USA > Missouri > Buchanan County > The history of Buchanan County, Missouri > Part 1
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.
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 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
1800
Glass
Book
THE
HISTORY
OF
BUCHANAN COUNTY,
MISSOURI,
CONTAINING
24
A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY, ITS CITIES, TOWNS, ETC.,
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ITS CITIZENS, BUCHANAN COUNTY IN THE LATE WAR, GENERAL AND LOCAL STATISTICS, PORTRAITS OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT MEN, HISTORY OF MISSOURI, MAP OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, ETC., ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
1
ST. JOSEPH, MC .: UNION HISTORICAL COMPANY, 1881.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year ISSI, by BIRDSALL, WILLIAMS & CO., in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
17 Gate 11
ST. JOSEPH, MO., ST. JOSEPH STEAM PRINTING COMPANY, Printers, Binders, Etc.
1881.
-10
2
OF
BUCHANAN COUNTY,
KANSAS
29
28
33
H
..
hazardous undertaking, viewed from a business standpoint. Much solic-
OF
BUCHANAN COUNTY,
STATE OF KANSAS
29
28
33
RIVER
TP.56
14
23
2+
21
20
ON
-
25
JOSEPH & COUNCIL BLUFF
35
30
$2
+
TP.55
9
11
12
RUSHVILLE
17
15
15
Creek
BLOOMING
20
21
22
23
28
10
20
21
30
30
25
27
36
SUGAR
32
35
31
32
3.3
R. 36
R. 37
20
HALLS
AS CI
5
EAST ATCHISON
УТИНОЙ ИАЛАНДИЯ
РАДИАЯ TAT&
PREFACE.
After months of unceasing toil, we have completed the history of Buchanan County. The result proves that we did not overestimate the importance and difficulty of the task. The importance and difficulty of the work result from the same cause, viz : The almost total lack in many instances of reliable data. This difficulty, however, has in a meas- ure been overcome by a systematic canvass of the county, whereby we have been enabled to gather together, glean and compile into compre- hensible and permanent form, what, until now, has floated about in the changing mists of tradition ; the reader will readily realize how difficult has been this task, and how important that the work is done at this com- paratively early date. The first settlers who acted so important a part in the history of the county, and who heretofore have been the sole cus- todians of much material essential for such a work as this, are rapidly disappearing from among us, and those who remain become less and less reliable as year by year the memory of early times grows indistinct. The importance of the work is enhanced by the fact, that Buchanan county is one of the chief agricultural counties of the State, and further, by the fact, that it contains in point of population the third city in the State. In order to devote that attention to the various interests of the county which its importance demanded, we supposed it would be neces- sary to make a book of from eight to nine hundred pages. The publica- tion of such a book for a patronage limited to a single county was a hazardous undertaking, viewed from a business standpoint. Much solic-
iv
PREFACE.
itude was felt on this account during the first stages of the enterprise but what misgivings we may have felt, have been dispelled by the gen- erous patronage afforded by the people of the county. We have been so far encouraged by the patronage vouchsafed, that the work has been extended to beyond what was originally intended, and instead of a book of from eight to nine hundred pages as promised in our prospectus, the book approximates eleven hundred pages. Our solicitude for the success of the enterprise in a business sense was natural, but it has not been our sole solicitude ; we have likewise intensely desired to make the work reliable, full and attractive, and thereby to merit the public favor, which the people of the county have extended to us. In presenting the work to our many hundred readers, we have the satisfaction of knowing that they will appreciate merit when found, and of further believing that errors will be criticised with the understanding that book-making, like all other kinds of labor, has its peculiar vicissitudes.
The publishers avail themselves of this opportunity to thank all who have aided in the preparation of this book ; whatever of merit the his- tory of Buchanan County may contain is due, in a large measure, to their assistance.
To each and all of our patrons we come with the satisfaction of knowing that we bring what we guaranteed, and in the belief that should any of them not appreciate the work, the time will come when their children will.
THE PUBLISHERS.
&CONTENTS of
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
Page.
CHAPTER I.
LOUISIANA PURCHASE- Brief Historical Sketch . 9
CHAPTER IL.
DESCRIPTIVE AND GEOGRAPHICAL- Name- Extent - Surface - Rivers- Timber-Climate- Prairies - Soils Population by Counties . 14
CHAPTER III.
