes allied to the French-were even fired upon and suffered losses of men and munitions. In fact the Indians who were the friends of the French, were greatly incensed at the transfer of the country to Great Britain, and did not become reconciled to the change for several years.
The new Louisiana, that west of the Mississippi, but including the island of New Orleans, suffered many little vexations at the beginning of its career. The French inhabitants east of the river were required, against the stipulations of the treaty of Paris, to take the oath of allegiance within three months upon pain of not having their property protected. They were likewise pro- hibited from disposing of their lands until their titles thereto had been verified, registered and approved by the British commander. This order scared many of the French residents, who, under the liberal colonial laws of France, had nothing to show for their lands but their periods of occupancy, which among themselves were regarded as sufficient titles. The English tried first to reach the Illinois country via Canada, but the hostility of the Indians prevented this step. They next tried to reach it by ascending the Mississippi, but were attacked by the Indians, and hence declared that these attacks were at the instigation of the French, which charge was probably not correct. Major Loftus was even driven back after having started from New Orleans. Loftus' Ileights received its name from this circumstance. About four hundred Indians of the Taensas and Alibamons tribes passed westward
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across the river, and were assigned lands by the French authori- ties at Bayou Lafourche.
M. D'Abbadie seems to have been an honest and conscientious man. In June, 1764, he wrote to his government of what he believed to be the causes of the serious troubles which had for many years retarded the progress of the colony. He said, "The disorder existing in the colony, and particularly in its finances, proceeds from the spirit of jobbing which has been prevalent here at all times, and which has engrossed the attention and faculties of the colonists. It began in 1737, not only on the currency of the country, but also on the bills of exchange, on the merchan- dise in the king's warehouses, and on everything which was sus- ceptible of it. It is to this pursuit that the inhabitants have been addicted in preference to cultivating their lands, and to any other occupation, by which the prosperity of the colony would have been promoted. I have entirely suppressed the abuse existing in connection with the king's warehouses. If the inhabi- tants of Louisiana had turned their industry to anything else beyond jobbing on the king's paper and merchandise, they would have found great resources in the fertility of the land and the mildness of the climate. But the facility offered by the country to live on its natural productions has created habits of laziness. The innmoderate use of taffia (a kind of rum) has stupified the whole population. The vice of drunkenness has even crept into the highest ranks of society, from which, however, it has lately disappeared. Hence the spirit of insubordination and independ- ence which has manifested itself under several administrations.
Notwithstanding the present tranquillity the same spirit of sedition does not the less exist in the colony. The uncertainty in which I am with regard to the ultimate fate of the colony, has prevented me from resorting to extreme measures to repress such license ; but it will be necessary to come to it at last to re-establish the good order which has been destroyed and to regulate the conduct and morals of the inhabitants. To reach this object, what is first to be done is to make a thorough reform in the composition of the superior council. Three- fourths, at least, of the inhabitants are in a state of insolvency." There is no doubt that this language was too severe, because he called "seditions" and "insubordinate" the act of the merchants of New Orleans in complaining to the king of the wretched con- dition of the colony, the postponement of the withdrawal from circulation of the depreciated currency, and of the monopoly granted by D'Abbadie to a company to trade with the Indians.
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In a letter dated April 21, 1754, D'Abbadie was informed by the king that Louisiana had been ceded to Spain, and copies of the act of cession and of the various acceptances accompanied the communication. He was told to turn over the Province to the accredited Spanish representatives upon the receipt of the letter, and was advised what should be done to completely carry the transfer into effect. Having fully effected the transfer, D'Abba- die was instructed to return to France to report. All papers and documents, posts or forts, and the town and island of New Orleans were to be delivered to the representatives of Spain, so far as they were necessary to the new management. All prop- erty not strictly relating to the colony was to be returned to France. If the division of the Province in 1762-3 had been a severe blow to all persons who loved Louisiana, the alienation to Spain of the remainder in 1764 completely broke their hearts. For a long time after the first rumors to that effect appeared, it could not be believed in the Province that the French government would take such a step. When the official communication was received and proclaimed in October, 1764; the consternation and despair were universal and deep-rooted. It took years to wipe out the effects of the blow-in fact the regret was never wholly assuaged.
But while the French inhabitants welcomed the British goods, they intensely regretted having to become subjects of Spain. Of French extraction and birth, and with the love of their country strong in their hearts, many of them could not become reconciled to the thought of taking the oath of allegiance to the Spanish crown. This discontent finally ripened into action. It was deter- mined to make such representations to the French king of their sentiments of loyalty and devotion as would be likely to cause him to secure an annulment of the cession of Louisiana to Spain. A meeting was called to be held at New Orleans, and every parish in the colony was represented. It was a spontaneous outburst of loyalty to the French crown, and the best elements of the colony were present and outspoken. Here came Lafrenière, Doucet, Jean Milhet, Joseph Milhet, D'Arensbourg, Villeré, St. Lette, Pin, D'Lachaise, St. Maxent, Garic, Marquis, Boisblanc, Grand- Maison, Noyan, Massange, Lalande, Masan, Poupet, Brand, Dessales, Carrère, Kerniou, Lesassier, and others, all prominent in the affairs, not only of the colony, but of France as well. Lafreniere the atorney-general, addressed the meeting at length, advocating the preparation of a petition to the French throne, praying that such an arrangement might be made as would not
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separate the colonists from the government of France. The proposition was warmly received and accepted without a dissent- . ing voice.
