William Charles Cole ClaiborneJanuary 1804 - March 1804Note: The documents are sometimes out of chronological order because they may be enclosures with letters to Federal officials in Washington or are letters from the Federal government which take perhaps a month to be delivered. |
|||
| Previous Page | Index | Next Page | |
| Date Written | From | To | Subjects |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | The season of festivities is better with the change
of government. The exercise of unusual powers has given additional spirit
to the festivities Note: the exercise of unusual powers to an executive
of decided views of constitutional limitations naturally causes Claiborne
much worry. He dwells upon it in many of his letters to Jefferson
and Madison. He finds difficulty in renovating the late system of government corruption, business of every department wrapped in mystery and confusion. He has lost respect for Salcedo who sold many offices and even in his capacity as a judge the decisions went to the highest bidder. Salcedo's eldest son maintains ruinous influence over his aged father. Much is expected from the upright and pure character of American Judiciary. Much corruption and cases 20 years old. He feels a reluctance to exercise judicial authority. He has established a temporary court of seven magistrates over debts not to exceed $3000. The courts powers did not extend past the limits of the city. Trist has a handle on revenue, as does Wilkinson over the military and its support of civilian authority. He sees no hurry to reorganize the militia. The city lockup holds over 100 prisoners, some who have been there 10 to 13 years, on suspicion of crimes of which they were never convicted.. Some for trivial offenses. An agreement between Laussat and Casa Calvo passes prisoners with crimes against the territory on to the next country, but those con evicted with crimed against the crown would stay under Spanish authority. Claiborne has already released five and will release most of the rest soon.. Education is a large concern. A representative government and newspapers are enigma to these people. Not one in fifty of the ancient inhabitants appears to understand English. Trial by jury is strange to them. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C.) |
Madison. | Claiborne encloses an ordinance establishing a
court of justice in the city and regulations for the Port of New Orleans
recommended by Mr. Trist and approved by the merchants. Claiborne believes
that the inhabitants are unfit for representative government and that
the territory should remain under the guardianship of Congress for many
years. A strong partiality for the French government still exists and the belief is that after a close to war between France and England Bonaparte will again raise a standard over Louisiana. Laussat and the adjutant General of the French Army are at odds and the dispute the two is carried at great lengths to violence between partisans. A French marine officer grossly insulted and menaced Laussat is now in confinement . Also a fracas at a public ball on Thursday las over trifling causes - whether French or American dances should have preference. He believes that at this time Mr. Trist's receipts will meet his disbursements. He has employed an interpreter for French and Spanish languages and a private secretary which with the expense of printing constitute at present the principal items on his account. He will take immediate possession of governors house which Salcedo left ten days ago. It needs much repair. The merchants want laws to regulate commerce and register vessels. Mr. William Hullings, the former Vice Consul is held in high public esteem and recommends him for a subordinate office in revenue. Mr. Kirby and Mr. Nichols are on the way to Tombigbee as commissioners to examine local titles arrived in the city two days ago. He recommends Kirby and Robert Williams as judges of Louisiana territory. (Williams later becomes governor of the Mississippi Territory. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Julien Poydras | Encloses a commission as civil commandant of the Pointe Coupee and a letter to the late commandant with orders to surrender all archives and public papers. It includes the same powers as a district commandant under the Spanish government. He asks the new officer to preserve the record of all official acts. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Mayor Etienne de Bore | Claiborne has received a letter with abstracts of deliberations of the municipal body. He explains the port regulations and states under the Spanish government the Harbor Master was a salaried officer, but at this time no provisions for a salary have been made. The office should be abolished or arrangements made. The Council says that ballast should be appropriated for repair of the levee and its deposit should where the municipality directs. He questions ownership of bridges or gangboards by the Harbor Master. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Henry Hopkins | Claiborne encloses a commission as civilian Commandant
of Attakapas and Opelousas and warns of bitter enmities there. LeBlanc
the present commandant is well informed, but attached to one side of the
quarrel. He is commissioned Deputy Commandant of the Attakapas District.
