March 26, 1804… District of Louisiana is Created
At the time of the Louisiana Purchase in April 1803, French and Spanish residents of that territory were unaccustomed to a democratic regime. The population of upper Louisiana at that time which included the present state of Missouri numbered about 10,000, more than half of who were Americans. These Missourians liked the Spanish regime with its practical freedom from taxation and military service, true justice, liberal land policy, and respect for French institutions. Many disliked American laws and feared an infringement upon their slavery rights. President Thomas Jefferson, who by an October 1803 act of Congress had been placed in charge of the territory, realized all of this and appointed Colonel Amos Stoddard first civil commandant for upper Louisiana. Stoddard was directed to reappoint Spanish civil officials and to give military posts to Americans.
March 26, 1804, Congress enacted a specific government measure for the Louisiana Territory, dividing it into the Territory of Orleans and the District of Louisiana by the 33rd parallel. This is the present southern boundary of Arkansas. This measure took effect October 1, 1804. Attached to the Indiana Territory for governmental purposes, the district was governed by the governor and the judges of the Indiana Territory. General William Henry Harrison was at that time governor of the territory. These Indiana officials met at Vincennes and adopted sixteen laws. The Spanish laws were to remain unchanged unless touched by one of these new provisions. The new legislation had in general to do with the establishment of courts for trial of small cases, a recorder's office, militia, an office of sheriff and the regulation of slaves, county rates and levies, boatmen, practices of the general court, oath of office, and marriage.
September 29, 1804, eighteen delegates, half of whom were American and half French, signed a petition objecting to the act because it contained no provisions of self-government; it did not protect slavery west of the Mississippi, the provisions in regard to Spanish land grants were unjust, and the proposal to settle eastern Indians on Louisiana soil was unreasonable. They asked for a restricted form of self-government and funds for a French and English school in each county. As a result, Congress passed March 3, 1805, an act, which changed the name of the District of Louisiana to the Territory of Louisiana, separated it from Indian Territory, and made it a territory of lowest ranking.
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