so frankly by the French minister, when he proposed to cede to the United States so vast a region of country, with the largest rivers of the world, instead of merely a town and an inconsiderable extent of territory. The offer embraced infinitely more than the American ministers were empowered to ask for, or accept. Their powers only extended to an arrangement respecting the left bank of the Mississippi, including New Orleans. But the moment was a critical one with France, hostilities being about to commence with England. There was not time for further instructions from the government of the United States before the opportunity would pass, perhaps forever. The American ministers therefore assumed the responsibility of treating for the purchase of the entire colony, or territory of Louisiana-an extent of country sufficient in itself for an empire. The terms were soon agreed upon. The United States was to pay for this vast acquisition the sum of fifteen millions of dollars. In the treaty of October 1, 1800, between France and Spain, the latter had reserved the right of preference in case France should cede this territory to another power; but here again France could not afford to wait. The treaty was concluded and subsequently submitted to the Spanish cabinet. They complained that no regard had been paid to their reserved right, and for almost a year that court delayed its approbation of the treaty. On the 10th of February, 1804, however, Don Pedro Cavallos, the Spanish minister, wrote to Mr. Pinckney, the American minister, that "His Catholic Majesty had thought fit to renounce his opposition to the alienation of Louisiana made by France, notwithstanding the solid reasons on which it is founded, thereby giving a new proof of his benevolence and friendship to the United States." The important treaty that gave to the United States this vast region, with all its wonderful resources, was concluded on the 30th of April, 1803, and four days later the instruments, in French and English, were signed by the ministers. After affixing their signatures, the ministers rose and shook hands, each expressing his satisfaction with the result. Mr. Livingston said: "We have lived long, but this is the noblest work of our whole lives. The treaty which we have just signed has not been obtained by art, or dictated by force; equally advantageous to the two contracting parties, it will change vast solitudes into flourishing districts. From this day the United States take their place among the powers of the first rank; the English lose all exclusive influence in the affairs of America."

The first consul, who had followed the negotiation with a lively interest, acquiesced in the result, and said to Marbois: "It is true, the negotiation does not leave me anything to desire. Sixty millions [francs] for an occupation that will not, perhaps, last for a day! I would that France should enjoy this unexpected capital, and that it may be employed in works beneficial to the marine. This accession of territory strengthens forever the power of the United States; and I have just given to England a maratime rival that will sooner or later humble her pride."

On the 22d day of May, 1803, England commenced hostilities against France by the capture of some of her merchant vessels, and on the same day Bonaparte gave his formal ratification of the Louisiana treaty of cession. In July, the treaty was received in the United States, and on the 20th of October, 1803, it was ratified by the Senate, by twenty-four against seven votes. The country ceded by this treaty, as estimated at that time, exceeded a million of square miles, all occupied by savages, except a few sparse settlements, aggregating from 80,000 to 90,000 inhabitants, about 40,000 of whom were slaves. The whites were chiefly French, or descendants of French

Congress, a few days after the ratification of the treaty by the Senate, passed an act making provision for the occupation and temporary government of the territory acquired. Eleven millions of dollars were appropriated as payment for the purchase-the remaining four millions being reserved, according to a stipulation in the treaty, to indemnify citizens of the United States who had sustained losses at the hands of the French. The resolution for carrying the treaty into effect was sustained by the House of Representatives by a vote of ninety to twenty-five.

Even before the acquisition of Louisiana, it had been a favorite object of President Jefferson to have an exploring expedition sent across the continent to the Pacific Ocean, and in January, 1803, he had recommended an appropriation for that purpose. The appropriation was made, and the enterprise was placed under the direction of Captains Lewis and Clarke. The treaty with France, however, was ratified before the exploring expedition was ready to start. On the 14th of May, 1804, Captains Lewis and Clarke, with their companions, consisting in all of thirty persons, left the banks of the Mississippi on their long and perilous voyage of two years and three months, to seek out and give to their country and the world some more accurate knowledge respecting this vast region of country, of which civilization at that time knew so little. The expedition was in every way successful, and the report made by Captains Lewis and Clarke enabled the government and people of the United States to form a better judgment of the immense value of the country acquired.

