USA > Missouri > A history of Missouri from the earliest explorations and settlements until the admission of the state into the union, Volume II > Part 16
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But Morgan thus employed with his plans was secretly antagonized in a manner he did not suspect, nor his patron Don Diego Gardoqui. Don Estevan Miro, Governor of Louisiana, and Gen. James Wilkin -. son of the army of the United States, were at this time engaged in a deep plot to dismember the Union, separating the people of Kentucky and the West from the Atlantic states, and hence the establishment of a colony such as Morgan proposed did not harmonize with their
14 53 Draper's Collection, Clark MSS., No. 79.
of' the River St. Francis
PL.IN of the FORT
Branch
of New MADRID
INSE A.LA GR.HISSE Scale of' 1300 Fathoms
1001
Meadows
ershon extent
Z-
"Marshy Ground
Bear
auser
Jung Pond
St. Francis
Bi Canseway
G
River
B. Causewey
Gut St. Ana :
River
MISSISSIPI
THE ENVIRONS OF NEW MADRID, FROM GENERAL COLLOT'S VOYAGE DANS L'AMERIQUE
Thoma
I22
HISTORY OF MISSOURI
scheme. Gen. Wilkinson was then in the secret employment of Spain. When Morgan published his plans, Gen. Wilkinson actuated at once by self-interest and fear advised Governor Miro, of the dangerous tendency of the proposed colony. In a letter dated Feb- ruary 12, 1789, he refers to the fact that Morgan, although a man of education, is a profound speculator ; that he has twice been a bankrupt ; that he is in poor circumstances, and that none of the colonists he is settling in the new colony are from Kentucky. Then discussing Morgan's project he says, "In a political point of view Morgan's establishment can produce no good result, but on the contrary will have the most pernicious consequences, because the Americans who settle there will on account of their proximity to, and their constant intercourse with their countrymen of this side of the river, retain their old prejudices and feelings and continue to be Americans as if they were on the banks of the Ohio. On the other side the intention of detaining the productions of this vast country at a point so distant from their real market, whilst the Americans shall remain the carriers of that trade, cannot fail to cause discontent and embroil the two countries in difficulties. Probably it will destroy the noble fabric of which we have laid out the foundation and which we are endeavoring to complete. If it be deemed necessary to keep the Americans at a distance from Louisiana, let the Spaniards at least be the carriers of the pro- duce they receive at their posts and of the merchandise which is ac- ceptable to the Americans. In this way will be formed an impene- trable barrier without any cost to the King, because in less than thirty years His Catholic Majesty will have on the river at least thirty thousand boatmen and which it will be easy to keep and convert into armed bodies to assist in the defense of the province from whatever quarter it may be threatened." Concluding he says, that "it is long since Morgan has become jealous of me, and you may rest assured that in reality he is not well-affected towards our cause, but that he allows himself to be entirely ruled by motives of the vilest self-interest, and therefore he will not scruple on his return to New York to destroy me."
While Morgan was surveying his city and diligently laboring to lay the foundation of his fortune, Governor Miro was perusing Gen. Wilkinson's letter, and when Col. Morgan came to New Orleans in the following May to secure approval of the concession of Don Diego Gardoqui, he found his scheme effectually ruined. On May 20, 1789, Governor Miro addressed a dispatch to his government in
123
MIRO
which he disapproved the policy of making a large concession to Col. Morgan, and of granting to the colonists the right of self-government, exemption from taxation, thus creating an imperium in imperio. On the 23d of May, with profound dissimulation, he wrote Morgan that he was surprised, on reading in the papers submitted to him, that the extent of territory conceded was so large, although he was fully advised by Gen. Wilkinson of its extent, and that the privileges attached to the grant were exorbitant and completely inadmis- sible. And then stating the terms upon which he would allow the establishment of a colony, he says with consummate deception, "Truly it is a matter of deep regret, because having been made acquainted with the fine qualities for which you are distinguished I was awaiting your arrival with impatience and with the hope of approving your plan. I am therefore much disappointed at being obliged to resist its execu- tion, because it would be extremely prejudicial to the welfare and interest of the kingdom to permit the establishment of a Republic within its domains, for such I consider the Government which you have conceived, although retaining some shadow of submission to his Majesty." He then expressed regret that Col. Morgan should have caused it to be circulated through Ohio and Kentucky that he had received so extensive a concession, and that under the impression that it was final, he caused the plan of a city to be drawn and should have given it a name, the exercise of a power appertaining to the sovereign alone, and that in a letter addressed to certain persons at Fort Pitt (no doubt referring to the letter heretofore set out) he should have gone so far as to designate it as "our" city, although Don Diego Gardoqui only authorized a survey of the land, and concluding he says, "How wide a difference is there between what you did and what you had a right to do." All these acts, however, he was willing to attri- bute to imprudence and excessive zeal to serve the king, and that if he should be disposed to remain in the service of his Majesty he would authorize him to induce families to settle in the Natchez district, and that if successful, he, Miro, would reward him in a befitting manner, promising a concession of one thousand acres of land for him- self and each of his sons. He also advised him that a fort would be constructed at the place where he had located New Madrid, and that a detachment of soldiers would be sent there, and that the commander would be instructed to receive all immigrants favorably.
