History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 4

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1020

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From the village of Santa Marie they reached Santa Fe in one day's march, having, since leaving the river of the Pawnces, on the 29th of May, fifty-four days previously,

marched two hundred and sixty-five leagues over 'trackless and unfertile plains, at the hottest period of the year, without shade or shelter, crossing rapid and dangerous streams, exposed to attacks from hostile barbarians, and liable to be shot as spies at the end of their journey. It is certainly not too much to claim for these heroic men, whose exploits have been so long buried and forgotten, the credit of having participated in an enter- prise which tested the highest qualities of manhood, and entitles them to rank with great leaders and explorers whose deeds have been the theme of commendatory pens since their performance, and will continue to be for all time. Their names, which fol- low, ought not to be longer unremembered. They are, Peter Mallet, Paul Mallet, Philip Robitaille, Louis Morin, Michael Beslot, Joseph Bellecourt, Manuel Gallien and John David, all of French extraction, and all, except David, who was a native of France born in Canada.

They were received no less courteously by the Spanish authorities of Santa Fe than they had been by those of the villages along their route. It is evident, however, that during the nine months of their stay, a period rendered necessary by the infrequency and tardiness of communication with the viceroy at the City of Mexico, they were subjected to a strict surveillance, and were allowed to glean as little as might be con- cerning matters which would be useful to the Freuch. The answer of the viceroy to their request to be allowed to institute a regular commerce across the plains between the French and Spanish settlements, was, when it did at last come, temporizing and indecisive. He thought, in fact, to detach them from their allegiance to the French monarch, and to induce them to engage in still further explorations in his own service. His offers were, however, declined, and seven of the original number-one of them, Louis Morin, having found Santa Fe a veritable Capua, and married in that city-started

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

again across the plains. Three of them retraced their steps and returned to their allies, the Pawnees of the Loup. The four others, however, determined to reach New Orleans by way of the Arkansas River, and succeeded finally in making their way to that city after continued labors, hardships, discouragements and perils, which makes it marvellous that they should have accom- plished their object in tolerable health and without the loss of a single man. They reported that the village of Santa Fe was an unfortified city, built of frail material, guarded by few ill-equipped and ill-con- ditioned soldiers; that the vicinity was rich in mines of silver and other precious mate- rial, and that they thought that they had made a favorable impression by their gifts upon the savage nations of the region round about. Nothing further, however, was heard of hostile movements, and the two nations, hereditary enemies, continued separated by vast plains regarded as well nigh impassable; until after the lapse of more than two dec-

ades diplomacy effected what hostilities had been unable to bring about, and France, in 1762, ceded to Spain the territory then known as Lonisiana. The Spaniard, however, who in those days was nothing if not glit- tering and showy, cared but little for the development of the immense agricultural resources of the magnificent territory so conveyed, and his rule was careless, neglect- ful and nnpopular. In 1800 Bonaparte pre- vailed npon the Spanish government to reconvey to his nation the lands which dur- ing the thirty-eight years of Spanish occu- pancy it had found alike vexations and unprofitable. Bonaparte, however, was but little more in this transaction than a con- dnit, to hold the title for the only nation which could at that time make any adequate use of the vast possession, and in the year 1803, in consideration of the sum of fifteen millions of dollars, the whole of Louisiana passed by solemn treaty into the hands of the United States ..

CHAPTER III.

THE TITLE TO THE NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY ACQUIRED BY THE UNITED STATES-GOV- ERNOR CLAIBORNE'S PROCLAMATION-A REAL ESTATE DEAL SATISFAC- TORY TO BOTH GRANTOR AND GRANTEE.

