CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.



  When we estimate what we have since annexed-Florida,
Texas, California, the territories growing into States-we
know how momentous the solution of this problem was.
If new territory could be acquired only through the slow
and doubtful process of constitutional amendment, all future
annexation became doubtful if not impossible. John Breck-
inridge was now Senator, and Jefferson selected him as the
mover of the     proper constitutional amendment.        That
amendment, in Mr. Jefferson's own handwriting, as sent by
him to John Breckinridge, I now hold in may hand. It is:
  Resolved, By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following amend-
ment to the Constitution of the United States be proposed to the Legisla-
tures of the several States, which, when ratified by three fourths of the
said Legislatures, shall be valid to all intents and purposes as a part of
the said Constitution.
  " Louisiana, as ceded by France to the United States, is made a part of
the United States."

  But not even the great influence of Jefferson could per-
suade his friends that the United States could not by treaty
acquire new territory, and that if there were doubts, those
doubts ought to be forever removed by this precedent.
These views prevailed, and to-day it is no idle boast that
but for Kentucky the precedent might have been settled
precisely the other way, and sanctified with the illustrious
name of Jefferson. If it had, who believes that Texas and
the golden slopes on the Pacific would to-day form part of
our dear country, and share with us the glorious privilege
of working out the problem of American liberty 
  Here I close this review of the pioneer work of Ken-
tucky. Here began a new era in the development of Amer-
I add a note from Mr. Jefferson to John Breckinridge, dated August
I8, 1803:
                                 "MONTICELLO, August, 18, '03.
 "DEAR SIR: I wrote to you on the 12th inst. on the subject of Louisiana
 and the constitutional provision which might be necessary for it. A letter
 received yesterday shows that nothing must be said on that subject which
 may give a pretext for retracting; but that we should do, sub si/entio, what
 shall be found necessary. Be so good, therefore, as to consider that part of
 my letter confidential; it strengthens the reasons for desiring the presence
 of every friend to the treaty on the first day of the session. Perhaps you



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