It will be seen that the region acquired by the Louisiana purchase, comprehended not only the present State of Louisiana, but all the vast region between the Mississippi river and the Pacific Ocean, and as far north as the British possessions. The great States of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, the greater part of Minnesota, and several of our great Territories, are but parts of this purchase.

On the 20th of December, 1803, in pursuance of authority given by act of Congress, Gov. Claiborne and Gen. Wilkinson took possession of the Louisiana purchase, and raised the American flag at New Orleans. The Spanish authorities there objected to the transfer, but early in 1804 they acquiesced and withdrew. The newly acquired territory, by authority of Congress, was, on the first of October, 1804, divided as follows: All south of the 33d parallel of north latitude, was called the Territory of Orleans, and all north of that parallel became the District of Louisiana, and was placed under the authority of the officers of the then Indiana Territory. It so remained until July 4, 1805, when the District of Louisiana was given a territorial government of its own. In 1812, the Territory of New Orleans became the State of Louisiana, and the Territory of Louisiana become the Territory of Missouri. On the 4th of July, 1814, Missouri Territory was divided--that part comprising the present State of Arkansas, and the country west, being organized as the Territory of Arkansas. In March, 1821, a part of Missouri Territory was organized as the State of Missouri, and admitted into the Union. On the 28th of June, 1834, the territory west of the Mississippi river and north of Missouri, was made a part of the Territory of Michigan, so remaining until July 4th, 1836, when Wisconsin Territory was organized. This embraced within its limits the present States of Iowa, Wisconsi, and Minnesota. An act of Congress, approved June 12, 1838, created the Territory of Iowa, ambracing not only the present State of Iowa, but the greater part of the present State of Minnesota, and extending northward to the British Possessions.

INDIAN WARS IN THE NORTHWEST.

Gen. Harmar's Defeat-Gen. St. Clair-His Defeat-Gen. Wayne-His Victory-His Treaties With the Indians-British Posts Surrendered-Death of Wayne-Gen. Harrison-Tecumseh-The Prophet-Battle of Tippecanoe-Tecumseh's Alliance With the British-Harrison Appointed Brigadier-General-Perry's Victory-Gen. McArthur-Battle of the Thames -Tecumseh Killed-Peace With the Indians-Indian_Titles Extinguished-Military Posts Established at Belle Point, Council Bluffs, and St. Peters-The Ricarees-Gen. CassTreaty at Fort Dearborn-Fort Atkinson-Grand Council at Prairie du Chien-Indian Outrages-The Militia Called Out-Gen. Atkinson-Policy of Removing the Indians West -Treaty With the Sacs and Foxes-Black Hawk-He Refuses to Comply With Treaties -Black Hawk War-Battle of Bad Axe-Gen. Henry Dodge-Black Hawk CapturedTaken to Washington-Keokuk-Black Hawk Purchase Gen. Winfield Scott-Treaties at Davenport-Antoine Le Claire-Removal of Sacs and Foxes to Iowa-Gen. StreetWapello-Maj. Beach-Sac and Fox Villages on the Des Moines-Gov. Lucas-Gov. Chambers-Visit of Hard-Fish to Burlington-An Incident-Speech of Keokuk.

ALMOST every advance of civilization on the American continent has been made at the expense of more or less conflict and bloodshed at the hands of the savage tribes who were the occupants and owners of the soil prior to the advent of the white man. Passing over the conflicts of the colonists in the early settlements of the East, the later struggles of the pioneers of the "Dark and Bloody Ground," and the Indian wars of the South, we shall briefly refer to some of the troubles with the aborigines in the Northwest. With the opening of the new country to white settlers it was necessary to establish military posts for the protection of the pioneers against the attacks of the Indians. In 1790, all pacific means having failed with the tribes north of the Ohio, President Washington sent Gen. Harmar with a military force against them. After destroying several of their villages, he was defeated in two battles near the confluence of the St. Joseph's and St. Mary's rivers, and not far from the present city of Fort Wayne, Indiana. In 1781 Gen. Arthur St. Clair was promoted to the rank of major general, and was entrusted with a command against the hostile Miamis. On assuming his command, the last admonition of Washington was, "Beware of surprise." Gen. St. Clair marched with his troops to the vicinity of the Miami villages on the Maumee. On the 4th of November, 1791, he was surprised in camp on the St. Mary's river, and his force of 1400 ill disciplined men was cut to pieces. He soon after resigned his commission. In this defeat St. Clair's loss was about 600 men. The savages were greatly emboldened by their successes, and it was soon found that more vigorous measures were necessary. The Indians continued to commit outrages against the infant settlements. In some cases, doubtless, the whites were the aggressors, for Washington in his annual message of November 6, 1792, recommended more adequate measures "for restraining the commission of outrages upon the Indians, without which all pacific plans must prove nugatory." Attempts were made to treat with the Indians, but the attempted negotiations proved unsuccessful.

