Part 242

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 16, 1789.

SIR: General Wilkinson having represented to me, that you had it in contemplation to settle in this province, and that your example would have considerable influence on many good families of your country, I think it my duty, in order to forward the intentions of my royal master, to inform you that I shall receive you and your followers with great pleasure, and that you have liberty to settle in any part of Louisiana, or any where on the east side of the Mississippi below the Yazoo river. In order to populate the province, His Majesty has been graciously pleased to authorize me to grant to the emigrants, free of all expense, tracts of from two hundred and forty to eight hundred acres, in proportion to their property; and in particular cases of men of influence, who may aid these views, I shall extend the grant as far as three thousand acres. To all persons who actually become settlers, liberty is granted to bring down their property in the produce of your country, duty free; but the King does not agree to take your tobacco, and, of consequence, you must depend upon the common market of this city, as the province makes more than the quantity which the King allows me to take. I mention this particular to prevent disappointment. You will be exempt from taxation, and will be allowed the private exercise of your religion without molestation from any person whatever, and will enjoy all the rights, privileges, and immunities of His Majesty’s other subjects.

In order to cultivate an amicable connection with the settlers of the Ohio, His Majesty has been graciously pleased, at the same time, to give liberty to the inhabitants of that country to bring down their produce to this city for sale, subject to a duty of fifteen per cent, on the value here; but to prevent imposition, and to distinguish between the real settler and the trader, the former, on entering their produce at the custom-house, will be obliged to subscribe to the conditions mentioned in the proclamation, of which General Wilkinson carries a copy for your information.

Though unknown to you, General Wilkinson has taught me to respect your character.

It is, therefore, I subscribe myself, with great esteem, your most obedient and humble servant,

ESTEVAN MIRO.

BENJAMIN SEBASTIAN, Esq., Kentucky.

Attest: S. COLEMAN, A. C. C.

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NATCHEZ, June 17, 1796.

MY DEAR FRIEND: I received your favor of the 12th instant, in which you give me a proof of your sincere friendship by opening your heart, without reserve, on the interesting subject of the treaty. Following the same sentiments that have dictated to you the confidence that you have in me, I shall unreservedly, and in the most confidential manner, give you my opinion on the same subject.

I have powerful reasons to believe that the part of the treaty concerning limits will never be accomplished; and for that reason so little has been said on what otherwise should be detailed concerning the subjects and citizens of both countries. The State of Georgia is as much displeased as you express yourself, and several petitions have already been presented to Congress against the treaty.

In the time that the treaty was signed, the political affairs of Europe determined our Court to do any thing to keep the United States in a perfect neutrality, and thereby destroy a new plan that was forming to renew and continue a destructive war. The treaty with England had a different object. It was to attract the Americans to their interest in such a manner as to have still in her power to keep them dependent; the plan has fallen through, and the British will no longer deliver the posts. Our treaty that was made to counterbalance that, will suffer equal difficulties; for the circumstances being altered, so will be the conditions on every side. Spain made a treaty with the Union; but if this Union is dissolved, one of the contracting parties exists no longer, and the other is absolved from her engagements. It is more than probable that a separation of several States will take place, which will alter the political existence of a power that could influence on the balance of that of others; therefore Spain, being deprived of that assistance which could arise from her connection with the Union, will alter her views. This is the political situation of things with regard to the treaty; besides that, there are other insurmountable difficulties with respect to the Indians, which render impracticable the execution of the part concerning limits; therefore, even when no change should happen in the United States, the treaty will be reduced to the navigation of this river.

Laying aside every obstacle, and only guided by the same principles that have affected you, I have already represented in the strongest and most energetic manner on the subject of real property; without a solution from Court, it will be out of our power to fulfil the contents of the treaty. When I told you that your property should not suffer in this Government, it was founded on all these principles, and several others that are not vanished. I have constantly been a friend to the country, and in this critical moment will not neglect its interests. Be sure, and assure all your neighbors, that I will do the needful, and that my exertions at all times shall be in proportion to the exigency.

