Had the Federalists suspected the authorship, they would have fallen without mercy upon its arguments and its modest compliment to “the tried ability and patriotism of the present Executive;” but the essay was no sooner published than it was forgotten. The “Chronicle” of June 27, 1803, contained Jefferson’s argument founded on the rapid disappearance of the Federalist party; the next issue of the “Chronicle,” June 30, contained a single headline, which sounded the death-knell of Federalism altogether: “Louisiana ceded to the United States!” The great news had arrived; and the Federalist orators of July 4, 1803, set about their annual task of foreboding the ruin of society amid the cheers and congratulations of the happiest society the world then knew. The President’s first thought was of the Constitution. Without delay he drew up an amendment, which he sent at once to his Cabinet.[69] “The province of Louisiana is incorporated with the United States and made part thereof,” began this curious paper; “the rights of occupancy in the soil and of self-government are confirmed to the Indian inhabitants as they now exist.” Then, after creating a special Constitution for the territory north of the 32d parallel, reserving it for the Indians until a new amendment to the Constitution should give authority for white ownership, the draft provided for erecting the portion south of latitude 32° into a territorial government, and vesting the inhabitants with the rights of other territorial citizens. Gallatin took no notice of this paper, except to acknowledge receiving it.[70] Robert Smith wrote at some length, July 9, dissuading Jefferson from grafting so strange a shoot upon the Constitution.[71] “Your great object is to prevent emigrations,” said he, “excepting to a certain portion of the ceded territory. This could be effectually accomplished by a constitutional prohibition that Congress should not erect or establish in that portion of the ceded territory situated north of latitude 32° any new state or territorial government, and that they should not grant to any people excepting Indians any right or title whatever to any part of the said portion of the said territory.” Of any jealousy between North and South which could be sharpened by such a restriction of northern and extension of southern territory, Jefferson was unaware. He proposed his amendment in good faith as a means of holding the Union together by stopping its too rapid extension into the wilderness.