GEOLOGY OF MISSOURI-
Classification of Rocks-Quarternary Formation-Tertiary - Cretaceous - Carboniferous - Devonian - Silurian -Azoic-Economic Geology - Coal -Iron-Lead-Copper- Zinc -- Build- ing Stone-Marble-Gypsum-Lime Paints- Springs- Water Power . .
20
CHAPTER IV.
TITLE AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS-
Title to Missouri Lands- Right of Discovery-Title of France and Spain -Cession to the United States-Ter- ritorial Changes- Treaties with In- dians-First Settlement-Ste. Gene- vieve and New Bourbon-St. Louis- When Incorporated - Potosi - St. Charles-Portage Des Sioux - New Madrid-St. Francois County-Perry - Mississippi - Loutre Island " Boone's Lick"-Cote Sans Dessein -Howard County- Some First Things -Counties-When Organized .. .
26
CHAPTER V.
TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION-
Organization 1812-Council- House of Representatives- Wm. Clark First Territorial Governor - Edward Hemp- stead First Delegate-Spanish Grants -First General Assembly-Proceed- ings-Second Assembly-Proceedings - Population of Territory- Vote of Territory- Rufus Easton - Absent members-Third Assembly-Proceed- ings-Application for Admission . . 32
CHAPTER VI.
MISSOURI ADMITTED INTO THE UNION- Application of Missouri to be Admit- ted into the Union-Agitation of the Slavery Question-" Missouri Compro-
Page.
mise "-Constitutional Convention of 1820-Constitution Presented to Con- gress-Further Resistance to Admis- sion-Mr. Clay and his Committee Make Report-Second Compromise- Missouri Admitted . 35
CHAPTER VII.
MISSOURI AS A STATE-
First Election for Governor and Other State Officers-Senators and Represen- tatives to General Assembly-Sheriffs and Coroners-United States Senators -Representatives in Congress-Su- preme Court Judges-Counties Organ- ized-Capital Moved to St. Charles- Official Record of Territorial and State Officers. 40
CHAPTER VIII.
EARLY MILITARY RECORD- Black Hawk War-Mormon Difficul- ties-Florida War-Mexican War . 46
CHAPTER IX.
CIVIL WAR IN MISSOURI-
Fort Sumpter Fired Upon-Call for 75,000 Men-Gov. Jackson Refuses to Furnish a Man-U. S. Arsenal at Mo, Seized-Proclamation of Gov. Jackson-General Order No 7- Leg- islature Convenes-Camp Jackson Organized-Sterling Price Appointed Major General - Frost's Letter to Lyon-Lyon's Letter to Frost-Sur- render of Camp Jackson- Proclama- tion of Gen. Harney- Conference Be- tween Price and Harney-Harney Superceded by Lyon-Second Confer- ence-Governor Jackson Burns the Bridges Behind Him- Proclamation of Gov. Jackson-Gen. Blair Takes Possession of Jefferson City-Procla- mation of Lyon-Lyon at Springfield -State Offices Declared Vacant- Gen. Fremont Assumes Command- Proclamation of Lieut. Gov. Rey- nolds-Proclamation of Jeff. Thomp- son and Gov. Jackson-Death of Gen. Lyon-Succeeded by Sturgis-Pro- clamation of M'Cullough and Gamble -Martial Law Declared - Second Proclamation of Jeff. Thompson- President Modifies Fremont's Order-
&
vi
CONTENTS.
Page.
Page.
Fremont Relieved by Hunter-Pro- clamation of Price-Hunter's Order of Assessment - Hunter Declares Martial Law-Order Relating to Newspapers-Halleck Succeeds Hun- ter-Halleck's Order 81 -Similar Or- der by Halleck - Boone County Standard Confiscated-Execution of Prisoners at Macon and Palmyra- Gen. Ewing's Order No. 11-Gen. Rosecrans Takes Command-Massa- cre at Centralia-Death of Bill An- derson-Gen. Dodge Succeeds Gen. Rosecrans - List of Battles . 51
CHAPTER X.
AGRICULTURAL AND MATERIAL WEALTH Missouri as an Agricultural State- The Different Crops-Live Stock- Horses and Mules-Milch Cows- Oxen and Other Cattle-Sheep -- Hogs -Comparisons-Missouri Adapted to Live Stock -- Cotton-Broom Corn and Other Products-Fruits-Berries -- Grapes-Railroads -- First Neigh of the "Iron Horse" In Missouri- Names of Railroads-Manufactures -- Great Bridge at St. Louis . 60
CHAPTER XI.
