To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 29 January 1807
From William C. C. Claiborne
New Orleans Jany 29th. 1807.
Sir,
I have the honor to inclose you the answers which have been returned by the two houses of the assembly to my address of the 13th. Instant;1 you will perceive by these documents, that the Legislature partake in a great measure, of that agitation which at present pervades the public’ mind; & that altho’ the measures lately pursued here with a view to the public’ safety, are not openly censured, yet they are not approved; we however are assured of the fidelity of the ancient Louisianians to the U. States, and of their attachment to the General Government. For myself I do believe that this declaration is correct so far as relates to a majority of the ancient Louisianians, & (perhaps) to the whole, so far as to exempt them from all participation in Burr’s Conspiracy: But of that portion of our Society whose native Language is English, I cannot Speak so favorably; of the patriotism of many, I have had abundant proofs; but there are others, (& the number I fear not inconsiderable) who I verily believe, would most cordially have supported the views of Burr.
Previous to the receipt of this letter you will have heard of the arrest of Colo: Burr at Natchez, & of an intention to bring him to trial; but the issue I fear will be most unfortunate; his acquittal will probably ensue, & this dangerous man will be left to continue (undisturbed) in this remote & exposed quarter, his wicked intrigues against the Government of his Country.
I find that in Natchez, also (as in this City) a considerable hue & cry is raised about the violation of the Constitution of the U States; I am persuaded that many good Citizens complain from the best motives, & with full conviction that there is just cause; But among the most clamorous are men, whom I have some reason to believe would not regret a dismemberment of the Union, or withhold their aid in the subversion of Government & laws: these men however, are now most profuse in their professions of attachment to Constitutional right, & many good People hang arround them, with the same affection as if they really possessed the merits of a Hambden or a Sidney.
I shall in due time lay before the Executive a full Statment of the late occurrences in this Territory; in the meantime, I pray you to be assured, that my best judg’ment shall direct my conduct, and that (under existing circumstances) the course will be pursued, which promises best to advance the interest & welfare of my Country. I am Sir, with great respect yo: mo: obt. Servt.
William C. C. Claiborne
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, TP, Orleans, vol. 9); letterbook copy (Ms-Ar: Claiborne Executive Journal, vol. 16). RC in a clerk’s hand, signed by Claiborne; docketed by Wagner. The letterbook copy omits the final paragraph with the note: “Fourteen pages have been cut out of the Journal here.” For enclosures, see n. 1.
1. Claiborne enclosed two letters (printed in Rowland, Claiborne Letter Books, 4:110–14). The first was Julien Poydras to Claiborne, 22 Jan. 1807 (3 pp.), in which Poydras, the legislative council’s president, assured Claiborne on behalf of the council that if any Louisianans had conspired with Aaron Burr, they were not “the ancient inhabitants” who had lived there prior to the Louisiana Purchase. Poydras also noted the necessity of quickly dispatching the council’s “most urgent matters” because the “tranquility necessary to Legislative deliberations does not exist amidst warlike preparations.” He assumed that the council would not have time to examine the civil code then being prepared. The second enclosed letter was from John Watkins, Speaker of the Orleans Territory House of Representatives, to Claiborne, 26 Jan. 1807 (3 pp.), in which Watkins offered assurances that the legislators hoped for the defeat of the “nefarious plots” to dismember the Union. He noted that the assembly intended to investigate and report to the U.S. Congress the “Extraordinary measures” taken by Claiborne during the tumult but promised to make the militia available for the governor’s use.