The French appointed a deputy in Opelousas and Hopkins should inquire
into his character and decide if he should continue at the post The division in Attakapas stems from the prosecution of a man named St., Julien, charged by Spanish authorities for having murdered his wife. The French government liberated humidor recognizance for his appearance. Prosecutors of St. Julien are influential and his friends numerous and charge the prosecutors are the real murderers. St, Julien solicits an inquiry. Hopkins is to arrange the time and place for depositions. Captain Alexander De Clouet will be the chief prosecutor. Forward Depositions to Claiborne. Preserve all records of official acts. Captain Worthington of Kentucky, a revolutionary officer, now poor and aged has a claim against an inhabitant of Attakapas. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Ordinance | Claiborne repeals the fees he has set for barges, flats and other craft. Deposit of ballast is to be at the direction of the city. Thomas H Williams is his private secretary. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Four companies of volunteer militia have been organized
and armed with public muskets. The militia has an ardent military spirit
and a sincere attachment to the United States. Claiborne has received
an address from free people of color and encloses the original. He verbally
informs them that their liberty, property and religion are safe. He will
not reorganize their militia at this time. A difference between Laussat and his officers still exists. and the French naval Captain remains in confinement. A vessel with 200 troops from the "West Indies Islands" has entered the mouth of the Mississippi River. Their situation is distressing, short of provisions and infested with disease. Four to seven die each day. Orders are issued to prevent passage of Fort Plaquemines and to comfort the distressed on board. He encloses a memorial from a committee of merchants and asks that some member present it to Congress. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Ordinance | Directs the Court of Pleas to recognize matters relating to estates of persons dying intestate. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Ordinance | The levee for six leagues up and down the river on each shore is entrusted to the care of the municipality and citizens claiming lands bordering this area. They must conform to regulations of the city directing repairs and preservation of the levee. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Commander of the foreign brig now in the river | Claiborne orders the ship to fall sown the river below Ft. Plaquemines. The commander of the fort will provide comfort, but no one aboard the ship will be allowed on land. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Postmaster at Nashville | Claiborne encloses dispatches to posts in upper Louisiana relating to their surrender, Posts at Fort Mossoe (Massac) and Kaskaskias. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | The French brig has been brought to at Ft. Plaquemines,
but no official report yet of its passengers and crew. The period allowed by treaty for withdrawal of French and Spanish forces from ceded territories expires this day but little or no preparations for embarkation have been made. A letter urging Laussat to comply has not been answered yet. The Spanish have about 200 men and 30 officers and retain and public warehouses are still occupied by their military stores. The Spanish forces behave well toward Americans, but not French, who have no soldiers, a few sailors and only 8-10 officers who are mischievous, riotous, disorderly characters. Also in town are 20-30 young adventurers from Bordeaux and St. Domingue who are troublesome and prey upon the ignorance and credulity of the masses. Suggests education as the answer to tune of $100 thousand annually. Many want to take an oath of allegiance and Americans here censure Claiborne for not requiring it. He awaits instructions from the president. He is not authorized to define the limits of Louisiana. The general sentiment is that West Florida is not included in the purchase. Laussat and Casa Calvo agree. Many men of fortune in New Orleans have engaged in land speculations there and Spanish and French officers may be encouraging this. Claiborne believes a trade could be made with the Spanish for both Floridas by relinquishing all claims to lands west of the Sabine. Hopkins and a detachment of troops have left for Attakapas. He has some knowledge of French languages relates and relates the St. Julien case. In another case a citizen of the city claims the land on which one of the forts of the city is erected. He claims it was taken from him without compensation by Baron Carondelet He was informed that the forts were surrendered to the United States and could not be relinquished by Claiborne who had ordered some dirt removed from the fort to repair a breach in the levee. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Proclamation | Allowing Lewis St Julien to report to the Attakapas and report to the new commandant. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Armos Stoddard | Encloses a commission as the first commandant of the District of Upper Louisiana. Archives are to be surrendered to him. He is to have the same powers as the Spanish commandant before him. He is to reduce the number of deputies and preserve a record of all official acts. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Morales | A letter from Morales states that Don Pedro Villamil,
late steward of the Royal Hospital is indebted to Havana the sum of $9734.