EDUCATION-
Public School System-Public School System of Missouri-Lincoln Insti- tute-Officers of Public School Sys- tem-Certificates of Teachers-Uni- versity of Missouri-Schools- Col- leges-Institutions of Learning-Lo- cation - Libraries -- Newspapers and Periodicals-No. of School Children -Amount Expended -- Value of Grounds and Buildings -- "The Press" 66
CHAPTER XII.
RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS-
Baptist Church -- Its History-Congre- gational -- When Founded-Its His- tory -- Christian Church-Its History -Cumberland Presbyterian Church -- Its History -- Methodist Episcopal Church -- Its History -- Presbyterian Church -- Its History -- Protestant Episcopal Church -- Its History -- United Presbyterian Church-Its His- tory-Unitarian Church-Its History- Roman Catholic Church-Its History 73
HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY.
Page.
CHAPTER I.
PREFATORY- The County, Its Location and Name- Plan and Scope of This Work . 79
CHAPTER II.
PHYSICAL FEATURES- Location-Boundary-Civil and Con- gressional Townships-Surface-Riv- ers-Lakes-Timber-Its Importance to Early Settlers-Climate-Rainfall -- Health-Soil-Prairie -Waste Land. 87
CHAPTER III.
GEOLOGY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY-
96
CHAPTER IV.
PLATTE PURCHASE- The Platte Country-Correspondence in Reference Thereto - Meeting at Liberty, Missouri-Its Object-Memo- rial-Efforts of Benton and Linn- Treaty with the Iowas, Sacs and Fox Indians 104
CHAPTER V.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS- Importance of First Settlements- When Settlements First Commenced -- Settlement of Platte Township-Jack- son Township -- Crawford -- Blooming. ton -- Centre - Rush - Agency - Ma- rion-Wayne-Lake-Washington . 112
CHAPTER VI. Page.
PIONEER LIFE- The Pioneers' Peculiarities-Conven- iences and Inconveniences-The His- torical Log Cabin-Agricultural Im- plements - Household Furniture - Pioneer Corn-bread-Hand Mills and Hominy Blocks - Going to Mill- Trading Points-Bee Trees -- Shooting Matches and Quiltings . 141
CHAPTER VII.
ORGANIZATION-
Legislative Act Organizing Buchanan and Platte Counties-Appointment of Commissioners to Locate County Seat -Organization of the County -- First Court-County and Township System -- Government Surveys - Organiza- tion of Townships-Boundaries of Same Established - Proceedings of First Court - Election Precincts - Roads - Ferries 152
CHAPTER VIII.
THE FIRST RECORDS-
CHAPTER IX. 169
FIRST COURT HOUSE-
First Court House-Further Extracts from County Court Records -- Early Papers on File-Circuit Court Docket
CONTENTS.
Page.
-First Cases-Bills of Indictment- Chancery Court Docket . . 179
CHAPTER X.
SECOND COURT HOUSE-
Second Court House ordered to be Built at Sparta-Six Thousand Dol- lars to be Appropriated Therefor- Agitation of the County Seat Ques- tion - Legislative Enactment - Vote upon the Question-County Seat Fi- nally Changed-Commissioner Hinks- ton's Report . 188
CHAPTER XI.
MEXICAN WAR-OREGON EXPEDITION- The Interest Taken by Buchanan County in the Mexican War-Compa- nies Organized-General James W. Denver-Captain Jesse B. Moran- Doniphan's Expedition-Oregon Bat- talion-Officers-Service and Return 197 CHAPTER XII.
THE CALIFORNIA GOLD EXCITEMENT-
201
CHAPTER XIII.
THE COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM, POOR HOUSE AND FARM-
210
CHAPTER XIV.
FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL-
221
CHAPTER XV.
BENCH AND BAR-
Andrew S. Hughes - Wm. B. Al- mond-Theodore L. Wheaton-Peter H. Burnett- Henry M. Vories-James R. Gardenhire-David R. Atchison- Willard P. Hall-Solomon L Leon- ard -- Bela M. Hughes -- Silas Woodson - Robert M. Stewart-J. M. Bassett- Benjamin F. Loan- A.W. Doniphan -- Names of Other Attorneys who Came at a More Recent Date . 229
CHAPTER XVI.
