4231To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 8 January 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William C. C. Claiborne. 8 January 1806, New Orleans. “I persuade myself that my late visit to Appalousas and Attachapas has been attended with some good effects. The Civil Authorities were again put in motion; the Militia officers commissioned; such explanations given of the Land Law, as were calculated to check discontents; and every just effort made to attach the Citizens to the...
4232To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 19 February 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William C. C. Claiborne. 19 February 1806, New Orleans. “The Marquis of Casa Calvo left this City on the 15. Instant, destined it is said for Pensacola; he was much displeased at receiving an Order to depart—and views it as an act of great violence. “We have a report here—that our Differences with Spain are amicably adjusted; I sincerely hope it may prove correct—but should it be...
4233To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 1 January 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 January 1805, New Orleans. “Great exertions are now making to revive the Louisiana Bank, and I understand the probability is, that the Capital required will in a few days be Subscribed. “My own doubts as to the Validity of the Charter are known, as is also the opinion of Some of the Officers of Government, that it was in itself a Nullity: But many Citizens seem nevertheless determined to...
4234To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 5 October 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William C. C. Claiborne. 5 October 1805, New Orleans. “I arrived here on last Evening, and altho’ my Health is much improved since my departure from Natchez, I am nevertheless far from being well. “The unpleasant Reports alluded to by Mr. Graham in his Letter of the 22d. Ultimo, (a Copy of which I forwarded you from Natchez) related to the Menaces of our Spanish Neighbours; the Warlike...
4235To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 4 August 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 August 1804, New Orleans. “I enclose you copies of two letters which I this morning received from Captain Turner the Commandant at Nachitoches. “The Caddo Indians spoken of by Captain Turner is a small tribe situated about 80 or 100 leagues from Nachitoches; their warriors are supposed to amount to between three or four hundred; I shall invite the chief of the nation and five or six of his...
4236To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 15 March 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
15 March 1803 , “ Near Natchez .” Has been requested to forward the enclosed petition from the Mississippi Territory House of Representatives [not found] regarding “the free Navigation of certain Navigable Rivers, ‘falling into the Bay of Mexico, from the Territories of the United States, and passing thro’ the Dominions of his Catholic Majesty’”; asks that it be laid before the president. On...
4237To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 22 July 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William C. C. Claiborne. 22 July 1805, New Orleans. “I received by the last Mail My Commission as Governor of The Territory of Orleans, under the late act of Congress. At any time, an evidence of the President’s Confidence would Afford me Satisfaction; but I must confess, that the late renewal of my Commission, has excited in my breast, the liveliest emotions of gratitude and pleasure....
4238To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 30 October 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William C. C. Claiborne. 30 October 1805, New Orleans. “I enclose for your perusal and information copies of several Depositions which have been forwarded to me, by Doctor Sibley; These documents prove the establishment of a Garrison on the Trinity River, & state the particulars of several outrages committed on the Citizens of the United States by Persons in the Employ of the Spanish...
4239To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 16 October 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 October 1804, New Orleans. “I return’d to this City on this Morning, and find my Health much benefited from my late, tho short, Excursion into the Country. The Sugarcrops are very promising, and the Labour of the planter, will be rewarded abundantly. The Citizens, whom I visited, appear’d to enjoy Health and Contentment, and I was well pleas’d with their friendly Hospitality. I also...
4240To Thomas Jefferson from William C. C. Claiborne, 1 June 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
On last evening, I received your Letter of the 3rd of April , enclosing your Answer to an Address, from the House of Representatives of this Territory, and which , I shall, with great pleasure, forward to the Speaker of that Body.— With assurances of my highest respect;—I have the honor to subscribe myself—Your faithful friend, and most obt. Hble. Servant RC ( DLC ); in a clerk’s hand, signed...
4241To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 26 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
26 November 1803, Natchez. “I have certain information that on the 11th Instant General Wilkinson left Fort St Stephens for Mobile from whence by the way of the Lakes he would proceed to New Orleans and thence to Fort Adams, where his arrival may be soon expected. To my dispatches to the Prefect and Mr. Clark (copies of which I transmitted to you by the last Mail) I have not yet received...
4242To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 23 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
Mr. John C. Carr, the Parish Judge of Nachitoches, advises me by letter, bearing date the 9th. Instant, that the fugitive Slaves had all arrived at Nacogdoches, & the Provincial Governor, had repeated to him (Mr. C) "the old Story", that "such measures would be adopted as would tend to perpetuate that harmony &c, the existence of which, is so essential to the interests of both Nations"; but...
4243To Thomas Jefferson from William C. C. Claiborne, 25 November 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
My Administration here, from the time of my Arrival in Louisiana, to the close of the late provisional Government, has already became an object of some discussion: to this I can have no objection; I wou’d rather court it, were I assur’d, that the Enquiries wou’d be conducted with Candour.—but some publications have appear’d here upon the subject, in which, I do not think Justice has been...
4244To Thomas Jefferson from William C. C. Claiborne, 10 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 5th. Instant I left the City and passed up on the East side of the Mississippi.—It is only Six months, since I last visited this vicinity, and I discover evidences (within that period) of considerable improvement. Several new Buildings are complited; others repaired, and the fields extended, and laid out with more regularity and taste.— My first day’s travel was only 8 miles to—the...