Thus Morgan's principality vanished like the "baseless fabric of a vision." He submitted with good grace and dignity, and we cannot
124
HISTORY OF MISSOURI
withhold from him our sympathy. The next day he answered Governor Miro's letter, apologizing for his course, saying that if he had erred it was with the best intention and from ignorance, thanking the Governor for attributing what he had done to his excessive zeal to serve his Majesty. "As I have always kept up the character of a man of honor,'' said he, "I am sure you will remain convinced that I shall never act knowingly in violation of the laws of his Majesty." Then explaining his motives for leaving the United States he says, "Among the inducements which I had to. leave my native country must be reckoned the desire of increasing my fortune, establishing my family in peace under a safe and secure government. If you have occa- sionally read the Acts of Congress you may have seen that my father-in-law, Baynton, myself and my partners were unjustly dis- possessed by the state of Virginia of the largest territorial estate within its limits, and that it was not in the power of Congress to protect us, although that Honorable body manifested the best dispo- sition to do so."
Miro reported to his government his course in the matter, and observed that if he had acquiesced in Morgan's plans an independent republic would have been organized within the limits of Louisiana. On the conditions set out in Morgan's plans he says he himself would undertake to depopulate the greater part of the United States and draw all their citizens to Louisiana, including the whole of Congress. He also states that Thomas Hutchins, Surveyor-General and Geogra- pher of the United States had written to ascertain if Morgan's con- cession had been approved, and that if accepted, he would become a subject of His Catholic Majesty and resign the office and salary he now enjoyed, and that the proposition to allow the colonists to govern themselves, but the King to pay their magistrates, would attract a prodigious number of people.15
At first the Commandant of Ste. Genevieve, Henri Peyroux, exercised jurisdiction over the new settlement at New Madrid, the territory then being considered within the Ste. Genevieve district. Morgan when he explored the country visited Ste. Genevieve and while there told Peyroux that he intended to found his new city opposite the mouth of the Ohio, but Peyroux then advised him that the land there was low and subject to overflow, that the first high land on the west side of the river, and from which a prairie ex- tended north was found at L' Anse à la Graise, and Peyroux says
