f war, or to
the rapacious dispossessions of ruthless conquest. Every feature
of our celebration should remind us that we memorialize a
peaceful acquisition of territory for truly American uses and
purposes; and we should rejoice not only because this
acquisition immediately gave peace and contentment to the
spirited and determined American settlers who demanded an outlet
of trade to the sea, but also because it provided homes and
means of livelihood for the millions of new Americans whose
coming tread fell upon the ears of the expectant fathers of the
Republic, and whose stout hearts and brawny arms wrought the
miracles which our celebration should interpret.

We are here at this hour to dedicate beautiful and stately
edifices to the purposes of our commemoration, but as we do this
let us remember that the soil whereon we stand was a century ago
dedicated to the genius of American industry and thrift. For
every reason, nothing could be more appropriate as an important
part of the centennial commemoration we have undertaken than the
gathering together on this spot of the things that are
characteristic of American effort and which tell the story of
American achievement; and how happily will this be supplemented
and crowned by the generous, magnanimous, and instructive
contributions from other and older lands, which, standing side
by side with our exhibits, shall manifest the high and friendly
regard our Republic has gained among the governments of the
earth, and shall demonstrate how greatly advancing civilization
has fostered and stimulated the brotherhood of nations.

I can not, however, rid myself of the feeling that the
inspiration and value attending such an exposition may be
anticipated and increased if on this dedicatory occasion we
promote appropriate reflections by a retrospection of some of
the incidents which accompanied the event we celebrate.

We all know that long before the negotiations of the treaty of
1803 our Government had a keen appreciation of the importance to
American settlers in the valley of the Mississippi of an
arrangement permitting their products to be deposited and
exported at the entrance of that river to the sea. It will be
remembered that this need of our settlers had been met in a
limited and not altogether secure manner by a treaty w