From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 24 December 1804 (Abstract)
§ To William C. C. Claiborne
24 December 1804, Department of State. “In lieu of the commissions forwarded by the last mail for Messrs. Prevost and Brown,1 the habendum of which was during good behaviour, I have transmitted others for four years which is conformable with the letter of the law.”
Letterbook copy (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14). 1 p.
1. See JM to Claiborne, 15 Dec. 1804, and n. 1. Prevost’s commission is printed in Carter, Territorial Papers, Orleans, 9:350–51. Brown’s and Prevost’s 11 Dec. 1804 commissions have additions in Jacob Wagner’s hand restricting their terms to four years from 30 Sept. 1804 (DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Permanent and Temporary Presidential Commissions, vol. 3).