CRIMES, INCIDENTS, AND ACCIDENTS-
CHAPTER XVII. 225
AGRICULTURAL- Review of the Progress of Agricultu- ral Enterprise -- Fairs and Expositions - State Fish Hatchery . 284
CHAPTER XVIII.
REUNION- Of Old Settlers of the Platte Purchase at St. Joseph, Missouri, September, 1874, and September, 1875-Bishop Marvin's Letter-Addresses-Names of Old Settlers . 304
CHAPTER XIX.
BUCHANAN COUNTY DURING THE WAR
CHAPTER XX. 327
COURT HOUSE- Second Court House - New Court House-Ceremonies at Laying Corner Stone-Address of Col. John Doni- phan. . 334
CHAPTER XXI.
CHURCHES IN RURAL DISTRICTS-
344
CHAPTER XXII.
SCHOOLS-
349
CHAPTER XXIII.
OFFICIAL DIRECTORY-
CHAPTER XXIV. 367
HAMLETS AND VILLAGES- DeKalb - Rushville - Winthrop - Agency - Halleck -- Wallace - Ar- noldsville- Frazer -- Eveline -- Lake Station-Easton-Saxton's Station -- Schools - Churches -- Secret Orders, Etc . . 370
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY- How Ancient Cities were Founded and Built-The Considerations Deter- mining their Location-How Modern Cities are Built, and the Considera- tions Determining their Location -- American Cities, how Located and how Built -- Western Cities-The Im- portance of Transportation Facilities -- The People who Determine the Lo- cation, and Why-" Motion Follows the Line of Least Resistance." . 385
Page.
Page.
CHAPTER II.
EARLY EXPEDITIONS AND SETTLE- MENTS-
The Fur Companies -- The First Set- tlement of Blacksnake Hills-Robi- doux' Portrait-His Lithograph-Bio- graphical Sketch-Locates at Chicago -- Then at the Bluffs-Then at Roy's Branch and Blacksnake Hills-1834- 1836-Robidoux' Home - Employes -Servant - Ferry - From 1837 to 1840 - Rival Towns -- Mission of Three Gentlemen -- Wolves . . 389
vii
Page.
viii
CONTENTS.
Page.
CHAPTER III.
FROM 1840 TO 1843-
Arrival of Settlers-Smal Beginning Four Thousand Dollar Burglary -- Audubon-Laying Off the Town -- Declaration of Proprietor -- Certificate -- Acknowledgement -- Reservation of Lots-Streets-Additions -- First Con- veyance 400
CHAPTER IV.
OLD SETTLERS AND WHAT THEY DID- Postmasters of St. Joseph -- Business Men of 1845 -- Professional Men- Prices Current-Fourth of July Cele- bration-Letters-Meeting of Physi- cians -- Interesting Incidents, Etc . . 413 CHAPTER V.
CITY OFFICERS-1845 TO 1881 -
440
CIIAPTER VI.
NEWSPAPERS-
459
CHAPTER VII.
CHURCHES OF ST. JOSEPH-
474
CHAPTER VIII.
SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES IN BUCHANAN COUNTY-
506
CHAPTER IX.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF ST. JOSEPH-
531
CHAPTER X.
RAILROADS-
Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad-St. Joseph & Western Railroad - The Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs Railroad -- St. Louis & St. Joseph Railroad -- Missouri Pacific Railway-St. Joseph & Des Moines Railroad. . 569
CHAPTER XI.
TRADE, COMMERCE, ETC. -
Board of Trade-Its Officers and Mem- bers - Wholesale Trade -- Sewerage -- Street Railways-Gas Works-Water Works-St. Joseph Clearing House- Union Stock Yards - Live Stock- Packing House- Ice -Opera House -City Hall-Chamber of Commerce - Custom House and Postoffice - Glucose Works -- Star Preserving Works-Produce Packing -- Military -Telephone -- Telegraph Statistics- Express Companies -- Postoffice -- In- ternal Revenue -- Grain -- City Finances. 588
CHAPTER XII.
COLLEGES, BANKS, ETC .-
Medical Colleges-Banks and Bank- ers- Insurance Companies --- Real Estate Associations -- Hotels - Manu- facturing Interests-Mills and Manu- factories -Wholesale Houses. . . . 616 CHAPTER XIII.
