“Jefferson bought the Louisiana Purchase and opened it up for Americans.”
Yes and at the time many considered that purchase (as with the later purchase of Alaska) as unConstitutional overreaches of the Federal government.
Arguably a Constitutional purist could argue that all territories purchased from Spain and Russia west of the Mississippi should be returned to them for a refund.
Constitutional or not, I would think that’s a really bad idea.
Thanks for the thoughtful, friendly reply.
I was comparing the opening up of territory to regular people versus the Fed locking up control of Alaska to itself.
Had we done the same with the Louisiana purchase, we would have people living from the Mississippi west. It would all be Federal range.
They are not to have control of other than postal facilities, military forts & training areas, and the like.
They shouldn’t be owning half of Alaska. Would Alaska be different if they didn’t own it? I suspect it would be a lot different. Can’t prove it, of course, but I strongly suspect it.