To James Madison from George W. Campbell, 23 April 1814
From George W. Campbell
Treasury Department 23. April 1814
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to Suggest for the consideration of the President the propriety of opening a land-office, as authorised by act of 21. Feby. 1812,1 for the Sale of the public lands in the Shawnee Town District, Illinois Territory; and to submit for his information on the subject, a Statement prepared by the Commissioner of the Land-office, herewith enclosed—marked C.
The Secretary is of opinion the public interest would be promoted by authorising the sale of those lands—which might commence about the 1st. Septr. next.
Should the President approve of opening a land-office, as proposed, the enclosed Proclamation, marked C, is submitted for his approbation & signature2—and the names in the memorandum, marked E, accompanied by the recommendations herewith transmitted marked—D are proposed to be appointed to the offices annexed to them respectively.3
The Proclamation marked F. for the sale of the fractional sections around Clarks grant, which have been survayed, & are now ready to be offered for public sale, is also submitted to the President for his approbation & Signature.
RC (DNA: RG 59, ML). Enclosures not found, but see nn. 2–3.
1. “An Act to establish a land district in the Illinois territory, east of the district of Kaskaskia, and to attach certain public lands to the district of Jeffersonville” ( 2:684).
2. The published version of the proclamation, dated 25 Apr. 1814, declared that sales of public lands in Shawneetown and the eastern land district of Illinois Territory would be held for three weeks beginning on the first Monday in October 1814 (Carter, , Illinois, 16:416–17).
3. During the 1814 recess of the Senate, JM appointed Thomas Sloo as register of the land office and John Caldwell as receiver of public monies for lands of the United States at Shawneetown. He nominated Sloo and Caldwell to the Senate for the positions on 1 Oct. 1814, and both were approved on 3 Oct. ( 3:531–32).