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1803 Front Page Printing of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty after its Ratification

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,400.00 - 3,600.00 USD
1803 Front Page Printing of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty after its Ratification
Federal Period
1803 “Louisiana Treaty” after the United States Senate’s Official Ratification Front Page Newspaper Printing
November 5, 1803-Dated Federal Period, Front Page Printing of the Louisiana Purchase Treaty in the Providence Phoenix, 4 pages, complete, measuring 11.5” x 18”, Very Fine.
Titled, “Louisiana Treaty,” this unusual front page printing of the Treaty celebrates the news of its ratification in the Senate on October 20, 1803, by a vote of 24 to 7. It reads, in part:

“We congratulate our fellow-citizens on the prompt approbation given by the Senate to this important Act. The treaty, as advised to be ratified by the Senate, and which we have no doubt will in a short time receive the final ratification of the President of the United States.” The full printing of the treaty, unusually placed on the front page that was normally reserved for advertisements, was printed only two months before the final transfer of sovereignty over the vast new territory. Signed in print, “Barbe Marbois. Rob. R. Livingston, Jas. Monroe.”

The Treaty, together with two accompanying conventions consume three columns on page one together with two more on page two. The balance of page two covers happenings in the House of Representatives from October 18-22. On the latter day, “The President communicated by Message to the House, the ratified Louisiana Treaty. It was referred to a committee of the whole House. Mr. Randolph offered a resolution making provision for carrying the treaty into effect.” The same day, “the committee to whom were transferred two resolutions proposing amendments to the constitution of the United States relative to the election of the President and Vice President, have according to order, had the same under consideration, and beg leave to submit the following report...” offering the text of what became the Twelfth Amendment.