Page:A History of the Pacific Northwest.djvu/68



as the French occupation would endanger the lower Mississippi.

Alertness of the American government. When, early in the year 1803, it seemed to our government a wise policy to seek an alliance with Great Britain against the French, in case Napoleon should refuse to sell New Orleans and West Florida, Monroe and Livingston were authorized to pass over from Paris to London for that purpose. They were definitely instructed, however, not to yield to Great Britain the privilege of gaining for herself territory west of the upper Mississippi. That she would ask that privilege Secretary of State Aladison thought likely, for three reasons: her desire "to extend her domain to the Mississippi, the uncertain extent of her claims, from north to south, beyond the western limits of the United States, and the attention she has paid to the Northwest Coast of America." Gallatin, at about the same time, thought we might be obliged to take immediate possession of northern Louisiana "to prevent G[reat] B[ritain] from doing the same." Gallatin considered that "the future destinies of the Missouri country are of vast importance to the United States." ^

The political advantage of controlling the Columbia. If the control of the Mississippi, down to latitude forty-five degrees, would entitle Great Britain to sweep westward along that parallel to the Pacific, as Mac ^ He suggested that Captain Lewis, on his expedition to the West, should be instructed to examine carefully into the means by which a British attempt on the Missouri could be frustrated.