On the 20th day of December, 1803, the flag of the United States first floated as a symbol of sovereignty over the city of New Orleans. It signified that not only the present State of Louisiana, but the entire French territory from the Mississippi River to the Pacific and south of the British Pos- sessions had become the property of the young republic. From the land so acquired have grown rich and powerful States; and territories hardly less wealthy and populous are knocking at the doors of the Federal Union for admission. To be more specific, the cession of those portions of the States of Alabama and Mississippi south of the thirty- first parallel, the entire area of the States of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Ne- braska, the two Dakotas, Montana, Washı- ington, all of Minnesota west of the Missis- sippi River, all of Kansas, except a small portion west of the one hundredth meridian and south of the Arkansas river, part of Colorado, the whole of Idaho and Indian territories, with a part of Wyoming.

The history of the transactions which led to the possession by the United States of this enormous addition to their domain shows the wisdom, foresight and prophetic skill of Jefferson and the statesmen who sur- rounded him in a most brilliant light. The rule of Spain had never been satisfactory to our government. The Spaniards were fond of stirring up hostile Indians to open war- fare against our settlers. To the State of Kentucky, which depended on the mouth of

the Mississippi as the natural outlet for its produce, the restrictions on her trade and the threats of closing that gateway altogether to vessels from the United States, were especially galling and exasperating. Still the borderers preferred to bear the ills they had than fly to others that they knew not of. They would rather endure the insults of Spain, studied and violent as they were. than to see possession transferred to France, whose ambition under the rule of Bonaparte and whose love of dominion might make their annoyances even harder to bear, and might lead to enunciation by a force of armed and determined men of the doctrine that navigable rivers are, by the great law of nature, free to all the dwellers upon their banks.

Such was the situation when, in the early part of 1801, shortly after Jefferson's acces- sion to the Presidency, a despatch from Rufus King, the American Minister near the Court of St. James, gave information which was calculated to excite the deepest interest and concern. There was a report in circulation, he said, that a sale of Louis- iana had been made to France. llis view was that we should not interfere so long as the country remained in the hands of Spain. but that no alienation of it except to our- selves should be allowed. For more than a year the verification of Mr. King's rumor. though anxiously sought, could not be had. Napoleon's ministers uniformly and con- stantly denied that any such cession had

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAILA.

been made. By degrees, however, all parties became assured these denials were untrue, and the anger and apprehension which the belief excited found expression in the well known letter from Jefferson to Mr. Livings- ton, at that time our Minister to France.

" There is," says he, "on the globe one single spot, the possessor of which is our natural and habitual enemy. It is New Orleans, through which the produce of three- eighths of our territory must pass to market; and from its fertility it will, ere long, yicld more than half of our whole produce, and contain more than half of our inhabitants France, placing herself in that door, assumes to us the attitude of defiance. Spain might have retained it quietly for years. Her pacific dispositions, her feeble state, would induce her to increase our facilities there, so that her possession of the place would be hardly felt by us, and it would not, perhaps, be very long before some circumstance might arise which would make the cession of it to us the price of something of more worth to her. Not so can it ever be in the hands of France; the impetuosity of her temper, the energy and restlessness of her character, placed in a point of eternal fric- tion with us; and our character, which, though quiet and loving peace and the pur- suit of wealth, is high minded, despising wealth in competition with insult or injury, enterprising and energetie as any nation on earth-these circumstances render it impos- sible that France and the United States can continue long friends, when they meet in so irritating a position. They, as well as we, must be blind if they do not see this; and we must be very improvident if we do not begin to make arrangements on that hypoth- esis. The day that France takes possession of New Orleans fixes the sentence which is to restrain her forever within her low water mark. It seals the union of two nations, who, in conjunction. can maintain exclusive possession of the ocean. From that moment we must marry ourselves to the British fleet

and nation. We must turn all our atten- tion to a maritime force, for which our resources place us on very high ground; and having formed and connected together a power which may render reinforcement of her settlements here impossible to France. make the first cannon which shall be fired in Europe the signal for tearing up any settle- ment she may have made, and for holding the two continents of America in sequestra- tion for the common purposes of the British and American nations."

