| | 1 | Author: | Madison
James
1751-1836 | Add | | | Title: | The Writings of James Madison  | | | | Published: | 2003 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Modern English collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | Since my letter of November 27th on the subject of
what had taken place at New Orleans, a letter has been received
from the Governor of Louisiana to Governor Claiborne,
in which it is stated that the measure of the Intendant was
without instructions from his Government, and admitted
that his own judgment did not concur with that of the Intendant.
You will find by the printed documents herewith
transmitted that the subject engaged the early and earnest
attention of the House of Representatives, and that all the
information relating to it, possessed by the Executive, prior
to the receipt of that letter, was reported in consequence of a
call for it. The letter itself has been added to that report;
but being confidentially communicated, it does not
appear in print: a translation of it however is herewith inclosed.
You will find also that the House has passed a resolution
explicitly declaring that the stipulated rights of the
United States on the Mississippi will be inviolably maintained.
The disposition of many members was to give to the resolution
a tone and complexion still stronger. To these proofs of
the sensation which has been produced, it is to be added, that
representations, expressing the peculiar sensibility of the
Western Country, are on the way from every quarter of it, to
the Government. There is in fact but one sentiment
throughout the union with respect to the duty of maintaining
our rights of navigation and boundary. The only existing
difference relates to the degree of patience which ought to
be exercised during the appeal to friendly modes of redress.
In this state of things it is to be presumed that the Spanish
Government will accelerate by every possible means, its interposition
for that purpose; and the President charges you to
urge the necessity of so doing with as much amicable decision
as you can employ. We are not without hopes, that the
Intendant will yield to the demands which have been made
on him, and to the advice which he will have received from
the Spanish Minister here. But it will be expected from the
justice and good faith of the Spanish Government, that its
precise orders to that effect will be forwarded by the quickest
conveyance possible. The President wishes also, that the
expedient suggested in the letter above referred to, for preventing
similar occurrences and delays, may also be duly
pressed on that ground. Dear Sir,—Since you left us we have no further intelligence from N.
Orleans, except a letter dated Jany 20 from the vice Consular agent
there, from which it appears that the letters to the Govr. & Intendant
from the Spanish Minister here, had arrived abt. the 13th., and had not on
the 20th., produced the desired change in the state of things. The delay
however does not seem to have been viewed by the Consul as any proof,
that the Intendant would not conform to the interposition. The idea
continued that he had taken measures without orders from his Govt.
There are letters (according to that from the Consul) for the Marquis
Yrujo now on the way by land. These will probably shew whether the
Intendant will yield or not. The despatch vessel which carried the
Marquis's letters is not yet returned. The detention of her beyond the
allotted time is favorably interpreted by him; on the presumption that
she waits for a satisfactory answer, which the pride of the Intendant
postpones as long as possible. If West Florida can alone be purchased, it is certainly worth attending
to; but in that case, making the river Iberville the boundary as
it was made in the treaty of 1762 between France and England, the
article should be so worded as to give us the whole channel of that river,
or at least to permit us to open it so as to render it navigable in all seasons.
At present the bed is 30 feet above low water mark for 15 miles
from the Mississippi to Amit river; but I have no doubt that a very
small opening would be widened & deepened afterwards by the river.
There is no obstruction, the whole being level and mud or sand. But
supposing even a portage there, the advantage of american houses settled
in a american port would soon give a preference over New Orleans
to that port. The seaport may be perhaps on the main between Pearl
& Pargacola rivers; but certainly on the Island called "Ship Island"
as through the passage between that & the next island there are more
than 20 feet water & good anchorage close to the shore which faces the
main. A frigate of 36 guns was seen there by E. Jones, (the first clerk
in my office who is brother of our late consul at New Orleans & lived ten
years with him in W. Florida) & it is the reason of its bearing that name.
Judge Bay says that there is another island, called Deer Island close to
the entrance of Lake Pontchartrain which affords the same advantages.
That Jones disbelieves; but the other is certain, and as it is about half
way between Mobile & the Lake; as the whole navigation between these
two places is locked in by the Islands & safe even for open boats &
canoes; that island would become the proper seaport for both rivers
Mississippi and Mobile; for you can bring but 9 feet up Mobile bay, 7
feet over the bar of Lake Pontchartrain & 15 over the bar at the mouth
of the Mississippi. It results from all that, that the possession of West
Florida, even without New Orleans island, is extremely inmportant, and
that if it can be obtained, it ought expressly to include all the islands
within twenty leagues or such distance as to include those which are
marked on the map.—Enclosed to James Monroe, 1 Mar. 1803—Mad.
MSS. Dear Sir You will receive with this all the communications claimed
by the actual & eventual posture of our affairs in the hands of yourself
& M.r Livingston. You will find also that the Spanish Govt. has pretty
promptly corrected the wrong done by its Officer at N. Orleans. This
event will be a heavy blow to the clamorous for war, and will be very
soothing to those immediately interested in the trade of the Missisipi.
