APPENDIX TO THE HISTORY OF THE EIGHTH CONGRESS. COMPRISING THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS ORIGINATING DURING THAT CON- GRESS, AND THE PUBLIC ACTS PASSED BY IT. LOUISIANA. cour country was raised in this city amidst the ac~ = elamations of the inhabitants [Communicated to Congress January 16, 1804.] |” ‘The enclosed is copy of an instrument of ‘To the Senate ani Fosse of writing, which was sigeed and exchanged by the Representatives of the Uaited Slates: Commissioners of the two Governments, and is In execution of the aot of the present session of | designed asa reoord of this interesting transaction, government thereof, Governor Claiborne of the JAMES WILKINSON. Gilshnipnl Fertholy, aod Cleneral ‘Wilkinson, | JAMES Mapssos, Seereary of State were appointed Commissioners to receive posses-| ‘The undersigned, Willian C. C. Claiborne, and sion. They proceeded, with such regular troops | james Wilkinson, gomtaisstoners of agents of the as had been assembled at Fort Adams from the | {yited States agreeably to the fall powers they Rearest posts and with some aiitin of the Mic-|have received from Thomas Jefferson, President siseippi Ternitory, to Now Orleans. To be pre-|of the United States, under dato of He Blst Oc~ pared for anything unexpected whieh might arise | toher 1803, and twenty-eighth year of the inde~ Oat of the transaction, a respectable body of mil-| pendence of the United. States of America, (th Stin was ordorod to beinreadinese in tae Siatos| Brtenes Vath yen a the, Preach, epic) of Ohio, Kentucky, aad Tennessee, and a part of | sountorsigned by the Secretary of State, James thove of ‘Tennessee was moved on fo the Natchez. | \fudicon and citizen Peter Clement Lanseat, Co: No oceasion, however, arose for their serviees.| igaial Protect and Commissioner of the French Our Commissioners, on their arrival at New Or- | Government, for the daltvery. in the name of the eans, found the Province already delivered by | yrench Republic, of the couatry, territories, and the Commissaries of Spain to that of France. | depeadencies of Louisiana, to the commisioners or who delivered it over to thom on the twentieth ee ote or ihe United States soa lormadly to the day of December, s appears by their declaratory | pEyers, commission, and special mandate which actaccompaoying this. Governor Claiborne, be- |e has received, in the name of the French people, ing duly invested with the powers heretofore ex- | fran citizen Bonaparte, Piast Consul, uader date ereised by the Governor and Iniendant of Louisi- | ana, assumed the government on the same day, | vezr of the French Repudlic,) countersigned by and, for the maintenance of las and order, imme: | {52 Socretary of State, Hugues Mavet,and by his diately issued the proclamation and address now | Excellency the Minister of Marine and Colonies, communicated. a | Decres, do. certify by these presents, that on this x this imporsant acquisition, so favorable to Jay, Tuesday, tie 20th December, 1803, of the the immediate intocosts of our Westere citizens, Cijsistian era (25th Primaie, twellth yeat of the fo auspicious to the peace and eeourity of the’ freneh Itepeblie,) being convened in the hall of nation in goneral, which adds to our country ter! ihe Hotel de Ville of New Orleans, aceompaniod Htories so extensive and fertile, and to out elti-| 5a" hoth sides by the Chiels and Officers of the ens new deothron to partake of he blessings of| Avmy aud Navy, by the municipality and civers fregiom and slf-goveroment T offer fo Congres | expectaby ciaens of th reapetire Republics and ovr eouatry my siacere conzratulations. | the said William ©. C. Claiborne and James Jax. 16, 1904. JEBBERSON. | Wilkinson, delivered to the said citizen Laussat their aforesaid full powers, by which it evidently Crsy or Now Oncpansy Dec 201503. | |appeors tht fal power aad autnority has been Sin: We have the satisfaction to annoavee to] given them jointly and severally to take posses- you, that the Province of Luisiena was this day |sjon of, and 'o occupy the territories ceded by sees reated to the Uniced States by the Com-| France to the United States, by the treaty coa- aaeeeere sr Brace ; and to add, that the flag of| eluded at Parison the 30:h day of April last past, f the 6th June, 1303, (17th Prairial, eleventa1231 APPENDIX. 1232 "The Cession of Lowisiana, (10th Floreal,) and for that purpose to repair to Proclamation by His Bacelleney, William ©. C. Clal- the said Trrritory, and there to execute and pet-| bore, Governor of the Mississippi ‘Territory, exer form all suchacts and things, touching the prem-| ising the powers of Governor General and Intend- ises, as may be necessary for fulfling tier -ap-| antot the Province of Louisiana. Poiitment conformably to the said trcaty and| Whereas, by stipulgtions between the Govern- the Jaws of the United States; and thereupon | ments af Franceand Sain, the latter ceded to the thesaid citizen Laussat declared that, in virtue of, | former the eoloay and province of Louisiana, with and in the terms of the powers, commission, and | the same extent wich it had at the date of the special mandace duied at St. Cloud, 6th Jone, | above-mentioned treaty in the hands of Spain, 1803, of the Christian era, (17th Prairial, Lita Jand thet it had when Fravce possessed it, and year of the’ French Repuilie,) he put from that [such as it ought to be afver the treaties subse Imoment the said