Sentiments so bold and outspoken as the above were calculated to warn Napoleon that the retention of his power in the New World would be far more hazardous and expensive than his European schemes; but he temporized and hesitated long before he could bring himself to part with an empire which was destined at no distant day in the life of a nation, to add both power and wealth to its possessors. Kentucky fumed and threatened to open the gateway with her own militia. The Federalists taunted their opponents with the supineness, indiffer- ence and cowardice of the ruling powers. The whole country was indignant at the threatened occupation. Napoleon, however, was calm, quiet and obstinate in his refusal to treat.

But at last the fear of an alliance on the part of the United States with England, and the feeling, also, that even without such an alliance, New Orleans would be at the mercy of an English fleet in the event of a renewal of hostilities, led him to deliberate; and deliberation speedily convinced him of the advisability of getting rid of a possession which would, in war, be a source of anxiety and expense to him, and receiving in return funds sufficient to enable him to resume the offensive towards his ancient foes, should he so determine. It was not without a struggle that he came to this conclusion. "I know,'' said he, " the full value of Louisiana, and have been desirous of repairing the fault of the French negotiator who abandoned it in

THE TITLE TO THE NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY.

1763. A few lines of a treaty have restored it to me, and I have scarcely recovered it when I must expect to lose it. But if it escapes from me, it shall one day cost dearer to those who oblige me to strip myself of it, than to those to whom I wish to deliver it. The English have successively taken from France, Canada, Cape Breton, Newfound- land, Nova Scotia, and the richest portions of Asia. They shall not have the Missis- sippi, which they covet. I have not a moment to lose in putting it out of their reach. think of ceding it to the United States. I

I can scarcely say that I cede it to them for it is not yet in our possession. If, however, I leave the least time to our enemies, I shall only transmit an empty title to those repub- licans whose friendship I seek. They only ask of mne one town in Louisiana; but I already consider the colony as entirely lost; and it appears to me that in the hands of this growing power it will be more useful to the policy, and even to the commerce of France than if I should attempt to keep it."

Thus peaceably passed into the possession of the United States Government the richest and most valuable part of her domain. The negotiations which followed were merely concerning price and terms of cession; and when one party is anxious to sell and the other to buy, these are usually matters which are arranged without much trouble. The entire cost as summed up on final settlement, according to the original treaty stipulations, was 60,000,000 francs, or $15,000,000 in money and bonds, to which if added the in- terest on bonds to the time of redemption. $8,529,353, and claims of citizens of the United States, due from France and assumed by the United States, $3,738,268.98, the total amount will be $27,267,621.98. The terri- tory conveyed added to the public domain 1,183,752 square miles, or 760,961,280 acres. The few acres which comprise the City of Omaha would now, if put up at auction, pay several times over the consideration for the entire purchase. . 2

The United States, safely at last estah- lished in the possession of a gateway which had acted as a constant menace to the citizens of Kentucky, and others living on the banks of the Ohio and tributary streams, lost no time in beginning to improve and make use of their new purchase. On the 23d of Octo- ber the following act was approved:

AN ACT to enable the President of the United States to take possession of the territories ceded by France to the United States, by the treaty concluded at Paris on the thirtieth day of April last, and for the temporary government thereof. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled:

That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to take possession of and occupy the territory ceded by France to the United States, by the treaty concluded at Paris on the thirtieth day of April last, between the two na- tions ; and that he may, for that purpose, and in order to maintain in the said territories the authority of the United States, employ any part of the army and navy of the United States, and of the force authorized by an act passed the third day of March last entitled, "An act directing a detachment from the militia of the United States and for erecting certain arsenals," which he may deem necessary, and so much of the sum appro- priated by the said act as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated for the purpose of carrying this act into effect : to be applied under the direc- tion of the President of the United States.

SEC. 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That until the expiration of the present session of Congress, unless provision for the temporary government of the said territories be sooner made by Congress, all the military, civil and judicial powers exer- cised by the officers of the existing government of the same, shall be vested in such person and per- sons, and shall be exercised in such manner as the President of the United States shall direct for maintaining and protecting the inhabitants of Lonisiana in the free enjoyment of their liberty, property and religion.

