able to the North, and was satisfactory to the South. The whole matter is lucidly set forth by Mr. Benton in his "Thirty Years View," in which he quotes a letter of Mr. Monroe to General Jackson, dated May 22, 1820, which came into Mr. Ben ton s possession among the Jackson papers: "Having long known the repugnance with which the eastern portion of our Union, or rather those who have enjoyed its confidence (for I do not think the people themselves have any interest or wish of that kind) have seen its aggrandizement to the west and south, I have been decidedly of the opinion that we ought to be content with Florida for the present, and until the public opinion in that quarter shall be reconciled to any further change." This argument convinced General Jackson, who replied, "I am clearly of your opinion that, for the present, we ought to be content with the Floridas."
Thus Texas, clearly a part of the Louisiana purchase, which was conceded by Spain, was sacrificed to appease Northeastern jealousy. The willingness of Spain to make concessions west of the Mississippi was diverted to the cession of her claims to Oregon, thus throwing to the North an acquisition of territory unsought, to balance southern extension. This action was voluntary and generous. The South had the game in her hands, but her leaders refrained from pushing the advantage. As in 1781 the Southern States ceded their western lands to secure the formation of the Union, so in 1819 the same section yielded Texas to appease jealousy and promote "The Era of Good Feeling."
