f the different posts
on the Mississippi are encouraging settlers by giving them lands gratis. A
village by the name of Zewapetas, which is about thirty miles above the
mouth of the Ohio, and which was begun last summer, consists now of thirty
or fifty families."(125) In the following October, Morgan made flattering
offers to persons who would settle at New Madrid.(126) At the same time,
the Mississippi was closed to Americans. Joseph St. Marie, of Vincennes,
sent his clerk with a load of peltry to be traded to the Indians on the
banks of the Mississippi. His goods were seized and confiscated by the
Spanish commander at the Arkansas Post. The commander said that his orders
were to seize all goods of Americans, found in the Mississippi below the
mouth of the Ohio. Upon appeal to Gov. Miro, of Louisiana, the governor
said that the court of Spain had given orders to send offending traders
prisoners to the mines of Brazil.(127)

The combination of inducements to such as would become Spanish subjects
and of severity to such as would not do so, secured Spain some settlers.
Hamtramck said: "I am fearful that the Governor will not find many people
in the Illinois, as they are daily going on the Spanish side. I believe
that all our Americans of Post Vincennes will go to Morgan--a number of
them are already gone to see him. I am told that Mr. Morgan has taken
unwarrantable measures to invite the people of Illinois to come to him,
saying that the Governor never would come in that country, and that their
negroes were all free the moment the government should be established--for
which all the remaining good inhabitants propose to go to him. I can not
give you this for certain; I will know better in a short time, and inform
you."(128) "I have the honor to enclose you Mr. Morgan's letter _at his
request_, and one for you. You will see in Mr. Morgan's that a post will
be established opposite the Ohio; and if what Mr. Morgan says is true
(which I doubt not), respecting the inhabitants of the Illinois, the
Governor will have no occasion to go there. Will you be so good as to
inform me if Congress have changed their resolution respecting the freedom
of the negroes of this country; and if they are free from the day of the
resolve, or if from the day it is published in a district."(129) A few
weeks later, Harmar wrote to St. Clair: "The emigration continues, it
possible, more rapid than ever; within these twenty days, not less than
one hundr