The New International Encyclopædia/Louisiana Purchase

LOUISIANA PURCHASE. The purchase by the United States from France in 1803 of the ‘Province of Louisiana.’ In the spring of 1802 news reached the United States that Spain, by the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso, concluded in October, 1800, had retroceded Louisiana to France, and the uneasiness caused thereby was soon increased by the announcement that the Spanish Intendant had withdrawn the right of deposit secured to the inhabitants of the United States by the treaty of 1795, and that Louisiana was to be delivered to France at an early date. President Jefferson was alarmed at the prospect of danger arising from the proposed transfer to France, and declared that the day she took possession the ancient friendship between the United States and France would be at an end, and the United States must henceforth ally itself with the British nation. The President expressed this belief to Congress in his annual message, and at the same time wrote to the American Minister at Paris, Robert R. Livingston, that if France considered Louisiana indispensable to her interests she might still cede to the United States the island of New Orleans and the Floridas, and thus remove, to some extent, the causes of the irritation. Believing that this end could be best accomplished by sending a man direct from the United States, he selected, in January, 1803, James Monroe to act as minister plenipotentiary with Livingston. The Senate confirmed the nomination, and placed the sum of $2,000,000 at their disposal to accomplish the object of the mission. The war between France and England had just been renewed, and Napoleon, realizing the invincibility of England on the sea, doubted the ability of France to hold Louisiana against such a power. To the astonishment of the commissioners, therefore, Napoleon, through Talleyrand, proposed to sell the entire Province of Louisiana, and asked for an offer. The Marquis de Marbois, Minister of the Treasury, was then selected by Napoleon to conduct the negotiations. In the meantime Monroe arrived (April 12), and the negotiations began in earnest. Marbois insisted on 100,000,000 francs and the assumption of Louisiana's debts by the United States, but finally agreed to take 80,000,000 francs, including 20,000,000 for the debts which the United States was to assume, and on this basis the sale was effected, April 30, 1803. President Jefferson did not think that the Constitution warranted the annexation of Louisiana, and considered that an amendment would be necessary—an “act of indemnity,” as he expressed it; but there was such general acquiescence by the people that the matter was dropped, and Jefferson advised Congress that the less said about the constitutional difficulty the better. The treaty was ratified by the Senate on October 20th by a vote of 24 to 7, and was laid before both Houses, that they might provide for its execution. The treaty provided that the inhabitants of Louisiana should be incorporated into the Union and admitted to the full enjoyment of all the rights and immunities of citizens of the United States as soon as possible; that meanwhile they should be protected in the enjoyment of liberty, property, and worship; and that the ships of both France and Spain should for twelve years enjoy special privileges of entry at New Orleans. Accompanying the treaty were two conventions providing for the manner of payment, and for the settlement of the debt. Up to June 20, 1880, the total cost of Louisiana, principal, interest, and debts assumed, was $27,267,021 (McMaster). The area purchased exceeded 1,000,000 square miles. The population did not exceed 90,000, including French, Spanish Creoles, Americans, English, and Germans, and about 40,000 slaves. Consult: Hosmer, The History of the Louisiana Purchase (New York, 1902); and Howard, History of the Louisiana Purchase (Chicago, 1902). See United States, Extension of the Territory of the.