resort, the only means of avoiding an open rupture with the United States, and the consequent invasion of Louisiana. The Spanish king never intended to fulfill the stipulations of the treaty, if compliance were avoidable. At the very time that his minister was negotiating the treaty, his pensioned emissaries were busily employed in sowing the seeds of revolt in the western country, and were endeavoring, by secret intrigue, to produce a separation of the States of Kentucky and Tennessee from the Federal Union.* On this errand Thomas Powers had been sent repeatedly to Kentucky and the Ohio region, with authority to contract, on the part of the Spanish king, for the liberal distribution of money to any amount not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars, to be appropriated as he might see proper. He was also authorized to promise an equal amount to procure arms and military stores, besides twenty pieces of artillery, with powder and ball, to enable them to resist the Federal power, provided they would form a "government wholly unconnected with the Atlantic States."+

All this the king would cheerfully have done to aid the western people to absolve themselves from their dependence upon the Atlantic States, and to unite themselves with the provinces of Spain. The only consideration required by the King of Spain was the extension of the northern limit of West Florida as far as the mouth of the Yazoo, to its old British boundary,‡ leaving the whole territory north of that latitude wholly to the people of the contemplated republic. As a further inducement, the king had authorized the promise that all the restrictions heretofore imposed upon the river trade should be removed, and other important advantages and privileges would be granted, which would give them a decided advantage over the Atlantic States. Thus, they were reminded that, as an independent government, in alliance with Spain," they would find themselves in a situation infinitely more advantageous for their com mercial relations than they could be, were the treaty of Madrid carried into effect."§

Such were a few of the specimens of Spanish faith and Spanish diplomacy with the United States during this tedious and vexed negotiation, which began soon after the close of the Rev

* Martin's Louisiana, vol. ii., p. 150–152.

+ Idem, p. 144, 145. Martin's Louisiana, vol. ii., p. 144. Also, Butler's Kentucky, p. 245–247. § Butler's History of Kentucky, p. 247, first edition.

olutionary war, and continued, with but little interruption, until the spring of 1798.

The western people, even those who had favored the overtures held out by the Spanish emissaries, had become satisfied with the treaty of Madrid, by which they had acquired all they had claimed or desired, the free navigation of the Mississippi; they preferred to enjoy these advantages under their own free government, rather than, by receiving them in a separate condition, become the vassals of Spain. Satisfied with the Federal Union, they desired no other alliance.*

It was not until the 4th of September, 1797, that Powers finally failed in his negotiation with Benjamin Sebastian and others of Kentucky. During the summer of 1797, he had penetrated through Kentucky on the line of the northwestern posts as far as Detroit, the headquarters of General Wilkinson, then commander-in-chief of the northwestern army. His ostensible business, on this occasion, was to bear to General Wilkinson a remonstrance against pressing the delivery of the forts on the Mississippi until it should be clearly ascertained "whether they were to be dismantled before delivery;" but his real object was to press General Wilkinson into the Spanish conspiracy, with the whole weight of his power and authority as commanderin-chief of the army, in sustaining the separation.†

In his journey to Detroit, Powers passed by way of Fort Greenville, and reached the vicinity of Detroit on the 16th day of August; but, being informed that General Wilkinson was absent at Michillimackinac, he did not enter the fort. A few days afterward Wilkinson returned, and having heard of Powers's arrival, caused him to be arrested and brought to the fort, and thus secured the Baron de Carondelet's dispatches; after which he hurried him off, under an escort commanded by Captain Shaumburg, by way of the Wabash, to Fort Massac, in order to avoid interception by the Federal authorities.‡

In the mean time, the Federal government had been apprised of the embassy of Powers, and instructions had been issued to the governor of the Northwestern Territory to cause him to be arrested and sent a prisoner to Philadelphia.§

* See Burnet's Letters, p. 67-69, Cincinnati edition of 1839.

† Martin, vol. ii., p. 143.

Martin, vol. ii., p. 151.

On the 5th of June, at Natchez, during the time of the greatest excitement, it was ascertained that the Englishman Powers, a subject of his Catholic majesty, had been

The temerity of this last intrigue, put in operation by the Governor of Louisiana, astonishes every reflecting mind. But General Wilkinson was a talented and ambitious man; he had received many favors from the Spanish governors nearly ten years before; he had received exclusive privileges in the commerce with Louisiana; a long and confidential intercourse had existed between him and Governor Miro; he was known to have indulged a predilection for the Spanish authority, and was ambitious of power and distinction; he was now at the head of the western armies, and, with the power and influence of his station, he might effectually bring about a separation of the West, the formation of a new republic, of which he himself might be the supreme ruler, and conduct the alliance with Spain. Such may have been the reasoning of Baron de Carondelet at this late period.

