PURCHASE  OF  THE  TERRITORY   OF  LOUISIANA.            113
esta of the two nations, the French Government should betray a
settled repugnance to just arrangements with the United States; and,
above all, if it should manifest or betray a hostile spirit towards them,
or be found to meditate projects inconsistent with their rights, and,
consequently, leading to a rupture, not a moment is to be lost in for-
warding the information, in order that the measures, both external
and internal, adapted to such a state of things, may be seasonably
I have the honor, &c.,                                    James Madison.
R. R. Livingston, Esq., &c.
Mr. Madison to Mr. Monroe.
Washington, March 1, 1803.
Dear Sir,—Since you left us we have no further intelligence from
New Orleans, except a letter dated January 20th from the Vice Con-
sular agent there, from which it appears that the letters to the Gover-
nor and Intendant from the Spanish Minister here had arrived about
the 13th, and had not, on the 20th, produced the desired change in the
state of things. The delay, however, does not seem to have been
viewed by the Consul as any proof that the Intendant would not con-
form to the interposition. The idea continued that he had taken his
measures without orders from his Government. There are letters
(according to that from the Consul) for the Marquis Yrujo now on the
way by land. These will probably shew whether the Intendant will
yield or not. The despatch vessel which carried the Marquis's letters
is not yet returned. The detention of her beyond the allotted time is
favorably interpreted by him, on the presumption that she waits for a
satisfactory answer, which the pride of the Intendant postpones as long
as possible.
The newspapers will have informed you of the turn given to the
proceedings of Congress on the subject of New Orleans, &c. The
propositions of Mr. Ross in the Senate, which drove at war thro1 a
delegation of unconstitutional power to the Executive, were discussed
very elaborately, and with open doors. The adversaries of them tri-
umphed in the debate, and threw them out by 15 votes against 11. On
the motion of Mr. Breckenridge, measures of expenseless or cheap
preparation, in the style of those which attended Mr. Jay's mission to
G. Britain, have been agreed on in the Senate. It is uncertain whether
even these will pass the House of Representatives. If they should, as
is, perhaps, not improper, they will not be understood as indicating
views that ought to excite suspicions or unfriendly sensations in either
of the Governments to which your Mission is addressed. The truth is,
that justice and peace prevail not only in the public councils, but in
H. Doc. 431------8