Cotmicsionere of tho United | quently entered into between Spain and other in possession. of the country, tevifories, and de- | Sisiess and whereas the Goverment of France pendencies of Louisiana, eontormably to the first, has cetted the came to the United States by a second, fourth, and filth articles of the treaty treaty duly ratified, and bearing date the 30th of and two conventions, coneluded and signed the | April in the present year, and the possession of 30th April, 1843, (10th Mloreal, 11th year of the sald colony and province is now in the United Freneh Republic,) between the Freneh Republic States, according to the tenor of the last men- and the United States of America, by citizen tioned’ treaty; and whereas the Congrese of the Barbé Maidois, Minister of the Public ‘Treasury, | Tnited States on the lst day of Ostober, in the and Messrs, Robert R, Livingston and James/ preeent year, did enuct that, until the expiration ‘Monroe, Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United of the session of Congress’ then siting, (unless States, all three furnished with oll powers, of | provisions for the temporary government of t which’ treaty and two conventions ihe ratiica-| said territories be made by Céngress,) all the mili= tions, made by the First Consul of the French | tary, eivil, and judicial powers, exeteised: by the Republi on the one part,and by the President of| then existing goverament of the same, shall be the United Sietes, by and with the advice and | vested in such person or persons, and stall be exe consent of the Senate, on the other part, have eycised in such menner as the President of the been exchanged and imutsally reccived at the| United States shall ditect, for the mainteining City of Washineton, the 21s: October, 1808, (28th | and protesting the inhabitants of Louisians 1a the Vendemiaire, 21h year of tae French Republic.) | frev enjoyment of their liberty, property, and re by citizen Louis André Pichon, Chaigé des Af |ligion; aad the President cf the United States fires of the French Republic near the United | has, by his commission, bearing date the same Statas, on the part of rance,and by JagoesMad-| STst day of October, invested te with all the isov, Secretary of State of the United States, on | powers, and charged me with the several duties the part of the United States, according to'the |heretofore held and exercised by the Governor proces verbal drawn up on the same day ; and| General and Intendaat of the Province. ‘the present delivery of the country is made to| have, therefore thought fit to issue this, my them, to the end that, in conformity with the ob-| proclamation, making known the premises,and 9 Jectof the said treaty, the sovereignty and prop-| declare, that the governmacut heretofore exercised ‘erty of the eolony oF proviaee of Louisiana may | over the said Province of Louisiana, as well ue pass to the said United States, inder the sarae| der the authority of Spain es of the French He- slausos and conditions as it bad been ceded by | public has ceased, and. that of the United States Spainto France, in vstue of the treaty eoncluded | af Aineriea is established over the same; that at St. Tldefonso, on the 1st October, 1800, (Oth | the iohabitants thercof will be incorporated im the Vendemiaite, Oth yest,) between these two last | Union of the United States, and adimitted ae 200m Powers, whith hes sinew recived it execution /as pone, aocardng tothe principles of the Pee by the actual re-entrance of the French Repub- | eral Constitotion, to the enjoyment. of all the lic into possession of thesaid colony or province. rights, advantages, and immunities of citizens of And the said citizen Lauseat in eonsequence,| the United States; that, in the meantinne, they At. this presont time, delivered to the said Com) shall be maintained and protected in the free ene sioner of the Used Sian inthis potlic |oymenc of thet ierty property, and the wig ting, the keys of the city of New Orieaus, de-|ion which they profess; that all laws and ma lating that he discharges from theit cathe of | nicipal regulations ‘whieh ‘were in existence at fidelity towards tho French Republic, tho eitizens | the cessation of the Tate goveramiens, remain in and inbabitants of Louisiana, wito shall ehoose to | fall foree ; and all civil officers charged with theit remain under the dominion of the United States. | execution, except those whose powers have been ‘And that itmay forever appear, the undersigned | espectally’ vested in me, and except, also, such have signed the precés verbal of this imporiant | officers as have been intcusted with she collection and solémn act, in the French and Hnglish lan- [of the revente, are eontiaued in their functions, ages, and have sealed it with their seals, and | during the pleasure of the Governor for the time have edused itto bo eountersigned by the secretaries | being, or until provision shall otherwise bemade. of commission, the day, mouth, and year atove| “And I do hereby exhort and enjoin all the in- witten, WMC. C. CLAIBORNE, (u. 8.) | habitants, and other petsons within the said prov= JAMES WILKINSON, " [1s] |inee, to be faithful and true in thelr allegiance to LAUSSAT. Hoey |ite"ehitee States and obedient to tae haw ang1233 ‘APPENDIX. 