4245To Thomas Jefferson from William C. C. Claiborne, 8 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter of the 29th of October has been received, and its enclosure delivered to the Gentleman to whom it was directed.—Mr Reibelt is certainly a very learned Man, and as far as I know a very honest one;—But he is illy calculated to fill an office under a Republican Government, nor indeed do I know any situation in which he could be so useful to Society, as in Character of an Instructer of...
4246To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne and James Wilkinson, 30 March 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 March 1804, New Orleans. “Since our last of the 11 instant, a Duplicate of which is under cover we have received the Remainder of the public Records of the Province. The Delivery of the Store-Houses and Magazines & the Evacuation of the City by the Spanish Troops are the only important unfinished Objects relating to our Commission.” Enclose a 27 Mar. 1804 letter from Laussat showing “that...
4247To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne and James Wilkinson, 11 March 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since our last of the 27. ulto. a Duplicate of which goes under Cover, the Spaniards have sent off a small Part of their Troops; and we have received repeated verbal Assurances from several of their Officers that a final Evacuation by them is fixed for the 20 of the present Month; and appearances seem to indicate the Reality of their Intention. We have received two Letters from the...
4248To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne and James Wilkinson, 3 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since our Letter of the 27. ulto but little Progress has been made in the Business of the Commission. Orders have been issued, by Mr Laussat for the Delivery of the Posts of Concord, Atakapas & Opelousas , to such American Officers as have been selected for those stations, and we are waiting like Orders for the Surrender of the Post of Natchitoches on Red River and those in upper Louisiana....
4249To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne and James Wilkinson, 27 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
Since our last of the 14 current, of which a Duplicate was forwarded by the last Mail; the French national Brig the Argo has dropped down the River, to Placquemines, for the Purpose, as we understand, of taking on Board the People, who came in the Brig Express from St. Nicholas Mole, and proceeding to France. We hope in Consequence thereof, to be relieved from the accumulating Embarrassments...
4250To 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...
4251To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 18 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 November 1803, Natchez. “Shortly after closing my despatches of this morning I received the enclosed letter from Mr Clarke to which I returned an answer, a copy of which is likewise enclosed.” RC and enclosure ( DNA : RG 59, TP , Orleans, vol. 2); letterbook copy ( Ms-Ar : Claiborne Executive Journal, vol. 13). RC 1 p.; printed in Rowland, Claiborne Letter Books Dunbar Rowland, ed.,...
4252To Thomas Jefferson from William C. C. Claiborne, 27 June 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
A certain Muntford Perryman has been convicted before the District Court for the District of Orleans, of passing conterfeit Notes of the Bank of the United States, knowing them to be counterfeit, and was thereupon sentenced to imprisonment for three years. Under an impression that the said Perryman is a fit object of mercy, we cannot refrain from soliciting in his behalf, your Pardon. The...
4253To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne and James Wilkinson, 20 December 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 December 1803, New Orleans. “We have the satisfaction to announce to you, that the province of Louisiana was this day surrendered to the United States by the Commissioner of France; and to add that the flag of our Country was raised in this City amidst the acclamations of the inhabitants. “The enclosed is a copy of an instrument of writing which was signed and exchanged by the Commissioners...
4254To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 15 July 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William C. C. Claiborne. 15 July 1805, New Orleans. “Your favor of the 2nd of June [not found] I have had the pleasure to receive. Your Letter to Mr. Duplantier shall be delivered, and in his agency for La Fayette, he will receive all the aid in my power, for my friendship for that unfortunate Patriot is very Sincere, and I feel solicitous that the donation of Congress should prove a...
4255To 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...
4256To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne and James Wilkinson, 7 February 1804 (Madison Papers)
In our Letter of the 16th ultimo, we informed you that we have just then received Information, of the Arrival in the River, of a Vessel with French Troops from St. Domingo. It Appeared by the first Accounts, that a great Mortality had prevailed on Board, and we were Apprehensive of her being infected by some Contagious distemper; It now Appears, that her Company consists of Officers, Surgeons,...
4257To 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...
4258To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne and James Wilkinson, 17 January 1804 (Madison Papers)
No alteration has taken place since our last, of which you have a duplicate under cover, excepting the receipt of the necessary orders, for the delivery of all the Spanish Posts in upper Louisiana, and at Nachitoches and it’s dependencies. But we have to apprize you of an unexpected occurrence of a most unpleasant nature. Early yesterday morning we were formally advised by Mr. Daniel Clarke,...
4259To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 6 December 1803 (Madison Papers)
The transports as fast as they are completed receive their lading: and there is a prospect of a final embarkation tomorrow evening. I am daily learning the serious expence of military preparations; and shall therfore pray to my god, more fervently than ever, that our country may never be forced to the ruinous necessity of extensive armaments. In preparing transports, equipping soldiery and...
4260To Thomas Jefferson from William C. C. Claiborne, 20 April 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honored with the receipt of your Letter of the 25th. Ultimo , together with a Report of a Committee of Congress, which accompanyed it . So far as may depend upon my Agency, no exertions shall be wanting to carry into effect in this Territory, the Militia System adopted by the National Legislature, “and in a manner the best calculated to insure such a degree of military discipline...