After the unsuccessful and disastrous campaigns of Generals Harmar and St. Clair, General Anthony Wayne, who had won distinguished laurels in the war of the Revolution, was, in April, 1792, promoted to the rank of major general, and made commander-in-chief in the war against the western Indians. In August, 1794, he gained a signal victory over the Miamis, near the rapids of the Maumee, and compelled them to sue for peace. In the same year a fort was erected by his order on the site of the old "Twightwee Village" of the Miami tribe, where the city of Fort Wayne is now located. It continued to be a military post until 1819.

After his successful campaign of 1794, Gen. Wayne was appointed sole commissioner to treat with the Indians, and also to take possession of the forts still held by the British in the Northwest. He negotiated the treaty of Greenville which was signed by all the principal chiefs of the Northwest. By this treaty the Indians relinquished their title to a large tract of country. That characteristic determination which, during the war of the Revolution, had gained him the sobriquet of "Mad Anthony," impressed the hostile tribes with a dread of him which operated as a wholesome restraint. Gen. Wayne also took possession of the British posts in the Northwest, which were peaceably surrendered, in accordance with Jay's treaty, and from this time there was assurance of peace on the frontier. He died in the garrison at Presque Isle (Erie), Pa., December 14, 1796.

From the date of Wayne's victory up to 1809 the whites maintained comparatively peaceable relations with the Indians. During this year, Gen. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana Territory, entered into a treaty with the Delawares, Kickapoos, Pottawattamies, Miamis, Eel River Indians and Weas, in which these tribes relinquished their title to certain lands on the Wabash river. About this time the noted chief Tecumseh comes into prominence as the bitter opponent of any more grants of land being made to the whites.

Tecumseh was a chief of the Shawnees, born on the Scioto river near Chillicothe, about the year 1770. It was said that he was one of three brothers who were triplets. The other two brothers were named Kumshaka and Elskwatawa. Kumshaka is believed to have died while young, but Elskwatawa became the Prophet who co-operated with the chief in all his plans. His father, Puckeshinwa, had risen to the rank of chief, but was killed at the battle of Point Pleasant, in 1774. In 1795 Tecumseh was declared chief at or near where Urbana, Ohio, is now located. In 1798 he went to White river, Indiana, and his brother, the Prophet, to a tract of land on the Wabash. Tecumseh, by reason of his oratory, had great influ ence over the savage tribes, and his plan was to unite all of them against the whites in a conspiracy, similar to that of Pontiac nearly half a century before. For this purpose he visited all the tribes west to the Mississippi, and upon Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan. At the same time his brother, the Prophet, pretended to be directed by the Great Spirit to preach against the influence and encroachments of the white men. Their efforts to incite the Indians to hostilities were successful, and they gathered a large force of warriors, making their headquarters at a stream they called Tippecanoe, near the Wabash river.

Meantime Gov. Harrison was watching the movements of the Indians, and being convinced of the existence of Tecumseh's grand conspiracy, had prepared to defend the settlements. In August, 1810, Tecumseh went to Vincennes to confer with the Governor in relation to the grievances of the Indians, but demeaned himself in such an angry manner that he was dismissed from the village. He returned to complete his plans for the conflict. Tecumseh delayed his intended attack, but in the meantime he was gathering strength to his cause, and by the autumn of 1811 had a force of several hundred warriors at his encampment on the little river called by the Indians Keth-tip-pe-ce-nunk, or Tippecanoe. Harrison, with a force of eight hundred men, partly regulars and partly volunteers, determined to move upon the Prophet's town, as it was called. He encamped near the village early in October, and on the night of the 5th of November his camp was furiously