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The View from Washington •  • CHAPTER TWO A Conquered People The View from Washington J efferson declared that the purchase of Louisiana enlarged America’s “empire of liberty,” despite the fact that the American government established for Louisiana lacked any representative features. The president considered the acquisition of this new western territory as essential to the future prosperity of the United States. “I look to this duplication of area for the extending a government so free and economical as ours, as a great achievement to the mass of happiness which is to ensue.” When he wrote this in January 1804, Louisianans clearly did not yet enjoy any of the benefits of a free government. The territory was administered under an act of October 31, 1803, entitled An Act Enabling the President to Take Possession of Louisiana. This act, written by Jefferson himself, gave the president the power to vest “all the military, civil and judicial powers exercised by the officers of the existing government (under France) in such person and persons . . . as the President of the United States shall direct.” Jefferson appointed one man, William Claiborne , to “exercise all the powers and authorities heretofore exercised by the Governor and Intendant.” 1 Because he was granted the powers of two colonial administrators Claiborne was a more powerful figure in Louisiana than any of the Spanish officials who had ruled Louisiana in the past. Claiborne was also granted an unprecedented amount of freedom to make his own decisions as he exercised his authority at the beginning of his reign. In a letter that accompanied Claiborne’s commission, Madison informed Claiborne that his powers were “very extensive by law” and that “for the manner of exercising those ample powers no particular instructions are now given by the president.” Like Jefferson, Madison also provided no specific instructions to Claiborne. “You will be led by your own judgement and your correct principles and dispositions to a prudent moderation.” 2 While Jefferson had helped to create an American viceroy in Louisiana, it is clear that he did not intend Claiborne to rule until his death. The Louisiana The View from Washington •  • government established by the act of October 31, 1803, was defined as temporary . Claiborne’s commission stated that he was to hold power until “the end of the present session of Congress unless provision to be sooner made for the temporary government of the territory so ceded by France to the United States.” As Claiborne began his rule as governor, Senator John Breckinridge of Kentucky, who had a great interest in the purchase, presented a bill for the government of Louisiana on behalf of a Senate committee appointed for that purpose.3 While Congress debated the Breckinridge Bill for the government of Louisiana , Claiborne worried about the power that Jefferson had granted him to rule the new American province. During his second week as governor, he admitted that he did not feel equal to the task assigned him. He was uneasy with “the great latitude of powers” that were “temporarily entrusted” to him and found the “exercise of discretionary power in matters of the moment” an “irksome duty.” Claiborne “indulged the anxious hope” that Congress would soon relieve him from “the weight of responsibility” that was placed upon him. 4 Claiborne was not alone in his belief that he was not equipped to govern Louisiana. Jefferson had wanted a governor who was skilled in diplomacy, who could speak French, and who could win the trust of the people of Louisiana. 5 With these criteria in mind, Jefferson first considered Thomas Sumter Jr. for the position. Sumter spoke French and had served on Robert Livingston’s staff as secretary to the legation to Paris. Sumter was eliminated, however, as a possible candidate after he had a serious disagreement with Livingston. The president also considered the Marquis de Lafayette for the position and then turned to James Monroe, who was fluent in French, well versed in the history and politics of the region, and served the United States during the Jay-Gardoqui discussions and in the Paris negotiations for the Louisiana Purchase. Monroe wrote Jefferson from London and rejected the offer with the argument that an “appointment to Louisiana” would be “incompatible” with his efforts to conclude treaties with England and Spain. 6 In addition to those who were offered the post of governor of Louisiana by Jefferson, there were some who wanted to be considered but were not asked, such as Andrew Jackson; Fulwar Skipwith, who at...

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