Slaves now held by the city have been ordered by the Auditor of War to
be valued and sold and the proceeds to be paid into the public treasury
after a notice in the Gazette. Claiborne assents. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Mayor Etienne de Bore | Claiborne has three letters from the mayor dated January 21, 26 and 28. He has ordered Col. Bellechasse to station a small detachment of militia at the ballroom on the mayor's request for good order, harmony and social intercourse. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Bellechasse | Orders an officer and fifteen men to be posted at the ballroom on the evening of every public ball. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | When a vessel arrives with 50 African blacks Claiborne
contacts Leonard, the late Spanish Contador who answers with the laws
of the Spanish administration concerning what Claiborne considers a "barbarous
traffic". Finding that the Spanish had permitted such. Claiborne allows
the ship to unload. The vessel, from St. Dominque is still at Ft. Plaquemines
which consists chiefly of sick and wounded soldiers coming from Cape Nichola
Moel. Accommodations are made at the Fort but Laussat
is dissatisfied. Claiborne's concern is neutrality and complains of great
Britain as well as the health of this group. He cites Vattels Laws of
Nations section 133, chapter 7, book 3 (Duties 0f Neutrality) The French
Officers and citizens are still rowdy. Hatred of the Americans is returned
by some young men. Laussat denies disorderly conduct by his countrymen,
unpleasant letters have passed between Laussat and the American Commissioners. The public ballroom has been the theatre of all this disorder. During the winter season a ball is held twice a week. White males pay 50 cents at the door. There are females of every rank in great numbers, a very heterogeneous mass. When he first arrived the American commissioners felt no disposition to break in on this source of amusement, although someone had started rumors of such. The Governor and general often attend the balls while the Spanish Governor had been the regulator. Claiborne has surrendered this duty to the municipality. The balls are an important part of New Orleans society and the ignition point of most of the embarrassments of Claiborne's administration. The three months allowed for withdrawal of Spanish and French forces have passed and the public storehouses are still occupied. Part of the records have been delivered. The enclosed pamphlet is a vindication of Adjutant General Burth who had serious misunderstanding with Laussat. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Henry Dearborn | Wilkinson
has read the paragraph from Dearborn regarding the vessel Claiborne impressed
at Natchez for moving men and materials down to New Orleans. It was needed
until three weeks after their arrival, as there was no place to store
the material. Claiborne notes other aspects of the trip and care of the
militia. Dinsmore reports the state of the Choctaw nation, Red Bird is satisfied. The Chickasaw might sell their Duck River land which would satisfy North Carolina Claimants who so frequently memorialize Congress. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | General Orders | Non commissioned officers and privates of Mississippi militia have attached themselves to volunteer companies in New Orleans, The can stay but in the future officers commanding volunteers will not recruit from the Mississippi Militia. Bellechasse will communicate this. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Yesterday Claiborne nearly witnessed a serious riot. A guard at the house of the Marquis de Casa Calvo (who was absent) attacked a passing sailor, Citizens interfered and beat off the guard. The sailor was slightly wounded and a Spanish guard severely beaten. In all 12-14 guards and 200 citizens were involved. A detachment of Spanish Dragoons watched. The tranquility of the city is somewhat insecure with adventurers from several different nations. Some Americans want him to suppress the troubles by force of terror and find his actions lacking firmness. He states that the fearful and sudden calm which despotism produces has no charms for him. Would rather impress the justice and principles of the American government rather than force. Claiborne's policy is marked by statesmanship of high order. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Beverly Chew | Gives Chew charge of receipt and delivery of express mail entail Congress provides otherwise. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Decree | Concerning levees. The Municipality will direct syndics while owners and neighbors will help in timely repairs. Also communities of various districts will have the same power in those areas. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Captain Lewis DeBlanc | Appointed deputy District Commandant of the Attakapas District. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Considerable immigration from the French West Indies. A vessel with about 100 French citizens is now in the river and another which was refused asylum in Jamaica, is on its way. Laussat is in private an agreeable man and as a public character he has many talents but Claiborne is not among his admirers. He is always intemperate and assuming. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Maj. F. L. Claiborne | A packet for Capt. George W. Carmichael is at Chickasaw Bluffs. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Mayor Etienne de Bore | The city provides precautions concerning blacks and mulattos