With regard to the debts of this Government, they will continue to be paid in the manner prescribed; however, I shall act in such a manner as to have them cleared much sooner than what is expected. Every individual of this Government is just now attending their crops of cotton, that promise very advantageously; therefore in this critical moment they must not be disturbed, or they will suffer essentially. I am waiting anxiously for Mr. Dunbar to regulate several things in which he has had, and is to have an interference. I really believe that the Baron has him employed. I do not know for certain when the Baron is to go to the Havana, nor do I believe that he knows it. The first packet may perhaps throw some light on the subject. The return of our Court to Madrid will be productive of some very great change in the administration of our affairs; therefore I wait that moment with impatience.

Nothing can affect the mortgage you have on Fuly’s property; he has not yet appeared, but Mr. Ree acts for him.

I remain, with the most sincere friendship, my dear friend, your most obedient,

M. GAYOSO DE LEMOS.

Reserve this letter.

P. S.--In the other letter I express the reason of my new regulation, &c.

DANIEL CLARK, Esq.

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Extract from a paper on the commerce of Louisiana, supposed to be referred to in a letter from Mr. Daniel Clark to the Secretary of State, of the 18th April, 1798, and written by him.

About the period of which we are now speaking, in the middle of the year 1787, the foundation of an intercourse with Kentucky and the settlements on the Ohio was laid, which daily increases. Previous to that time, all those who ventured on the Mississippi had their property seized by the first commanding officer whom they met, and little or no communication was kept up between the countries. Now and then, an emigrant who wished to settle in Natchez, by dint of entreaty, and solicitation of friends who had interest in New Orleans, procured permission to remove there with his family, slaves, cattle, furniture, and farming utensils; but was allowed to bring no other property, except cash. An unexpected incident, however, changed the face of things, and was productive of a new line of conduct. The arrival of a boat, belonging to General Wilkinson, loaded with tobacco and other productions of Kentucky, is announced in town, and a guard was immediately sent on board of it. The General’s name had hindered this being done at Natchez, and the commandant was fearful that such a step might be displeasing to his superiors, who might wish to show some respect to the property of a general officer; at any rate, the boat was proceeding to Orleans, and they would then resolve on what measures they ought to pursue, and put in execution. The Government, not much disposed to show any mark of respect or forbearance towards the General’s property, he not having at that time arrived, was about proceeding in the usual way of confiscation, when a merchant in Orleans, who had considerable influence there, and who was formerly acquainted with the General, represented to the Governor that the measures taken by the Intendant would very probably give rise to disagreeable events; that the people of Kentucky were already exasperated at the conduct of the Spaniards in seizing on the property of all those who navigated the Mississippi; and, if this system was pursued, they would very probably, in spite of Congress and the Executive of the United States, take upon themselves to obtain the navigation of the river by force, which they were well able to do; a measure for some time before much dreaded by this Government, which had no force to resist them, if such a plan was put in execution. Hints were likewise given that Wilkinson was a very popular man, who could influence the whole of that country; and probably that his sending a boat before him, with a wish that she might be seized, was but a snare at his return to influence the minds of the people, and having brought them to the point he wished, induce them to appoint him their leader, and then, like a torrent, spread over the country, and carry fire and desolation from one end of the province to the other.

