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The Louisiana was an
immense country reaching to the Rocky Mountains. President Jefferson's purchase doubled the size of the United
States and included the entire Mississippi River, city of New Orleans and
St. Louis.
820,000
square miles
524,800,000 acres
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Calculations
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524,800,000
acres
(640 acres in a square mile)=
.03 cents an acre |
820,000 sq.
miles =
$18.29 (approx.) per sq. mile |
Louisiana Purchase Treaty (1803) - Transcript
Note: The three documents transcribed here are the treaty of cession
and two conventions, one for the payment of 60 million francs
($11,250,000), the other for claims American citizens had made against
France for 20 million francs ($3,750,000).
TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE
FRENCH REPUBLIC
The President of the United States of America and the First Consul of
the French Republic in the name of the French People desiring to remove
all Source of misunderstanding relative to objects of discussion
mentioned in the Second and fifth articles of the Convention of the 8th
Vendé miaire an 9/30 September 1800 relative to the rights claimed by
the United States in virtue of the Treaty concluded at Madrid the 27 of
October 1795, between His Catholic Majesty & the Said United States,
& willing to Strengthen the union and friendship which at the time
of the Said Convention was happily reestablished between the two nations
have respectively named their Plenipotentiaries to wit The President of
the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of
the Said States; Robert R. Livingston Minister Plenipotentiary of the
United States and James Monroe Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy
extraordinary of the Said States near the Government of the French
Republic; And the First Consul in the name of the French people, Citizen
Francis Barbé Marbois Minister of the public treasury who after having
respectively exchanged their full powers have agreed to the following
Articles.
Article I
Whereas by the Article the third of the Treaty concluded at St
Ildefonso the 9th Vendé miaire an 9/1st October 1800 between the First
Consul of the French Republic and his Catholic Majesty it was agreed as
follows.
"His Catholic Majesty promises and engages on his part to cede
to the French Republic six months after the full and entire execution of
the conditions and Stipulations herein relative to his Royal Highness
the Duke of Parma, the Colony or Province of Louisiana with the Same
extent that it now has in the hand of Spain, & that it had when
France possessed it; and Such as it Should be after the Treaties
subsequently entered into between Spain and other States."
And whereas in pursuance of the Treaty and particularly of the third
article the French Republic has an incontestible title to the domain and
to the possession of the said Territory--The First Consul of the French
Republic desiring to give to the Unit ed States a strong proof of his
friendship doth hereby cede to the United States in the name of the
French Republic for ever and in full Sovereignty the said territory with
all its rights and appurtenances as fully and in the Same manner as they
have bee n acquired by the French Republic in virtue of the above
mentioned Treaty concluded with his Catholic Majesty.
Art: II
In the cession made by the preceeding article are included the
adjacent Islands belonging to Louisiana all public lots and Squares,
vacant lands and all public buildings, fortifications, barracks and
other edifices which are not private property.--The Archives, papers
& documents relative to the domain and Sovereignty of Louisiana and
its dependances will be left in the possession of the Commissaries of
the United States, and copies will be afterwards given in due form to
the Magistrates and Municipal officers of such of the said papers and
documents as may be necessary to them.
Art: III
The inhabitants of the ceded territory shall be incorporated in the
Union of the United States and admitted as soon as possible according to
the principles of the federal Constitution to the enjoyment of all these
rights, advantages and immunities of citizens of the United States, and
in the mean time they shall be maintained and protected in the free
enjoyment of their liberty, property and the Religion which they
profess.
Art: IV
There Shall be Sent by the Government of France a Commissary to
Louisiana to the end that he do every act necessary as well to receive
from the Officers of his Catholic Majesty the Said country and its
dependences in the name of the French Republic if it has not been
already done as to transmit it in the name of the French Republic to the
Commissary or agent of the United States.
Art: V
Immediately after the ratification of the present Treaty by the
President of the United States and in case that of the first Consul's
shall have been previously obtained, the commissary of the French
Republic shall remit all military posts of New Orleans and other parts
of the ceded territory to the Commissary or Commissaries named by the
President to take possession--the troops whether of France or Spain who
may be there shall cease to occupy any military post from the time of
taking possession and shall be embarked as soon as possible in the
course of three months after the ratification of this treaty.
