To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 11 September 1805 (Abstract)
From William C. C. Claiborne, 11 September 1805 (Abstract)
§ From William C. C. Claiborne. 11 September 1805, Concordia. “I now have the Honor, to enclose you a Copy of the assurance given me in writing by Mr. Moralis, that he would not during his residence in this Territory, make any disposition of Lands lying west of the Perdedo.”1
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, TP, Orleans, vol. 7); letterbook copy (Ms-Ar: Claiborne Executive Journal, vol. 15). RC 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Claiborne; docketed by Wagner, with his note: “Parole of Morales.”
1. The enclosures (7 pp.; in English and Spanish; docketed by Wagner as enclosed in Claiborne’s 11 Sept. 1805 letter; printed in , 9:490–93) are a copy of Juan Ventura Morales to Claiborne, 19 Aug. 1805, and an English translation. In the letter Morales stated that the king’s authority had been insulted in his person, that Spanish interests might be damaged as a result of the inaction Claiborne demanded regarding the sale of lands in the unquestionably Spanish territory of West Florida, and that the assurance that Claiborne had forced him to give, that he would not sell land, would not prejudice in any way the titles to lands already sold and to those still vacant. Morales then promised, while still maintaining his preceding objections, that he would not take any actions regarding the lands west of the Perdido River.