1From 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).
2From 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.
3From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 20 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
It being understood that Morales means to settle himself at New Orleans, and that his temper and his treasures, his connections and his views, may render him a mischievous member of the society, his removal to some other part of the United States, where he would be unimportant and harmless, would be agreeable to the President. Perhaps it may be in your power to bring this about, without...
4From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 12 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
Your letter of the 31st. of January has come to hand. The information it conveyed respecting the importation of Negroes was communicated to Congress together with the letter it enclosed from Mr. Leonard. The doubts which have arisen respecting the Ship from St. Domingo have relation, as far as yet appears, to two points—1st. whether the passengers ought to be permitted to come up to New...
5From 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...
6From 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...
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
8From 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,...
9From 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...
10From 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...
11From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 6 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
Your several letters of the 17. 20. & 27 Decr. & 2d. Jan. have been successively received. They were not acknowled[g]ed from time to time as they came to hand, because instructions from the President having been fully given on the subject of obtaining possession of Louisiana, it only remains to learn the result of your proceedings and to communicate his sentiments thereon. These are contained...
12From 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...
13From 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...
14From 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...
15From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 22 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose you a Commission, ⟨con⟩stituting David Latimore a Member of the Legislativ⟨e⟩ Council of the Mississippi Territory, in the room of ⟨Adam⟩ Bingaman, & request that it may be forwarded to h⟨im.⟩ With much respect, I have the honor to be Sir, Your most obt. Servt: Tr ( Ms-Ar : Claiborne Executive Journal). Winthrop Sargent had described Bingaman in November 1800 as...
16From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 29 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
I commit to your particular attention the inclosed letter to Mr. Hulens which covers one from the Spanish Minister here, on the subject of the late decree at N. Orleans against the deposit of American merchandize at that place. The letter to Mr. Hulens is left open, that you may know the light in which this proceeding is viewed by the President and the steps taken in consequence of it. You...
17From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 11 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 March 1803, Department of State. “In addition to the despatches from the Spanish Minister here to the Government and the Intendant at New Orleans which you will herewith receive, I am requested by Mr. Pichon, the French Charge d’Affaires to forward a letter to the Governor of that place on the same subject. With his approbation it is left under a flying seal, that, you may have an...
18From 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...
19From 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...
20From 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...
21From 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...
22From 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...
23From 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...
24From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 14 February 1803 (Madison Papers)
Your letters of the 20th. & 21st. December and of January 3d have been duly received. The rigor in abolishing hospital [ sic ] intercourse between the Spaniards and the Citizens of the United States, navigating the Mississippi explained in the latter, justly increases the indignation excited by the original measure of the Intendant. Still the stronger presum[p]tion is that the whole proceeding...
25From 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...
26From 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 &...
27From 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,...
28From 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...
29From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 20 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I have received your letter of the 17th. of January, with two from yourself and Genl. Wilkinson of the 16th. & 17th. January and the other papers inclosed. The arrival of the French Troops and passengers is a circumstance to be regretted on several accounts. The steps taken and contemplated in consequence of it are approved by the President, and it is hoped will lead to a...
30From 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;...
31From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 11 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
Your several letters from November 24. to the 6th. of March last have been successively received. Such of them as fell within the purview of the War Department were communicated to Genl. Dearborn, who I have reason to beleive has bestowed on the subjects recommended a favorable attention. I inclose the opinion of the Attorney General in the case where you wished it. Altho’ the phraseology used...
32From 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...
33From 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...
34From 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...
35From 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...
36From 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...
37From 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...
38From 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....
39From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 20 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to request you to forward the enclosed letter to Mr. Clark. I have left it open for your information, and enclosed a copy of the President’s proclamation for convening Congress and a summary of the contents of the Treaty with France, for your own use. With great respect, I have the honor to be, sir, Your most obed. servt. P. S. Be pleased also to forward the enclosed letter &...
40From 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...
41From 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...
42From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne and James Wilkinson, 6 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
Your several letters of December 8th. 20th. 27th. & Jany. 3. 9 have been duly received and laid before the President; and ⟨I have the pleasure to communicate⟩ to you his ap⟨pro⟩bation of your proceedings under the important Commission in which you are associated. The manner in which Louisiana has been put into the possession of the United States, is the more a subject for general...
43From 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...
44From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 9 April 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 April 1802, Department of State. Encloses Claiborne’s commission as governor of the Mississippi Territory. Tr and Tr of enclosure ( Ms-Ar : Claiborne Executive Journal). 2 pp. Printed in Rowland, Claiborne Letter Books Dunbar Rowland, ed., Official Letter Books of W. C. C. Claiborne, 1801–1816 (6 vols.; Jackson, Miss., 1917). , 1:115–16. Enclosure is a copy of a 26 Jan. 1802 commission by...
45From 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...
46From 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...
47From 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...
48From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 17 January 1803 (Madison Papers)
I duly received your letter of 25th. Novr. 1802. inclosing the letter to you from the Governor at N. Orleans, in which it was stated that the intendant in arresting the course of our trade, had acted without orders from the Spanish Government; as well as contrary to the opinion of the Governor. This communication was laid before Congress by the President. You will find by the Resolution of the...
49From 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...
50From 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...