James Madison Papers

To James Madison from Josiah Meigs, 1 December 1814

From Josiah Meigs

Genl. Land Office 1st. decr. 1814.

The Commissioner of the General Land Office respectfully represents to the President of the U States that by letters from the Governor of the Indiana Territory it appears that applications have been made to him for the purpose of obtaining leases of some reserved sections in that territory which exhibit appearances of salt springs—for the purpose of making experiments.1

By the 2d sect. of the act of March 3d 1807 the President is authorised to cause such springs to be leased for a term not exceeding three years, and on such conditions as he shall think proper;2 which is respectfully submitted.

J Meigs,
Commissioner of the
General Land-Office

RC (DNA: RG 49, Division D, Letters Received by the Secretary of the Treasury). Enclosed in Alexander J. Dallas to Meigs, 12 Dec. 1814, which states: “The President wishes the Leases to be prepared, in the usual form, and upon the usual terms for his approbation.”

1Around this time JM evidently also received correspondence (not found) from Reasin Beall regarding leases of salt springs in Ohio (Meigs to Beall and John Sloan, 12 Dec. 1814, DNA: RG 49, Division C, Misc. Letters Sent).

2Meigs referred to “An Act to prevent settlements being made on lands ceded to the United States, until authorized by law,” 3 Mar. 1807 (U.S. Statutes at Large, description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America … (17 vols.; Boston, 1848–73). description ends 2:445–46).

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