To Thomas Jefferson from Albert Gallatin, 17 June 1805
From Albert Gallatin
17 June 1805
Dear Sir
It is necessary, according to usage, that you should add the word “Approved” with your signature to the enclosed requisition from the Dept. of State for certain payments to be charged to the contingent fund.
That fund has always been held to be solely at the President’s disposal; and accordingly his signature to be essential to authorize the Treasury to pay.
Respectfully Your obedt: Servant
Albert Gallatin
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received from the Treasury Department on 17 June and “Louisa. expences” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure not found.
In a letter of 25 May, Gallatin alerted Madison that Congress had failed to appropriate money for salaries for the governors, secretaries, and judges of the recently created Michigan and Louisiana Territories, the governments of which would be operating as of 1 July. Unless the president approved paying the territorial officers out of the contingent fund, they would need to be informed of the circumstance (RC in DLC; endorsed by TJ: “Departmt Treasy. to mr Madison. May 25. 05. no approprn for Michigan govmt.”). Madison replied on 4 June that TJ had decided to permit “an advance to each of” the officers “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” (, 9:402).