Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
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possession of Louisiana. He appointed General Bernadotte captain-general of the new province, but the demands for troops and colonists made by the future king of Sweden were so exaggerated that the First Consul had to appoint General Victor in his place. The new captain-general was in Holland at the time of his appointment. Bad weather delayed his departure until May, 1803, by which time the peace of Amiens had been broken. The future Marshal of France never set foot on Louisiana. Nevertheless it fell to Governor Manuel de Salcedo and the Marques de Casa Calvo to turn over the Province of Louisiana to Mr. Laussat, the French commissioner. He arrived in New Orleans in March, 1803, but the formal transfer was delayed until November 30, at first pending the arrival of General Victor, and then of further instructions. The lack of rapid communication caused the news of Napoleon's sale of Louisiana to the United States to be delayed considerably. Seven months had elapsed since the sale to the United States before the solemn ceremony of the transfer to France took place. Thus, Napoleon sold the province before he had actually taken formal possession of it. On the appointed day, at high noon, the Spanish troops and militia were drawn up in battle array in the square before the Cabildo. Thousands crowded in the neighboring streets, in the doorways, the windows, and even on the roofs to witness the spectacle. Within the Cabildo, Governor Manuel Salcedo sat in the middle of the council chamber with the Marques de Casa Calvo at his left and Mr. Laussat at his right. The French commissioner presented his credentials from the First Consul and the order of the king of Spain of October IS, 1802, for the delivery of the province to France. The documents were publicly read by the secretary. Salcedo rose, bowed, and handed the keys of New Orleans to Laussat. The Marques de Casa Calvo now rose and announced that all Spanish subjects who wished to follow the flag would be at liberty to move with their belongings to the dominions of the king, and that those who chose to remain in Louisiana would be automatically absolved from their oath of allegiance to His Catholic Majesty. The three commissioners went together to the large balcony facing the square, and at a given signal the flag of Spain was slowly lowered and the French flag hoisted in its place amidst the booming of a twenty-one gun salute. The crowd was ominously silent. The people of Louisiana felt no elation. Somehow their beloved France had betrayed them. The news of the sale to the United States had been public knowledge ever since early summer, and the arrival of the American commissioner
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