1To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 19 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
In perusing my papers which I brought with me from the Mississippi Territory—I find the enclosed letter which I suppose to have been deliver’d to Mr. Briggs or myself before we left that quarter, but by the length of our Journey and Various modes of traveling, got misplaced I have therefore thought proper to forward it by mail, and hope no material inconvenience has or will Occur in...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 21 December 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
This address is dictated with a view of affording some information, without which the Executive Confidence, might be bestowed in the appointment of an officer in this Territory who is amongst the most inveterate enemies of the present administration, if not the principles of our Government. The officer I mean is a General for this Territory, and the Character I allude to is Colo. Benijah...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Isaac Briggs, 16 March 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Being informed that the office of United States’ Attorney for the district of Orleans is now vacant, I presume to mention for that appointment Lewis Kerr now resident in New-Orleans. He is a man of genius and very handsome acquirements—of sound integrity and pure republican principles. So far as I am capable of judging, he possesses considerable and competent professional skill, having been...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 17 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
By the last mail from New Orleans I had the honor of receiving a commission as Governor of this Territory, which I have accepted, but under a full persuasion that I may be admitted to return to North-Carolina as soon as the land business shall have been finished or will admit of my absence from the Board of Commissioners and I hope to have permission to that effect from the President of the...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 8 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Since my last to you and the Secretary of State of the 17th ult. enclosing a correspondence between Cato West as Secretary and myself duplicates of which were sent on last mail I have had no kind of correspondence with him except to receive the seal of this Territory neither has he been here and I yet remain without any aid or information from the official documents of this Territory—The...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 21 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of April the 28th. having been directed to Natchez I did not recieve til the return mail by which it was then too late to forward you an answer—inclosed was a blank Commission for the next Council which I shall fill up with the names best fitted, having due regard to your recommendation, but not til after the insuing Session of the Legislature which commences on the first monday in...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 13 July 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have nothing to inform since my last, except that Colo West yet keeps away together with all the records &c. I have daily application for business which I cannot act on; particularly in the Indian department—He was here the day after the assembly met, and stayed about one hour—I am advised by Mr Gallatin that I am to continue in the land business of course cannot wait on the Secretary at his...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 10 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the honor to receive your favor of the 6th. Ulto. by the last Mail— A Commission for Mr. Williams as Secretary of this Territory also came on—he has been prevailed on to accept provisionally, and I expect will write on accordingly—I hope however he may be prevailed on to Continue, for I am apprehensive It will be almost impossible to get a character qualified for this office for the...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 25 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclosed you Not long since the Name for the Legislative Council of this Territory being then at the post office & the Mail about to start, I endorsed the Name & enclosed to you and intended to insert there in the Commission after the Mail Started—on a recurrence to the Commission I found it had been filled up as to date to wit, 29th. of april 1805 and no period fixed on in the Commission...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 23 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
This Legislature will rise [the?] 30th Inst.—I am waiting to know what is likely to be our Situation with Spain, and whether my presence in this quarter will be necessary, if not I shall start immediately after I know, for N. Carolina— It will not be possible to finish the land business before I go—unless I Stay much longer than my own and families happiness, and the interest of my private...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 18 March 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favour of the 10th. Ulto. has been recieved—I am sorry our situation with Spain continues eventual—It is to be regretted that a small strip of Country between this and the Territory of Orleanes is possessed by a foreign power, it has and will continue to prevent the population of this Territory and in that part too, the most inviting, and which holds out the greatest advantages to the...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 14 April 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I intend starting for No. Carolina in a day or two, and shall return as soon as possible—Mr. Meade has not yet come on, nor have we heard from him. I should have been glad of his arrival before I started, and would now wait a few days, but this is the only time I can be spared from the land business—whilst the surveys are making &c— Things are quiet in this quarter (except on Tom-Bigbee the...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 12 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to trouble you on a Subject, the importance of which, as well as your great desire to promote things of the kind, will I trust plead my excuse for so doing—Which is, to request your aid in procuring a proper Charecter, to Commence & take Charge of Jefferson College. The Trustees of that College have Commited to me this trust. When I left the Territory application had been...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 14 March 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I am now about to address you with more real concern than I ever did, not that I am more timorous towards my duty, or fearful of the consequences, but because I have once before been under the disagreeable necessity for a simular course and in which from my Situation I may be thought to be partially interested. And furthermore that it must be at all times with much delicacy and caution you...
