1From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 13 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
You will recieve from the Secretary of state a commission as Governor of the Mississipi territory, an office which I consider as of primary importance, inasmuch as that country is the principal point of contact between Spain & us, and also as it is the embryo of a very great state. independant of the official communications which the Secretary of state will make to you from time to time, I...
2From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 7 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I ask the favor of you to deliver the inclosed letters to the President of the Council & Speaker of the H. of Representatives of the Missisipi territory. they contain answers to the resolutions they were pleased to forward to me. I am gratified by their testimony to the world that I have done right in refusing to continue Governor Sargeant. as to his statement of the conversation between him...
3From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 23 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have duly recieved the memorial and petition of the House of Representatives of the Missisipi territory, praying that measures may be adopted for procuring to the citizens of the US. settled on the navigable rivers running into the bay of Mexico the free navigation of those rivers to & from the ocean. early in the last year, having recieved an application from the inhabitants themselves,...
4From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 24 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The within being for communication to your H. of Representatives when it meets, I inclose it in this which is of a private character. the former I think had better be kept up until the meeting of the Representatives, lest it should have any effect on the present critical state of things beyond the Atlantic, altho’ I have indeavored to make it as inoffensive there as was compatible with the...
5From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 17 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Before you recieve this you will have heard thro’ the channel of the public papers of the cession of Louisiana by France to the US. the terms & extent of that cession, as stated in the National Intelligencer , are accurate. in order to obtain a ratification in time I have found it necessary to convene Congress on the 17th. of October. before that time it will be necessary for me to procure for...
6From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 18 July 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you yesterday, and in the evening recieved your favor of June 23. as I am just now setting out to Monticello to pass two months there, I am not able to turn to your letters; but as far as my memory can be trusted I think I have not recieved the one in which you say you had applied for my approbation of your paying a visit to Tennisee. if I had, I should certainly have answered it...
7From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 18 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
It is understood that under the former government of Louisiana there was an appeal in judiciary matters from the Governor to the Governor genl. at Cuba. the writer of the inclosed probably presumed that this was now to the President of the US. this is an error. no authority has as yet been constituted paramount that of the Governor. while such is the situation I have thought it best in such...
8From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 30 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Congress at a former session gave to the Marquis de la Fayette as his military donation 11,520. acres of land to be located North of the Ohio. by the paper inclosed you will percieve they have changed the location to any unappropriated lands in the territory of Orleans. it is believed to be very important that the location be made on the most valuable lands to be found, inasmuch as it might...
9From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 17 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
As before you recieve this, you will have seen the act for the government of Louisiana, I need give no account of it. altho’ it is not to come into force ’till Oct. 1. yet it will be necessary for us to have every thing prepared to go into action on that day, and as the legislative council is to be appointed by me, it is necessary I should be informed beforehand who will be the proper persons...
10From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 7 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In a letter of the 17th. of April which I wrote you from Monticello, I observed to you that as the legislative council for the territory of Orleans was to be appointed by me, and our distance was great an early communication on the subject was necessary: that it ought to be composed of men of integrity, of understanding, of clear property & influence among the people, well acquainted with the...