Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/200

 140 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI territory were slave owners aud wheu slav- ery was prohibited by tlie ordiuauce they decided, instead of losing their slaves to emi- grate across the river and live under the rule of Spain. Many of them doubtless came without thinking that in making the change they were in reality giving up their allegi- ance to the government of the United States and falling under the government of Spain. There seems to have been a feeling existing in the American people that the territory west of the river was not destined long to remain under Spanish control but that it would event- ually become a part of the territory of the United States, and so these people, unwilling to lose their property and feeling that they would probably aid in a movement to secure for their country more territory, crossed the river and took up their life in Upper Louisiana. The Spanish government fostered the move- ment of both French aud Americans to their new territory. They developed the lead in- dustry and were diligent in planning new settlements and in improving the resources aud conditions of the country. It was for- tunate for the United States, however, that the Spanish did not possess a taleut for col- onizing. They held to the "bullion theory" that is, that wealth consists in gold and silver only ; and they believed that a colony existed for the benefit of the mother country. They looked to the colonists in Louisiana to produce supplies of gold aud silver and other metals for the enrichment of Spaniards at home. In spite, however, of this false attitude, the government of Spain was, perhaps, as well adapted to the development of the country as was the government of France. Neither of these great nations possessed the real coloniz- ing ability that distinguished the English. The Spanish governed Louisiana from New Orleans. Here resided the governor; a lieu- enant governor resided at St. Louis ; and Ste. Genevieve, St. Charles, Cape Girardeau and New Madrid were the centers of districts and the places of residence for commandants. Very strict enforcement of law was insisted upon. We find the settlers at Ste. Genevieve afraid to chastise the Indians even when they had committed outrages, without at first re- ceiving permission from the Spanish officials. The period of Spanish rule in Louisiana was coincident with the growth of western United States. American settlers were pour- ing by the thousands into Kentucky and the Northwest territory. These settlers soon de- veloped the resources of the country and came to have many things for export. The surplus products of the American settlers in the states just east of the ]Iississippi river were considerable in quantity and in value, but the w-ay to the east was long; the roads led across the mountains; they were rough; travel was exceedingly difficult ; the only possible method of shipment in large quan- tities was upon the river. The surplus prod- ucts of the states on the river were loaded on flat boats and keel-boats and dispatched down the river to New Orleans ; but the Span- ish officials at New Orleans greatly hampered and restricted this trade. They were jealous of the growing power of the United States. They were afraid that the Americans on the east side would attempt to take possession of the territory on the west ; and, too, the Span- ish people were not a trading people. They had little or no sympathy with the quick and efficient American spirit; they were mediae- val in their mannera and customs; everything that was done must be done according to form and ceremony; taxes were imposed: the