Jefferson believed the LP one of his greatest achievements, also expressed
concern about overstepping the government's powers as outlined by the
constitution.
"His brilliant negotiation and ties to France led to the Louisiana Purchase
for $15 million, doubling the size of the nation. Nonetheless, the deal
troubled Jefferson, who did not wish to overstep the central government's
powers as outlined by the Constitution, which made no mention of the power
to acquire new territory. It was Jefferson who authorized the famous Lewis
and Clark Expedition (1804-1806), led by Meriwether Lewis, a military
officer who was Jefferson's clerk at the White House."

http://www.nps.gov/jeff/LewisClark2/...naPurchase.htm


"NOYB" wrote in message
nk.net...

"OlBlueEyes" wrote in message
...
thunder wrote in
:

On Tue, 04 Oct 2005 04:48:36 +0000, OlBlueEyes wrote:


Even if one turns a blind eye to the Constitutional requirement that
the federal government only purchase land for "forts and other
needful buildings", the superfluous properties needed to erase the
debt can be assembled without touching those you name.

Now, that is one flawed reading of the Constitution. That section is
about granting legislative control, not about ownership.

"To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such
District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of
particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of
the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority
over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the
State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts,
Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings"

I'd also point out that *all* land west of the 13 original states was
at one time federally owned. If it wasn't for that fact, there would
have been no land to go west to, and least not in the United States.

By your reading, the Louisiana Purchase was illegal, and should be
given back to the French.

If you knew ANYTHING about the history of the US you'd know that Thomas
Jefferson explicitly STATED that the LP was in fact illegal.

I don't recall reading about Jefferson stating that. From what I
remember, it was the Federalist Party that opposed the purchase...citing
that the Constitution did not allow for acquisition of new lands or
negotiation of treaties without the consent of the Senate.

Can you point me to a source showing that Jefferson stated that the LP was
illegal?