Clark's career is of itself sufficient to prove the truth of this.

He had already been at the head of a movement to make war against the Spaniards, in defiance of the Central Government, on behalf of the Western settlements.

On another occasion he had offered his sword to the Spanish Government, and had requested permission to found in Spanish territory a State which should be tributary to Spain and a barrier against the American advance.

He had thus already sought to lead the Westerners against Spain in a warfare undertaken purely by themselves and for their own objects, and had also offered to form by the help of some of these Westerners a State which should be a constituent portion of the Spanish dominion.

He now readily undertook the task of raising an army of Westerners to overrun Louisiana in the interests of the French Republic.