Memorandum on Commissions for the Legislative Council of Orleans Territory, 6 November 1804
Memorandum on Commissions for
the Legislative Council of Orleans Territory
[on or after 6 Nov. 1804]
inclose to heads of departments for their information of the principles on which the legislative council of Orleans1 was composed, and of the result.
to be returned.
The Commissions for the legislative council of Orleans were sent blank to Govr. Claiborne to be filled up as follows.
| Americans. | ||||
| Morgan. | ||||
| Clarke | ||||
| Watkins | ||||
| [ | Jones. declines acceptance. | |||
| Romans of the Attacapas.2 instead of him Kenner is appointed | ||||
| Wikoff of Appelousas. | ||||
| George Pollock |  |
one only of these was to be appointed: but I suspect both are. | ||
| or Dr. Dow. | ||||
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| Creoles. | ||||
| Boré. | ||||
| Poydrasse of Pt. Coupée | ||||
| Bellechasse | ||||
| Dubuys | |
from these 5. Claiborne was to select 3. but he has excluded the 3. last on acct of their absence. & to make up the number I suspect he has put in both Pollock & Dow, because he says in his letter that ‘excepting Kenner, all the other Counsellors are taken from my list’ | ||
| Cantarelle. Acadn coast | ||||
| Sauvé | ||||
| Detrahan | ||||
| Derbigny | ||||
MS (DLC: TJ Papers, 143:24823-4); undated, but see below; entirely in TJ’s hand on two leaves of a folded sheet.
This list replicated TJ’s initial choices for the legislative council of Orleans Territory but also reflected information that the administration received on or soon after 6 Nov. Evan Jones declined his appointment on 8 Oct., a decision William C. C. Claiborne reported in a letter of that day to Madison. In his letter of 5 Oct. to TJ, received 6 Nov., Claiborne indicated substituting William Kenner for Jacques Roman and excluding Pierre Sauvé, Jean Noël Destréhan, and Pierre Derbigny because of their planned visit to Washington (Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser., 8:139-40; TJ to Claiborne, 30 Aug.).
1. MS: “Orleas.”
2. Preceding three words interlined.