Jean Milliet was chosen to lay the petition before the king of France; and upon his arrival in Paris first secured the co-opera- tion of the venerable D'Bienville, who had spent so many years in Louisiana and whose heart was bound up in the success and prosperity of that colony, and together they waited upon the prime minister to formally and feelingly lay their case before him. Milhet's appeal was directed to show the ultimate value of the colony to France, while D'Bienville's took more of the form of a sent mental entrcaty. The Duke of Choiseul listened with grave and respectful attention, but stated that he could not change the state of the case. Upon thus hearing the doom of Louisiana pro- nounced, D'Bienville burst into tears, fell upon his knees, and sobbingly begged the minister "for a reconsideration of the decree against the colony." The latter was greatly moved and embraced the venerable man, now nearly eighty-six years old, and finally said with much emotion, "Gentlemen, I must put an end to this painful scene. I am deeply grieved at not being able to give you any hope. I have no hesitation in telling you that I cannot address the king on this subject, because I, myself, advised the cession of Louisiana. Is it not to your knowledge that the colony cannot continue its precarious existence, except at an enormous expense, of which France is now utterly incapable? Is it not better, then, that Louisiana should be given away to a friend and a faithful ally, than be wrested from us by an hereditary foe? Farewell, you have my best wishes. I can do no more." Thus Choiseul relinquished Louisiana in 1762-3 because he knew that France could not keep it from falling into the hands of England, just as Napoleon relinquished it forty years afterward for pre- cisely the same reason. To maintain it against England meant the expenditure of many millions of dollars to establish powerful forts and maintain a vast army stationed along the west bank of the Mississippi. As Choiseul said, France was "utterly incapa- ble" of this expense, and so reluctantly and tearfully, yet gladly, gave it to her "friend and faithful ally," Spain.
In 1765 Philip Aubry became governor of the colony, D'Abba- die having died in February of that year. One of his first acts was to care for the exiled Acadians who arrived by May to the number of about six hundred and fifty, many of whom were sent to the settlements of Attakapas and Opelousas. The appearance of great numbers of British troops, the many English vessels
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which passed up and down the river, the evident rapid work of the British commandants in taking possession of the east bank of the river, and their announced design of opening the channel through Bayou Manshac and Lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain to the sea, were matters of great concern to Governor Aubry. Having ceded Louisiana west of the river to Spain, France, of course, felt under no obligations to strengthen the posts and the army there; nor did Spain do so, because she was not yet in pos- session. Thus, while the English made themselves strong and secure on the river, the colonists across on the west side realized their weakness, because they were in no way assisted in lines of defense or resistance. At Manshac the English built Fort Bute, and likewise made themselves strong at Natchez and Baton Rouge. The appearance of the English and the opening of the river were the signal for all sorts of smuggling. In fact, the introduction of English goods against the trade laws of France was almost the salvation of Louisiana, because no such relief was extended by either France or Spain to relieve the absolute needs of the suffering colonists. As a matter of fact the new order of affairs gave a great stimulus to Louisiana ; it began to thrive and grow as never before. 'The restrictive and repressive trade laws of France were wholly disregarded, and the smugglers were wel- comed.
Notwithstanding the failure of Milhet to secure for Louisiana a revocation of the act of cession to Spain, the inhabitants, owing to the failure of the latter to take possession, were impelled to the thought that for some unknown reason the transfer had been annulled. It was afterward learned that Choiseul had diplomat- ically prevented Milhet from reaching the car of the king with his petition, doubtless knowing that he could accomplish nothing in that quarter. But the inhabitants continued to cling to the belief that the colony would not in the end be alienated, the wish, no doubt, being father to the thought or hope. Finally, in the sum- mer of 1765, an official communication was received from Don Antonio D'Ulloa, dated at Havana, announcing that he would soon appear at New Orleans, pursuant to the orders on the Span- ish crown, for the purpose of formally taking possession of the Province. So strong had become the belief that the act of cession would be annulled, that the citizens, upon receipt of the announce- ment from D'Ulloa, showed for the first time a spirit of resist- ance and independence. It appeared to them that as they had been practically abandoned by France, they ought to be given the privilege of saying what should be their fate and how they should
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be disposed of. This sentiment was still further strengthened when the entire autumn passed away without bringing D'Ulloa. "Many of the colonists adopted the conviction that the treaty of cession was nothing but a sham instrument, concealing some diplomatic maneuvering .* During the winter of 1765-6 the spirit of independence continued to grow in strength and seemingly was not checked in the least by the conservative advice of a few of the leaders of the colony.