from the Antilles and has passed them on to commandants at Ft. Plaquemines
and Balise. Gives Jacob Bright permission to establish a store on the Arkansas River to trade with inhabitants and Indians. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Dr. Watkins | Claiborne sends Watkins out to appoint suitable commandants of districts upriver from New Orleans. He gives Watkins blank commissions and a letter of introduction explaining his mission. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | A. D. Tureaud and Samuel Winter | These two men have been selected as arbitrators in the dispute between Captain Manuel Salcedo and Mr. Benjamin Morgan. They will choose a third. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Mayor Etienne de Bore | A quantity of tile lying at Bayou St. John, which was brought from Pensacola is stolen property according to Archibald Sherman. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Wilkinson | Claiborne proposes a vegetable garden next to the governors house to be attended by a fatigue party with its largesse to be divided between the governor and the commanding officer. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | High Waters in the wilderness between Natchez and Nashville delays mail during this season Boats from the western country and vessels from the Atlantic states every day bring new population. Claiborne has appointed Mendez commandant of a district 6 leagues below the city. Although an honest and capable man most inhabitants of the district, Canary Islanders, do not like Mendez because of his Jewish extraction. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Henry Dearborn | Sends an account with vouchers for supplies of the Indian Department $115.39 drawn in favor of Peter L. B. Duplisses, including salary for David Barry, an Indian interpreter. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Gov. Folch | Concerning a quantity of tile stolen and left at Bayou St. John. Claiborne wants to know Governor Folch's knowledge of Archibald Sherman and events at Pensacola. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | More on the case of Captain Videl, former commandant
at Concordia who allowed speculators in Natchez to survey land there after
the cession of the area to the United States. Major Ferdinand Claiborne,
the present commandant has written. William Claiborne encloses his reply.
The speculators want to settle and improve, but Claiborne has prevented
it until Congress should make provisions for vacant land. Foreign forces are still in town and archives have not been received. He wants to know if he should continue to treat them as commissioners as suits are pending. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Merchants are grumbling, Claiborne expects some kind of revenue act in the mails from the State Department Merchants believe that Louisiana is too distant and of little concern to Washington. Claiborne's letter to his brother in Concordia has excited much anger toward him in Natchez. A lawyer, Lyman Harding is petitioning the president to supersede him as Governor of the Mississippi Territory. |
|
Monday |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Citizens passing down the river to the U. S. and Europe need passports. Since he has not received instructions from the State Department he prepares a document before a notary with with an oath that the applicant lived in the province before December 20 of 1803. He encloses an example and asks if there anything wrong with this type of document. |
|
Monday |
Wm. C. C. C. | Morales | The former Intendant seeks to have a public sale of the king's effects and Claiborne is happy to give permission citing the politeness of the letter. |
|
Tuesday |
Wm. C. C. C. | Proclamation | Declares two months amnesty for runaway slaves to be published in English and French, in newspapers and posted in public places and in all parishes and districts. |
|
Tuesday |
Wm. C. C. C. | Proclamation | Fires are being set deliberately in the city. A $500 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person or persons starting the fires. |
|
Saturday |
Wm. C. C. C. | Ordinance | The City is to have authority to issue licenses for the keeping of taverns, coffee houses and public billiard rooms, shops for retailing spirits, etc. within the city and suburbs. Fees are to be paid on application and applied to purposes at the city's discretion. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Proclamation | Beverly Chew and Eugene Dosier, as justices of the Court of Common Pleas, report that a sailor named Cecile from the French merchant ship Happy Star commanded by Capt. Pignot, died Monday 20th of February by the hands of some assassin near the house of one Domingo Rodrique, tavern keeper. Evidence tells them that the murder was committed by a Spaniard named Coura. A Reward of $200 is offered to anyone who will arrest and bring him to jail, to be paid on conviction. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Julien Poydras | Claiborne received two letters dated February 8. One is an evaluation of public edifices at Pointe Coupee. The other asks permission for leave of absence to travel to New Orleans. Claiborne authorizes him to name Captain Allon as Deputy Commandant and to appoint a constable to execute orders. Captain Turner, on his way to the post of Natchitoches will deliver this letter along with an American flag.. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Captain Turner | Enclosed is a commission as Civil Commandant at Natchitoches.
