In treating for the purchase of West Florida and New Orleans Monroe's instructions in cluded three contingencies: Monroe and Living ston were to buy the desired territory if it could be bought for any sum not exceeding $10,000,000. They were to offer besides the purchase price, commercial privileges for 10 years in the ceded ports, the incorporation of the inhabitants on an equal footing with the citizens of the United States, and, if demanded, even a guaranty of the west bank of the Mis sissippi. As a second contingency, in case France refused to sell the territory in question, the ambassadors were instructed to sue for the right of deposit, together with such privileges as France would grant. In the event France acceded to neither of these propositions, then the ambassadors were to be given special in struction by Congress adapted to the case. This last contingency might mean war, or it might mean further procrastination. In a communica tion to the first consul, delivered through "ichon, Jefferson had already hinted at a prob able alliance with England in case France de clined to accept any terms whatsoever and positively refused relief to the United States from the severe conditions of trade along the Mississippi. When Livingston and Monroe first opened negotiations through Talleyrand for the purchase of New Orleans and West Florida, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs held out but little hope. The American ambassadors used every argument, but to no purpose, ap parently. However, the aspect of affairs soon changed. The first consul was growing weary of the drain on his resources which Santo Domingo entailed. He reflected, too, that he would soon need all the men and money he could command for the execution of his plans in Europe. When, therefore, he received intel ligence of the death of Leclerc in Santo Do mingo and the annihilation of his army and the general uprising of the negroes of that province, he realized that the offer of the United States furnished him a suitable occasion for abandon ing his costly schemes of French colonization in America, under cover of a new enterprise, and he gladly closed with the American am bassadors to cede to the United States the whole of Louisiana for the largest sum he could ob tain. He needed money to replenish his ex chequer for his contemplated war with England and Germany, and he did not hesitate to break his word with Spain in ceding away Louisiana, which act, perhaps, he intended as a punish ment for Spain for Godoy's treaty with the United States. The American ambassadors, astonished at the offer to sell the whole or no part of Louisiana, though not authorized to purchase the entire province, wisely closed with Talleyrand and Marbois and agreed to buy the whole of Louisiana. After some haggling over the price, Livingston and Monroe agreed to pay France $16,000,000. The documents were signed early in May and antedated to 30 April 1803, and thus the United States, beyond the expec tation of all acquired possession of the vast province of Louisiana: The treaty for the cession of Louisiana is notable in that it contains no definition of the boundaries of the property transferred. When the American commissioners insisted that the boundaries of Louisiana be defined, they were merely informed that the boundaries were the same as they were in the hands of France, ac cording to Berthier's original treaty of retroces sion. However, it was definitely understood on both sides that the Floridas were not included in the transfer, since that territory did not belong to France. Article III of the treaty
provided that 'the inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incorporated in the Union of the United States, and admitted as soon as pos sible, according to the principles of the Fed eral Constitution, to the enjoyment of all the rights, advantages and immunities of citizens of the United States." In addition to the sum of $11,250,000, which the United States prom ised to pay France, the United States agreed to assume the spoliation claims of American citi zens against the French government, amounting to $3,750,000, thus making the price in all $15, 000,000. The ratification of the treaty by the Senate of the United States gave rise to a per constitutional question as to the right of Louisiana to be admitted into the Union and the process to be adopted. President Jefferson recommended, since there was no authority in the Constitution to buy foreign territory, that a constitutional amendment be adopted as the most convenient solution of the problem. How ever, the treaty was at length ratified without recourse to a constitutional amendment, and the President acquiesced even at the risk of mak ing blank paper by construction of the Constitu tion. Spain protested vigorously against the cession of Louisiana to the United States, alleg ing that the first consul had violated the treaty of retrocession and claiming that the province could be ceded to herself only. But when the Spanish government realized that both the United States and France were resolved to make good the transfer, even by a resort to arms, if need be, Charles IV yielded and ac cepted the cession as inevitable. Thus, for $15,000,000, the United States added to her ter ritory a vast region extending from the Mis sissippi to the Rocky Mountains and from Mex ico to the Lake of the Woods. The annexation of Louisiana not only increased the territory of the United States by an immense area, hut it also put a new complexion upon the politics of the nation and marked a new epoch in the national life. See LOUISIANA PURCHASE.
Bibliography.— Adams, H., 'History of the United States' (Chaps. 2-5, Vol. II, 1889); Bond, F., 'Louisiana and the Louisiana Pur chase' (Washington 1912) ; Fontaine,