11To 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...
12To 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...
13To 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...
14To 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...
15To 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...
16To 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...
17To 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...
18To 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...
19To 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...
20To 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...
21To 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...
22To 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...
23To 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...
24To 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...
25To 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...
26To 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...
27To 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...
28To 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...
29To 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...
30To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 29 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have been duly honored with the receipt of your letter of the 20th. Ultimo, and am happy to find that my correspondence with the Governor General of Techus, relative to fugitive Slaves, is approved. I am in daily expectation of receiving an answer from Governor Salcedo, and if my propositions are acceded to, I will endeavor to procure the passage of a Law as advised by the President....
31To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 14 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
I inclose for your perusal a translation of a letter from Governor Folch in answer to a communication I made him on the 26th. of July last. I have acknowledged the rect. of Governor Folch’s letter and said to him "that without discussing the merits of the claim of Spain to the free navigation of the Mississippi, or of that of the Citizens of the U. S. to the undisturbed use of the waters of...
32To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 17 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
The case of the Batture has given rise to a warm Newspaper discussion, which for the present seems wholly to engage the public Mind. New-Orleans has so long been the residence of the Governor of the Territory, that the Inhabitants of that City, or rather some of them, think me culpable in taking a short excursion into the Country. But I am persuaded the President will not object to my retiring...
33To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 5 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
It is my duty to advise you that slaves escaping from the Territory of the United States to the Province of Taxus, receive the protection of the Spanish Agents, and to suggest the very serious injury which is likely to result therefrom to the Inhabitants of the Territory of Orleans. The enclosure No. 1 is a Copy of a Presentment of a Grand Jury upon this subject, and that No 2 of a Letter...
34To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 5 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
We deem it our duty to suggest for consideration the expediency of making provision for appeals from Judicial decisions in the Territories of Orleans and Mississippi. By the present System, the Supreme Court of each Territory is a Court of Original and dernier resort; before these Tribunals causes of very great concern to Individuals are often brought; Causes extremely Complex; involving many...
35To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 14 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
I shall be detained here longer than I had anticipated. The extreme heat of the Season, and my state of health will render it inconvenient for me to return to New-Orleans by Land, & a Water Conveyance has not yet presented; I however expect one in a few Days, and shall avail myself thereof. By Letters from New Orleans, under date of the 7th: Instant, I am advised that a Town Meeting was called...
36To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 10 August 1807 (Madison Papers)
I shall set out for New-Orleans in two Days, & expect to arrive there on or before the 18th. Instant. Tyler who stands charged with the Crime of Treason, is said to be in the Opelousas District; I have given orders for his Arrest, & will have him conveyed to the Hon’ble the Judge for the District of Orleans, who will I presume order him to be sent to Richmond. John Smith of Ohio, is at Batton...
37To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 30 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
Finding Mrs. Claiborne’s Health much impaired, and being apprehensive that a residence here during the summer might, endanger her life, I propose leaving this City (with my family) for the Mississippi Territory in the course of the Day. I shall myself continue in the vicinity of Natchez for four or five Days only, & expect to return to New Orleans on or before the 20th. August. I am not yet...
38To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 26 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose you two letters, which I have received from Governor Folch, together with a Copy of my answer to the same. General Adair instead of visiting Richmond as he said not long since, was his intention, set out on yesterday for the Opelousas, where he proposes to pass some time. Adair was much attended to in this City by every Individual who is opposed to the Government. I...
39To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 21 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
By the northern mail of this morning, we have private letters, which state the attack & Capture of an American Frigate, near the Capes of Virginia, by a British Ship of War. The news has excited much alarm among the Merchants, and will probably delay the Departure of such Vessels from this Port as are destined for Europe, until some official information, relative to the Capture shall be...
40To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 17 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
Designing Men here, have made the most of the imprudent conduct of the Navy officers; they affect to attribute it to the influence of General Wilkinson’s proceedings the last winter, and are desirous of making it the means of exciting the prejudices of the Louisianians, against both the Government and her agents; But they will be disappointed; the Louisianians begin to distinguish between the...