INTERESTING EVENTS-
Horace Greeley-Lincoln-Seward- Seward's Speech-Grant -- Sherman- Hayes -- Park and Boulevard-New Ulm Park-Cemeteries - Death of Joseph Rubidoux-Pony Express- Homes of St. Joseph-Tom Farris . 637 CHAPTER XIV.
THE GREAT IRON BRIDGE AND UNION DEPOT-
History of the Bridge-Description -- Celebration in Honor of Its Comple- tion -- Railroad Traffic Over It-Foot and Wagon Traffic-Union Depot- Description-Its Necessity-Import - ance to St. Joseph. . 647
CHAPTER XV.
FIRE DEPARTMENT OF ST. JOSEPH- Its Origin, Growth and Subsequent Importance 657
BIOGRAPHICAL.
CITY OF ST. JOSEPH AND WASHINGTON
TOWNSHIP. . 659
MARION TOWNSHIP . 955
TREMONT TOWNSHIP 966
AGENCY TOWNSHIP . 975
CENTER TOWNSHIP.
984
WAYNE TOWNSHIP
. 999
LAKE TOWNSHIP
IOOS
RUSH TOWNSHIP . 1009
BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP 1020
CRAWFORD TOWNSHIP . 10.42
JACKSON TOWNSHIP
1056
PLATTE TOWNSHIP
1065
ADDENDA
1073
LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS.
JOSEPH ROBIDOUX . Frontispiece.
W. R. PENICK . 850
ISRAEL LANDIS .
681
W. C. TOOLE . 917
R T. DAVIS .
745
C W. CAMPBELL . 937
A. N. SCHUSTER
So9
S. L. LEONARD 1000
Page.
HISTORY OF MISSOURI,
CHAPTER I.
LOUISIANA PURCHASE.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH.
The purchase of the vast territory west of the Mississippi River, by the United States, extending through Oregon to the Pacific coast and south to the dominions of Mexico, constitutes the most important event that ever occurred in the history of the nation.
It gave to our republic additional room for that expansion and stu- pendous growth, to which it has since attained, in all that makes it strong and enduring, and forms the seat of an empire, from which will radiate an influence for good unequaled in the annals of time. In 1763, one hundred and eighteen years ago, the immense region of country, known at that time as Louisiana, was ceded to Spain by France. By a secret article, in the treaty of St. Ildefonso, concluded in 1800, Spain ceded it back to France. Napoleon, at that time, coveted the island of St. Domingo, not only because of the value of its products, but more especially because its location in the Gulf of Mexico would, in a military point of view, afford him a fine field, whence he could the more effec- tively guard his newly acquired possessions. Hence he desired this cession by Spain should be kept a profound secret until he succeeded in reducing St. Domingo to submission. In this undertaking, however, his hopes were blasted, and so great was his disappointment that he apparently became indifferent to the advantages to be derived to France from his purchase of Louisiana.
In 1803 he sent out Laussat as prefect of the colony, who gave the people of Louisiana the first intimation that they had had, that they had once more become the subjects of France. This was the occasion of great rejoicing among the inhabitants, who were Frenchmen in their origin, habits, manners and customs.
10
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
Mr. Jefferson, then President of the United States, on being in- formed of the retrocession, immediately dispatched instructions to Robert Livingston the American Minister at Paris, to make known to Napoleon that the occupancy of New Orleans, by his government, would not only endanger the friendly relations existing between the two nations, but, perhaps, oblige the United States to make common cause with England, his bitterest and most dreaded enemy, as the possession of the city by France would give her command of the Mississippi, which was the only outlet for the produce of the Western States, and give her also control of the Gulf of Mexico, so necessary to the protection of American commerce. Mr. Jefferson was so fully impressed with the idea that the occupancy of New Orleans, by France, would bring about a conflict of interests between the two nations, which would finally cul- minate in an open rupture, that he urged Mr. Livingston, to not only insist upon the free navigation of the Mississippi, but to negotiate for the purchase of the city and the surrounding country.
