"This accession of territory strengthens for ever the power of the United States," said Napoleon, coming in to look at the treaty. And as he affixed that signature, "Napoleon," he smiled,—"I have just given to England a maritime rival, that sooner or later will humble her pride."
And on that day the Mississippi was opened, to be closed by a foreign power no more for ever.
But no sooner had Napoleon parted with Louisiana than he began to repent. "Hasten," the ministers warned Jefferson, "the slightest delay may lose us the country."
The word reached America.
"Jefferson—bought New Orleans? bought the Mississippi? bought the entire boundless West?"
Men gasped, then cheered. Tumultuous excitement swept the land. On July 3, 1803, an infant Republic hugging the Atlantic, on July 4, a world power grasping the Pacific!
"A bargain!" cried the Republicans.
"Unconstitutional!" answered the Federalists.
"The East will become depopulated."
"Fifteen millions! Fifteen millions for that wilderness! Why, that would be tons of money! Waggon loads of silver five miles long. We have not so much coin in the whole country!"