Our Cat!tolic Heritage in Texas
since expired. The action was interpreted by the Americans as con- firmation of all their fears concerning the effect of the retrocession on the free navigation of the Mississippi. The governor of the Territory of Mississippi, the governor of Kentucky, and 'William E. Huling, American consul at New Orleans, protested to the State Department. A wave cif apprehension swept the West. Congress gave Jefferson full discretion to act and voted two million dollars to purchase the area that controlled the mouth of the Mississippi. 52 Tire pztrcliase of Louisiana. Jefferson now appointed James Monroe to go to Paris at once as minister plenipotentiary to negotiate the pur- chase of New Orleans and a portion of Florida to insure to the West the navigation of the Mississippi. The proposal originally presented by Reuben R. Livingston had been coldly received by Napoleon. Great was the surprise of the American minister when on April 11, 1803, Talleyrand informed him that the emperor had changed his mind and was now willing to sell the whole of Louisiana. Outbreak of hostilities with England was imminent. In view of the circumstances and the need of ready cash, Napoleon had decided that Louisiana should not fall into the hands of the English. In characteristic Napoleonic fashion the deal was swiftly consummated with the astonished American envoys within a month. In signing the treaty, the first week in May, 1803, they far exceeded their powers and instructions. Livingston, however, compre- hended the significance of the deal just effected. "From this day," he said, "the United States take their place among the powers of the first rank; the English lose all exclusive influence in the affairs of America." 53 Attitude of Spain. The Treaty of San Ildefonso had expressly pro- vided that France was not to alienate Louisiana. Spain immediately protested to France against the sale of the province and questioned the validity of the transaction. "Spain had reason to fear the United States more than any other nation, because American aggression would naturally be directed against her other territories, the Floridas, the neighboring islands and Mexico." st Jefferson fully realized the feeling of Spain SJ.The text of Morales' proclamation and the protests are reproduced in State Pa- pers and Publick Doc11ments of the United States from t/1e accession of Thomas Jefferson to the Presidency, ezlzibiting a com,Plete view of our foreign relations since that time, 1801-1806, II, 185-193. (Boston, 1814.) See also Geer, Louisiana Pur- chase, 191-196. 5SGeer, Tlte Louisiana Purchase, 198. _k/bid., 199.
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