15To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 6 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In my last letter to you, under date of March 14h. I gave a full and Cercumstantial account of the political occurrences in this Territory. By that letter, you must at once have seen, that my Situation as to a Secretary was not Such as it ought to be, Yet I did hope and expected that on an acquaintance with Mr. Meade by Shewing a passive indifference to the little notions which he had...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 11 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of March 21st. respecting Volunteer Companies, I recd. by yesterdays mail—you may rely on every exertion in my power to aid the Views of the government in this respect—I assure you with the utmost Confidence, that Such is the patriotism and attachment of the Citizens of this Territory to their government and laws, as to Justify the most Sanguine expectations on this occasion—...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 11 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Joshua Baker one of the Legislative Council of this Territory, is the Author of the inclosed extract of a letter— The notoriety of the falshoods which he has here detailed, without even the Semblance of foundation or truth, has drawn from the people an universal execration of his private as well as publick Character, so much so, as to render it expedient to revoke his Commission as one of the...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 30 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I addressed you a letter, under date of the 10th. Inst., inclosing an extract of a letter from Joshua Baker, which was first published in Kentucky—I now inclose a Second which he has published here—this I do, that you May Completely Understand the Views of a party here, and because I have been in the habit of Communicating fully to you every thing of this kind. This is the production of that...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 8 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The News paper herewith inclosed Contains one of those weekly doses, which it is said, is to be administered through the Medium of this paper, by the party of whom my former letters to you have given an account and which render it unnecessary to add any thing farther on the Subject at present, except that Poindexter begins to be openly abusive of the President of the U States, and others of...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 23 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
as usual I inclose this paper—See note in Margin—Mr. Mead has intirely withdrawn himself from the office, or even seeing me when he comes to Town, altho’ my invitations for him to come to my house, have never ceased, and my civilities toward him and inattention to his hostility has been constant and uniform—He’s determined to be hostile . H Williams will be on this fall, and can give you a...
21To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 3 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I herewith inclose you the two last Messengers, by which you will See what a torrent of abuse it issues agt. Me, Much under the Character of a Statement of facts, and it can only be astonishing to those Who know the falsity of them, how any Man or Set of Men can invent Such things after re ing all they know to be true—Mead acknowledged to me the other day, which is the only time he has been at...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 25 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Some weeks ago I Recd. under Cover from the Secy. of State a Commission for Thos. H Williams Esqr. as Secy. of this Territory, but no letter from You Or the Secretary of State has been Recd. by him or myself On the Subject of his Appointmint—Neither have I Recd. an acknowledgement of any of my letters to Yourself or Mr. Madison Since my Arrival in the Territory last Jany.—As letters Sometimes...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 12 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In some of my former communications, you have a pretty full account of the existence of a party formed during my absence last year, and their ultimate object: They have never ceased their exertions to embarrass and throw the Territory into confusion; knowing, it is not themselves, but the Governor on whom the greatest responsibility of keeping the community tranquil devolves. My continuing to...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 21 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 1st. Nov. I have recd. acknowledging the receipt of my several letters within this year—I have nothing new to inform—All things are going on well very well—you will See by the inclosed how our Legislature Started— Tho’ the materials are So discordant we are not to expect much—but 3 of the Council attend, and so many of the members are absent by Sickness &c. That I expect...
25To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 6 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
We are all anxious in this quarter to know the probable direction our differences with England will take. And this anxiety is increased in proportion to our disappointment in the two last mails bringing nothing from the Eastward beyond Nashville. Peace, However, is the general wish if to be preserved on terms Compatible with our National rights— Were it not that at particular times and under...
26To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 19 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of the 4th. Ulto. Supplementary to one of an introductory Nature in favor of Mr. Thos. T. Jones, I recd. yesterday by the Mail being the 3d. Mail due from your quarter—The failures have been very Numerous this Winter, and Mostly beyond Nashville— Mr. Jones has not yet arrived—you May Rely I Shall do all in My power to give fair play to the excellent qualities which you discribe...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 30 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I am informed by a friend whose moderation and discretion are such, as to induce Violent partizans and Credulous Zealots, to suppose he did not discountenance their measures, that letters have been written to Mr. Thomas M Randolph, and Mr. Epps by a Mr. Branham making the most false statements and representations respecting this Territory and its political Situation— All I know of this young...
28To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 10 February 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
On the 6 Ultimo I wrote to you a few lines enclosing the Copy of a letter I had previously written to Mr Gallatin—a report having been since circulated by a few, relative to the existance of a certain fact which if true might tend to induce a belief that I did not possess correct information on a certain subject treated of in that Communication, induces me to address you at present. The report...
29To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 16 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Agreeable to a Suggestion in my letter to you of the 10th. Ultimo I did on the 1st. instant dissolve the General Assembly. In order that you may be fully informed of the motives and reflections which dictated this measure, I inclose a Copy of my letter to the Secretary of State, in addition to which I will observe, that this did not take place, as long as there was any probability that...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 5 October 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I suppose you will have Reced. before this comes to hand, from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the nomination for a Legislative Council, to Wit, Thomas Calvit, James Lea, John F. McGrew, Alexander Montgomery, Daniel Burnet, Jacob Stampley, James Haines, Francis Johnston; Joseph Sissions and Joshua Baker. The first five of these I would recommend to be selected for the Council—the...