481To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 3 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
On the 31st. Ultimo, the Legislature of the Territory, closed their Sessions; a copy of the acts passed, will be transmitted you, as soon as they are printed. You will find by a message from me to the Legislature, (printed in the enclosed paper), the reasons which induced my approbation of "a Digest of the Civil Laws now in force in this Territory"; A work of the kind was indispensible to the...
482To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 5 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
The "Civil Code" alluded to in my last letter, is nothing more, than a "Digest of the Civil Laws now in force in this Territory". This work will be of infinite service to the Magistrate and the Citizen: Heretofore a knowledge of the Laws, by which we were governed, was extremely confined; The Lawyers who avowed themselves to be civilians, told the Judges what the Law was, and the Citizens in...
483To Thomas Jefferson from William C. C. Claiborne, 16 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Edward Livingston sailed two days since in a vessel bound to Philadelphia , & from whence he proceeds to the City of Washington.—His object is (as reported) to have a personal conference with you upon several subjects private & political;—Among the former, the case of the Batture will be introduced;—among the latter, the acts of General Wilkinson during the winter of 1806, & of the Territorial...
484To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 21 April 1808 (Madison Papers)
In the month of January 1807, I understand that a Grand Jury summoned by order of the Superior Court of this Territory, had made certain presentments against James Workman and Lewis Kerr, charging them with designs & acts hostile to the Laws and Government of the U. States. I immediately made application by letter to the Judges, for Copies of the Presentments, but they were refused me; I...
485To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 13 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr. Moreau Lislet declining the Commission of Judge of the Superior Court of this Territory. I do not know a Lawyer here, of talents; and Integrity who would relinquish his practise for a seat on the Superior Court Bench, & I think the President will be compel’ed to selet a Gentleman from some one of the States. Every thing in this quarter is tranquil. I am Sir, very...
486To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 18 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
The Bill concerning the Batture as reported by a Committee of the House of Representatives, is very pleasing to the Inhabitants of this City, & the provision which confirms to the proprietors of Land fronting on the River the Alluvion, will be received with pleasure thro’out the Territory. It was attempted by the individuals claiming the Batture, to interest the people in their favour, by a...
487To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 27 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose you a letter from Governor Salcedo, in reply to my communication of the 9th. day of March last (of which a Copy was transmitted you on the 14th. of the same month) upon the subject of the fugitive Slaves, from which it seems that he does not feel himself at liberty to act without the instructions of the King his Master. I am Sir, with great respect, yo: mo: hble...
488To Thomas Jefferson from William C. C. Claiborne, 3 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your Letter of the 6th. of May, advising me of the additional restraints imposed by Congress on Coasting Vessels, with a view of preventing those evasions of the embargo Laws, which “the worthless part of Society,” have of late so successfully practiced.—Pending the interdiction of our Commercial Intercourse with foreign Nations, it is not probable that...
489To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 8 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 18th. of April has been received, and the Letter for Mr. Duplantier which you enclosed, has been delivered. Mr. Duplantier has located and surveyed for General Fayette ten thousand Acres of Land lying on the Mississippi, in the vicinity of Point Coupie, but some private Claims having lately been set up to a part of that Tract, Mr. D. has solicited of the Board of...
490To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 18 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
A Vessel under English Colours arrived here some time since, and was reported to the Collector of the District, to have been a Spanish Vessel bound from Vera-Cruz to Cadix, which was captured by an English Frigate and ordered to Jamaica; But meeting with heavy gales & adverse winds (in which she had suffered considerably) was forced to enter the Mississippi. One of the Wardens of the Port of...