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James Monroe Autograph Letter Signed ...
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On his way to Madrid to negotiate the acquisition of Florida James Monroe writes to the U.S. Minister in Paris, "I hope that the French gov't will not hesitate to give us all the aid in this business..."
James Monroe Autograph Letter Signed "Jas. Monroe" as
U.S. Minister Plenipotentiary to Great Britain and Minister
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France and Spain, one page,
7.5" x 9.5", Bordeaux, December 18, 1804. Although the recipient is
not named, this historic letter is to John Armstrong who had
presented his credentials in Paris as U.S. Minister Plenipotentiary
to France on November 18, 1804, succeeding Robert R. Livingston. In
full: "I arrived here on friday last, & set out today for
Madrid, at which place I expect to arrive in abt. 10 days, as I
have had a relay of mules established thither from Bayonne. I shall
not delay a moment on the route that I can avoid. I hope that the
French gov't will not hesitate to give us all the aid in this
business wh. we have hither to expected of it. I enclose you the
papers wh. you were so good as to give me to be copied before my
departure. Not being able to do it in Paris I brot. them here for
the purpose. Shod. you receive any answer from Mr. Talleyrand, you
will be so good as communicate to me the substance as soon as you
can in cypher, as also to our government." In a postscript,
Monroe adds: "Make my best respects to yr. Lady & family as also
to Mrs. Livingston, to whom you will be so good as make the affr.
of business my apology for not calling to bid her farewell before
my departure." On January 12, 1803, the U.S. Senate approved
President Jefferson's nominations of "Robert Livingston to be
Minister Plenipotentiary, and James Monroe to be Minister
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, to enter into a treaty or
convention with the First Consul of France (Napoleon), for the
purpose of enlarging, and more effectually securing, our rights and
interests in the river Mississippi, and in the territories eastward
thereof." Monroe's assignment was to obtain land east of the
Mississippi. His instructions allocated up to $10 million for the
purchase of New Orleans and all or part of the Floridas. If this
bid failed, Monroe was instructed to try to purchase just New
Orleans, or, at the very least, secure U.S. access to the
Mississippi and the port. When Monroe reached Paris on April 12,
1803, he learned from Livingston that a day earlier, French Foreign
Minister C. M. Talleyrand had told him that France was willing to
sell all of Louisiana. On April 30, 1803, they reached an agreement
that exceeded their authority - the purchase of the Louisiana
territory, including New Orleans, for $15 million. The acquisition
of approximately 827,000 square miles would double the size of the
United States. On November 8, 1804, President Thomas Jefferson
presented his Fourth Annual Message to Congress, which mentioned
disagreements with Spain. On that same day, James Monroe wrote to
French Foreign Minister Talleyrand informing him that he was on his
way to Madrid, reminding him of the assurance which the Government
of the United States had received, that Napoleon would use his good
offices for the attainment of the objects desired in their
negotiation with Spain, calling attention to the subjects in
controversy: the boundaries of Louisiana, indemnity for
spoliations, and the cession of Florida. Relating to Florida,
Monroe hinted of war with Spain if negotiations weren't successful.
In part: "To Spain, it is presumed that the territory is of but
little importance. In itself, it is of none, as it is a barren
tract. If she retains it, it must be as a port for troops, to be
placed there in opposition to us; a measure which tends to provoke
hostility and lead to war." Monroe concluded by requesting the
fulfillment of Napoleon's previous promise "to support with his
good offices any negotiation which the President might commence
with the court of Spain for the acquisition of Florida; as also on
the firm belief that the attainment of that object, with the
amicable adjustment of all subsisting differences between the
United States and Spain, must be advantageous to France, that his
good offices have been, and are now, requested in support of that
negotiation." In the November 18, 1804, letter offered here, Monroe
tells Armstrong that should he "receive any answer from Mr.
Talleyrand, you will be so good as communicate to me the substance
as soon as you can in cypher, as also to our government". The
use of cypher, or secret code, was frequently used in diplomatic
correspondence. On December 21, 1804, in a letter to John
Armstrong, Talleyrand replied to Monroe's letter, that Louisiana,
as ceded by France to the United States, did not include any part
of West Florida and, instead of the good offices promised the
United States in their pending negotiation with Spain, he
expressed, very strongly, the decision of Napoleon against the
general objects, as well as the specific measures, of the United
States. Talleyrand wrote, in part, "His Imperial Majesty (Napoleon)
has, moreover, authorized me to declare to you, that, at the
beginning of the year 11 (September 1802), General Bournonville was
charged to open a new negotiation with Spain for the acquisition of
the Floridas. This project, which has not been followed by any
treaty, is an evident proof that France had not acquired, by the
treaty retroceding Louisiana, the country east of the Mississippi."
Napoleon felt that the United States, in their actions to obtain
Florida, seems "to avail themselves of their treaty with France as
an authority for their proceedings." Napoleon would not help the
United States in negotiations with Spain. James Monroe's mission
failed. During the next 15 years, fugitive slaves from southern
states took refuge in Florida as did outlaws pursued by the law.
Florida's Seminole Indians made frequent attacks in Georgia. In
1818, General Andrew Jackson led an army in pursuit of Seminole
Indians into Florida and the United States took possession of part
of the territory. Finally, in 1819, Spain ceded Florida to the
United States by treaty. The U.S. President at the time was James
Monroe!
Auction Info
2008 June Grand Format Books & Manuscripts Auction #683 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2008
4th-5th
Wednesday-Thursday
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