the whole region embraced within its original limits; instead of which, in 1845, the whites amounted to but little short of 700,000 souls.

[A.D. 1844.] During the years 1843 and 1844 an immense number of foreigners arrived at the port of New York, principally from the German States and from Ireland, of whom the greater portion advanced by way of the lake route to the regions west of Lake Michigan, and chiefly to the territories of Wisconsin and Iowa. Scarcely a day elapsed during the months of June and July in which crowds of immigrants were not making their advance from New York on rail-roads, canals, and steam-boats, for their destination in the West. In the interval from the first till about the middle of the month of June, 1844, no less than eight thousand two hundred and fifty foreign immigrants, chiefly Germans, arrived in the city of New York.*

[A.D. 1845.] At the close of the year 1845, such had been the general increase of inhabitants in the states and territories comprised within the limits of the original "Northwestern Territory," as organized in 1787, that the regions which, fifty years before, had been occupied as the abodes and huntinggrounds of a few naked, roving bands of savages, were now inhabited by three millions and a half of the most active, enterprising, and commercial people in the world, producing and enjoying all the luxuries and comforts of civilized life, with the improvements, refinements, and intelligence of the oldest nations in the world.†

Such is the change which American colonization and American freedom have wrought upon this portion of the Valley of the Mississippi within the last half century; and the march is onward. Already their pioneers are on the Rio del Norte, and their videttes are on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

It was not until the year 1846 that the people of Wisconsin, with an aggregate population of more than one hundred and fifty-five thousand persons, desired to assume an independent state government. Agreeably to the application of the terri

* See New York Weekly Herald, June 15th, 1844.

By the state census for the year 1845, the entire population of the states and territories is as follows: 1. State of Ohio,

1,732,832 souls. | 4. State of Michigan,

304,285 souls. 150,000

The above states, in 1845, had forty members of Congress, and Wisconsin one delegate.-See New Orleans Jeffersonian of February 14th, 1846.

torial Legislature, Congress authorized a convention to form and adopt a state Constitution preparatory to the admission of the State of Wisconsin into the Union. On the 7th of September, 1846, the election was held for delegates to said convention.

CHAPTER XVII.

EXTENSION Of the federAL UNION WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, AND THE RE-ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.-A.D. 1803 TO 1846. Argument. Retrospect of the Province of Louisiana.-" Territory of Orleans" and District of Louisiana.-Increase of Population in the Territory of Orleans and District of Louisiana.-Remote Missouri Regions explored by Lewis and Clark.-Lieutenant Pike explores the Upper Mississippi and the Arkansas Rivers.-Population advances into the District.-Settlements extend upon the Arkansas and Missouri.Missouri Territory organized in 1812.-New Impulse to Emigration in 1815.-Indian Treaties.-Population of Missouri Territory in 1817.-" Territory of Arkansas" organized in 1819.-French Settlement incorporated with the American Population.— St. Louis as a commercial Point.-The People of Missouri Territory apply for a State Government in 1819.-Strong Opposition in Congress.-Stormy Debates on the "Missouri Question" in 1819-1829.-Convention and State Government authorized in 1820.-Constitution adopted, and State Government organized.-"State of Missouri" admitted into the Union under Restriction in 1821.-Population, Agriculture, and Commerce of Missouri until 1836.—Emigration to Arkansas Territory in 1835-36.— "State of Arkansas" admitted into the Union.-Features of the Constitution.-Gov. ernors of Arkansas.-State of Missouri, and City of St. Louis from 1838 to 1845.Emigration west of the Mississippi; to Louisiana; to "Iowa District."-"Territory of Iowa" organized.-"Iowa City."-Increased Emigration to Territory of Iowa, from 1839 to 1844.-State Constitution authorized.-Features of Constitution.-Iowa rejects Terms of Admission.-Florida and Texas admitted.-Iowa forms another Constitution in 1846.-Emigration through Nebraska Territory to Oregon, from 1842 to 1845.

Re-annexation of Texas.-Former Condition of Texas as a Spanish Province.--Adheres to the Mexican Confederation of 1824.-Departments and Settlements in 1832.— Mexican Grants for European and American Colonies.-Population in 1834.-Texas and Coahuila form one Mexican State.-Texas secedes from the dictatorial Authority of Santa Anna, and is invaded by General Cos.-Texas declares herself Independent in 1836.-Is invaded by Santa Anna.-Santa Anna recognizes her Independence.— It is recognized by United States and the European Powers.-Emigration to Texas greatly increases.-The People of Texas desire Annexation to the United States.— Second Application in 1837.-Mexico, prompted by Santa Anna, repudiates his Acts in Texas.-Third Application of Texas met by an Overture from the United States in 1844.-President Tyler's Treaty of Annexation. Mr. Shannon, Minister to Mexico. -His fruitless Mission.- Mr. Thompson sent as Envoy.-Returns unsuccessful.Captain Elliott becomes an active Diplomatist against Annexation.-Hostile Attitude of Mexico.-Captain Elliott's Zeal in Diplomacy.-Intrigue of the British and French Ministers.-Annexation consummated. The Protection of United States invoked against Mexican Invasion.-Army of Occupation at Corpus Christi.-Advances to the Rio del Norte.

[A.D. 1803.] THE purchase of the province of Louisiana from the French Republic in 1803 gave to the United States

a claim to the jurisdiction over this vast region, which comprised the coast from the Perdido to the Rio del Norte, and from the sources of that river to the Pacific Ocean on the west, and from the Gulf of Mexico on the south, to the British possessions on the north.

As has been elsewhere observed,* the most considerable settlements of European descent in this extensive territory were located principally in what are now the States of Louisiana and Missouri, and contained an aggregate population of but little over forty-five thousand.

