Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 1.djvu/191

Rh recognized the immense value of the acquisition and snatched the opportunity from fate. He staked upon its acceptance his personal and political influence and risked the fate of his party. The event justified his foresight.

If what politicians call the &quot;verdict of the country&quot; has any weight, surely Jefferson and his party were acquitted on all counts in the indictment for &quot;inconsistency,&quot; &quot;timidity,&quot; etc., and were awarded public approval and gratitude by the sweeping victory of the next year. (Annals of Congress, 1804-1805, p. 1195.)

The party which acquired Louisiana, beginning as a Southern party, winning the Western States and equally dividing the Middle States, had by its great act won national confidence, gained the political support of all but two of the States and laid the foundation for national greatness. In this great national work, can it be denied that the South was the leading factor?

The following table shows the electoral vote in 1804:

STATES.

PRESIDENT.

ViCK-PRESIDEXT.

C.C. Pinekney. New Hampshire. .

Massachusetts.

Rhode Island

Connecticut

Vermont

New York. ..

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

Delaware

Maryland. ...

Virginia

North Carolina..

South Carolina. ..

Georgia

Tennessee

Kentucky

Ohio ....

Total