15 Gayarre's Spanish Dominion of Louisiana, p. 267.
125
FOUCHER
that this led Morgan to establish his city there. After Morgan's failure to secure approval of the grant made by Gardoqui, Miro ordered Peyroux to New Madrid with a small police force of six soldiers to preserve order among the new settlers. While there he opened several roads for carts and wagons, made land grants, and called the settlers together to have them determine whether they desired to cultivate their land in separate fields or in a common-field, and these American settlers then decided in favor of separate fields, each farmer to fence his own land. Accordingly no common-field was established in New Madrid. The settlers also selected, as a " common " for wood and as pasture land, a large tract on the other side of Cypress bayou and requested that grants of land be made to encourage the building of a mill, distillery, tannery, and brick-yard. These several matters Peyroux submitted to Governor Miro. In an order preserved in the Spanish archives of New Madrid, dated June 27, 1789, he, however, declares that he will not grant any of the lands marked out by Colonels George Harrison and Benjamin Harrison,16 and which they gave notice they reserved for themselves and their friends, the lands so designated extending twenty miles north of New Madrid and embracing two hundred separate tracts, exclusive of lakes and marshes, all no doubt located on the high ridge north of New Madrid known as Big Prairie.17
Governor Miro, in July, 1789, dispatched Lieutenant Pierre Foucher, of the stationary regiment of Louisiana, with two sergeants, two corporals, and a detachment of thirty soldiers to New Madrid to build a fort and take civil and military command. Foucher, in 1788, was one of the ordinary alcaldes of New Orleans,18 and seems on the whole to have been well qualified for the position of commandant. His instructions were to govern the new colonists in such'a way " as to make them feel that they had found among the Spaniards the state
16 This General Benjamin Harrison was among the most prominent men of the new settlement. He came from Kentucky where he had distinguished himself in the Border wars. He was a man of property, a slave owner, and had a large family. He fully entered into Morgan's plans and pro- posed to bring a large number of settlers into the country. His two sons, Law- rence and William, were also among Morgan's followers. Another son, Benja- min, Junior, was also here. With General Harrison came Benjamin Hinkston, his son-in-law, and son of the celebrated John Hinkston (or Hinkson), who him- self came to New Madrid from Kentucky. In 1802 while General Harrison was absent on a trip to Kentucky, George N. Reagan forced his son to surrender a negro slave, claimed as part payment of land bought of Reagan, but afterward Harrison recovered the slave by suit.
17 Letter of Peyroux in New Madrid Archives.
18 2 Martin's Louisiana, p. 79.
I 26
HISTORY OF MISSOURI
of ease and comfort for which they were in quest." 19 In 1791 Foucher reports that 219 new settlers had presented themselves between the Ist of January to the end of April and taken the oath of allegiance. Many of them were from Vincennes and Gallipolis.
Morgan subsequently wrote to Gardoqui that he owed it to his own character to say that the only partial adoption of his enterprise
Gioco Foucher
by Miro, his apparent displeasure at the steps Gardoqui had taken to make a settlement of so great consequence to Spain, his extreme anxiety to be thought the first proposer and promoter of a settlement opposite the mouth of the Ohio, and his appointment of a young French officer to command and govern this infant settlement, would in a great measure defeat the expectation which had so justly been formed from the measures he, Gardoqui, had recommended. He further wrote, that he believed that the young French gentleman appointed to the command at New Madrid had real merit as a gentleman and officer, but the fact that he was a trader would certainly not "promote his Majesty's service in any respect," on the contrary he believed that this fact alone would have pernicious consequences and retard the settlement of the country, that he did not think that any officer holding the position of commandant of a post, or governor of a settlement should dishonor the King's commission by being a trader ; that he could not suppose that he had either the knowledge or the experience equal to the task of the position; and, that whatever his ability might be, the fact that he did not speak the English language would greatly embarrass him; that if he had been appointed merely to build the fort, command the troops and deal with the Indians, he might have been highly useful and agreeable to him, but no further. And, in conclusion, Morgan says, "I wish to be candid, sir, but not to
19 According to Martin "a company of infantry was sent to build a garrison and fort near the intended site of the city." (2 Martin's History of Louisiana, p. 90.) Foucher built Fort Celeste "which was named thus in compliment to the wife of Estevan Miro, the governor of Louisiana," according to McCoy. (2 Hunt's Minutes, p. 154.)
