Congressional aid secured
Amidst the manifold duties of his great office, Jefferson
had not forgotten his early scheme
for exploring the trans-Mississippi.
Greater opportunity now presented itself
—he possessed influence to secure governmental
aid, and
recognized the existence of a stronger public
spirit. The lapse in the
winter of 1802–03 of an "act for
establishing trading houses with
the Indian tribes," was made
the occasion for addressing (January 18) a
secret message to
Congress,[4]
in which he urged the importance of reaching out
for the trade of the Indians on the Missouri River, that
thus far
had in large measure been absorbed by English companies;
and suggested an exploring party as
the best means
of accomplishing this object. He recognized that the
country
which he thus proposed to enter was the property of France,
although still governed by Spain; but thought that as the
latter
nation's interests were now waning, she would not be
disposed to jealousy
and would regard the enterprise merely
"as a literary pursuit." An
estimate of the necessary expenses
was placed at only $2,500; but the
correspondence which we
give in the
Appendix, shows that Jefferson intended that the
exploring party should,
while still in the United States, be
subsisted by the War Department; and
in addition thereto
we shall see that he issued in their favor a general
letter of
credit, which proved of no avail, but further demonstrates the
fact that the explorers were not expected to limit themselves
to the
appropriation.