1234 authorities of the same, under full assurance that their just rights will be under the guardianship ofthe United States, and will be maintgined From alloforce or violence from without or within. Tn testimony whereof I have hereunto sot my hand. Given at the city of New Orleans the 20th day of December, 1803, and of the independence of| the United States of America, the twenty-eighth. WM. €. C. CLAIBORNE. ‘The Governor's Address to the citizens of Louisiana, ‘New Oxtxans, Sept. 20, 1803. Fetow-crrvzmns or Louisiana: On the great and interesting event now finally consummated— fan event so advantageous to yourselves, and 39 dorious to United Ameriea—{ cannot forbear of- fering you my warmest congratulations. The wise poliey of the Consul of Brance has, by the cession Of Louisiana to the United States, seeured to you a connexion beyond the reach of change, and to gue posterity the euro inheritance of fsedom, the American people receive you as brothers,and ‘will hasten to extend to you a participation in thoze inestimable rights whieb have formed tho basis of their own unexarngled prosperity. Under the auspiocs of the Amerieaa Gorerament, you may confidently rely upon the seeurity of your lib- erty, your property, and the religion of your ehol ‘You may with equal certainty rest assured that your commerce will be promoted and your agi Suiture eherished—in a word, that your true inier- tests will be among the primary objects of our Na- tional Legislature. In return for these benefits, the United States wil! bo amply romunerated if. your growing attachment to the Constitution of Sur eouptry, and your veneration for the princi. ples on which it is founded, be duly proportioned to the blessings which they’ will confer. Among ‘your first duties, thereforé, you should eultivate With assiduity among yoursel res the ad vancement of political information. You shoul guide the rising generation in the paths of republican econ omy and virtue. You should encourage litera ture; for withoat the advantages of education, ‘utr descendants will be unable to appreciate the Intrinsie worth of the Government transmitted to them. ‘Ae for myself, fellow-eitizens, accept a sincere assuranee, that during my contisuanee in the sit- tiation in which the President of the United Siat has been pleased to place me,every exertion will be made on Iny part to fester your internal happiness, ‘aud forward your general welfare; for itis only by Such means that Tecan secure to myself the aypro- pation of those great and just men who preside in the councils of our natioa, ‘WM. G. C, CLAIBORNE. [The following papers, relating to the opposi- tion of Spain to the eeasion of Louisiana to the United States, were transnitted te Congress with the President's Message of November §, 1804.) The Ceasion of Lowiviana. :| new proof of bis consideration 1 Extract ofa letter fiom Don Pedro Cevelloe, Minister ‘of Btate ofhis Oatholic Majesty, to Mr. Ohaties Pinck hey, dated at the Pardo, February 10, 1804 “AC the same time the Minister of Elis Majesty im the United States is charged to inform the American Government respecting the falsity of tha rumor referred 0, he has likewise orders to declare to it that His Majesty has thought ft 10 renounce his opposition to the alienation of Louise jana made by France, notwithstending the solid reasons on, whieh itis founded ; thereby giving a new proof of his benevolence and friendship to- wards the United States.” Copy of « letter trom the Marquis of Case Yrujo to the Secretary of State Purcapetenta, May 15, 1804, Sim: The explanations which the Goyerament of France has given to His Catholic Majesty con- corning the eale of Louisiana to the United States, aad the amicable dispositions on the part of the King my master towards these States, have deter- mined hira to abandon. the opposition which,ata prior peviod,and with the most substantial motives, he had raanifested against that transaction. In consequence, and by special order of His’ Ma- esty, 1 liave the pleasure to communicate to you js Toyal intentions on an afiair so importants well persuaded that the American Government will seo, in this conduct of the King'my master, 2 for the United States, and they will correspond, with a true re- eiprocity, with the sinccre friendchip of the King, ‘of whieh he has given so many prools, Ged preserve you many years: ‘M. CASA ¥RUJO. Jamxs Mavison, Esq, ‘To all whom these presents shall come: Where- as, by an act of Congrose, authority bas been given, to the President of the United States, whenever hhe shall deeta it expedient, to erect the shores, waters, and inlets of the bay and river of Mobile, and of the other rivers, ereeks, inlets, and bays, J emptying into the Gnlf of Mexica, east of tha said river Mobile, and west thereot to. the Pas eagoula, inclucive, into separate district for the collection af duties on imports and tonnage, and to establish such place within thesameas he shall deem it expedient to be the port of entry and de- livery for such distsiet; and to designate such other places within the sume district, not exceed- ing toro, to be ports of delivery onl jow know ye, ‘That J, Thomas Jefferson, Presie dont of the United States, do hereby decide, that all he above mentioned shores, waters lets reeks, and rivers, lying within the boundaries of Te ian Stee Bal sonsuats pad fore, separato district, co be dencinivated “the district of Mobiles? and do also designate Fort Stoddert, swithin the district aforesaid, to be che port of ent try and delivery for the rie Given under my hand, this 20th day of May, 1904, ‘TH, JEFFERSON.