The question of this negotiation was of so grave a character to the United States that the President appointed Mr. Monroe, with full power, to act in conjunction with Mr. Livingston. Ever equal to all emergen- cies, and prompt in the cabinet, as well as in the field, Napoleon came to the conclusion that, as he could not well defend his occupancy of New Orleans, he would dispose of it, on the best terms possible. Before, however, taking final action in the matter, he summoned two of his min- isters, and addressed them as follows :
"I am fully sensible of the value of Louisiana, and it was my wish to repair the error of the French diplomatists who abandoned it in 1763. I have scarcely recovered it before I run the risk of losing it ; but if I am obliged to give it up, it shall hereafter cost more to those who force me to part with it, than to those to whom I shall yield it. The English have despoiled France of all her northern possessions in America, and now they covet those of the South. I am determined that they shall not have the Mississippi. Although Louisiana is but a trifle compared to their vast possessions in other parts of the globe, yet, judging from the vexation they have manifested on seeing it return to the power of France, I am certain that their first object will be to gain possession of it. They will probably commence the war in that quarter. They have twenty vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, and our affairs in St. Domingo are daily getting worse since the death of LeClerc. The conquest of Lou- isiana might be easily made, and I have not a moment to lose in getting it out of their reach. I am not sure but that they have already begun an attack upon it. Such a measure would be in accordance with their habits ; and in their place I should not wait. I am inclined, in order to deprive them of all prospect of ever possessing it, to cede it to the United States. Indeed, I can hardly say that I cede it, for I do not yet
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
possess it ; and if I wait but a short time my enemies may leave me nothing but an empty title to grant to the republic I wish to conciliate. I consider the whole colony as lost, and I believe that in the hands of this rising power it will be more useful to the political and even com- mercial interests of France than if I should attempt to retain it. Let me have both .your opinions on the subject."
One of his ministers approved of the contemplated cession, but the other opposed it. The matter was long and earnestly discussed by them, before the conference was ended. The next day Napoleon sent for the minister who had agreed with him, and said to him: "The season for deliberation is over. I have determined to renounce Louisiana. I shall give up not only New Orleans, but the whole colony, without reserva- tion. That I do not undervalue Louisiana, I have sufficiently proved, as the object of my first treaty with Spain was to recover it. But though I regret parting with it, I am convinced it would be folly to persist in try- ing to keep it. I commission you, therefore, to negotiate this affair with the envoys of the United States. Do not wait the arrival of Mr. Monroe, . but go this very day and confer with Mr. Livingston. Remember, however, that I need ample funds for carrying on the war, and I do not wish to commence it by levying new taxes. For the last century France and Spain have incurred great expense in the improvement of Louisiana, for which her trade has never indemnified them. Large sums have been advanced to different companies, which have never been returned to the treasury. It is fair that I should require repayment for these. Were I to regulate my demands by the importance of this terri- tory to the United States, they would be unbounded ; but, being obliged to part with it, I shall be moderate in my terms. Still, remember, I must have fifty millions of francs, and I will not consent to take less. I would rather make some desperate effort to preserve this fine country."
That day the negotiations commenced. Mr. Monroe reached Paris on the 12th of April, and the two representatives of the United States, after holding a private interview, announced that they were ready to treat for the entire territory. On the 30th of April, 1803, eighteen days afterward, the treaty was signed, and on the 21st of October, of the same year, Congress ratified the treaty. The United States were to pay $11,250,000, and her citizens to be compensated for some illegal captures to the amount of $3,750,000, making in the aggregate the sum of $ 15,000,000, while it was agreed that the vessels and merchandise of France and Spain should be admitted into all the ports of Louisiana free of duty for twelve years. Bonaparte stipulated in favor of Louisiana, that it should be, as soon as possible, incorporated into the Union, and that its inhabitants should enjoy the same rights, privileges and immuni- ties as other citizens of the United States, and the clause giving to them
12
HISTORY OF MISSOURI.
these benefits, was drawn up by Bonaparte, who presented it to the plenipotentiaries with these words: "Make it known to the people of Louisiana, that we regret to part with them ; that we have stipulated for all the advantages they could desire ; and that France, in:giving them up, has insured to them the greatest of all. They could never have pros- pered under any European government as they will when they become independent. But while they enjoy the privileges of liberty let them remember that they are French, and preserve for their mother country that affection which a common origin inspires."
Complete satisfaction was given to both parties in the terms of the treaty. Mr. Livingston said: "I consider that from this day the United States takes rank with the first powers of Europe, and now she has entirely escaped from the power of England," and Bonaparte expressed a similar sentiment when he said : "By this cession of terri- tory I have secured the power of the United States, and given to . England a maritime rival, who, at some future time, will humble her pride." These were prophetic words, for within a few years afterward the British met with a signal defeat, on the plains of the very territory of which the great Corsican had been speaking.
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.