Governor Miro, a weak man, unacquainted with the American Government, ignorant even of the position of Kentucky with respect to his own province, but alarmed at the very idea of an irruption of Kentucky men, whom he feared without knowing their strength, communicated his wishes to the Intendant that the guard might be removed from the boat, which was accordingly done; and a Mr. Patterson, who was the agent of the General, was permitted to take charge of the property on board, and to sell it free of duty. The General, on his arrival in Orleans some time after, was informed of the obligation he lay under to the merchant who had impressed the Government with such an idea of his importance and influence at home, waited on him, and, in concert with him, formed a plan for their future operations. In his interview with the Governor, that he might not seem to derogate from the character given of him by appearing concerned in so trifling a business as a boat-load of tobacco, hams, and butter, he gave him to understand that the property belonged to many citizens of Kentucky, who, availing themselves of his return to the Atlantic States by way of Orleans, wished to make a trial of the temper of this Government, as he, on his arrival, might inform his own what steps had been pursued under his eye, that adequate measures might be afterwards taken to procure satisfaction. He acknowledged with gratitude the attention and respect manifested by the Governor towards himself in the favor shown to his agent; but at the same time mentioned that he would not wish the Governor to expose himself to the anger of his Court by refraining from seizing on the boat and cargo, as it was but a trifle, if such were the positive orders from Court, and that he had not a power to relax them according to circumstances. Convinced by this discourse that the General rather wished for an opportunity of embroiling affairs than sought to avoid it, the Governor became more alarmed. For two or three years before, particularly since the arrival of the Commissioners from Georgia, who had come to Natchez to claim that country, he had been fearful of an invasion at every annual rise of the waters, and the news of a few boats being seen was enough to alarm the whole province. He revolved in his mind what measures he ought to pursue (consistent with the orders he had from home to permit the free navigation of the river) in order to keep the Kentucky people quiet; and, in his succeeding interviews with Wilkinson, having procured more knowledge than he had hitherto acquired of their character, population, strength, and dispositions, he thought he could do nothing better than hold out a bait to Wilkinson to use his influence in restraining the people from an invasion of this province till he could give advice to this Court, and require further instructions. This was the point to which the parties wished to bring him, and, being informed that in Kentucky two or three crops were on hand, for which, if an immediate vent was not found, the people could not be kept within bounds, he made Wilkinson the offer of a permission to import, on his own account, to New Orleans, free of duty, all the productions of Kentucky, thinking by this means to conciliate the good will of 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 pleasure. On consultation with his friends, who well knew what further concessions Wilkinson could extort from the fears of the Spaniards, by the promises of his good offices in preaching peace, harmony, and good understanding with this Government, until arrangements were made between Spain and America, he was advised to insist that the Governor should insure him a market for all the flour and tobacco he might send, as in the event of an unfortunate shipment, he would be ruined whilst endeavoring to do a service to Louisiana. This was accepted. Flour was always wanted in New Orleans, and the King of Spain had given orders to purchase more tobacco for the supply of his manufactories at home than Louisiana at that time produced, and which was paid for at about $9.50 per cwt. In Kentucky it cost but $2, and the profit was immense. In consequence, the General appointed his friend Daniel Clark his agent here, returned by way of Charleston in a vessel, with a particular permission to go to the United States, even at the very moment of Gardoqui’s information; and, on his arrival in Kentucky, bought up all the produce he could collect, which he shipped and disposed of as before mentioned; and for some time all the trade for the Ohio was carried on in his name, a line from him sufficing to insure to the owner of the boat every privilege and protection he could desire.

On granting this privilege to Wilkinson, the Government came to a resolution of encouraging emigration from the Western country, and offered passports to all settlers, with an exemption of duty on all the property they might bring with them invested in the produce of the country they came from under the denomination of settlers. All those who had acquaintances with a few persons of influence in Orleans obtained passports, made shipments to their address, which were admitted free of duty, and, under pretence of following shortly after with their families, continued their speculations. Others came with their property, had lands granted them, which, after locating, they disposed of, and, having finished their business, returned to the United States. A few only remained in the province, and they were the people who, in general, availed themselves least of the immunities granted by the Government. They possessed a few slaves and cattle, but had little other property, and they generally settled among their countrymen in the Natchez, and increased the cultivation of tobacco, at that time the principal article raised for export in the district. This encouragement given to emigrants and speculators opened a market for the produce of the Ohio. Flour was imported from Pittsburg; and the farmers finding a vent for all they could raise, their lands augmented in value, their industry increased, and they exported annually to Louisiana, for some time past, from ten to fifteen thousand barrels of flour, for which they generally find a ready market. When the first adventurers began to purchase, flour was to be had for from eighteen to twenty shillings, Pennsylvania currency, per barrel, on the Monongahela, but was of a very bad quality, and was only made use of for biscuit, or in times of scarcity. It gradually improved, and in 1792 the best kind was supposed equal to that manufactured in Philadelphia; but, being put up negligently, does not keep so long, and for that reason alone is not so much esteemed as Philadelphia flour.

