To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 9 December 1806
From William C. C. Claiborne
N. O. December 9th. 1806.
The Members of the New Orleans Chambre of Commerce, attended on this morning at 10’ O’clock at the Government House, and after being apprized by the General and myself, of the just causes for the apprehension, of danger, and the demand then was for Sailors to man the little Fleet on this station, they unanimously agreed to a resolution, of which the inclosed is a Copy.1
This Chamber embraces every respectable Merchant in the City, and I am happy to find so much union, and so much patriotism displayed on the occasion; It has also been proposed by the Mercantile part of our society to raise, by subscription a sum of Money, to Cloath such sailors as may inter [sic] the service, and I am told, that several thousand Dollars have already been subscribed.
In conformity to the advise of the Merchants, I have given orders, that no Vessel without the permission of General Wilkinson or myself, depart from the Port; but these orders will be countermanded the moment the number of Sailors required for our armed Vessels are obtained.
Signed Wm. C. C. Claiborne.
Letterbook copy (Ms-Ar: Claiborne Executive Journal, vol. 16). For enclosure, see n. 1.
1. The enclosed resolution, dated 9 December 1806 and signed by Paul Lanusse, president of the Merchants of the City of New Orleans, as chair, and Richard Relf as secretary, stated: “It was unanimously agreed that a General and immediate Embargo of the Shipping in port be recommended to His Excely. as the best means of obtaining the desired object” (printed in Rowland, Claiborne Letter Books, 4:53).