Art: VI
The United States promise to execute Such treaties and articles as
may have been agreed between Spain and the tribes and nations of Indians
until by mutual consent of the United States and the said tribes or
nations other Suitable articles Shall have been agreed upon.
Art: VII
As it is reciprocally advantageous to the commerce of France and the
United States to encourage the communication of both nations for a
limited time in the country ceded by the present treaty until general
arrangements relative to commerce of both nations may be agreed on; it
has been agreed between the contracting parties that the French Ships
coming directly from France or any of her colonies loaded only with the
produce and manufactures of France or her Said Colonies; and the Ships
of Spain coming directly from Spain or any of her colonies loaded only
with the produce or manufactures of Spain or her Colonies shall be
admitted during the Space of twelve years in the Port of New-Orleans and
in all other legal ports-of-entry within the ceded territory in the Same
manner as the Ships of the United States coming directly from France or
Spain or any of their Colonies without being Subject to any other or
greater duty on merchandize or other or greater tonnage than that paid
by the citizens of the United. States.
During that Space of time above mentioned no other nation Shall have
a right to the Same privileges in the Ports of the ceded territory--the
twelve years Shall commence three months after the exchange of
ratifications if it Shall take place in France or three months after it
Shall have been notified at Paris to the French Government if it Shall
take place in the United States; It is however well understood that the
object of the above article is to favour the manufactures, Commerce,
freight and navigation of France and of Spain So far as relates to the
importations that the French and Spanish Shall make into the Said Ports
of the United States without in any Sort affecting the regulations that
the United States may make concerning the exportation of t he produce
and merchandize of the United States, or any right they may have to make
Such regulations.
Art: VIII
In future and for ever after the expiration of the twelve years, the
Ships of France shall be treated upon the footing of the most favoured
nations in the ports above mentioned.
Art: IX
The particular Convention Signed this day by the respective
Ministers, having for its object to provide for the payment of debts due
to the Citizens of the United States by the French Republic prior to the
30th Sept. 1800 (8th Vendé miaire an 9) is approved and to have its
execution in the Same manner as if it had been inserted in this present
treaty, and it Shall be ratified in the same form and in the Same time
So that the one Shall not be ratified distinct from the other.
Another particular Convention Signed at the Same date as the present
treaty relative to a definitive rule between the contracting parties is
in the like manner approved and will be ratified in the Same form, and
in the Same time and jointly.
Art: X
The present treaty Shall be ratified in good and due form and the
ratifications Shall be exchanged in the Space of Six months after the
date of the Signature by the Ministers Plenipotentiary or Sooner if
possible.
In faith whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries have Signed these
articles in the French and English languages; declaring nevertheless
that the present Treaty was originally agreed to in the French language;
and have thereunto affixed their Seals.
Done at Paris the tenth day of Floreal in the eleventh year of the
French Republic; and the 30th of April 1803.
Robt R Livingston [seal]
Jas. Monroe [seal]
Barbé Marbois [seal]
A CONVENTION BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
The President of the United States of America and the First Consul of
the French Republic in the name of the French people, in consequence of
the treaty of cession of Louisiana which has been Signed this day;
wishing to regulate definitively every thing which has relation to the
Said cession have authorized to this effect the Plenipotentiaries, that
is to say the President of the United States has, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate of the Said States, nominated for their
Plenipoten tiaries, Robert R. Livingston, Minister Plenipotentiary of
the United States, and James Monroe, Minister Plenipotentiary and
Envoy-Extraordinary of the Said United States, near the Government of
the French Republic; and the First Consul of the French Republic, in the
name of the French people, has named as Pleniopotentiary of the Said
Republic the citizen Francis Barbé Marbois: who, in virtue of their
full powers, which have been exchanged this day, have agreed to the
followings articles:
Art: 1
The Government of the United States engages to pay to the French
government in the manner Specified in the following article the sum of
Sixty millions of francs independant of the Sum which Shall be fixed by
another Convention for the payment of the debts due by France to
citizens of the United States.
