4860. LOUISIANA, Treaty ratified.—
This treaty [Louisiana] must, of course, be
laid before both Houses [of Congress], because
both have important functions to exercise
respecting it. They, I presume, will see
their duty to their country in ratifying and
paying for it, so as to secure a good which
would otherwise probably be never again in
their power. But, I suppose, they must then
appeal to the nation for an additional article
to the Constitution, approving and confirming
an act which the nation had not previously
authorized.—
To John C. Breckenridge. Washington ed. iv, 500.
Ford ed., viii, 244.
(M.
Aug. 1803)
