1From 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...
2From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 29 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I send the inclosed letter under the benefit of your cover, & open, because I wish you to know it’s contents. I thought the person to whom it is addressed a very good man when here. he is certainly a very learned & able one. I thought him peculiarly qualified to be useful with you, but in the present state of my information I can say no more than I have to him. when you shall have read the...
3From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 16 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
General Dearborne being on a visit to the province of Maine, your letter to him (the date not recollected) was sent to me from his office, and, after perusal, was forwarded to him. as the case of the five Alibamas, under prosecution for the murder of a whiteman, may not admit delay, if a conviction takes place, I have thought it necessary to recommend to you in that case to select the leader,...
4From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 17 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
After writing my letter of the 9th. I recieved one from mr Pitot in the name of the N. Orleans Canal company, which ought to have come with the printed report, stating more fully their views, and more explicitly the way in which we can aid them. they ask specifically that we should lend them 50,000 D. or take the remaining fourth of their shares now on hand. this last measure is too much out...
5From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 9 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have lately seen a printed report of the Committee of the Canal company of N. Orleans, stating the progress & prospects of their enterprize. in this the US. feel a strong interest inasmuch as it will so much facilitate the passage of our armed vessels out of the one water into the other. for this purpose however there must be at least 5 ½ feet water through the whole line of communication...
6From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 18 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson takes the liberty of putting under the protection of Governor Claiborne’s cover the inclosed letter to the President of the legislative council & Speaker of the House of Representatives of Orleans, and salutes him with friendship & respect. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
7From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 6 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The evasions of the preceding Embargo laws went so far towards defeating their objects, and chiefly by Vessels clearing out coastwise, that Congress by their Act of April 25. authorised the absolute detention of all Vessels bound coastwise with Cargoes exciting suspicions of an intention to evade those laws. there being few Towns on our sea-coast which cannot be supplied with flour from their...
8From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 30 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
In pursuance of the act of Congress of the 3d. of March 1807, to prevent settlements "being made on lands ceded to the United States, until authorized by law", the enclosed instructions, which you will please to deliver, have been given to the Marshall of the Orleans Territory, to remove immediately by civil power, from the Batture in front of the suburb St. Mary, any persons who shall be...
9From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 20 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letter of the 5, Octr. on the subject of the assylum given to fugitive Slaves in the province of Tackus, and in a communication to the Chev. de Foronda, I have invited his interposition towards the surpression of the practice. In order to effect this on one side you have justly supposed it proper that there should be a correspondent provision on both. And as the best mode...
10From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 3 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been informed from different quarters that judge Sprigg intended to resign his seat on the bench of Orleans, which I learn with real regret, as I set high value both on his abilities and integrity. should he retire, I will ask the favor of you to propose to him the inclosed commission: but should he not retire, I would pray you not to mention that such a commission has been thought of;...
11From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 3 February 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I pray you to read the inclosed letter, to seal & deliver it. It explains itself so fully that I need say nothing. I am sincerely concerned for mr Reibelt, who is a man of excellent understanding and extensive science. if you had any academical birth, he would be much better fitted for that than for the bustling business of life. I inclose to Genl. Wilkinson my message of Jan. 22. I presume...
12From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 20 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
You will recieve your formal instructions from Genl. Dearborne: this is private of course & merely for your more full information. you already have a general knolege of the insurrection prepared by Colo. Burr. his object is to take possession of N. Orleans, as a station from whence to make an expedition against Vera Cruz & Mexico. his party began their formation at the mouth of Beaver, from...
13From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 28 July 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To William C. C. Claiborne. 28 July 1806, Department of State. “On monday last the President left this City for Monticello. Having taken into consideration your request to be absent from orleans the ensuing winter, he gives his assent to it, provided the state and prospect of public affairs should urge no objection to it, of which you must of necessity be the judge, and provided that you do...
14From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 10 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of putting under your cover a letter to mr Reibelt, and I leave it open for your perusal because you will judge from it the ground on which he really stands. after reading be so good as to stick a wafer in it, & let it be dry before delivery that he may not know it has been sent open to you. he is a very learned man, a sincere republican, & I believe a very honest &...
