To James Madison from William C. C. Claiborne, 12 January 1806 (Abstract)
From William C. C. Claiborne, 12 January 1806 (Abstract)
§ From William C. C. Claiborne. 12 January 1806, New Orleans. “The enclosure No. 11 is a Copy of a Note I have addressed to Mr. Morales, and that, No. 2,2 of a Letter I have forwarded by Captain Ross, to the Marquis de Casa Calvo.
“I have deemed it of importance to prevent the return of the Marquis to this City; there are many persons here who are favorable to the Spanish interest, and if the Marquis was present and disposed to be mischievous he might give me trouble.
“I hope my letter to the Marquis will be approved; It has been shaped according to your instructions and the circumstances of the Time.
“The enclosure No. 33 is a copy of my Letter to the Officer commanding at Nachetoches, and that, No. 4,4 of my instructions to Captain Ross; If the Marquis, after the receipt of my letter should still be disposed to proceed to this City his designs must certainly be hostile, and therefore it is that I have requested the Officer commanding at Nachetoches to stop him.
“Permit me to assure you Sir that the Orders of the President, as far as they are known are highly approved by the well disposed of the Citizens of this Territory; They are given at an opportune period, and I must confess that I take great pleasure in executing them.
“My last letter to you was dated the 9th. instant.”
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, TP, Orleans, vol. 8). RC 1 p.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Claiborne; docketed by Wagner. For enclosures, see nn.
1. Enclosure No. 1 (1 p.; docketed by Wagner; printed in , 3:238–39) is a copy of Claiborne to Juan Ventura Morales, 11 Jan. 1806, stating that in accordance with Jefferson’s order, he was requiring Morales to hasten his departure from New Orleans and to take with him, or order to depart as soon as possible, all of his employees.
2. Enclosure No. 2 (2 pp.; docketed by Wagner; printed in , Orleans, 9:563–64) is a copy of Claiborne to the marqués de Casa Calvo, 10 Jan. 1806, stating that Jefferson had directed that Casa Calvo and all other persons holding commissions or in the service of Charles IV should leave Orleans Territory as soon as possible. He added that the measure was taken as a precaution in the face of Spanish rejection of U.S. proposals for an amicable adjustment of the issues between the two countries and of Spanish troop movements in North America and not as an offensive act toward Spain or Casa Calvo and other Spaniards. Claiborne requested Casa Calvo to advance no further into Orleans Territory after receiving his letter, which he was sending by special express, and to leave as soon as possible. Claiborne noted that Casa Calvo had never been accredited by Jefferson as boundary commissioner and that Spain had never suggested setting up a boundary commission.
3. Enclosure No. 3 (1 p.; docketed by Wagner; printed in , 3:241) is a copy of Claiborne to Maj. Moses Porter, commander of Fort Claiborne, 12 Jan. 1806, saying he was sending Capt. George T. Ross to Casa Calvo to deliver his 10 Jan. letter (see n. 2 above) and adding that, should Casa Calvo attempt to proceed to New Orleans, Porter should do all in his power to prevent it.
4. Enclosure No. 4 (1 p.; docketed by Wagner; printed in , 3:239–40) is a copy of Claiborne to Ross, 12 Jan. 1806, instructing him to carry Claiborne’s letter to Casa Calvo via La Fourche parish to Attakapas and Natchitoches and as far as Adaïs should the marqués be there. If Casa Calvo was deeper into Texas, Ross was told to leave the letter with Porter asking him to deliver the letter to Casa Calvo when he arrived there. Claiborne requested Ross to report regularly on the progress of his journey and to obtain a pilot at Natchitoches should he find it necessary to go to Adaïs.