From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 16 January 1804
To the Senate and the House of Representatives
To the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States.
In execution of the act of the present session of Congress, for taking possession of Louisiana, as ceded to us by France, & for the temporary government thereof, Governor Claiborne of the Missisipi territory, & Genl. Wilkinson were appointed Commissioners to recieve possession. they proceeded with such regular troops as had been assembled at Fort Adams, from the nearest posts, and with some militia of the Missisipi Territory, to New Orleans. to be prepared for any thing unexpected which might arise out of the transaction, a respectable body of militia was ordered to be in readiness in the states of Ohio, Kentucky & Tenissee, & a part of those of Tennissee was moved on to the Natchez. no occasion however arose for their services. our Commissioners, on their arrival at New Orleans, found the province already delivered by the Commissaries of Spain to that of France, who delivered it over to them on the 20th. day of December, as appears by their Declaratory act accompanying this. Governor Claiborne being duly invested with the powers heretofore exercised by the Governor & Intendant of Louisiana, assumed the government on the same day, and, for the maintenance of law & order, immediately issued the proclamation & address now communicated.
On this important acquisition, so favorable to the immediate interests of our Western citizens, so auspicious to the peace & security of the nation in general, which adds to our country territories so extensive & fertile, & to our citizens new brethren to partake of the blessings of freedom & self-government, I offer to Congress, and our country, my sincere congratulations.
Th: Jefferson
Jan. 16. 1804.
RC (DNA: RG 233, PM, 8th Cong., 1st sess.); endorsed by a House clerk. PrC (DLC). RC (DNA: RG 46, EPFR, 8th Cong., 1st sess.); endorsed by a Senate clerk. Recorded in SJL with notation “possn of Louisiana.” Enclosures: (1) William C. C. Claiborne and James Wilkinson to Madison, New Orleans, 20 Dec. 1803, announcing that Louisiana “was this day surrendered to the United States by the Commissioner of France” and that the American flag was raised in New Orleans “amidst the acclamations of the inhabitants”; they enclose a copy of the “instrument of writing” that was signed and exchanged by the commissioners of both governments (RC in DNA: RG 233, PM; see , Sec. of State Ser., 6:192). (2) Procès-verbal, 20 Dec., in French and English, signed by Claiborne and Wilkinson as commissioners of the United States and Pierre Clément Laussat as colonial prefect and commissioner of France, certifying that on this date, “accompanied on both sides by the chiefs and officers of the army and navy, by the municipality and divers respectable citizens of their respective republics,” Laussat has formally placed Louisiana in possession of Claiborne and Wilkinson in conformity to the terms and object of the treaty and conventions of 30 Apr. 1803; Laussat has delivered the keys to the city of New Orleans to the U.S. commissioners and discharges those citizens and inhabitants of Louisiana “who shall choose to remain under the dominion of the United States” from their oaths of fidelity to France (Tr in DNA: RG 233, PM). (3) Proclamation by Claiborne in English, French, and Spanish, New Orleans, 20 Dec., announcing that French and Spanish authority over Louisiana has ceased and that of the United States is established (Printed copy in same; Vol. 41:639-41). (4) Address by Claiborne to the citizens of Louisiana, 20 Dec., congratulating them on the final cession of Louisiana to the United States, an action that has secured them “a Connection beyond the reach of change, and to your posterity the sure inheritance of freedom”; the American people will welcome Louisiana’s inhabitants “as brothers” and extend to them “a participation in those inestimable rights, which have formed the basis of their own unexampled prosperity”; as governor, Claiborne will work to “foster your internal happiness, & forward your general welfare, for it is only by such means, that I can secure to myself, the approbation of those great & Just men who preside in the Councils of our Nation” (Tr in DNA: RG 233, PM). Message and enclosures printed in , Foreign Relations, 2:581-3.
The Senate and House of Representatives each received and read TJ’s message and its accompanying papers on 16 Jan., with both chambers thereafter ordering them to lie for consideration. The House took no further action, but the Senate ordered 300 copies printed for its use (, 4:536; , 3:339). They were subsequently published as Message from the President of the United States, Accompanying Sundry Documents Relative to a delivery and possession … of the Territory of Louisiana. 16th January, 1804 (Washington, D.C., 1804).