The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942 Page: 217
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Book Reviews
scripts Division of the Library of Congress throw additional
light upon the administration of the Territory and its relation
to national and international affairs. The correspondence be-
tween the Secretary of the Treasury and the land officers dis-
closes the complexity of the land question in the Territory,
since the peculiar surveys and liberal policies of the former
governments clashed with the public land system of the United
States. The records of the War Department give important
details concerning the handling of Indian affairs. Numerous
letters from this Department also relate to the military occu-
pation of Louisiana and to the adoption of measures to strengthen
the defenses of the Territory of Orleans. From the files of
the Senate and the House of Representatives are included
petitions, letters, and draft bills pertinent to conditions in the
Territory. Notwithstanding the variety and amount of all this
material, the editor states that "no more than ten papers out
of all the documents which comprise the volume have been
previously published." (p. iv)
Since Louisiana was the first foreign land acquired by the
United States, the documents in this volume illustrate that
the extension of the Federal government to the region that
became the Territory of Orleans in 1804 involved the young
republic in various external problems and administrative dif-
ficulties that were at the time unique. After his transfer of
Louisiana to the United States, the French Commissioner,
Pierre Clement de Laussat, long delayed his departure from
the Province, to the chagrin of the two American Commis-
sioners, Governor William C. C. Claiborne and General James
Wilkinson. Spanish troops were likewise annoyingly slow in
leaving Louisiana. The Spanish officials, Intendant Juan Ven-
tura Morales and Commissioner Marquis de Casa Calvo, re-
mained in New Orleans until summarily expelled by Governor
Claiborne early in 1806. These foreign agents worked zealously
among the natives of the country to incite opposition to the
United States government. They were abetted in their schemes
by a clique of United States citizens, composed of Federalists
from the Atlantic States, recent immigrant fortune-hunters,
and disappointed office-seekers. The inhabitants of the Terri-
tory of Orleans petitioned against the novel form of govern-
ment first provided for them, protested against the entrance
of Negroes from the West Indies, sought permission to import217
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942, periodical, 1942; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146053/m1/231/?rotate=90: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.