From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 31 January 1807
Th:J. to mr Gallatin
Satisfied that N. Orleans must fall a prey to any power which shall attack it, in spight of any means we now
possess, I see no security for it, but in planting on the spot the force wch is to defend it. I therefore suggest to
some members of the Senate to add to the Volunteer bill now before them, as an amendment, some such section as that
inclosed, which is on the principles of what we agreed on last year, except the omission of the two years service. if by
giving 100. miles square of the country we can secure the rest, and at the same time create an American majority before
Orleans becomes a state, it will be the best bargain ever made. as you are intimate with the details of the land office, I
will thank you to make any amendmts to the inclosed in that part, or in any other which you may think needs it.
affectionate salutations.
Jan. 31. 07.
NHi.
Enclosure
And be it further enacted &c. that there shall be granted a bounty of one quarter section containing 160. acres of any lands of the US. on the Western side of the Missisipi in the territory of Orleans, in fee simple, to each of the said volunteers, being a free, able bodied, white male citizen, of some one of the states of the Union, of the age of 18. and under that of 35. years, and accepted as such by an officer to be appointed for that purpose, who in addition to his engagements as a Volunteer, shall undertake to settle on the said lands in person, within a term of months not exceeding twelve, to be prescribed by the President of the US., and shall actually settle, and continue to reside thereon for the space of seven years then next ensuing, if so long he shall live, on the condition of forfieture if he shall fail so to do. and every person so engaging shall be free to locate any quarter section, not already located, of the said lands, surveyed or to be surveyed, for his bounty aforesaid, to be granted to himself, & to be in his immediate occupation; such location to be made by the said persons in the order in which they shall have personally presented themselves at the office of the Surveyor on their arrival in the sd territory; of which an entry shall be made & a certificate given to the party specifying the particular number which his entry bears in the numerical order from the first to the last of those presented.