The president was authorized to use military forces to maintain order, although the local civil government was to continue as it had under French and Spanish rule.

On March 26, 1804, Congress enacted legislation effective October 1, 1804, that extended the authority of the governor and judges of the Indiana Territory to provide temporary jurisdiction over the District of Louisiana.

Under the terms of the act establishing the temporary government, the governor and judges of the Indiana Territory were to meet twice a year in St. Louis.

Opposition was indicated by: Upset citizens of the Louisiana District met in St. Louis in September 1804 to sign a declaration formally protesting the annexation.

[3] A notable event during this period was the signing of the Treaty of St. Louis, in which the Sac and Fox Indian tribes ceded northeastern Missouri, northern Illinois, and southern Wisconsin to the United States.