The Court of Spain, informed by its officers here of the steps they had taken, and the motives which had induced them, otherwise ignorant of the situation of affairs with respect to Kentucky, and consequently easily impressed with the ideas they wished to inculcate, not only approved of what they had done, but granted a further permission to all the inhabitants of the Western country to export their produce to Orleans, where it was admitted on paying fifteen per cent. duty. This increased the intercourse, as many who would not before adventure, while it was a matter of favor granted by the Governor, now entered into commercial speculations; and, from the Ohio, the province of Louisiana was not only supplied with a sufficient stock of flour, whiskey, and salted provisions, hemp, and, latterly, cordage, but a considerable quantity of some of them often was shipped from hence, as the produce of this province, to Havana and other Spanish ports; besides these articles, the produce of their lands, dry goods were secretly imported, and sold in the different ports along the river; and, although orders were given to the commandant of New Madrid, the first Spanish port below the mouth of the Ohio, to prevent such importations, and seize on all who transgressed these orders, it was easily avoided. Here the boats gave a manifest of their cargo, under which a passport was given; this was endorsed by the different commandants on the river as the boats passed; the owners might sell their cargoes where they pleased, and by the manifest which they were bound to deliver to the Government immediately on their arrival at New Orleans, their duties were calculated. These duties continued to be exacted at the rate of fifteen per cent. until after the arrival of the Baron de Carondelet, when, under the idea of facilitating certain political ideas of his own, he reduced them, on his own authority, to six per cent. This measure was highly disapproved of by Gardoqui, the Minister of Finance, who threatened to make him personally responsible for the difference, and ordered the duties to be placed on the former footing. The Baron, who was not easily diverted from a favorite measure, paid no attention to the Minister’s first orders; he represented a second time, and again received a more positive order than the first. Despairing of being able to gain his point with him, and determined not to abandon it, he addressed himself to the King, through the Minister of State. His plans were approved of, and the duty fixed at six per cent., at which rate it still subsists: and this is the duty exacted on every thing imported from any of the American settlements on the Ohio or Mississippi for sale in New Orleans. This duty is far from being burdensome to the importer, on account of the low rate of estimation, and the facility with which, by various means, a considerable part of it is always avoided. Flour is valued but at four dollars a barrel; first quality tobacco, three dollars per hundredweight; other quality, two dollars; whiskey, thirty-seven and a half cents per gallon; and salt provisions and all other articles at a reasonable rate, as may be seen in the tariff which accompanies this, according to which the duties are calculated, and which naturally fall on the consumer. By degrees the importation of flour from the Ohio has almost put a final stop to any from the Atlantic States, and we shortly expect that such quantities will be manufactured in the Western country, as to permit the merchant of Orleans to enter into competition with those of the Middle States at foreign markets. The quantity of different productions imported from the Ohio since the opening of that trade has varied considerably from year to year. In the beginning, tobacco was the principal export from Kentucky, and, at one period, from one thousand five hundred to two thousand hogsheads came down the Mississippi annually for three or four years; they, at the same time, exported a great quantity of butter, lard, and salt provisions. Within the last three years, the exportation of tobacco has considerably diminished, and flour seems to take its place. Hemp has likewise been imported from thence in considerable quantities; was formerly reshipped from hence to the Atlantic States, but what now comes is manufactured here. Cordage is likewise imported from Kentucky, where some rope-walks are set up; and, in future, it is to be presumed that little or no hemp will be exported from New Orleans: for the encouragement of the manufactory here, that article is exempt from duty on importation. In the year 1792, the King ceased purchasing the usual quantities of tobacco in Louisiana, which was formerly two millions of pounds, on account of some frauds in packing, and the general bad quality of the tobacco, as the planters, sure of having theirs received by the inspectors, on giving a small gratuity, made generally three cuttings, and put up every thing that ever looked like tobacco. This punishment was sensibly felt, as a great price was given for it, say nine dollars and a half per hundredweight. This culture ceased immediately on the eastern side of the Mississippi on this event taking place. The people of Natchez turned their attention to indigo, which they raised with success; but changed this branch for that of cotton, which now forms the staple article of their growth, and bids fair to be an object of the greatest importance; the crop of last year from that district is supposed to exceed three thousand bales, of two hundred and fifty pounds each, and the average price has been twenty cents per pound.

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