The powers of a Spanish commandant devolve on him. He is to receive all
archives and carefully preserve a record of all of his official acts. Two small nations of Indians on the Red River - Paunies and Caddos trade at Natchitoches. A letter of the same tenor and date is addressed to the civil commandant of the Ouachita District. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Claiborne fears the mails are uncertain since he has
not received anything from the State Department, so he will duplicate
his dispatches and send them with Mr. Isaac Briggs, the surveyor General,
District of South Tennessee. The French brig Argo has left New Orleans with a few French officers and all the French soldiers posted at Plaquemines. Claiborne dines with Casa Calvo , who is now the lone commissioner in Louisiana with Salcedo supposedly retiring to the Canary Islands. A Spanish officer tells Claiborne that in a few days movement by Spanish forces will commence to Pensacola and by 20 days all Spanish troops and Military stores will be gone. He also hears that Pensacola and San Augustine will be heavily fortified and a large force will be moving from Mexico into Texas. Wilkinson will be leaving for Washington in 12 to 14 days, but Laussat has still not delivered archives, etc. A vessel from Jamaica with several hundred French emigrants is now on the Mississippi and 2 or 3 others are expected daily. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Captain Ferdinand Claiborne | Claiborne sends the run away slave proclamation to his brother in the Concordia District. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Ordinance | New rules for the Court of Pleas which has rendered its
judgments so fast that debtors cannot pay due to lack a commerce act from
Congress. 1. No trial until at least ten days after a defendant summoned or served. 2. Service of process must be valid by reading to defendant or leaving a copy at his abode, etc. 3. No goods or chattels taken in execution shall be sold in less than 15 days after they are seized unless by consent of the defendant. Real estate must be duly advertised in public newspapers for 4 successive weeks in English and French languages and only by public auction 4. Ascertain sufficient personal or real estate before execution of a decision. 5. Real estate is to be taken in execution only if there is not sufficient personal estate. 6. No person held to bail unless plaintiff shows good cause that defendant will flee. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Cato West | Claiborne receives a letter written on the 15th and delivered
by Robert Williams announcing the execution of Sutton and May, members
of Mason's band of pirates. The expenses of the execution can be charged
to the U. S. Claiborne will ask to bill the Secretary of War for militia pay. Col. Cato West is the acting governor and secretary of the Mississippi Territory in Claiborne's absence. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Commandant at Balize | A boat has been dispatched from the city to a boat west of the Balize, the Lady Nugent. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Commandant at Bayou St. John | Three slaves employed on the schooner L'Esperance are being held at the fort. They belong to Pierre Bailey and may be released to their owner. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Ordinance | Court of Common Pleas of New Orleans has the authority to try cases not exceeding $100. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Mayor Etienne de Bore | Expenses for prisoners who have committed offenses in other districts should be charged to the territorial treasury. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Mayor Etienne de Bore | Claiborne is alerted to complaints about the Court of Common Pleas that he has set up. He has increased the powers of one magistrate to hear demands under $100. He will look into the fees of the court. |
|
Monday? |
Thomas H. Williams (Sec to Wm. C. C. C.) |
Decree | Bartholomew Shaumberg is given a license to establish a trading house in Natchitoches and Ouachita to carry on trade with the Indians. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Beverly Chew | With a complaint by a seaman against his captain Claiborne recognizes the Judicial capacity of Chew as a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. |
|
Monday? |
Dr. John Watkins | Wm. C. C. C. | A report by Watkins, Claiborne's confidential agent,
after traveling to settlements above New Orleans to make appointments
of commandants. St. Charles Parish, or the District of the First German
Coast. St. Armand has received the commission, took the oath. St. John
or the Second German Coast: Manual Andry. St. James, the Acadian Coast:
Mr. Cantrell has been commandant for 28 years, but he does not speak English..
Lafourche de Chatimachus: Mr. Croquer, an officer in the Spanish service
declines reappointment. Mr. Joseph L'Andry who was born in Acadia but
speaks English and French. District of Valenzuela Dans La Fourche, Mr.
