CHAPTER II.
ARTICLES OF TRAFFIC AND PLACES WITH WHICH TRADE WAS CARRIED ON.
The peace of 1783 left the Ohio and Mississippi country free from all other conflicts, but the unremitting hostility of the Indians. The right to navigate the Mississippi the great western waterway of export and to some extent of import, was denied to the Western settlers by the Spanish government.
In the middle of the year 1787, the foundation of an intercourse with Kentucky and the settlements on the Ohio was laid, which daily increased. The arrival of a boat belonging to Governor Wilkinson, loaded with tobacco and other productions of Kentucky, was announced in New Orleans, and a guard was immediately sent on board of it. Governor Miro being informed that in Kentucky, there were two or three crops on hand for which an immediate market must be found, in order to keep the inhabitants in a state of peace, made Governor Wilkinson the offer of a permission to import, on his own account to New Orleans, free of duty, all the productions of Kentucky, thinking to conciliate the people without yielding the point of navigation, as the commerce carried on would appear the effect of an indulgence to an individual, which could be withdrawn at any time.[49] Wilkinson appointed his friend, Daniel Clark, his agent at New Orleans, returned to Charleston in a vessel, and on his arrival in Kentucky, bought up all the produce he could collect, which he shipped to New Orleans. For some time all the trade on the Ohio was carried on in his name, a line from him sufficing to insure the owner of the boat every privilege and protection.[50] In January, 1789, Wilkinson fitted out twenty-five large boats, which were armed, and manned by one hundred and fifty men, and loaded with tobacco, flour, and provisions, with which he set sail for the south. His lead was soon followed by others. Among these adventurers was Colonel Armstrong of the Cumberland Settlements, who sent down six boats manned by thirty men; these were stopped at Natchez, and the goods being sold without permission, an officer and fifty soldiers were sent by the Spanish Commander to arrest the transgressors, who escaped over the line into the United States territory.[51]
Forman in 1789-1790, made a journey down the Ohio, and mentions the arrival, at Louisville, of four tobacco boats, on their way to New Orleans.[52] Furs were sent up the Ohio from Illinois to Pittsburg, as early as 1790, as is shown by the following from a letter written by St. Clair, "There is no doubt that the furs of that country might be brought up the Ohio River at as little or even less expense than attends the carriage of them to Canada. It has been tried by one person, a Mr. Vigo, and found to answer; although the goods he carried out were transported by land from Philadelphia to Pittsburg, and loaded with an impost the competitors were free from, they came to market on better terms than those from Canada. Could these also be subjected to it, a decided advantage would be given to the American trader."[53] Pope who journeyed down the Mississippi in 1791, speaks of meeting several boats bound down the river, loaded with bacon, butter, flour, tobacco, and plank, and also two large Pittsburg boats loaded with flour.[54] "The Walnut Hills about ten miles below the Yasous River" were fixed as the boundary line by the King of Spain, and United States citizens were not allowed to live in Spanish territory unless they put themselves under the laws, banners, and protection of Spain. Private adventurers from New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, carried on a tolerable trade at New Orleans, and had an advance of cent per cent on their goods, which were nevertheless cheaper than Spanish importations.[55]
October 27, 1795 a treaty was made with Spain containing the following provisions: "It is likewise agreed that the western boundary of the United States which separates them from the Spanish Colony of Louisiana, is in the middle of the channel or bed of the River Mississippi, from the northern boundary of the said States to the completion of the 31st degree of latitude north of the Equator. And his Catholic Majesty has likewise agreed that the navigation of the said river in its whole breadth, from its source to the ocean, shall be free only to his subjects, and the citizens of the United States, unless he should extend this privilege to the subjects of other powers by special convention."[56] "And in consequence of the stipulation contained in the fourth article, His Catholic Majesty will permit the citizens of the United States, for the space of three years from this time, to deposit their merchandise and effects in the port of New Orleans, and to export them from thence, without paying any other duty than a fair price for the hire of the Stores, and his Majesty promises either to continue this permission, if he finds, during that time that it is not prejudicial to the interests of Spain, or if he should not agree to continue it there, he will assign to them, on another part of the banks of the Mississippi, an equivalent establishment."[57]
Governor Carondelet, at New Orleans, received orders from the home government to deliver the posts on the Mississippi, but refused to do so, as he feared that the English were about to move against New Orleans from the north. In the summer of 1796 he finally received orders to hold the posts, but later was again ordered by the home government to deliver them.[58] Efforts were made by agents of France and Spain to induce the people of the western country to separate from the Union, and form, in conjunction with Franch and Spain an independent government in the Mississippi Valley.[59] The inhabitants of Kentucky and Tennessee, jealous of their rights, ant not satisfied with the efforts of Congress to procure them redress, seemed strongly disposed to take justice into their own hands. There appear to have been no less than five parties among them at this time. The discord between these parties was fanned by the English, Spanish, and French, according to their respective views. The Spanish Treaty went into quiet effect in 1798.[60]
New Orleans was not then, a large commercial city, but merely a small town without capital or enterprise, and reputed to be so fatally unhealthy, that its future growth was considered as entirely improbable.[61] Ascent of the Mississippi, by means of the boats then in use was a slow and most laborious process. Illinois received her goods from Michilmackinack; Kentucky, Tennessee, and the North West Territory, from Philadelphia or Baltimore, on account of the want of storehouses well and regularly furnished at New Orleans.[62] Conveyance of goods from Philadelphia to Illinois required fifty-five to sixty days; from New Orleans seventy to seventy-five days; the expense of carriage being twelve piastres the hundred weight by way of Philadelphia or Baltimore, and five piastres by way of New Orleans.[63] So long as the importation of goods was attended with so much difficulty and expense, and the western country was forced to depend upon the Atlantic States for their supply of European manufactures, the balance of trade was against them.[64]