The temper manifested by our Western Citizens has been throughout
the best that can be conceived. The real injury from the suspension of
the deposit was howr*
* Italics for cypher.
much lessened by the previous destruction of the
intire crop of wheat in Kentucky, by the number of sea vessels built on
the Ohio and by throngs of vessels from Atlantic ports to the Mississippi,
some of which ascended to the Matches. The permission also to supply
the market at N. O. & to ship the surplus as Spanish property to
Spanish ports, was turned to good account. The trial therefore has been
much alleviated. Certain it is that the hearts and hopes of the Western
people are strongly fixed on the Mississippi for the future boundary.
Should no improvement of existing rights be gained the disappointment
will be great. Still respect for principle & character, aversion to war &
taxes the hope of a speedy conjuncture more favorable, and attachment to
the present order of things will be persuasive exhortations to patience.
It is even a doubt with some of the best judges whether the deposit
alone would not be waved for a while rather than it should be the immediate
ground of war and an alliance with England. This suggested a
particular passage in the official letter now sent you & M.r L. Dear Sir I received your favor of by Mr. Hughes, the
bearer of the public despatches from you & Mr. L. The purchase of
Louisiana in its full extent, tho' not contemplated is received with
warm, & in a manner universal approbation. The uses to which it may
be turned, render it a truly noble acquisition. Under prudent management
it may be made to do much good as well as to prevent much evil.
By lessening the military establishment otherwise requisite or countenanced,
it will answer the double purpose of saving expence & favoring
liberty. This is a point of view in which the Treaty will be particularly
grateful to a most respectable description of our Citizens. It will be of
great importance also to take the regulation & settlement of that Territory
out of other hands, into those of the U.S. who will be able to manage
both for the general interest & conveniency. By securing also the
exclusive jurisdiction of the Mississippi to the mouth, a source of much
perplexity & collision is effectually cut off. Dear Sir Finding that Mr. Purveyance is within reach of a few
lines, I add them to what he is already charged with, to observe that
Yrujo has written another remonstrance agst. our acquisition of Louisiana,
alledging as a further objection that France by not obtaining the
stipulated acknowledgmets. of the King of Etruria from the Courts of
Petersburg & London had a defective title herself to the Cession. Nothing
can be more absurd than these cavils on the part of Spain, unless it
should be her using in support of them force agst. our taking possession.
This she will scarcely attempt, if not backed by France, wch. we hope is
impossible. I am writing on this subject to Livingston & Pinkney.
I have already done so to Yrujo giving him to understand, that we shall
not withhold any means that may be rendered necessary to secure our
object. Pichon is perfectly well disposed, is offended with the Spanish
Minister, & if left under the orders he now has, will cooperate zealously,
with an honest view to the honor & obligations of his own Country.
On our part I trust every thing that the crisis demands will be done, and
that we shall speedily be in possession of the valuable object which the
Treaty with France has gained for us. Baring is here, but having not
yet called on me I have had no opportunity of paying him civilities or
obtaining explanations from him. I wait anxiously for your next.
Your last was of Aug. 15. I hope you have been favorably recd., and
will bring the British Govt. more & more to understand their own interests
as well as our rights. Insist on instructions to all their naval officers,
to abstain from impressions & to respect our jurisdictional rights.
Incidents are daily occurring which otherwise may overcome the calculating
policy of the Present Executive, & provoke the public temper
into an irresistible impetus on the public Councils. Mr. K. says that
if he cd. have remained a little longer, the British Govt. might possibly
have been brought into a contract guarding agst. this evil; but that the
business is to be effected at that Court by the U. S. not so well by formal
notes & official discussions as by the frankness & familiarity of explanatory
& expostulatory observations in private discourse. I give you this
in confidence, as a hint that may be useful. Mr. Purveyance had
seized your wishes before I returned hither, & I did not know till
this moment that he had not sailed. I write in great haste to secure
the present mail, which is the only one that promises a conveyance by
him. He will give you much public & all private information.—Mad.
MSS. Sir I recd. your favor of the 21 prairial, with a pleasure which is redoubled
by the consideration that I am able in acknowledging it, to
inform you of the formal approbation of the late Treaty & conn. by
every branch of our Govt. The event establishes, I hope forever, perfect
harmony between the two Countries. It is the more likely to do so,
as it is founded in a policy, coeval with their political relations, of removing
as much as possible all sources of jealousy & collision. The
frankness & uprightness which marked the progress of this transaction,
are truly honorable to all concerned in it; and it is an agreeable circumstance,
that, in the exchange of ratifications, it was closed in the same
spirit of mutual confidence, Mr. Pichon inferring, doubtless with the
truest reason, that an unqualified exchange, under actual circumstances,
would best accord with the real views of his Government. Dear Sir I have recd I believe all your letters public and private
down to that of October 22, written merely to say that all continued
well. I have taken due care of the communications on the subject of
your—. Everything seems to be well understood on this side the
water. I cannot say more now as I write of necessity without cypher. The treaty as actually presented by Purviance is as follows: | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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