15From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 9 June 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ To William C. C. Claiborne. 9 June 1806, Department of State. “I have received your letters of 2 (two) 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 21, 23, 24, 28, 30 (two Jany.) 1, 6 (two) 7, 12, 13, (two) 18, 19, 20 Feb 13, 14, 15, 18, 28, 29 March, l, 3, 8, 16 April last. “In consequence of the suggestion, that the City Council of New Orleans had imposed taxes, which were supposed to apply to the public property,...
16From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 27 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
This letter is confidential, but not official. it is meant to give you a general idea of our views as to N. Orleans, of which you will recieve the particulars from the Secretary at War, whose instructions nothing here said is meant to controul should they vary in any particular at the meeting of Congress I recommended an arrangement of our militia which, by giving as a selection of the younger...
17From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 10 February 1806 (Madison Papers)
Since my letter of the 14th. Decr. communicating the President’s directions to prevent the papers of the Spanish Surveyor General and Secretary of Louisiana from being carried out of the District, information has been received, that, in the course of the last summer Mr. Morales, sent to Pensacola the records & documents, relative to grants of Land in Louisiana, which had been in his possession...
18From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 10 February 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 23d. of December I nominated to the Senate of the US. Joseph de Ville Bellechasse John W. Gurley John Baptiste McCarty Jean Noel Destrehan Pierre Sauvé to be members of the legislative council for the territory of Orleans, being five of the ten persons named to me for that purpose by the House of Representatives of the Territory. Messrs. Bellechasse McCartey, Destrehan & Sauvé were...
19From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 16 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your unacknoleged letters of June 17. July 14. Nov. 13. prove me an unpunctual correspondent. it is not that I do less than I might, but that there is more than I can do. in the first place I pray you to deliver the inclosed answer to the Address of the H. of R. of Orleans which is a duplicate of what I forwarded by a former post. I then thought that by the succeeding one I might send on the...
20From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 25 November 1805 (Madison Papers)
Since my letter of the 18th. instant, I have received yours of the 14th. October relating to the excursion of the Marquis of Casa Calvo to the Saline River. In the present situation of our affairs with Spain, it would have been preferred that the liberty he has used to travel and explore the Country should not have been indulged, and particularly that it should not have been countenanced by...
21From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 18 November 1805 (Madison Papers)
You will find enclosed a list of your letters which remain unacknowledged. From the public papers you will have learnt the unfavorable result of the negotiations for the settlement of the controversy with Spain. In truth Mr. Monroe left Madrid without being able to accomplish any object of his mission; the councils of Spain obstinately rejecting our demands & declining not only to accept our...
22From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 28 August 1805 (Madison Papers)
In compliance with the request contained in your letter of the 26 ult. I have to state it as my opinion (the office of Attorney General being vacant) that the powers of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Orleans do not cease until the first Monday in November next; but, as under a contrary impression you intended to prorogue them on the third of July last, the true exposition of the...
23From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 14 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
In the moment of my departure for Monticello I recieve letters from Capt. Lewis by which I percieve he has sent about 6. or 8. packages, filled with very curious subjects from the upper country of the Missouri, to St. Louis, from whence they will be embarked for N. Orleans to your care, to be forwarded to me. altho’ I know you will give them all possible attention, yet I could not avoid...
24From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 10 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
It is represented to be expedient that some permanent partition & appropriation should be made of the public buildings at New Orleans for the accomodation of the public functionaries. the Government house should doubtless be ascribed the Executive. there are then the Legislature of the territory, the courts of justice, the custom house, the military corps. the military & marine hospitals...
25From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 26 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
My last letter to you was of the 26th. of March. since that I have recieved yours of Feb. 17. and Mar. 25. with respect to Dr. Sibley who was the subject of the last, I observe two specific charges: 1. that he left his wife but it does not appear whether the separation was through the fault or the will of her or him. 2. that he attempted to marry again. this is a charge of weight, but no proof...