I27
SALE OF LANDS
give offence. The trust reposed in me, and the importance of my conduct to the King's service, however, induce me to say that I do not believe his Excellency, Governor Miro, is possessed of the necessary ideas respecting the object his Majesty has in view; and his warmth of temper and passions prevent his obtaining the knowledge and information requisite to his station. His copartnership with General Wilkinson has been exceedingly injurious to his Majesty 's colony, and will, I fear, be attended with more very, very inconvenient conse- quences. His warmth, on the liberty we took in calling the proposed settlement New Madrid, treating it as highly criminal, instead of viewing it in the light we meant it, viz., to show our determined reso- lution to become subjects of the King, and our respect and attachment to the nation - and the offense he took at the mention of "our city" in the circular letter, are proofs to me that his mind does not embrace the objects which his Majesty appears to have in view. It is scarcely possible for you to conceive the warmth of resentment with which he expressed himself on your having listened to my proposition at any rate, for he really did not understand them; nor did he condescend to ask a single explanation of them nor of any part, but he has been extremely pointed in his aversion to freedom in religious matters - but he gradually cooled and softened down to the temper · which produced the two commissions and instructions annexed. At parting, he gave me the letter I have had the honor to forward to you in which, he informed me, he had warmly recommended me to you. If the acquisition of eight or ten thousand industrious subjects by your or by my means is desirable to his Ma- jesty, I cannot but think the Governor ought not to have discovered jealousy or displeasure at names or straws; as a gentleman he might have proposed an alteration to avoid giving offense to his Majesty, where only respect was intended. " 20
Miro especially objected to the sale that Morgan contemplated of the lands in his projected colony, but Morgan thought that giving lands away, as an encouragement to gain settlers, had a bad effect, and was only an encouragement to settle to those who were extremely poor and indigent, and he desired to make a trial in his proposed settlement of New Madrid, of making sale of land at a small price, while grants at Natchez, Illinois, etc., were made free, so that the relative merit of the the two plans might be verified by actual workings, and he says "it is an experiment worth making, for if it succeeds to my expectations the
20 See letter of Morgan to Gardoqui.
I28
HISTORY OF MISSOURI
immense tracts of his Majesty's waste lands in America will be a Peruvian mine to him." He supposed that there were about eight hundred million acres of land on the Mississippi and its waters, which might be sold at an average of 122 cents per acre, and that the advantages derived from such a sale would be as nothing compared "to the advantages derivable of the subjects who would populate the lands," and that the foundation for peopling this vast domain ought to be the best possible regulations, and not left "to chance or to desperate men.'' 21
Miro authorized and empowered Morgan to introduce into Louisiana and part in Natchez, any number of families, farmers, traders and laborers, and wrote him on the 29th of May, 1789, that he would himself recommend " to his Majesty the merit that you will acquire in the commission," and that he was sure he would be rewarded in proportion to the number, who by his influence and ex- ample should make a settlement, and that for his own part he would assure him of a grant of one thousand acres of land, and as many for each of his children, in any part of the province; and on June 26th he issued a commission to Morgan in case of the death of the officer he had appointed as commandant of New Madrid and in which he says "reposing special trust and confidence in your ability, fidelity, and honor, I do hereby nominate and appoint you commandant of the said territory until further orders from me, subject to the instructions I have already given you, and those which you may hereafter receive from me."
In this manner Miro set aside the plans of Gardoqui and annulled Morgan's incomplete grant, but authorizing grants of land to those who had been induced to settle in the New Madrid district. No ex- clusive right to trade with New Orleans22 was given the settlers at New
21 After this failure Morgan turned his attention to an estate bequeathed to him in Washington county, Pennsylvania, by his brother, and here he set- tled, naming his estate "Morganza," and here he died after a checkered and strenuous life, in 1810. It was at his residence at "Morganza", at a dinner, that it was charged that Burr made treasonable remarks against the United States. Cuming, who, in 1807, enjoyed the hospitality of General Morgan, describes his house as a long narrow frame building with two ends lower than the main body of the house, by way of wings, and says that the situation for the house was not well chosen when he had apparently the choice of better locations, and says that one is more apt to be struck by anything like false taste in any work that has been finished under the direction of a man of education and refinement, "which in addition to liberal hospitality is General Morgan's character, as well as that of his amiable and accomplished lady." Cuming's Tour to the West p. 217. .
