To James Madison from Albert Gallatin (Abstract), 25 May 1805
§ From Albert Gallatin
25 May 1805, Treasury Department. “I beg leave to remind you that no appropriation has been made by Congress for paying the Salaries allowed by law to the Governors Secretaries & Judges of the Michigan & Louisiana territories, nor for defraying the contingent expences of the same. As those newly erected Governments will be in operation after the first day of July next, it may perhaps be proper to inform the officers of that circumstance; unless the President should think it advisable to direct payment to be made out of the contingent fund.”1
RC (DLC: Jefferson Papers). 2 pp.; docketed by Wagner; docketed by Jefferson, with his note: “no approprn. for Michigan govmt.”
1. On 4 June 1805 JM replied: “I have the honor to inform you, that in order to supply the defect of a more specific appropriation to pay the Salaries of the Officers of the Territories of Michegan & Louisiana, the President has determined to pay them out of the Contingent fund of Government; and under the peculiar circumstances of their appointment without immediate commencement of their salaries and of the distance of the places where their offices are to be exercised from their previous residence, he permits an advance to each of them of a sum equal to a quarters salary to be reimbursed by retaining the 1st. quarters salary accruing to the person to whom the advance may be made” (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 15; 1 p.)