4858. LOUISIANA, Taking possession of.—
We * * * [have] sent off orders to
the Governor of the Mississippi Territory and
General Wilkinson to move down with the
troops at hand to New Orleans, to receive
the possession from M. Laussat. If he is
heartily disposed to carry the order of the
[First] Consul into execution, he can probably
command a volunteer force at New Orleans,
and will have the aid of ours also, if
he desires it, to take the possession, and deliver
it to us. If he is not so disposed,
we
shall take the possession, and it will rest with
the government of France, by adopting the
act as their own, and obtaining the confirmation
of Spain, to supply the non-execution of
their stipulation to deliver, and to entitle
themselves to the complete execution of our
part of the agreements.—
To Robert R. Livingston. Washington ed. iv, 511.
Ford ed., viii, 279.
(W.
Nov. 1803)