22 Windsor's Westward Movement, p. 306.
I29
FOUCHER'S ACTIVITY
Madrid, as stated by Windsor. Morgan's project laid thefoundation for the peaceful conquest by the Americans of at least upper Loui- siana, for, owing to the impulse given American immigration by the wide advertisement of Morgan's plans, and the liberal land policy of the Spanish authorities, a majority of the population in upper Loui- siana, when the territory was ceded, was already composed of Amer- icans. So great was the immigration into upper Louisiana, when Morgan first published his plan, that Major Hamtramck wrote in 1789, that "all of our Americans of Post Vincennes will go to Mor- gan," that within twenty days "not less than 100 souls have passed daily" to his new colony.23 After the collapse of Morgan's scheme, the Spanish officials continued to encourage settlers to come to the Spanish side, says Hamtramck "by giving them land gratis." 24 This immigration into the Spanish territory was greatly increased by the passage of the Ordinance of 1787, and which led people to believe that the negroes northwest of the Ohio would be freed as soon as a territorial government should be established.25
LaForge tells us that Foucher "was the man that was wanted for the creation of this colony; busying himself at the same time with his own interests as of those of the inhabitants, with his own amusements as well as theirs, but always after having attended first to his business, and by a singular address if he sometimes plucked the fowl, he not only did it without making it squall, but set it to dancing and laughing.''26 During his administration of eighteen months Foucher "divided the country into districts, laid out the town into lots, built an imposing fort, promulgated the laws of the King and made them respected, and, when he departed from the post, was lamented, regretted, and demanded again from the governor-general by the unanimous voice of all the inhabitants.''27 Foucher seems to have directed all the affairs of the settlement. He laid out all the public works, explored the cypress swamps of the locality, and selected timber there for the government buildings, laid out the streets and lots of the new town, compass in hand. While he was in command a large number of American immigrants, who had no doubt been at- tracted by the publicity Morgan gave to the country, settled in the town and adjacent country.
23 Harmer Papers, vol. 2, p. 50.
24 Ibid., p. 371.
25 Harmer Papers, vol. 2, pp. 18 and 90.
26 LaForge's Report in I Billon's Annals of St. Louis, p. 266.
27 LaForge's Report in I Billon's Annals of St. Louis, p. 266.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
When Pope went down the Mississippi in 1791, he breakfasted and dined with "Singior Pedro Foucher, Commandant at Nuevo Madrid." At that time the garrison was well supplied with food and raiment, and he had at his command "an excellent train of artillery, which appears to be their chief defense," but Pope thinks that "two regular companies of musqueteers with charge-bayonets could take the town." He says that Foucher was of the same opinion, and that he claimed "that he was not well supported." Foucher was, according to Pope, "a creole of French extraction, of Patagonian size, polite in manners and of a most noble presence."28 Pope left New Madrid on the evening of March 12, 1791, in a boat called the "Smokehouse," bound for New Orleans, and the first night after his departure anchored on the "Georgian"' shore, about thirty miles be- low New Madrid. 29
In the previous year, General David Forman, passing down the Mississippi says that he stopped at "L' Anse à la Graise, which place, or adjoining, bears the name of New Madrid, which is the American part of the little village settled under the auspices of Colonel George Morgan," and from which it would appear that the American settlers then lived in one part of the town and the French settlers in another part. General Forman while in the port of New Madrid with his craft called' on the commandant, and thus describes his visit: "Arrived at the gate, the guard was so anxious to trade his tame raccoon with our men that he scarcely took any notice of us. We went to headquarters; there was but little ceremony. When we were shown into the commander's presence, I stepped toward him a little in advance of my friends and announced my name. I was most cordially and familiarly received. Then I introduced my friends, naming their respective places of residence. After a little conversa- tion we arose to retire when the commandant advanced and politely asked me to dine with him an hour after 12 o'clock, and bring my accompanying friends with me. I turned to the gentlemen for their concurrence, which they gave, and we all returned to our boats. I then observed to my friends that the commandant would expect some present from us, such was the custom, and what should it be? Mr. Bayard, I believe, asked me to suggest something in our power to tender. I then remarked that as we had plenty of good hams that we
28 See Pope's Tour, p. 22.
2º See Pope's Tour, p. 23. Evidently he thought that Georgia extended to the Mississippi at that place.
I3I
PORTELLE
fill a barrel and send them to our host; that they might prove as ac- ceptable as anything. The proposition met the approval of all, and the hams were accordingly sent at once, with perhaps an accompanying note. At an hour after 12 o'clock I remember well that we found ourselves comfortably seated at the hospitable board of the Spanish commandant, who expressed much delight at receiving our fine present. He gave us a splendid dinner in the Spanish style, and plenty of good wines and coffee without cream. The command- ant addressing me while we were indulging in the liquids before us; said that we must drink to the health of the ladies in our sweet liquors, "so," said he, "we will drink the health of Mrs. Forman," meaning my worthy cousin, who had preceded us in the visit to the garrison. After dinner the commandant invited us to take a walk in the fine prairies. He said he thought he could "drive a coach and four through these open woods to St. Louis."
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