The History of Louisiana, particularly of the cession of that colony to the United States of America ... Translated ... by an American citizen

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THE HISTORY OF LOUISIANA, PARTICULARLY OF THE CESSION OF THAT COLONY TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; WITH AW INTRODUCTORY ESSAY ON THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. BY BARBE MARBOIS, rEER OF FRANCE, &C. &C. &C. arrattslateto front tlir jmncli BY AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. PHILADELPHIA: CAREY & LEA. 1830. EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, To wit: BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the eighth day of January, in the fifty fourth year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1830, CAREY & LEA, of the said district, have deposited in this office the title of a book the right whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words following, to wit: " The History of Louisiana, particularly of the Cession of that Colony to the " United States of America; with an Introductory Essay on the Constitu- " tion and Government of the United States.

By Barbd: Marbois, Peer of " France, &c. &c. &c. Translated from the French by an American " Citizen." In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, " An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned" — And also to the Act, entitled, " An Act supple mentary to an Act, entitled, ' An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprie tors of such Copies, during the times therein mentioned,' and extending the be nefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." D. CALDWELL, Cleric of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, GRIGGS & DICKINSON, PRINTERS.

DEDICATION. TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, THE DAUPHIN. Sir, If you bave read, with some interest, the book which I have the honour to dedicate to you, I owe it less to the facts that I have related than to the maxims of justice and virtue which you have remarked in it. A frequent witness of the benevolent actions that ren der your person so dear to us, I have been anxious to be permitted to publish my book under your happy auspices. I beg your Royal Highness to accept the homage of my profound and respectful devotion. BARBE MARBOIS. CONTENTS. Translator's Notice, - - vii Preface, -•'•-• xv Introduction. — Essay on the Constitution and Government of the United States, - n History of Louisiana.— Part I. — Louisiana under the Sovereignty of France and Spain. — The relations of the colony with St. Domingo, 101 History of Louisiana.— Part II.— Cession of Louisiana by France to the United States, - - - - - 225 History of Louisiana.— Part III. — Execution of the Treaty of Cession.— Events arising from the Cession, - - 317 Appendix, Most foreign books which have treated of the insti tutions of the United States have been compiled with such illiberal feelings, and are at the same time so very inaccurate, that when, a short time after my arrival in Paris last autumn, the following book was placed in my hands, I conceived that I could not em ploy a few weeks' leisure more usefully, nor in a man ner more congenial with my former pursuits than by making it generally accessible to my fellow-citizens.

Preface

. Many facts worthy of being preserved pass into ob livion, from not being recorded by those who are best acquainted with them. A witness during my long career of various important public events, in some of which I took part, I always intended, as soon as I should have leisure, to write an account of those in which I was directly engaged. From year to year, I have had reason to think that this moment was draw ing near; though, whether I deceive myself, or am still really able to attend to business and support the weight of years, I have not yet resolved on retirement. At the same time, I have not thought proper longer to delay writing the History, which I now publish, and this occupation has been to me a source of relaxation. The treaty, by which Louisiana was, twenty-six years since, ceded to the United States, has lately given rise to regrets, which have appeared to me to merit the more attention from their being entertained in good faith.

I have conceived that the history of that nego tiation would dissipate some errors, and might throw light on the doubts which have been suggested respect ing the policy of the measure. preface. France had, in 1802, just recovered Louisiana by treaty. But, she had not yet taken possession, when a war broke out between her and England. Could we hope to retain that colony? Admitting that it might have been retained, and that it would, at a future day, become useful to the mother country, did it offer suffi cient advantages to indemnify us for the expense of its settlement and defence ? As an independent state, will it not make more rapid progress than if it were sub jected to the laws of monopoly? Will not its con stantly improving condition be more advantageous to our commerce than its possession and exclusive go vernment would have been?

Already, the doubts are, in part, removed. 1 have put in order some materials, which I long since prepared for this narrative. The circumstances respecting the cession of Louisiana were not, at all, known in France, where even the treaties have never yet been authentically published; but it is in the great collection of the diplomatic transactions of the United States that the principal documents are to be found. It will, perhaps, be observed that the object of the ne gotiation was not to put an end to a war; that it was not accompanied by any remarkable incident, and that it was promptly terminated. It may then well excite surprise that it should furnish matter for a large vo lume, whilst so many other treaties, concluded after many communications and long conferences, only oc cupy a few pages in history. But most of these trea ties have been so badly observed, and their influence

PREFACE.

. XVII has been so transitory, that they may be forgotten without much affecting the instruction or the interests of society. On the other hand, the consequences of the cession of Louisiana will extend to the most dis tant posterity. It interests vast regions that will be come, by their civilization and power, the rivals of Europe before another century commences. It has crowned the important work to which Louis XVI., his armies, and the statesmen, who composed his council, gloriously contributed. The great advantages which the whole world has derived from that event have caused it to be forgotten that, at the time of the alli ance of 1778, politics did not conform to the laws of morality. This History is about to appear in the midst of the many good and bad books, which every season pro duces.

But is there any one which entering, at this day, into a library, dares to look for a place there? They are all occupied. I know not what will be the fate of my book. If the great historians find in it some details worthy of being remembered, I beg them to be lieve that they are true. Two of their pages will be sufficient for the recitals of which I have made a vo lume. If some of the maxims have the happy effect of shedding a new lustre on public virtues, I shall re joice that I have had an opportunity of writing them. I have had my share in the calamities of our times. Literature and study, which, in tranquil circumstances, had contributed to my happiness, were my principal consolation in adversity. They have inspired in me C preface. an attachment for liberty, regulated by wise laws. They aided me to support with courage an unjust and rigorous captivity.

I may, perhaps, be permitted to add, that in every situation of my life, whether prospe rous or adverse, I have always believed it to be my duty to render my labours useful to my country. May those who read the recital on which I am entering, re cognise in the sketch that I have traced of the institutions of the United States, my attachment for those of France, and my firm persuasion that our happiness is closely connected with the faithful observance of our new laws. IWTRODUCTIOW. essay on the constitution and government of the united states of america. IWTRODUCTIOW. ESSAY ON THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The origin of the greatest part of the nations of antiquity was attended with extraordinary occurrences. Their legislators proclaimed themselves the organs and confidants of gods and goddesses.

They con versed with them, and the laws which they promul gated were dictated by a mysterious power. No fable is connected with the primitive legislation of modern colonies. A benevolence truly divine was the Egeria of William Penn. If, from the history of the first period of the English settlements, we efface some acts of fanaticism, and of an intolerance always bar barous, often hypocritical, we shall find that the wis dom which presided at their infancy, never abandoned them during the most violent storms of their revolution. These colonies, without violating their charters, in serted in their rising institutions a principle of liberty, which, from their very cradle, prepared the way for their future emancipation. Better constituted, freer and sooner peopled than the colonies of other nations,