CHAPTER XIV THE ADMISSION OF LOUISIANA AFTER the completion of the Louisiana Purchase the United States found itself in a peculiar position. How should the recently acquired territory be governed? There was no precedent to follow because the Northwest Territory had been included within the limits of the nation when the Treaty of Peace with Great Britain had been consummated. The promise had been made in spite of great opposition in Congress "that the people of the newly acquired territory should be incorporated in the Union of the United States and admitted as soon as possible according to the principles of the Federal Constitution, to the enjoyment of all the rights, advantages, and immunities of citizens of the United States." The question was complicated by the character of the population. It is probable that a majority of the whites were French; there were some Spaniards and a rapidly increasing number of immigrants from the Southern and Western States, who flocked into the newly acquired territory as soon as it came into possession of the Union. There were large numbers of negro slaves, and, scattered here and there over the vast territory, were thousands of Indians. The French formed the most important and influential element and they now wished to see the United States fulfil its promise according to the French interpretation of it. But the national government evinced a disposition to proceed slowly in giving them the desired liberty. The expression "admitted as soon as possible according to the principles of the Federal Constitution" was very vague, perhaps purposely so. The interpretation of it was in the power of Congress, and, for the good of the new possession, it seemed best to go slowly and give the people of Louisiana only the liberty which they were able to use to advantage. Congress was mindful of the various experiences in government through which these people had passed, and that in the different kinds there had been no self-government. As a people the Louisianians were not familiar with AngloSaxon institutions and laws. They were, however, much more intelligent and better fitted for sharing in the administration of the government than were the French in the Illinois country. Many of the French in New Orleans were men of wealth and culture, who welcomed the transfer of their country to the United States, because they believed that the change would bring them a better government. The citizens of the United States, who emigrated to Louisiana after the purchase was made, believed that the government would be the same in Louisiana as in the States which they had left. These immigrants united with the French in insisting upon a liberal government. This mixture of population made the problem of government much more difficult than it was in the Northwest Territory, because in the latter the people were almost entirely from the east and had been accustomed to selfgovernment. The few French in the northwest desired only to be let alone. The Congressional debate over the government of Louisiana is of especial interest, not only because of the skill and wisdom shown in the course of the discussion, but also because it marks a step forward in the development of the territorial policy of the United States. A committee of four was appointed to prepare a bill for the government of the Territory. The bill brought in by this committee proposed that two Territories be formed out of the newly |