To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 22 October 1804 (Abstract)
§ From William C. C. Claiborne
22 October 1804, New Orleans. Encloses a list that gives the Christian names of the men named by Jefferson as members of the legislative council and the man appointed as marshal.1
“Three of the Councellors, to wit Messrs. Dowe,2 Boré and Jones, have declin’d serving: Messrs. Watkins, Morgan & Debuys have accepted. I have taken measures, to inform the others of their Appointments, but have not yet receiv’d their answers. I have issued a proclamation convening the Council on the 12th. of next month;3 but I very much fear I shall not be enabled to form a Quorum. The Opinion of Mr. Jones, in relation to his political consistency, seems to have been adopted by Mr. Boré, and I fear may also be embrac’d by other Gentlemen nam’d. You will see, therefore, the necessity of the Vacancies being early fill’d. I will venture to recommend George Mather, Eugene d’Orsiere, and William Donaldson.…
“The enclos’d Letters, from the Officer commanding at Natchitoches, will give You the news from that Quarter.4
“Governor Folch, having quell’d the Insurrection at Baton rouge,5 without the loss of Blood, or even seeing an Insurgent, is about returning to Pensacola, and has solicited my permission for the passage of himself and Suite, by the way of N-Orleans; this has been granted, accompanied with Assurances of my protection & friendly Attention.”
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, TP, Orleans, vol. 5); letterbook copy (LU: Claiborne Letterbook). RC 2 pp.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Claiborne; docketed by Wagner as received 21 Nov., with his notation: “Indian Trade at Natchitoches / Names of officers appointed.” Printed in , 2:372. For enclosures, see nn. 1–2 and 4.
1. The enclosure is a list (1 p.; docketed by Wagner; printed in , 2:375) of the men appointed to the legislative council and as marshal, with a notation indicating whether or not each had accepted.
2. Claiborne enclosed Robert Dow’s 10 Oct. 1804 letter to him (2 pp.; docketed by Wagner; printed ibid., 2:374), declining his appointment for family reasons.
3. Claiborne’s 9 Oct. 1804 proclamation called on the members of the council to meet at the New Orleans City Hall on 12 Nov. 1804 (Louisiana Gazette, 12 Oct. 1804).
4. The enclosures are Edward Turner to Claiborne, 30 Aug. 1804 (2 pp.; docketed by Wagner; printed in , 2:373–74) and 13 Oct. 1804 (2 pp.; printed ibid., 2:385, where it is dated 13 Oct.), reporting on Spanish relations with the Indians and attempts to excite them against the Americans, noting local merchant Edward Murphy’s “exclusive privilege of supplying the Indians of the Spanish Country with Goods,… particularly large quantities of powder & Ball,” and suggesting that since the Caddo chief was shortly to visit the region, “upon the Score of Presents … it would not be good policy to let him return dissatisfied.”
5. See Joseph Briggs to JM, 25 Aug. 1804, , 7:637, 638 n. 2.