The Executive in seizing the fugitive occurrence which so much advances the good of their country have done an act beyond the constitution." When such views reached France, Livingston hurried off several letters to Jefferson, assuring him " that were the business to do over again it would never be done. They think we have obtained an immense advantage over them. Though the appearance of war had some influence, it had much less than is ascribed to it. I know from a faithful source that tlie Spanish government has made the most serious remonstrances against the cession of Louisiana, and that it is now well understood that, if any additional clause of

112 NEW YORK STATE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION.

ratification should be introduced by the United States, this government would profit of the circumstance to annul the whole work." Jefiferson did not need a further hint. " I wrote you on the I2th inst. on the subject of Louisiana and the constitutional provision which mig-ht be necessary for it," he says to Senator Breckenridge. " A letter just received yesterday shows that nothing must be said on that subject which may give a pretext for retreating, but that we should do sub silentio what shall be found necessary. Be so good, therefore, as to consider that part of my letter confidential. It strengthens the reason for desiring the presence of every friend of the treaty on the first day of the session. Perhaps you can impress this necessity on the Senators from the westem States by private letter." President Jefferson was a strict constructionist. He did not believe the constitution gave Congress power to acquire additional territory ; he dreaded the concentration of power in the executive, and perhaps his teachings did more than all other men to inspire the popular mind with that dread ; but when he discovered that the time required to secure a constitutional amendment, exciting, as it would, a long debate in Congress, might defeat the Louisiana Purchase by arousing French feeling against its sale, he did not hesitate to bury his constitutional convictions, and to force through Congress the necessary ratification.