To James Madison from Cato West, 8 July 1805
From Cato West
Mississippi Territory July the 8th. 1805.
Sir
I have lately receiv’d from the Secretary of the Treasury a letter, informing me that he coud not pay towards the ordinary expences of my office as Secretary of this Territory, more than 72 dollars 22 Cents for the present year, owing (as I understand him) to the allowance for a Clerk to my office during the absense of the Govr having been paid out of the appropriation for the contingent expenses of the Executive department of this Government. I am of opinion Sir that the Secretary has not perfectly understood this affair, and I trust that you will be pleased to explain it to him, so that my bills drawn before the rect of his letter may be paid. Without your authority Sir,1 I never shou’d have drawn on you for one dollar on that account, altho’ the State of my health, and the situation of the Public business in which I was engag’d compelld me to employ a person to aid me in the discharge of the duties of my offices, as well as other important matters which I attended to for the U,S, in the course of my Administration of this Government.
Various considerations have combind to induce me to retire from the office of Secretary of this Territory—you will therefore please to accept this as my resignation of that office. I am Sir very respectfully Your most obedient Servant
Cato West
RC (DNA: RG 59, TP, Mississippi, vol. 1). Docketed by Wagner as received 13 Aug., with his note: “Mem. that J Wagner permitted another of Mr. West’s bills to be protested on account of the appropriation being exhausted.”
1. On 21 May 1804, in response to a 19 Apr. 1804 letter from West (not found), State Department clerk Bernard Smith stated that he had been “directed to inform you that you can draw on the Secretary of State, for the amount of the salary due the Clerk you were authorized to employ to aid you in the discharge of your duties during the absence of Governor Claiborne” ( 5:326).