On the 10th of November, 1803, an act was approved providing for bonds to the amount of $11,250,000, for the purpose of carrying into effect the first convention under the treaty, and making provision for paying the same. This was carried into effect, the stock issued, delivered to the

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.

agent of France, and duly acknowleged. The financial agents were Messrs. Hope and Labouchere of Amsterdam, and the Barings of London. On the same day an act was approved making provision for payment of claims of citizens of the United States on the government of France, the payment of which had been assumed by the United States by virtue of the second convention of the 30th of April under the treaty.

President Jefferson at once proceeded to occupy and obtain actual possession of the province, which had been ordered to be delivered to France by writ of the King of Spain, dated Barcelona, October 15th, 1802, General Victor to receive it on the part of France, or any other officer duly authorized by the Republic of France. On the 30th of November, 1803, at New Orleans, Pierre Clement Laussat, colonial prefect, Commis- sioner on the part of France, received the colony and province of Louisiana from El Marques de Casa Calvo, Commissioner on the part of Spain, under an order of February 18, 1803. This was only twenty days prior to its transfer by France to the Commis- sioners on the part of the United States. The manner of taking and receiving posses- sion by the United States was, as detailed in the following message from the President of the United States to Congress. transmitted on the 16th of January, 1804:

In execution of the act of the present session of Congress for taking possession of Louisiana, as ceded to us by France, and for the temporary gov- ernment thereof, Governor Claiborne of the Mis- sissippi Territory and General Wilkinson were appointed Commissioners to receive possession. They proceeded with such regular troops as had been assembled at Fort Adams from the nearest posts, and with some militia of the Mississippi Territory, to New Orleans. To be prepared for anything unexpected which might arise out of the transaction, a respectable body of militia was ordered to be in readiness in the States of Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, and a part of those of Tennessee was moved on to the Natchez. No occasion, however, arose for their services. Our Commissioners, on their arrival at New Orleans, found the province already delivered by

the Commissioners of Spain to that of France, who delivered it over to them on the 20th day of December, as appears by their declaratory act accompanying this. Governor Claiborne, being duly invested with the powers heretofore exer- cised by the Governor and Intendant of Louisiana, assumed the government on the same day, and, for the maintenance of law and order, immediately issued the proclamation and address now com- municated.

On this important acquisition, so favorable to the immediate interests of our western citizens, so auspicious to the peace and security of the nation in general ; which adds to our country territories so extensive and fertile, and to our citizens new brethren to partake of the blessings of freedom and self-government, I offer to Con- gress and our country my sincere congratulations.

TH: JEFFERSON.

The report of the Commissioners. the record of the transfer and the proclamation and address follow in regular order:

CITY OF NEW ORLEANS, 2

December 20, 1803.

SIR : We have the satisfaction to announce to you that the Province of Louisiana was this day surrendered to the United States by the Commis- sioner of France: and to add that the flag of our country was raised in this city amidst the accla- mations of the inhabitants. The enclosed is a copy of an instrument in writing, which was signed and exchanged by the Commissioners of the two governments, and is designed as a record of this interesting transaction.

Accept assurances of our respectful considera- tion. WILLIAM C. C. CLAIBORNE. JA. WILKINSON.

The HON. JAMES MADISON,

Secretary of State, City of Washington.

The undersigned, William C. C. Claiborne and James Wilkinson, Commissioners or agents of the United States, agreeable to the full powers they have received from Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States, under date of the 31st October, 1803, and twenty-eighth year of the independence of the United States of America (8 Brumaire, 12th year of the French Republic), countersigned by the Secretary of State, James Madison, and Citizen Peter Clement Laussat, Colonial Prefect and Commissioner of the French government for the delivery, in the name of the French Republic, of the country, territories and dependencies of Louisiana to the Commissioners or agents of the United States, conformably to the powers, commission, and special mandate which he has received in the name of the French

GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE'S PROCLAMATION.