Villa Nova reports that a few weekends previous a vessel with 12 Negroes
aboard, said to be brigands from the island of St. Domingue, had passed
up the bayou and were under direction of one Mercier, a lame man who runs
a billiard table at Mr. Languedocks on the levee in New Orleans. The next
district extends to Plaquemines, Bayou Iberville, formerly commanded by
Rivas of the Spanish Service. Watkins appoints Nicolas Rousseau. From
Plaquemines to Taupe Riviere, Formerly attached to Baton Rouge, so presently
without a commandant, appoints William Wikoff, a native of the United
States.. The Archives and public documents of this area are in the hands
of the Spanish governor of Baton Rouge. Galvestown, on the River Iberville
has 28 families, 30 slaves, a small fort with a few bad cannon with 12
soldiers commanded by Don Tomas Estevan. He appoints Mr. Alexander Morie
the Civil Commandant. He is by birth a Scotsman, has been in Louisiana
for 20 years. He is honest and has good sense but is a drunkard. Most
inhabitants of the area speak English. During the loose and irregular government of the Spanish the interests of the state were sacrificed to personal aggrandizement, laws trodden under foot. Roads and bridges neglected, levees ignored, many blacks are unsupervised. Taverns are open and unlicensed. The natives (Creoles) are naturally docile and easily governed. One problem is a number of persons, called Gabateurs, who buy up a quantity of Taffia, sugar and coffee, ascend the river to the upper settlements to trade with blacks for goods stolen from their masters. Carondelet had broken up this practice, but since his time it had returned. People are wary of popular representation and its complexities and prefer government of commandants. Commandants cannot find people to act as constables, who will leave farms, neglect crops and work a disagreeable service with little profit. An ordinance needs to be established for an office with a regular salary of $100 per year. Watkins mentions dredging of the Iberville River which proposed as early as 1764 by English engineers, as well as the fork and Plaquemines Moat planters are asking to resume importation of Africans directly from Africa because they are immune to malaria. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Claiborne tells Madison that he has asked Dr. Watkins to select civil commandants of various districts and includes his report. He also suggests a delegate to Congress is needed. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Claiborne has set up a court and debtors are complaining of its zeal and promptness. Fires and robberies are a problem, he has set up a strict watch. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Ordinance | Claiborne declares an ordinance regulating city police. 1. Organizing a watch to consist of all white males between 17 and 50 residing in the city at least 30 days, excepting physicians, apothecaries, clergymen, schoolmasters and soldiers. 2. Commissaries of the Quarters will enroll all of the above to serve on watch and select section chiefs. 3. A watch is to consist of 24 people each night to repress disorders apprehend lawbreakers. Two of the section chiefs will serve each night on a rotating basis. 4. A fine for refusing to serve or neglect of service will be $10 at most. 5. The watch will meet at 8 PM, start watch at 9 PM and serve until daybreak. All slaves on the street without passes will be apprehended. 6. Justice of the Peace and captains of the watch will appear a hearing. 7. Outline of watch member's limits. 8. Fines will go to the city treasury. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Governor Folch of Spanish West Florida |
This letter concerns a factory or trading house set up
on the Tombigbee River. It has been established at Ft St. Stephens to
preserve relations with the Choctaw Indians. The Spanish are not to interrupt or tax goods being shipped to Mobile and should restrain Indians under their control from doing so. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Joseph Chambers | Chambers is the Registrar of the Land Office at Ft. Stoddart. Claiborne tells Chambers that he has written to governor Folch (who is in the city) about difficulties with exports to and through=ough Mobile. Records have not all been handed over to the Americans, particularly warrants of survey concerning grants, of which few are in the Tombigbee area. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Claiborne is visited by the former Spanish Colonial Secretary Don Andres. Two ships are taking in Spanish military stores, between the 15th and 20th all troops are to be removed to Pensacola, Florida. They will hand over the Archives soon. Planters and merchants complain about the duties on exports and anticipate a revenue system for Louisiana. Claiborne notes that the citizens want a bank chartered. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Daniel Clark says that he is no longer vested with authority as consul, but points out concern about money appropriated to support sick American seamen. Charity Hospitals funds are limited to a private bounty. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Prohibition of the importation of slaves is agitating the province since it is known that South Carolina is still importing them. An agitator named Tupper from Boston has called a meeting. Former Congressional acquaintance Edward Livingston is now in New Orleans. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Ordinance | This Ordinance establishes a bank. Officers include Evan Jones, John Mericult, Paul Lanuse, William Garland, Edward Livingston, Peter Sauvee, Joseph Tricou, John Lanthors, William Donaldson, Nicolas F. Girod, John McDonough Jr., Jerome La Chiapella, Benjamin Morgan, Hone Browse Trist, Michael Fortier, Beverly Chew. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Ordinance | An ordinance regulating lawyers, who are to be licensed by the governor. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Ordinance | Claiborne secretary is Joseph Briggs. An ordinance regulating
