[The three documents
transcribed below are the treaty of cession and two conventions: one convention for the payment of 60 million francs
($11,250,000), and the other convention for claims American citizens had made against France
for 20 million francs ($3,750,000). In this transaction with France, signed on April 30, 1803, the United States purchased
828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million. For roughly 4 cents an acre, the United States
doubled its size, expanding the nation westward.]
THE LOUISIANA
PURCHASE
TRANSCRIPTIONS
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 o f 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 o f 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 United 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.
Article 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.
Article 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.
Article 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 dependances 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.
Article 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.
Article 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.
Article 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.
Article 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.
Article 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.
Article 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 Plenipotentiaries, 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:
Article
I
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.
Article
II
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 Govenment 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.
Article
III
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.
Article
I
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.
Article
II
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.
Article
III
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.
Article
IV
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/
Article
V
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 heretofore 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 intention 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.
Article
VI
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.
Article
VII
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.
Article
VIII
The Same agents Shall
likewise examine the claims which are not prepared for liquidation, and certify in writing those which in their judgement
ought to be admitted to liquidation.
Article
IX
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.
Article
X
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.
Article
XI
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.
Article
XII
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.
Article
XIII
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]
