1To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 22 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
On the 15th. of January last I had the honor to enclose you a Letter which had been addressed to me, by Governor-General Salcedo, announcing his determination to deliver to the order of their masters certain Negro’s who had fled to the Province of Texas. Desirous to pursue on my part a like conduct as relates to slaves the property of Spanish Subjects, who might take refuge in this Territory,...
2To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 13 February 1809 (Madison Papers)
A Mail from Washington, by the way of Fort Stoddart arrived on this morning, but has brought me no official Communications. Mr. Julien Poydras, (who is avowedly friendly to the General and local Administration) has been elected by the Territorial Legislature a Delegate to Congress, for the ensuing two years; Doctor Watkins, was the candidate in opposition & is understood here, to have received...
3To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 27 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
Will you be good enough to convey to the President of the U. States my grateful acknowledgments for the flattering proof afforded me of his continued confidence by my reappointment as Governor of this Territory, & to assure him, that in the discharge of the duties annexed to that office, I shall never be actuated by other, than the purest motives of honest patriotism. The enclosure is a Copy...
4From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 14 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
As the publications of the laws of the present Session of Congress should now commence, and be continued as they pass, I have thought it proper to inclose a letter authorizing their publication at New Orleans, with a blank for the name of such Editor as you may decide on, which blank you will please to fill and have the letter handed to him with the National Intelligencer from time to time as...
5To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 9 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
The enclosures No. 1 & 2 are Letters I lately received from Governor Folch, and that No. 3 a Copy of the Answer I have returned. Governor Folch in these Communications has discovered an irritability of temper, which the occasion did not call for, nor could I avoid taking exception to the Stile in which he thought proper to address me. The Embargo , always disagreeable to our neighbours of...
6To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 23 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
Mr. John C. Carr, the Parish Judge of Nachitoches, advises me by letter, bearing date the 9th. Instant, that the fugitive Slaves had all arrived at Nacogdoches, & the Provincial Governor, had repeated to him (Mr. C) "the old Story", that "such measures would be adopted as would tend to perpetuate that harmony &c, the existence of which, is so essential to the interests of both Nations"; but...
7To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 14 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 12th. Ultimo (covering copies of the orders of the Secretary’s of War & of the Navy relative to the deserters which had been forcibly taken from the District of Baton Rouge) has been received; & in reply to a late letter from Governor Grand Pré, in which he expressed a Solicitude, to learn the orders of the President, relative to that transaction , I did on the 11th....
8To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 8 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
At the particular request of the Lady Abbess of the Ursuline Convent, I take the liberty to ask of you the favor, to give the enclosed letters a safe conveyance, particularly the one directed to "Monsieur Pierre Walsh Agent General des Etats-Unis à Montpellier". I also enclose for your perusal, a letter to me from the Lady Abbess, stating the desire of the Nuns to add to their present number,...
9To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 6 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
In a former letter, I had the honor to communicate the final determination of Mr. N. Salcedo Governor General of the Interior Provinces of New-Mexico, not to restore the fugitive Slaves, who had sought an Asylum in the Province of Texas, prior to a receipt of orders to that effect from the Government of Spain: & I now transmit for your perusal, a Copy of a letter to me, (No. 1) from the Parish...
10To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 29 October 1808 (Madison Papers)
I know not in what manner I could better conform to a request made of me, in a letter from Captain Abrahams, the Military Agent at this place, than to take the liberty of transmitting the Letter itself for your perusal. Captain Abrahams seems to me, to have exercised in his Department a most prudent economy, and from the zeal and Integrity in office, which he has here manifested, I am...
11To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 9 October 1808 (Madison Papers)
The Legislature of the Territory Commences its sessions, on the 9th. of January next, and in eight days thereafter my Commission as Governor, which bears date on the 17th. of January 1806 (and is to continue in force for three years from the date thereof) will expire. In case "of the death, removal, resignation or necessary absence of the Governor, the Secretary shall be, and he is authorised...