people from Citizen Bonaparte, First Consul, under date of the 9th of June, 1803 (17 Prairial 11th year of the French Republic), countersigned by the Secretary of State, Hugues Maret, and by His Excellency the Minister of Marine and Colonies, Decres, do certify by these presents, that on this day, Tuesday, the 20th December, 1803, of the Chris- tian era (28th Frimaire, 12th year of the Republic), being convened in the hall of the Hotel de Ville, of New Orleans, accompanied on both sides by the chiefs and officers of the army and navy, by the municipality and divers respectable citizens of their respective republics, the said William C. C. Claiborne and James Wilkinson delivered to the said citizen Laussat their aforesaid full pow- ers, by which it evidently appears that full power and authority has been given them jointly and severally, to take possession of and to occupy the territories ceded by France to the United States by a treaty concluded at Paris on the 30th day of April, last past (10th Floreal), and for that purpose to repair to the said territory, and there to execute and perform all such acts and things touching the premises, as may be necessary for fulfilling their appointment, conformable to the said treaty and laws of the United States; and thereupon, the said Citizen Laussat declared that in virtue of, and in the terms of the powers, commission and special mandate, dated at St. Cloud, 6th June, 1803, of the Christian era (17 Prairial, 11th year of the French Republic), he put from that moment the said Com- missioners of the United States in possession of the country, territories and dependencies of Lou- isiana, conformably to the 1st, 2d, 4th and 5th articles of the treaty, and the two conventions, concluded and signed the 30th April, 1803 (10th Floreal, 11th year of the French Republic), between the French Republic and the United States of America, by Citizen Francis Barbe Marbois, Minis- ter of the Public Treasury, and Messieurs Robert R. Livingston and James Monroe, Ministers Pleni- potentiary of the United States, all three fur- nished with full powers, of which treaty and two conventions, the ratifications, made by the First Consul of the French Republic on the one part, and by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, on the other part, have been exchanged and mutually received at the city of Washington, the 21st of October, 1803, (28 Vindemaire, 12th year of the French Republic), by Citizen Louis Andre Pichon, charge des affaires of the French Republic, near the United States, on the part of France, and by James Madison, Secretary of State of the United States, on the part of the United States, according to the proces verbal drawn up on the same day;

and the present delivery of the country is made to then, to the end that, in conformity with the object of the said treaty, the sovereignty and property of the colony or province of Louisiana may pass to the said United States, under the same clauses and conditions as it had been ceded by Spain to France, in virtue of the treaty con- cluded at St. Ildefonso, on the 1st of October, 1800, (9th Vindemaire, 9th year), between these two last powers, which has since received its execution by the actual re-entrance of the French Republic into possession of the said colony or province.

And the said Citizen Laussat, in consequence, at this present time, delivered to the said Commis- sioners of the United States, in this public sitting, the keys of the City of New Orleans, declaring that he discharges from their oaths of fidelity towards the French Republic, the citizens and inhabitants of Louisiana, who shall choose to remain under the dominion of the United States.

And that it may forever appear, the under- signed have signed the proces verbal of this impor- tant and solemn act in the French and English languages, and have sealed it with their seals, and have caused it to be countersigned by their Secre- taries of Commission, the day, month and year above written.

WM. C. C. CLAIBORNE. [L. S.]

JAMES WILKINSON. [L. S.]

LAUSSAT. [I. S.]

PROCLAMATION

By his Excellency William C. C. Claiborne, Governor of the Mississippi Territory, exercising the powers of Governor-General and Intendant of the Province of Louisiana:

WHEREAS, By stipulations between the govern- ments of France and Spain, the latter ceded to the former the colony and province of Louisiana, with the same extent which it had at the date of the above mentioned treaty in the hands of Spain, and that it had, when France possessed it, and such as it ought to be after the treaties subse- quently entered into between Spain and other States ; and,

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History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska, Part 4

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899 Publication date: 1894 Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company Number of Pages: 1020

Author: Savage, James Woodruff, 1826-1890; Bell, John T. (John Thomas), b. 1842, joint author; Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: New York, Chicago, Munsell & Company
Number of Pages: 1020