26From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 1 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have received your several letters dated 19. 21. 26 & 27th. January, & 6th. & 10th. February. You will have seen in the appropriation law for this year the provision made for the compensation of the Members of the Legislative Council and other objects of expense in the Territory of Orleans. For paying the expenses accruing in the interval between the 1st. of Novr. & 1st. of January last, the...
27From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 26 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 14th. inst. being the moment of my departure on a short visit to this place, I wrote to you on the subject of locating the lands of General Lafayette, and particularly to have immediately surveyed the vacant lands adjacent to the canal of Carondelet on both sides, & either touching, or near to the city. if I recollect rightly they were upwards of 600. as. I omitted, what I meant to have...
28From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 18 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of January 19th. with its enclosures and shall forward it as you wish for the perusal of the President, who set out some days ago for his seat in Virginia. On his departure he left it in charge with me to call your attention to the new route proposed to be established to New Orleans, diagonally through West Florida, and to suggest the propriety of a communication on...
29From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 14 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of Jan. 29. was recieved yesterday, and I have just time to drop you a line as I am setting out on a short visit to Monticello. you apologise to the Secretary of state for troubling him with documents in confutation of the Accuser. we perfectly understand the game which is playing against you, we know every man concerned in it, and I only lament, sincerely lament the name of one...
30From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne (Abstract), 11 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
11 March 1805, Department of State . “The importance of my letter of the 25th. ult. suggested the propriety of transmitting the enclosed duplicate. A communication similar to that intended to be made to the Marquis of Casa Calvo has been addressed to the Spanish Minister; but his answer is not received, tho’ it is expected here shortly. Congress having necessarily closed their session on the...
31From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 10 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Being in the moment of my departure for Monticello where I shall be one month, I take time barely to write you on the subject of La Fayette’s lands. Congress have passed a law which requires that he shall take his grant in portions of not less than 1000 acres each. by your letter of Dec 22 & the plan it seems that the vacant lands on both sides the Canal of Carondelet may amount to not more...
32From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 25 February 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your several letters of the 8th. 10. 11. 15. 23. & 31 Decr: & 1. 5. 6. 13 &. 14 of January have been successively received; the most of them after having been long on the way. The steps taken by the Spaniards as communicated in those of the latest dates, for strengthening and advancing their military posts, justly claim attention. Whatever the motive may be, the tendency of them cannot be...
33From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 14 January 1805 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 14 January 1805. Described in Jefferson to Claiborne, 7 Jan. 1805, as containing two blank commissions for members of the Orleans Territory legislative council; acknowledged in Claiborne to JM, 26 Mar. 1805 (Carter, Territorial Papers, Orleans , 9:363, 426–27).
34From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 7 January 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 January 1805, Department of State. “I have the honor to acknowledge your letters of the 18th. 23 , 24 , & 26 Novr. Though as a matter of courtesy the permission to Govr. Folch and his officers to pass through New Orleans, could not be declined, yet it never could be understood that as to them it was intended or even possible for you to dispense with the operation of the laws or the...
35From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 7 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
My last to you was of Dec. 2. since which I have recieved yours of Octr 27. Nov. 1. 4. 10. 19. & 25. in mine went two blank commissions for the legislative council, and the Secretary of state will by this mail send you two others. you will fill them up at your discretion as nearly as you can on the principles before explained. this of course includes my approbation of the appointments...
36From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 24 December 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
24 December 1804, Department of State. “In lieu of the commissions forwarded by the last mail for Messrs. Prevost and Brown, the habendum of which was during good behaviour, I have transmitted others for four years which is conformable with the letter of the law.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14). 1 p. See JM to Claiborne, 15 Dec. 1804 , and n. 1. Prevost’s commission is printed in...
37From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 15 December 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have received your several letters dated the 16th., two of 21, 23, 25 Sepr.—2, 3, 5, 8, 16, 19, 20, 22, 26, 27 Octr.—two of 3, 5, 8 & 10th. Novr.—and now inclose your Commission as Governor, with the approbation of the Senate, and sundry other Commissions for Officers of the Territory of Orleans. Your letters now acknowledged present two subjects on which the instructions of the Executive...