At length D'Ulloa arrived in March, 1766, with two companies of infantry commanded by Piernas, and was given a "cold and sullen" reception. However, instead of assuming the reins at once, he announced that he intended to postpone taking posses- sion until a sufficient force had arrived to protect and defend the inhabitants, and in the meantime visited the various posts of the colony, spending several weeks at Natchitoches and studying in detail the means of defense. Under his direction a census was taken; showing in the colony 1,893 able-bodied men, 1,044.women, 1,375 male children, and 1,240 female children, and about as many negro slaves as there were whites. D'Ulloa was a very amiable and learned man, but wholly unfitted to become the governor of a colony like Louisiana, where both insubordination and destitu- tion were to be encountered and overcome. His salary was fixed at $6,000 ; that of D'Bienville had been $2,000 and that of Vau- dreuil long afterward had been $10,000. He announced that he had no dealings with the supreme council, but was simply author- ized to receive from Governor Aubry the colony as it then was. The refusal to recognize the council gave great umbrage to that body, which was sharply shown a little later. Under his instruc- tions he could make no change in the colonial administration. The colony was made independent of the ministry of the Indies, but all relative thereto was required to pass through the ministry of state. Surely, nothing more could be asked.
It cannot be said that .D'Ulloa, upon his arrival in New Orleans, encountered an extraordinary state of affairs. In the light of subsequent events, it is clear that the wisest course would have been to take possession positively and firmly of all the affairs of the colony. The chances are that patient, if not quiet, submission would have followed. He seems to have made the mistake of being too kind and conciliatory. No doubt this course had been recommended by the Spanish cabinet. Having received the col- ony from a friend and ally, Spain had no occasion to resort to
* Gayarre.
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severe and arbitrary measures. It was presumed that the olive . branch would be promptly accepted by the inhabitants. Hence, no doubt, D'Ulloa was following his instructions when he took extreme steps to gain the approval and good will of the Louis- ianians. But they were in just the state of mind to wholly mis- understand such a pacific policy. They were already on the point of revolting from the authority of Spain. It needed only such a mild policy to fan the fires of independence into the flame of open resistance and rebellion.
The French residents, having expressed their misgivings as to the treatment that would be accorded their discredited currency, D'Ulloa promptly and considerately bought a considerable quan- tity of it at the French depreciated price of seventy-five cents on the dollar, and tendered it to his soldiers in payment of their wages ; but they refused to take it, nor did the act suit the inhabi- tants, who unreasonably demanded par. The good intentions of D'Ulloa were thus wholly misunderstood and thwarted. Under the agreement with Spain, France ordered her troops then in the colony to continue in the service of the former until the arrival of the forces of the latter ; but the order was peremptorily refused by the soldiers, who declared that their time of service had expired. Trouble was also occasioned by the difference in wages paid to the French and the Spanish soldiers respectively ; but this was soon adjusted. An examination of the records of Louisiana showed D'Ulloa that the colony since its establishment had been dependent upon France even for its provisions, and at all times was rent with dissensions, disorder and corruption. As this state of things did not accord with the representations of the French cabinet at the time of the cession to Spain, D'Ulloa made careful note of what he discovered. He visited all portions of the prov- ince except the Missouri region, conversed freely with the inhab- itants, and studied the requirements of the colony.
Later he brought more soldiers, but still refused to take formal possession of the colony. He entered into an alliance with Aubry, under which the latter agreed to execute his orders. The French extremists made fun of this partial surrender of the colony to the representative of Spain, because they had come to believe that, owing to the mild course of D'Ulloa, they could dictate the policy of the colonial administration. They had now apparently lost sight of the great wrong alleged to have been done them in sep- arating them from France, and were bent on something far deeper and more sweeping. Apparently, they had taken the bit in their teeth, determined to gain their independence at the first
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opportunity, and expected themselves to provide the opportunity. The truth is, they did not know when they were well off, or were determined to try to throw off the yoke of Spain, win their inde- pendence and take the consequences of their failure to accomplish that result. D'Ulloa had come to them with the olive branch extended, and they had not only refused to receive it; but had gone so far as to reject every pacific and reasonable proposition. Everywhere the Spaniards were derided and ridiculed. Aubry was hooted for having submitted to the dictation of D'Ulloa. The extremists, under their enthusiastic leaders, regarded the conciliatory policy of D'Ulloa as a manifestation of weakness, not only of that officer, but of the proposed Spanish administra- tion as well. But in spite of this opposition, he went bravely along, doing the best he could under the circumstances, and under the pacific directions of his sovereign. He issued orders for the construction of forts at Bayon Manshac, on the west side of the river near Natchez, and two on Red river below the mouth of the Black. A strong detachment was also sent to Missouri.
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