51From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 2 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my last I have received your Letters of the 4th, 6th, and 13th February and that of yourself and General Wilkinson dated on the 7th, and 14 Feby. enclosed you will receive two copies of an Act of Congress passed on the 26th Ultimo erecting Louisiana into two Seperate Governments and continuing the present temporary Government until the 1st October next. The disturbance at the assembly...
52From 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...
53From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 11 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 March 1803, Department of State. “Your letter of Feby. 3d. inclosing the despatches from New Orleans to the spanish Minister here has been recd. Finding from the acknowledgment of the Intendant himself that he has acted without authority from the Spanish Government, and on evident misconstructions of the Treaty and of his duty, The Minister has written the enclosed letters with a view to...
54From 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...
55From 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...
56From 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,...
57From 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...
58From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 18 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
It is understood that under the former government of Louisiana there was an appeal in judiciary matters from the Governor to the Governor genl. at Cuba. the writer of the inclosed probably presumed that this was now to the President of the US. this is an error. no authority has as yet been constituted paramount that of the Governor. while such is the situation I have thought it best in such...
59From 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...
60From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 17 April 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
As before you recieve this, you will have seen the act for the government of Louisiana, I need give no account of it. altho’ it is not to come into force ’till Oct. 1. yet it will be necessary for us to have every thing prepared to go into action on that day, and as the legislative council is to be appointed by me, it is necessary I should be informed beforehand who will be the proper persons...
61From 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...
62From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 19 April 1803 (Madison Papers)
You will herewith receive a letter to the Consul of the United States at New Orleans, covering orders from the Spanish Government, for the immediate reestablishment of our right of Deposit. The letter is left open for your perusal. You will please to give it that expeditious transmission to New Orleans which its importance requires, and which is given to it from this place, by an express...
63From 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...
64From 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...
65From 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...
66From 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...
67From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 26 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
Herewith inclosed is a copy of the agreement entered into on the 24. April last between the Commissioners on the part of the United States and those on the part of Georgia, duly authorized for that purpose, which agreement was ratified by the Legislature of that state on the 16. of June last. According to the Act of Congress of May 10. 1800 The commissioners of the U. States authorized to...
68From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 31 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
You will find herewith a copy of the late Treaty with France ceding Louisiana to the United States which has been duly ratified and the ratifications exchanged; and two Commissions, one authorizing yourself and General Wilkinson jointly or seperately to receive possession, the other vesting in you alone the power necessary for the immediate Government of the ceded territory. Copies of the act...
69From 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...
70From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 13 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
You will recieve from the Secretary of state a commission as Governor of the Mississipi territory, an office which I consider as of primary importance, inasmuch as that country is the principal point of contact between Spain & us, and also as it is the embryo of a very great state. independant of the official communications which the Secretary of state will make to you from time to time, I...
71From 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...
72From 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...
73From 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...
74From 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...
75From Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 24 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The within being for communication to your H. of Representatives when it meets, I inclose it in this which is of a private character. the former I think had better be kept up until the meeting of the Representatives, lest it should have any effect on the present critical state of things beyond the Atlantic, altho’ I have indeavored to make it as inoffensive there as was compatible with the...
76From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 14 November 1803 (Madison Papers)
You will herewith receive a supplimental commission extending your authority to certain cases which may not be embraced by that heretofore transmitted. You will find also herewith enclosed a copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury to the Collector Mr. Trist, shewing the scope of his functions at New Orleans. In the infant & temporary arrangements required for Louisiana much is...
77From 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...
78From James Madison to William C. C. Claiborne, 9 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since my letter of the 2d: instant the last mail has brought several from you and General Wilkinson, which having been forwarded to the President I cannot refer to them by dates. Instead of the Passports for the inhabitants of Louisiana, the form of which you have enclosed, I request you to issue those which I now transmit. By the next mail I shall forward an additional number. You will be...
79From 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...