Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/202

 142 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST mSSOURI ous. He was terribly disgusted with his fail- ure in San Domingo ; he needed the funds for the prosecution of the Continental system which he was carrying on, and he did not like to see an alliance formed between England and the United States. Such an alliance had been threatened, for both countries were opposed to the holding of Louisiana by France. Perhaps, however, the principal rea- son why Napoleon consented to the sale of the territory was the fear that it might fall into the hands of Great Britain. He was then en- gaged in a war with Great Britain and he did not possess suffieient naval power to en- able him to contest the control of territory on the other side of the sea. He is said to have remarked, after he signed the treaty which transferred Louisiana to the United States, that he had given Great Britain a rival. On receipt in AVashingtou of news that ar- rangements had been made for the purchase of Louisiana from Prance, President Jeffer- son called an extra session of congress to con- sider this question and to ratify the treaty. Congress assembled on the 17th of October, 1803, and proceeded to the ratification of the treaty. President Jefferson appointed Gover- nor William Claiborne, of Mississippi, and Major General James Wilkinson, as commis- sioners of the United States to receive the transfer of the territory from France. The representative of the French government who was to receive the territory from Spain was ^1. Laussat. M. Laussat arrived in New Orleans in November and received from Governor de Casa Calvo the transfer of the territory from Spain. A considerable delay occurred, how- ever, in taking over the territory in St. Louis. France did not wish to send a representative from New Orleans to St. Louis to receive the transfer from Governor De Lassus because of tiie time that would be required and the ex- pense of the journey. Accordingly it was agreed among all the parties that the commis- sioners of the United States should designate a person with authority to receive the trans- fer from France. Governor Claiborne selected Captain Amos Stoddard, of the United States army. Upon his notification of the selection M. Laussat then designated Captain Stod- dard as commissioner and agent of France to receive the transfer of LTpper Louisiana. He then sent to Stoddard, a letter to Lieutenant Governor De Lassus containing the demand of France for the transfer of that territory. This letter also was a credential for Captain Stoddard. Stoddard also received instruc- tions from Governor Claiborne to proceed to St. Louis and to carry out the orders issued to him, first as commissioner and agent of France to demand and receive possession of the country from Spain, and secondly as agent of the United States to occupy and hold the posts, territories and dependencies which had been transferred by France to the United States. Stoddard was further instructed by Governor Claiborne that until some perma- nent regulations could be made by congress for the government of the new province, all the functions, both civil and military, which liad been previously exercised by the Spanish commandants of posts and districts would de- volve upon him and his subordinates. It was" cai-efully explained, however, that there was to be no further blending of civil and military functions, but that on the other hand they were to be kept entirely separate and distinct. That this fact might be made clear, Stoddard received two commissions, one from Governor Claiborne constituting him civil eonnnandant of St. Louis and conveying instructions for his actions in such place, and also a commis- sion from the commanding general of the