To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Williams, 8 June 1805
From Robert Williams
Washington M.T. June 8th 1805
Sir
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 enclosed paper contains a Publication of that correspondence at the instance of Mr West in a very mutilated state as you may observe by comparison what his objects are you as well as myself are to conjecture
The Legislature of this Territory is to be in Session on the first Monday in next month
With Sentiments of great Respt I Remain Yrs.
Robert Williams
RC (DLC); in a clerk’s hand, closing and signature by Williams; at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson President of the U States”; endorsed by TJ as received 9 July. Enclosure: probably Mississippi Messenger, 7 June, containing an exchange of four letters between Williams and Cato West, dated 14 through 17 May, published at West’s request; the letters detail Williams’s efforts to secure the return of the territorial executive department’s records in West’s possession; West refused, stating that returning them was inconvenient and unnecessary and suggesting that the governor was attempting to exert “undue control” over the secretary’s office; on the 17th, however, West returned the seal of the territory to Williams.