38From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 2 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote you last on the 28th. of Oct. since which I have recieved your favors of Sep. 8. 27. & Oct. 5. & 22. I observe you have recieved the resignations of Boré, Jones & Dow, as members of the Legislative council. I therefore now inclose you two commissions with blanks for the names. thinking it important that the settlements in the country should be represented wherever proper persons can be...
39From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 12 November 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 November 1804, Department of State. “I have received your several letters dated 16th. 23d. & 25th. Septr. , two of the 21st. of the same, also those dated 3d. 5th. & 8th. of October last.” [The remainder of the letter is nearly identical to JM to Cato West, 12 Nov. 1804 .] Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, DL , vol. 14); Tr ( Ms-Ar
40From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 28 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
By the same post which brought your letter announcing the death of mr Trist, I recieved one from mr Gelston covering a petition from merchants & other respectable characters of New Orleans praying the appointment of Wm. Brown his deputy to the office. I was singularly pleased to find the inclination I should have felt for making this appointment justified by an application entitled to so much...
41From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 23 October 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
23 October 1804, Department of State. “I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your several letters of the 1st. 4th. two of the 30th. Augt. and 1st. Septr. last; and in order that you may perceive the sentiments of the Executive respecting the case of the British prize Brig Active, enclosed are transmitted to you copies of a letter from Mr. Merry, the Minister of Great Britain, on that...
42From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 30 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
The President having thought proper to avail the U. States of the continuance of your services by appointing you Governour of the territory of Orleans, in pursuance of the late Act of Congress for erecting Lou[i]siana into two territories, and providing for the temporary Govt. thereof I have the pleasure of inclosing the Commission for that purpose, with a commission providing for the...
43From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 30 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Various circumstances of delay have prevented my forwarding till now the general arrangements for the government of the territory of Orleans. inclosed herewith you will recieve the commissions. among these is one for yourself as Governor. with respect to this I will enter into frank explanations. this office was originally destined for a person whose great services and established fame would...
44From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 28 August 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your favor[s] of the 12 & 14. of July. The continuance & conduct of the Spanish Officers at N. Orleans, justly excite attention. In every view it is desireable that these foreigners should be no longer in a situation to affront the authority of the U. S. or to mingle by their intrigues in the affairs of your territory. The first of October will be an epoch which may be used for...
45From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 17 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
After sending off my letter of the 7th. inst. I found I had omitted to give you some explanations which it is proper you should recieve on the subject of the letter of your’s communicated by me to Congress , which got into the newspapers in a falsified shape. the two houses had under deliberation some subject, at the time I recieved that letter, on which I knew the contents of that letter...
46From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 10 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last of the 6th. June, I have recd. yours of the following dates viz. (two 29 & 30th. May 2 & 3d. June[)]. On the subject of the accusation of St. Julien, the observations contained in my letter of the 19th. Ult. apply viz. that the Judiciary power of the Country must decide whether he is subject to a trial and in what form. That the annexation of the Country to the United States...
47From 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...
48From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 26 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since mine by the last Mail I have received no letter from you. Enclosed is a copy of a petition of John Devereux Delacy to the President. If you can conveniently procure for him the papers relative to Blount & Allison, and the letters of Lohra, to which he refers, and from their nature there is no impropriety in his being possessed of them, I doubt not you will cause them to be restored to...
49From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 19 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
By the last mail the President has received your letter accompanying Mr. Pedesclaux’s petition, and at the same time came to hand a representation from Louis de Clout on behalf of himself and family, requesting that means may be devised for investigating the circumstances of the murder of St. Julien’s wife, in which he has charged de Clout & his family as instigators and accomplices. As Mr....
50From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 1 May 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have received your letters of the 15th. 16th. & 21st. of March. Letters lately received from our Ministers at Paris and Madrid communicate the agreeable information that the King of Spain has formally receded from his objections to the transfer of Louisiana to the United States. The emoluments and allowances which you are authorized to charge the United States in consequence of your removal...