river pilots, who are to be licensed by the governor. The ordinance describes the type of boat to be stationed at the Balize and plan to stake out a channel across the bar at the mouth of the river. Fees are $2 per foot drawn inbound, $1.50 per foot outbound. Vessels refusing a pilot will pay half of pilotage fee.. $2 per day for detention by the Captain. Also chief mates accommodations and pay if taken to sea against wishes. Fines for misconduct not exceeding $200. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | DelaTour | De la Tour is the commandant of the "coast" below the city. Claiborne is preparing regulations for taverns. |
|
Monday? |
Folch | Wm. C. C. C. | Folch consults Intendant (now of Spanish West Florida) Juan Ventura Morales. Folch cannot allow passage of goods through Mobile. Wilkinson had asked before and had been told no until the crown says otherwise. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Henry Dearborn | Claiborne expects passage to Mobile will be allowed since he believes that the U. S. has rights to all the territory between the Mississippi River and the Perdido River. Dinsmore reports that the Choctaw are happy. Tribes west of the Mississippi River are to meet June 1 at Owzark town. Spanish troops will leave in 3 or 4 days. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Two men, Sutton and May have been executed in the Mississippi Territory for Piracy and Felony. They are of Mason's party of Banditti who terrorized the Mississippi River and the wilderness road. Claiborne wants the United States to pay for their confinement and trial. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Tells of his three recent ordinances. Mr. Trist is the Collector of the Port. A lighthouse is much needed at the Balize. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Discusses a meeting of the Assembly with many merchants
and planters, few of them were Americans. Mayor
Etienne de Bore presided. A planter named Detrion proposed that district
commandants call an election of deputies from each district to assemble
and elect from the group two commissioners to Congress. Tupper says he thought one commissioner to Congress was enough, but added that he thought Congress was neglectful of the needs of Louisiana, particularly concerning the slave trade. Necessary information should be conveyed to the government.. Next Dr. Watkins suggests that the meeting is improper and the slave trade information has already been delivered to Congress.. He proposes a committee of three appointed, and a memorial drafted to Congress and signed by agreeable citizens. The document should be submitted to the governor with a request that it be forward to the central government. He is asked to deliver this speech in French and does so. The Doctor, Mr. Mericult and . Mr. Pitot were picked for the committee. Claiborne notes that a measure to register vessels belonging to citizens of Louisiana is in Congress, Citizens want a voice in local government. The Senate proposes 44 delegates, 24 chosen by the governor. He suggests perhaps a non voting delegate in Congress would conciliate the confidence of the people. He also notes a charivari. The widow of Don Andre has married a young man and they will be prosecuted by the youth of society until they give a splendid fete and $1000 to charity. |
|
Monday? |
Bellechasse | Wm. C. C. C. | Joseph Bellechasse submits his resignation as Colonel Commandant of the Louisiana militia Due to Health reasons and the insufficiency of his means. As well as the possibility of explaining himself in English |
|
Monday? |
Pierre Derbigny | Wm. C. C. C. | Submits his resignation as Registrar of the Municipality, after 2 months. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Bellechasse | Claiborne cannot accept the resignation of Bellechasse due to his respect for the Spaniard's talents and character and the situation in the territory. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Mayor Etienne de Bore | Claiborne replies to letters concerning storage of gunpowder and measures taken concerning blacks in the area of the municipality. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Joseph Chambers | Orders Chambers to send a cargo of peltry from the factory in Tombigbee, by whatever means with a certificate explaining it belongs to the U. S. government while paying and protesting any tariffs the Spanish may place on it. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Bellechasse | Claiborne has received instructions from the president concerning organization of the militia and requests a meeting. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | St. Armand | St. Armand has authorized Mr. John Hutchinson to keep a tavern in the first German Coast. Claiborne will send the regulations. |
|
Monday? |
