THIRD ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART II. 77 



as essential to the permanency of the Union." His far seeing eye dis- 

 cerned the probabilities in all the country west of the Mississippi to the 

 Pacific, but Jefferson and Madison urged on by the persistent demands of 

 the people for free navigation were willing to accept the river as the 

 western boundary of the republic. April 20, 1803, a week after the great 

 treaty had been agreed upon and ten days before it was signed, Secre- 

 tary of State Madison wrote to Monroe, then in Paris, "certain it is 

 that the hearts and hopes of the western people are strongly fixed on 

 the Mississippi for the future boundary." Meanwhile the people directly 

 interested continued to demand their rights as defined by the treaty 1783, 

 and Robert R. Livingston of undying fame as a diplomatist, patriot and 

 statesman, never ceased in his untiring efforts in their behalf at the court 

 of France, and though only authorized to negotiate for the portion east 

 of the river when the capricious first consul offered it to him, he pur- 

 chased the entire territory. It was the wisest and most audacious act 

 ever done by an American ambassador, and its vast consequences can 

 never be measured. Without it, the British would probably have acquired 

 the territory as a lesult of the Napoleonic wars and the United States 

 would now, if in existence as a nation, be bounded on the west by the 

 Mississippi with a British colony on the other side. 



The differences as to the admission of new states might not have 

 arisen; we might never have known of the Missouri Compromise and 

 poor bleeding Kansas; we might even have escaped the horrors of civil 

 war, but we should not have achieved greatness as a nation. 



The consequences of the acquisition of Louisiana are so stupendous 

 and have exerted such an enormous influence over our destiny as a na- 

 tion that it is most fitting a great commemorative world's fair should be 

 held in the largest city of the region and upon the banks of the mighty 

 river whose free navigation gave rise to the controversy so happily ended 

 by Livingston's unauthorized treaty. Difficulties arose after the treaty 

 was signed. Jefferson always a strict constructionist of the constitution 

 doubted the right to acquire territory without an amendment, and even 

 proposed one, but the demands and necessities of the people swept away 

 all his doubts and objections and the treaty was ratified — our national 

 domain was doubled, a precedent set for future acquisitions of territory, 

 and permanent foundation for our greatness laid. This territory, compris- 

 ing practically thirteen magnificent states and two territories, has three 

 times the population and many times the wealth of the entire United 

 States at the time of the acquisition. It now teems with a population 

 of over seventeen millions of intelligent, prosperous people, and with its 

 vast areas and resources yet undeveloped is capable of supporting in com- 

 fort many millions more. Besides this, its possession made possible 

 the acquisition of the great northwest and Texas and California. 



The centennial of this great event will be celebrated in a world's fair 

 twice the size of any other ever attempted in any country. Its success is 

 assured by ample funds. The entire cost will be about forty millions of 

 dollars. It will in every respect be an international exposition and under 

 its agressive and able management be worthy of the event commemorated. 