But General Wilkinson had already proceeded too far in his treasonable intrigues and correspondence with the Spanish governor, and the suspicions of his own government rested upon him. The brilliant prospects, and the bright hopes of becoming the head of a new confederation, had vanished from his imagination, and he was now anxious to retain his command, and with it his standing as a patriotic citizen of the United States. Hence, in the summer of 1797, he had given to Mr. Powers a cold reception; he had informed him that the time for a separation had passed by; that now the project of the Baron would be chimerical in the extreme; that the western people, by the late treaty, had obtained all they had desired, and that now they entertained no desire for an alliance with either Spain or France; that the political ferment which existed four years previously had entirely subsided; and that,

secretly dispatched to Kentucky by the governor-general. Colonel Ellicott and others were active in their efforts to circumvent his movements, by dispatching letters to prominent persons in Kentucky and the Northwestern Territory, and giving them notice of his character and designs. Colonel Ellicott also wrote to the executive department of the Federal government, conveying the suspicions which were entertained against Powers, and the object of his mission. Before he left Kentucky his danger became imminent, and with difficulty he escaped arrest by a sudden departure in the night. A plan was laid to honor him with a coat of "tar and feathers" by the patriotic people of Kentucky. Early in September he set out from Detroit, and reached New Orleans in October following. After his arrival at New Orleans he reported his own views and those of Judge Sebastian as decidedly favorable to the success of the enterprise of separating the Western States, and also the opinion of General Wilkinson, that it was impracticable. Compare Ellicott, p. 98, &c. Also, Burnet's Letters, ed. of 1839, p. 68. Martin's Louisiana, vol. ii., p. 151, 152.

so far from desiring an alliance with Louisiana under the Spanish crown, the people of Kentucky, prior to the treaty of Madrid, had proposed to invade Louisiana with an army of ten thousand men, to be put in motion upon the first open rupture between the two governments; and that now they were highly exasperated at the spoliations committed upon the American commerce by French privateers, who brought their prizes into the port of New Orleans for condemnation and confiscation. He gave it as his opinion that the governor-general would therefore consult his own interest, and the interest of his Catholic majesty, by an immediate compliance with the terms of the treaty.*

General Wilkinson also complained that his connection and his correspondence with the Spanish governor had been divulged; that all his plans had been defeated, and the labor of ten years had been lost; that he had now burned all his correspondence and destroyed his ciphers, and that duty and honor forbid a continuance of the intercourse. Yet he still indulged the hope of being able to manifest his confidence in the Baron; for it was probable that he would receive from the Federal government the appointment of governor over the Natchez District when surrendered agreeably to treaty, when he should not want an opportunity of promoting his political projects.†

* Martin's Louisiana, vol. ii., p. 151.

† Idem, p. 152.

CHAPTER V.

CLOSE OF THE SPANISH DOMINION IN LOUISIANA, AND THE FINAL TRANSFER OF THE PROVINCE TO THE UNITED STATES.-A.D. 1797 To 1804.

Argument.-Prosperity of Louisiana unaffected by Hostilities in Europe.-Gayoso suc ceeds as Governor-general of Louisiana in 1797.-The King's Orders relative to Land Grants.-The Intendant alone empowered to make Grants.-French Privateers.Daniel Clarke, Jr., recognized as Consul.-Harmony on the Spanish and American Borders.-Concordia.-Vidalia in 1799.-Death of Gayoso in 1799.-His Successors.Colonel Ellicott's Eulogy of Gayoso.-Population of Upper Louisiana.-Its Trade and Commerce.-Harmony with the western People again disturbed by Morales.-Policy of Spain in restricting her Grants of Land.-Jealous of Military Adventurers.-Restrictions enforced by Morales.-His first Interdict of Deposit at New Orleans.Western Indignation-Capture of New Orleans contemplated.-American Troops in the Northwest.-Invasion of Louisiana abandoned by John Adams.-Filhiol and Fejeiro at Fort Miro, on the Washita-Right of Deposit restored in 1801.-Again suspended in 1802.-Restored in 1803.-Approaching Change of Dominion in Louisiana. The First Consul of the French Republic acquires the Province of Louisiana. -The French Occupation deferred one Year by European Wars.-Napoleon determines to sell the Province to the United States.-Negotiation for Sale commenced. -Mr. Jefferson's Instructions.-Treaty of Cession signed April 30th, 1803.-Amount of Purchase-money.-Terms of Payment.-Preparations for French Occupation.-The Form of Government prepared by French Prefect.-Arrival of Laussat, the Colonial Prefect. His Proclamation.-Response of the People.-Proclamation of Governor Salcedo. Rumor of Cession to United States.-Laussat appointed Commissioner of the French Republic.-Conditions of the Treaty of April 30th, 1803.-Preparations for Occupation by the United States.-Protest of the Spanish King.-Congress rat ifies the Treaty.-Commissioners of the United States.-Preparations of French Commissioner.-Ceremony of Spanish Delivery.-Proclamation of the French Prefect.Spanish Rule abolished and French Government instituted.-Volunteer Battalion for the Preservation of Order.-Preparations for Delivery to the United States.-Govern. or Claiborne and General Wilkinson arrive in New Orleans.-Ceremony of French Delivery to the United States, December 20th, 1803.-Remote Posts formally delivered subsequently to Agents of the French Prefect.-Major Stoddart takes Possession of Upper Louisiana, March 9th, 1804.-Condition and Boundaries of Louisiana.-Population of the Province.-Commerce.-Agricultural Products.-Trade and Manufac tures of New Orleans.

[A.D. 1797.] ALTHOUGH Spain had become deeply involved in the continental wars of Europe, the contest was confined chiefly to interior and maritime parts of that continent and the adjacent coasts of Africa, Syria, and the Grecian Isles of the Mediterranean Sea.* Louisiana continued to enjoy peace and prosperity, interrupted only by the jealous fears excited at the rapid extension of the American settlements upon the great eastern tributaries of the Mississippi.

* Martin, vol. ii., p. 139.