Henry Dearborn | Wm. C. C. C. | The Corp of freemen of color is to be continued or renewed
but diminished if possible. They are to be given a standard or flag. The
Spanish troops should complete their withdrawal. Armed ships should be
detained at the port but avoid offense of he Spanish officers. The Senate has passed and the House Representatives is considering a temporary form of government for lower and upper Louisiana. Lt. Col. Freeman with three additional companies of artillerist to arrive in New Orleans in April. Wilkinson should issue orders about detaining armed vessels |
|
Monday? |
Madison. | Wm. C. C. C. | Arrival of French troops (letters from W.C.C.C. and Wilkinson January 16,17) is regrettable. He has communicated to Mr. Pichon, the French Ambassador about the bill on the government of Louisiana still pending, commerce and navigation passed and to be transmitted by the Treasury Department. Henry Dearborn is to relay the president's views on the War Department subjects. |
|
Monday? |
Gideon Granger | Wm. C. C. C. | Draft of $666.66 presented and paid to Ferdinand L Claiborne, by the War Department should pay. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Wilkinson | Copy of orders from Henry Dearborn |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Henry Dearborn | Claiborne has received the orders pertaining to the militia corp composed of people of color. The Spanish troops are still withdrawing, Wilkinson is still in New Orleans awaiting the evacuation and delivery of public buildings. Expenses have been incurred by Claiborne for the Mississippi militia. Also a draft of accounts by Major Claiborne. Additional expenses of uniforms for the company commissioned by Capt. Duncan at Ft. Adams. Expenses of express mail for carrying from Natchez to New Orleans paid by postmaster to Major Claiborne should be paid by the War Department. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | The only communication from Madison. arrived with a broken seal. The law relative to commerce and navigation has not arrived. The evacuation of the Spanish is too slow, Laussat is leaving in a few days. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Beverly Chew | The saddle bags used by the post rider to Natchez are too small. Claiborne asks Chew to procure a larger pair and pay for them from money received on postage of letters. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Cato West | The passport for Major Cook is to come from the Commandant at Concordia, Major Claiborne, but he cannot go into Indian towns or pass into Spanish Dominions as a trader. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Statement of account to the Treasury Department: $300 to Major Decius Wadsworth, secretary to the American Commissioners and translator of correspondence to Laussat. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Laussat | Reply to letter concerning a license to M., Gaurand |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Laussat | Concerning clothing, wages and discharge of French sailor Jaques Grifton aboard the armed brig from Kingston |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Laussat | Protest against French privateer La Coquette, Israel E. Trisk, Notary Public. An American brig the Columbia has been plundered by the French ship commanded by Captain Bucher. 17 privateers cruising out of St. Iago, Cuba. More are being converted from American ships taken . 16 more out of Baracoa. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Marquis de Casa Calvo . | Concerning La Coquette, which was fitted out from New Orleans under Spanish control. |
|
Monday? |
Wilkinson | Wm. C. C. C. | Wilkinson has passed on the orders to the officer commanding Fort Plaquemines. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Major Dosier | Commission as a Major of the militia with orders to fill duties while Bellechasse is ill. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Circular to District Commandants | Duties of District Civil Commandants: 1. Enroll militia, assemble once every two months. 2. Prevent slaves from wandering, trading without permission. 3. Mend roads, bridges and levees to facilitate communication by land and to preserve crops. 4. Prevent retailing of wines and spiritous liquors without a license. 5. Prevent sale of liquor to slaves. 6. Provide Information such as the extent of the district, number of sugar plantations, amount of sugar, rum, tafia and molasses mad by each; number of inhabitants in the district, color, sex, condition, # of militia; number of schools and opinion for introducing and supporting; quantity of vacant land; public buildings and land; bayous and rivers to be cleared out to facilitate commerce; number and condition of churches; situation of ht elocal prison. 7. Promote good welfare, justice, education and industry. |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Mayor and municipality | Commission for Mr. De La Hogue to replace Derbigny as Secretary of the Municipality |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Mayor and municipality | Permission for the establishment of a Horse Guard . |
|
Monday? |
Wm. C. C. C. | Madison. | Claiborne has received the laws regulating commerce. A memorial to Congress concerning dissatisfaction of prohibitions of importation of slaves. French and Spanish officials are still in town. |
| Date Written | From | To | Subjects |
| Previous Page | Index | Next Page | |