1From 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...
2Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 3 May 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of Jan. 10. 12. & Feb. 1. came to hand only a fortnight ago. the inclosed contains my answer to the latter, for communication to the Legislature . so many false views on the subject of the Batture have been presented in & out of Congress that duty to myself, as well as justice to the citizens of N. Orleans & of the Western country generally required that I should avail myself of...
3From 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...
4From 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...
5From 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
7From 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,...
8From 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...
9Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 2 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
The honble mr Dawson , a member of Congress , proposes to become an inhabitant of the state of Louisiana . I think he must formerly have been personally known to you: but lest I should be mistaken in this, I take the liberty of making him the subject of this letter. he is a gentleman of liberal education, regularly brought up to the law, was very early in life placed in the council of state of...
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...
13Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 10 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of May 17. came to hand the last day of June. it covered a Tragedy in Manuscript from Col o Siblong commemorative of a scene which had past on the Missisipi within the memory of persons still living. I am too old to catch the enthusiasm of poetry, and therefore unqualified to judge of it’s merits other than that of the sentiment. in this respect the piece in question merits much...
14From 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...
15From 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).
16From 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...
17From 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...
18Enclosure: James Mather to William C. C. Claiborne, 5 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I have not been able till this day to collect sufficient information from the French & Spanish authorities, concerning the powers vested in the Governors for the Kings either of France or Spain , to prevent encroachments on the demesne of the crown, & public property in general. I flatter myself however that the following quotations will fully elucidate this point of law. 1 o See Vattel , the...
19From 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...
20From 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...
21From 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...
¶ To William C. C. Claiborne. Letter not found. 1 October 1815. Acknowledged in Claiborne to JM , 8 Dec. 1815 ( DLC ), which indicates that JM conveyed José Correa da Serra’s request for “Some perfect fruits of Bow wood from Louisiana, and some perfect seeds of the same” (see Corrèa da Serra to JM , ca. August 1815).
23Thomas Jefferson to William C. C. Claiborne, 11 June 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I had heard of your arrival in the Atlantic states some time since, and yesterday recieved your favor from N. Orleans of May 4. announcing your intended voyage, and that I should have the pleasure of seeing you at Monticello . this would at all times be highly welcome to me, but during this season will be peculiarly so, on account of the proceedings which are the subject of your letter. I have...
24From 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...
25From 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...
26From 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...
27From 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...
28From 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...
29From 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...
30From 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...