Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/98



traveling among the settlements, to bring on a movement for independence. In order to embarrass the Government of the United States and alienate the western people, Spanish emissaries were sent among the Indian tribes in the south and British emissaries, co-operating in the northwest, endeavored to bring on a general Indian war. The “Whisky Rebellion” in Pennsylvania and an Indian war in the west conspired to encourage Spain to postpone any substantial concession.

About this time it was proposed by the American minister at Madrid that if Spain would cede to the United States her possessions east of the Mississippi, including the island and city of New Orleans, that the United States would make no claim to the vast territory west of the river, as her real interest would then require that Spain should retain her possessions west of it. Since the free navigation of the river was of such absolute necessity to the United States, it must sooner or later be conceded. The minister said:

“This is the decree of Providence written on every map of the continent and it cannot be prevented by any human agency. Would it not be the part of wisdom to anticipate an irresistible event peaceably and cement a lasting friendship with the United States on this basis of mutual interests and benefits?”

But Spain still procrastinated. She seemed to realize that the only security she had in her American possessions was in holding her vantage ground and checking the onward tide of emigration that was menacing Louisiana.

And thus for more than twelve years were the American settlers in the Mississippi Valley kept in suspense and subjection to Spanish cupidity. General Carondelet of Louisiana now made a final effort to detach the western territory from the American Union. He sent Lieutenant-Governor Gayoso of Natchez as a special agent to the mouth of the Ohio River to meet four of the most prominent of the American conspirators—Sebastian, Innis, Murray and Nicholas—to arrange the terms of an alliance