[67] The detail of the vote on the balloting shows this fact, so creditable to South Carolina.
[68] This is the first authentic declaration that Mr. Jefferson's opinion on slavery was an obstacle to his receiving the South Carolina vote.
[69] A double movement was going on at the same time in relation to the violation of the right of deposit at New Orleans: one by the Administration, commencing with an embassy both to France and Spain to negotiate for the desired places; the other by the opposition, who held negotiation to be unworthy of the country in circumstances of such wrong and insult, and preferred the immediate seizure of New Orleans. Mr. Ross, a Pennsylvania Senator, from the west of the State, whose trade went to New Orleans, was the leader of this forcible movement—in which he was well sustained by the feeling of the whole West. It was on Mr. Ross's resolutions that this violation of the right of deposit at New Orleans was publicly debated; and as it concerned the free navigation of the Mississippi, it was called the "Mississippi question."
[70] This is the act which began the movement, which ended in the purchase of Louisiana. At the time it was passed the views of no one extended to the acquisition of that great province. The island on which New Orleans stands, and the two Floridas, were the object. Even this object was veiled by general expressions in relation to foreign intercourse, but its true purpose was made known in a confidential communication from the President to the House of Representatives, and by it communicated to the Senate, when the bill was up for its concurrence. Mr. Bayard and Mr. Nicholson were the committee that carried up the bill, and delivered this message:
"Gentlemen of the Senate:
"We transmit you a bill, which has passed this House, entitled "An act making further provision for the expenses attending the intercourse between the United States and foreign nations," and in which we request your concurrence. This bill has been passed by us in order to enable the President of the United States to commence, with more effect, a negotiation with the French and Spanish Governments, relative to the purchase of the island of New Orleans, and the provinces of East and West Florida. The nature and importance of the measures contemplated, have induced us to act upon the subject with closed doors. You will, of consequence, consider this communication as confidential."
[71] This was spoken before the campaigns of Ulm, Austerlitz and Jena.
[72] The true reason for the non-circulation of gold was the erroneous valuation of that coin, which was not corrected until thirty years afterwards.
[73] This speech, delivered in the Virginia Convention which ratified the Federal constitution, is the only full and perfect account of the transaction to which it refers that has ever been published. It refers to the design in the Congress of the confederation to give up the navigation of the Mississippi for 25 or 30 years in return for some commercial privileges from Spain—a design which Mr. Monroe was mainly instrumental in defeating, and for which he deserved still higher rewards than honor and gratitude. His reluctance to give the history of this transaction arose from its secret nature, the Congress of the confederation sitting upon it with closed doors, and the members being under injunctions not to disclose what was done. Its essentiality to a knowledge of the political history of the times must be apparent to all who read it.
[74] The famous orator.