District of Louisiana.-After the "Territory of Orleans" was laid off, the remainder of the province was known and designated as the "District of Louisiana," until a separate gov ernment could be established by Congress. During this period the country near the Mississippi River was occupied by the troops of the United States, under military and civil commandants, stationed in the vicinity of the largest settlements. The jurisdiction of the Federal courts of the Indiana Territory was temporarily extended over it.

[A.D. 1804.] The first military commandant and civil governor of the "District of Louisiana" was Major Amos Stoddart, an intelligent and highly meritorious officer of the United States army, and author of a valuable work on the early history and resources of Louisiana. His headquarters were at St. Louis, the capital of Upper Louisiana.†

At this time the District of Louisiana contained the germs of two independent states on the west side of the Mississippi, comprised in the few detached settlements upon the Arkansas River and upon the west side of the Upper Mississippi, south of the Missouri River. These settlements were composed mostly of French Creoles and traders, with a few emigrant Anglo-Americans from the United States. Those on the Arkansas River were distributed chiefly within fifty miles of the Mississippi, at a point where a military post was subsequently established and known as the "Post of Arkansas." The pop

* See book iv., chapter v., “Close of Spanish dominion in Louisiana."

↑ Major Stoddart was an accomplished scholar, and was attached to the first regi. ment of artillery, and distinguished himself on the Northwestern frontier during the campaign of 1812 and 1813. He died at Fort Meigs in the spring of 1813, of tetanus, produced by a wound received during the siege from a fragment of a shell. His work, published in 1810, is a valuable compilation of the early history, settlements, resources, and population of Louisiana and Florida, commonly known as "Stoddart's Sketches of Louisiana."

ulation of this settlement in 1804, exclusive of the garrison in the post, was three hundred and sixty-eight persons; that of Upper Louisiana was much greater, and was situated chiefly between the settlement of Cape Girardeau and those near St. Louis, comprising more than six thousand persons, not including the garrison in the post of St. Louis.*

Exploring Expeditions.-The remainder of this immense district was an unknown savage wilderness of forests and prairies, traversed by a few roving bands of savages, and explored only by a few French traders, with their attendant couriers du bois and voyageurs, engaged in the fur-trade with the remote Indian tribes. The first authentic American explorations were those conducted by Lewis and Clark, in the years 1804 and 1805, to the sources of the Missouri, and thence to the Pacific Ocean through the Columbia River. Next were those conducted by Lieutenant Pike in the years 1805 and 1806, for the exploration of the sources of the Mississippi, and subsequently, in 1806 and 1807, for the exploration of the regions near the sources of the Arkansas and Red Rivers.†

One important object of all these explorations was to conciliate the numerous tribes of Indians then inhabiting the country watered by all the western tributaries of the Mississippi, and to establish amicable relations with those in the immediate vicinity of the frontier settlements. In his explorations upon the Upper Mississippi, upon the lower tributaries of the Missouri and Arkansas, no less than upon the sources of the Arkansas and Red River, Lieutenant Pike had omitted no opportunity for entering into treaties of friendship and peace with the native tribes through which he passed; thus preparing the way for the subsequent sale and relinquishment of lands in advance of the adventurous pioneer.

[A.D. 1805.] Territory of Louisiana.-Meantime, the District of Louisiana had been erected into the "Territory of Louisiana," with the first grade of territorial government administered by a governor and territorial judges. The first governor was General James Wilkinson, who held the office until the close of the year 1806, when he was succeeded by Colonel Meriwether Lewis. Under his administration, assisted by the territorial judges, the Territory of Louisiana remained a

* See Martin's Louisiana, vol. ii., p. 205. Also, Drake's Life of Harrison, p. 74. † See Pike's Expedition, passim.

dependence of the United States until the year 1812, when the "State of Louisiana" was admitted into the Union. During this period the town and post of St. Louis continued to be the seat of the territorial government. The territory was divided into six judicial districts, or large counties, viz.: those of St. Charles, St. Louis, St. Geneviève, Cape Girardeau, New Madrid, and Arkansas.

[A.D. 1808.] The limits of the white settlements, as late as the beginning of the year 1808, had been extended but little beyond the boundaries claimed by the Spanish authorities in virtue of former treaties with the native tribes; but the Federal government had made ample provision for the extension of settlements by future emigration.

On the 10th of November, 1808, at a grand council of the western Indians, convened at "Fort Clark," a treaty was concluded, by which the Osage tribes ceded to the United States an extensive portion of territory between the Missouri and the Arkansas Rivers. These lands were to be gradually relinquished by the tribes in advance of the white settlements. Hence the way was first opened for the extension of the white population into the eastern portions of the present States of Missouri and Arkansas.

[A.D. 1809.] Soon after the occupation of Louisiana by the United States, people from the Western States began to move slowly into this remote region, gradually augmenting the number in all the old French settlements, and in the vicinity of the American posts.

The greatest emigration was to the settlements in the vicinity of Cape Girardeau, St. Geneviève, St. Louis, and St. Charles; those of New Madrid and the post of Arkansas were also augmented, but in a less degree, by frontier settlers.

[A.D. 1810.] In the year 1810, the number of people in the Territory of Louisiana had, in six years, increased to nearly twenty-one thousand souls, including about three thousand slaves. Of this aggregate population about fifteen hundred were within the limits of the present State of Arkansas; the remainder were comprised chiefly within the confines of the present State of Missouri.

[A.D. 1811.] At this time the frontier population had ex

*See Darby's Universal Gazetteer, p. 495, edition of 1827. Also, Bradford's Illustrated Atlas of United States, p. 154.

VOL. II.-M м