To James Madison from Jonathan Jennings, 6 July 1816
From Jonathan Jennings
Charleston I. T. July 6th. 1816
Sir.
I am directed to forward to you, the enclosed ordinance,1 lately ordained by the Convention of Indiana, which is conformable to the provisions of an act of Congress entitled “An act to enable the people of the Indiana Territory, to form a constitution and state government, and for the admission of such state into the Union, on an equal footing with the original States.”2 With sentiments of very great respect I have the honour to be, Yours obediently
Jonathan Jennings
RC, and enclosure, two copies (DNA: RG 59, ML). Cover sheet docketed by JM. For enclosure, see n. 1.
1. The enclosure (first copy, 3 pp.; second copy, 2 pp.) is an ordinance stating that representatives of Indiana Territory met in convention 10–29 June 1816, where they accepted the statute of 19 Apr. 1816 prescribing the terms for admission to the Union (see note 2 below), and agreed that after 1 Dec. following, all lands sold by the United States within the limits of Indiana would be exempt from taxation by Indiana authorities for five years following their sale. The ordinance was signed by Jonathan Jennings and William Hendricks, president and secretary of the convention, respectively.
2. , 3:289–91.