Thomas Jefferson Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-42-02-0013

To Thomas Jefferson from the Mississippi Territory Legislative Council, 19 November 1803

From the Mississippi Territory
Legislative Council

Novemr. 19th 1803

Sir

We the Legislative Council of the Mississippi Territory possessing in Common with our fellow Citizens the livliest Sentiments of Gratitude towards the general Government for the unremitted Attention it has discovered to the Interests of this Country, are desirous of expressing to you, Sir, our great satisfaction and Joy at the interesting Event, which has lately resulted from executive and diplomatic management in the Concerns of the Mississippi. It will be faithfully representing the Feelings of our Constituents as well as those of our own, to declare, that the Knowledge of no Occurrence except the Establishment of American Independence, has been more joyfully or more thankfully received, than the important Cession of Louisiana. By this great acquisition our Commerce, Peace and Prosperity are secured; and the true American Policy, which prefers pacific Negotiation to rash and sanguinary measures is preserved justified and admired.

Receive, Sir, our cordial congratulations on this Occasion, accompanied by our sincere Wishes, that you may long live to enjoy the Confidence, and promote the prosperity of your Countrymen.

John Ellis President
of the Legislative Council

Attest

Felix Hughes Secy

to the Legislative Council

RC (DLC); in Hughes’s hand, signed by Ellis; endorsed by TJ as received 19 Dec. and so recorded in SJL.

The above address was submitted to the legislative council on 11 Nov. 1803 by member David Lattimore. It was intended originally to have been a joint communication from both houses of the territorial assembly, but when the House of Representatives failed to report on it, the council approved the address on its own on 19 Nov. and requested that the governor forward it to the president (Journal of the Legislative Council, of the Second General Assembly of the Mississippi Territory at Their Second Session [Natchez, 1804], 21-2, 33).

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