Art: 2
For the payment of the Sum of Sixty millions of francs mentioned in
the preceeding article the United States shall create a Stock of eleven
millions, two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars bearing an interest of
Six per cent: per annum payable half y early in London Amsterdam or
Paris amounting by the half year to three hundred and thirty Seven
thousand five hundred Dollars, according to the proportions which Shall
be determined by the French Government to be paid at either place: The
principal of t he Said Stock to be reimbursed at the treasury of the
United States in annual payments of not less than three millions of
Dollars each; of which the first payment Shall commence fifteen years
after the date of the exchange of ratifications:--this Stock Shall be
transferred to the government of France or to Such person or persons as
Shall be authorized to receive it in three months at most after the
exchange of ratifications of this treaty and after Louisiana Shall be
taken possession of the name of the Government of the United States.
It is further agreed that if the French Government Should be desirous
of disposing of the Said Stock to receive the capital in Europe at
Shorter terms that its measures for that purpose Shall be taken So as to
favour in the greatest degree possible the credit of the United States,
and to raise to the highest price the Said Stock.
Art 3
It is agreed that the Dollar of the United States Specified in the
present Convention shall be fixed at five francs 3333/100000 or five
livres eight Sous tournois.
The present Convention Shall be ratified in good and due form, and
the ratifications Shall be exchanged the Space of Six months to date
from this day or Sooner it possible.
In faith of which the respective Plenipotentiaries have Signed the
above articles both in the french and english languages, declaring
nevertheless that the present treaty has been originally agreed on and
written in the french language; to which they have hereunto affixed
their Seals.
Done at Paris the tenth of Floreal eleventh year of the French
Republic/
30th April 1803 ./
Robt R Livingston [seal]
Jas. Monroe [seal]
Barbé Marbois [seal]
CONVENTION BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND THE FRENCH REPUBLIC
The President of the United States of America and the First Consul of
the French Republic in the name of the French People having by a Treaty
of this date terminated all difficulties relative to Louisiana, and
established on a Solid foundation the friendship which unites the two
nations and being desirous in complyance with the Second and fifth
Articles of the Convention of the 8th Vendé miaire ninth year of the
French Republic (30th September 1800) to Secure the payment of the Sums
due by France to the citizens of the United States have respectively
nominated as Plenipotentiaries that is to Say The President of the
United States of America by and with the advise and consent of their
Senate Robert R. Livingston Minister Plenipotentiary and James Monroe
Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary of the Said States near
the Government of the French Republic: and the First Consul in the name
of the French People the Citizen Francis Barbé Marbois Minister of the
public treasury; who after having exchanged their full powers have
agreed to the following articles.
Art: 1
The debts due by France to citizens of the United States contracted
before the 8th Vendé miaire ninth year of the French Republic/30th
September 1800/ Shall be paid according to the following regulations
with interest at Six per Cent; to commence from the period when the
accounts and vouchers were presented to the French Government.
Art: 2
The debts provided for by the preceeding Article are those whose
result is comprised in the conjectural note annexed to the present
Convention and which, with the interest cannot exceed the Sum of twenty
millions of Francs. The claims comprised in the Said note which fall
within the exceptions of the following articles, Shall not be admitted
to the benefit of this provision.
Art: 3
The principal and interests of the Said debts Shall be discharged by
the United States, by orders drawn by their Minister Plenipotentiary on
their treasury, these orders Shall be payable Sixty days after the
exchange of ratifications of the Treaty and the Conventions Signed this
day, and after possession Shall be given of Louisiana by the
Commissaries of France to those of the United States.
