To James Madison from William Hull, 10 December 1805 (Abstract)
From William Hull, 10 December 1805 (Abstract)
§ From William Hull. 10 December 1805, Washington. “Governor Hull wishes to enquire of the Secretary ⟨of⟩; State, whether he received his letter inclosing a Copy of the proclamation,1 he was directed to issue, and whether for the reasons stated in his Letter the President, thought it expedient, to authorize the Governor, or any other Officer, to grant permissions to cut such quantities of pine timber as was absolutely necessary, under the peculiar circumstances of the People of Detroit.”2
RC (DNA: RG 59, TP, Michigan, vol. 1). 1 p.; docketed by Wagner. A note by Jefferson interlined above the address and dateline reads: “It was our joint opinion that altho’ it would not do to lay open the public timber to all persons indiscriminately, yet that the calamity which happened at Detroit rendered it proper that the public should permit the poorer sufferers to get timber from their lands, and that it should be left to the discretion of Govr. Hull to grant the special licences. Th: J.”
1. For the proclamation, see Hull to JM, 11 Sept. 1805, and n. 2.
2. On 13 Dec. 1805 JM replied: “In answer to your note of the 10th. inst. I have the honor to observe, that altho’ it is not expedient to lay open the public timber to the Inhabitants of Detroit indiscriminately, nevertheless the President leaves it to your discretion to grant special licenses to the poorer sufferers by the conflagration” (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 15; 1 p.).