12To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 7 October 1808 (Madison Papers)
The Secretary of the Territory, will transmit you a Copy of the "Civil Code", adopted at the last Session of the Legislature. You will find the English Text extremely incorrect; This is attributable to the circumstance of the Work having been written in French, and the translation prepared by persons who were not well acquainted with the English Language; So erroneous does the translation...
13To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 7 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
Eight days ago, Mr. Cevallos, an admiral in the Spanish service, & the late Commandant on the Vera-Crux station arrived in this City, and, on yesterday, it being stated in one of the New-papers that a Vessel had arrived hence from Pensacola with dispatches to Admiral Cevallos from Governor Folch, I sent a verbal message to Mr. Cevallos, expressive of my wish to see him, & shortly thereafter he...
14To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 7 September 1808 (Madison Papers)
Messrs. Daniel Clark, Workman, Kerr, Powers, Daversac & others are very intimate, and, actively employed in exciting opposition to the General and local Administrations. Clark (with the assistance of his friends) is writing a Book, the principal object of which, probably will be, to ruin General Wilkinson, and risque his (Clark’s) Character, from the injurious suspicions, which at present...
15To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 31 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
My last Letter, which was dated at Opelousas informed you, of the Reports which had reached me from Natchitoches, relative to an unauthorised expedition into the Spanish Country, under the direction of a certain Anthony Glass. You now have enclosed a copy of my letters on this occasion (No. 1) to Judge Carr, and of his answer (No. 2). I also transmit you a Copy of a letter to me (No. 3) from...
16To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 8 August 1808 (Madison Papers)
My Letter to the Secretary at War, will advise the President, of the Conviction of four Alabama’s of the Crime of Murder; of the execution of two of these unfortunate Men; the Considerations which induced the pardon of the others, and of the good Understanding which promises to exist between the Citizens of this Frontier and the neighbouring Indians. The Office of Attorney General, for this...
17To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 11 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
My letter of the 1st. Instant, will have apprised you of my design to set out on a journey to Washington, in the course of next month; unless in the mean time, events should arise, which would render my presence in the Territory essential to the public Interest; or unless it be intimated to me, that my absence at this period would not be agreeable to the President. An Inhabitant of Opellousas...
18To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 1 July 1808 (Madison Papers)
Desirous to avail myself of the President’s permission to visit the United States, I contemplate leaving this place, in the course of next month, unless in the mean time events may arise, which would render my presence in the Territory, essential to the public interest. In the course of the present year, I have had the honor to advise the President in two private Letters (and on one occasion...
19To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 21 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
From the County of Opellousas, several Negro’s have lately escaped to the Spanish Dominions, and several others who had designed to escape, have been arrested. These events have excited much uneasiness among the Farmers of the Territory, and they await with impatience the interference of the General Government. There has arisen another cause for anxiety among the Holders of Slaves; you are...
20To 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...
21To 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...
22To 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...
23To 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...
24To 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...
25To 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...
26To 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...
27To 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...
28To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 17 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have heard nothing further from Nachitoches; the Report of the advance of Spanish Troops towards the Sabine is not confirmed; It however has acquired credence. Blannerhasset has been for several weeks at Natchez, & receives (it is said) much polite attention. I was yesterday informed by the Collector of this Port (Mr. Brown) that Lewis Kerr proposes to visit England, and that he had...
29To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 14 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
The difficulty with respect to the negro’s, who have sought and found an Asylum in the Province of Techus is not adjusted: A translation of Governor Salcedo’s last letter upon the subject, together with a copy of the answer, which I have returned, are herein enclosed, marked A & B. I also transmit you, the number, names, and valuation of the several fugitive Slaves as stated in writing by...
30To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 9 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
The enclosures No. 1, 2, 3 and 4, furnish a correspondence between Messrs. Duncan, Gurley, governor Folch and myself, relative to the accusations exhibited against general James Wilkinson, and are now transmitted to you for the purpose of being laid before the court of enquiry, if you should think proper. I have the honor to be, Sir, Very respectfully, Your most obt. servt. The original letter...