Art: 4
It is expressly agreed that the preceding articles Shall comprehend
no debts but Such as are due to citizens of the United States who have
been and are yet creditors of France for Supplies for embargoes and
prizes made at Sea, in which the appeal has been properly lodged within
the time mentioned in the Said Convention 8th Vendé miaire ninth year,
/30th Sept 1800/
Art: 5
The preceding Articles Shall apply only, First: to captures of which
the council of prizes Shall have ordered restitution, it being well
understood that the claimant cannot have recourse to the United States
otherwise than he might have had to the Government of the French
republic, and only in case of insufficiency of the captors--2d the debts
mentioned in the Said fifth Article of the Convention contracted before
the 8th Vendé miaire an 9/30th September 1800 the payment of which has
been heretof ore claimed of the actual Government of France and for
which the creditors have a right to the protection of the United
States;-- the Said 5th Article does not comprehend prizes whose
condemnation has been or Shall be confirmed: it is the express intenti
on of the contracting parties not to extend the benefit of the present
Convention to reclamations of American citizens who Shall have
established houses of Commerce in France, England or other countries
than the United States in partnership with foreigner s, and who by that
reason and the nature of their commerce ought to be regarded as
domiciliated in the places where Such house exist.--All agreements and
bargains concerning merchandize, which Shall not be the property of
American citizens, are equally excepted from the benefit of the said
Conventions, Saving however to Such persons their claims in like manner
as if this Treaty had not been made.
Art: 6
And that the different questions which may arise under the preceding
article may be fairly investigated, the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the
United States Shall name three persons, who Shall act from the present
and provisionally, and who shall have full power to examine, without
removing the documents, all the accounts of the different claims already
liquidated by the Bureaus established for this purpose by the French
Republic, and to ascertain whether they belong to the classes designated
by the present Convention and the principles established in it or if
they are not in one of its exceptions and on their Certificate,
declaring that the debt is due to an American Citizen or his
representative and that it existed before the 8th Vendé miaire 9th
year/30 September 1800 the debtor shall be entitled to an order on the
Treasury of the United States in the manner prescribed by the 3d
Article.
Art: 7
The Same agents Shall likewise have power, without removing the
documents, to examine the claims which are prepared for verification,
and to certify those which ought to be admitted by uniting the necessary
qualifications, and not being comprised in t he exceptions contained in
the present Convention.
Art: 8
The Same agents Shall likewise examine the claims which are not
prepared for liquidation, and certify in writing those which in their
judgment ought to be admitted to liquidation.
Art: 9
In proportion as the debts mentioned in these articles Shall be
admitted they Shall be discharged with interest at Six per Cent: by the
Treasury of the United States.
Art: 10
And that no debt shall not have the qualifications above mentioned
and that no unjust or exorbitant demand may be admitted, the Commercial
agent of the United States at Paris or such other agent as the Minister
Plenipotentiary or the United States Shall think proper to nominate
shall assist at the operations of the Bureaus and cooperate in the
examinations of the claims; and if this agent Shall be of the opinion
that any debt is not completely proved, or if he shall judge that it is
not comprised in t he principles of the fifth article above mentioned,
and if notwithstanding his opinion the Bureaus established by the French
Government should think that it ought to be liquidated, he shall
transmit his observations to the board established by the United States,
who, without removing documents, shall make a complete examination of
the debt and vouchers which Support it, and report the result to the
Minister of the United States.--The Minister of the United States Shall
transmit his observations in all Such cases to the Minister of the
treasury of the French Republic, on whose report the French Government
Shall decide definitively in every case.
The rejection of any claim Shall have no other effect than to exempt
the United States from the payment of it, the French Government
reserving to itself, the right to decide definitively on Such claim So
far as it concerns itself.
Art: 11
Every necessary decision Shall be made in the course of a year to
commence from the exchange of ratifications, and no reclamation Shall be
admitted afterwards.
Art: 12
In case of claims for debts contracted by the Government of France
with citizens of the United States Since the 8th Vendé miaire 9th
year/30 September 1800 not being comprised in this Convention may be
pursued, and the payment demanded in the Same manner as if it had not
been made.
Art: 13
The present convention Shall be ratified in good and due form and the
ratifications Shall be exchanged in Six months from the date of the
Signature of the Ministers Plenipotentiary, or Sooner if possible.
In faith of which, the respective Ministers Plenipotentiary have
signed the above Articles both in the French and English languages,
declaring nevertheless that the present treaty has been originally
agreed on and written in the French language, to which they have
hereunto affixed their Seals.
Done at Paris, the tenth of Floreal, eleventh year of the French
Republic.
30th April 1803.
Robt R Livingston [seal]
Jas. Monroe [seal]
Barbé Marbois [seal
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