mention is made of any other place appointed for a deposit. You will use this information as you may think proper.

I am, with great respect, your most obedient humble servant,

WILLIAM E. HULINGS.

Wm. C. C. Claiborne, Gov. Mississippi Territory.

Natchez, Oct. 28, 1802.

SIR, I was this day informed, that in a proclamation issued on the 16th instant by the intendant of the province of Louisiana, it was announced, "That the citizens of the United States should no longer be permitted to deposit their merchandises and effects in the port of New Orleans."

Information of an event so immediately interesting to the citizens of the United States, led me to peruse attentively "The treaty of friendship, limits, and navigation, between the United States of America and the king of Spain," and upon adverting to the 22d article, I found it expressly declared, that "his catholick majesty will permit the citizens of the United States, for the space of three years from this time, to deposit their merchandises and effects in the port of New Orleans, and to export them from thence, without paying any other duty, than a fair price for the hire of the stores; and his majesty promises either to continue this permission, if he finds during that time, that it is not prejudicial to the interest of Spain, or if he should not agree to continue it then, he will assign to them, on another part of the banks of the Mississippi, an equivalent establishment." I have here quoted the words of the treaty, and find them too explicit to require comment, or to admit of a doubtful construction.

If, therefore, his catholick majesty has discontinued his permission to the citizens of the United States to deposit their merchandises and effects at the port of New Orleans, will your excellency be good enough to inform me whether any, and what other place on the banks of the Mississippi has been assigned (in conformity to the treaty) for "an equivalent establishment." The subject of this inquiry is so interesting to the commerce of the United States, and

to the welfare of her citizens, that I must request your excellency to favour me with an early answer.

Accept assurances of my great respect and high consideration.

W. C. C. CLAIBORNE.

His Excellency Manuel de Salvado,

Gov. Gen. of the Province of Louisiana.

The Governour of Kentucky to the President of the United States. State of Kentucky, Frankfort, Nov. 30, 1802.

SIR, Two days ago I received the enclosed letters from Dr. James Speed, and Meeker and Co. from New Orleans; together with a copy of a proclamation issued by Juan Ventura Morales, intendant of the Spanish government of Louisiana; and which I do myself the honour to enclose, for your information. The citizens of this state are very much alarmed and agitated; as this measure of the Spanish government will (if not altered) at one blow cut up the present and future prosperity of their best interests by the roots. To you, sir, they naturally turn their eyes, and on your attention to this important subject their best hopes are fixed. Permit me to request, you will give me information on this business, as soon as you can say with certainty, what we may rely on; and let my solicitude on this occasion, be my apology for this request. With sentiments of respect, &c.

JAMES GARRARD.

REPORT

ON THE MEMORIAL OF SUNDRY INHABITANTS OF WILMING

TON, IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. JANUARY 26, 1803.

THE Committee to whom was referred the memorial of the inhabitants of the town of Wilmington and its vicinity, in the state of North Carolina, report

That the system of policy stated in the said memorial to exist, and to be now pursued, in the French colonial

governments, in the West Indies, is fraught with danger, to the peace and safety of the United States.-That the fact stated to have occurred, in the prosecution of that system of policy, demands the prompt interference of the government of the United States, as well legislative as executive.

The committee therefore recommend that the said memorial be referred to the Secretary of State, to be laid before the President-and in pursuance of the authority granted to them, herewith report a bill which is submitted.

To the Honourable the Congress of the United States.

THE memorial of the undersigned, inhabitants of the town of Wilmington, in the state of North Carolina, and of the vicinity thereof, respectfully sheweth

That it doth appear to have become the policy of the governments established by the French over several of their islands in the West Indies, to expel therefrom all negroes and mulattoes, to whom emancipation shall be accorded. That in the prosecution of this system, the executive authorities in said islands (of Guadaloupe particularly) have shown a determination by force or by fraud, to have those people introduced into the United States. That in fact the danger to be apprehended from affording an asylum to such persons, has operated so powerfully on the European powers holding islands in the West Indies, or establishments on this continent, as to produce an absolute and effectual prohibition from landing them on any part of their respective territories. That, therefore, the United States having become the dernier resort for enabling the French colonial governments to clear the islands of a species of population too obnoxious to be tolerated, there is reason to dread, (unless the most prompt and decisive measures are adopted to counteract and repel the designs of those governments) that the peace and safety of the southern states of the Union will be greatly endangered.

Your memorialists think it necessary to state to your honourable body, in proof that their apprehensions on this head are well founded, that the schooner Fair Play recently arrived in this port from Guadaloupe, having on

board five persons of the above description, which the executive of that island compelled the captain of said schooner to bring away.

With the fullest confidence that your honourable body will condescend to give to the above representation the consideration which its importance demands, and that they may expect from your wisdom such measures as may be effectual in the premises-Your memorialists will ever pray, &c.

Wm. Campbell, Timothy Bloodworth, James Walker, John Loudon, Jno. Walker, Geo. Hooper, D. Mallett, C. D. Howard, Joseph Dean, Robert Morton, Geo. Canning, A. Jocelin, Henry Urquhart, Wm. Giles, John Lord, A. J. De Rosset, Jno. Shuter, Sam. R. Jocelyn, Rd. Langdon, Kingsley Thurber, John Calhorde, Alx. D. Moore, Isaac Smith, D. Smith, Almand Hall, David Anderson, Evan Jones, Jno. Scott, Wm. Nutt, C. Dudley, N. Hill, James W. Walker, Jno. M. Gabie, John Macauslan, Robert Camock, John Barrett, Ja. Walker, Joshua Potts, Chas. Livingston, John Poisson, Jona. Aveny, Mears Levy, Gilbert Geer, O. Kenan, R. Mitchell, John Brown, R. Everitt, J. Wilkings, Carleton Walker, Alexr. Hostlen, C. P. Pelham, A. M. Isaacks, Henry Young, Thomas Robeson, Benj. M. Gause, Thomas Cowan, Jos. G. Wright, Robert Dorsey, Thos. F. Davis, Thomas Jennings, J. Hartman, Sam. Bloodworth, Duncan Ray, Thomas Torrance, Rowland Craig, Sam. Shuter, H. Halsey, William Green, Cha. Carroll, Rd. Bradley, Frs. Fontaine, Daniel McKenzie, Daniel M.Phail, Thos Callender, T. N. Gautier, Jacob Levy, Henry B. Howard, P. Mallett, A. Lazarus, John Allen, Jas. Holmes, Sam. Morgan, Anthy. B. Todmer, John Maclellan, William Keddie, Geo. Jennings, Hauson Kelly, James Allen, Hy. Horkins, Jno. Henderson, Rich. Lloyd, Jno. Maltester, B. Roberts, Adam Tabac, Peter Harris, James Telfair, A. T. Brown, Alex. Peden, Jas. Carson, Thos. Fitzgerald, J. Bernard, B. Jacob, Thos. Smith, Sam. Swann, Geo. Gibbs, W. H. Beatty, Jesse Wingate, Wm. Browne, D. Jones, Wm. Harriss, Thomas Sonerd. Nehemiah Harriss, Daniel M'Neal.

1

MESSAGE

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ΤΟ THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. DEC. 30, 1802.

In addition to the information accompanying my message of the 22d instant, I now transmit the copy of a letter on the same subject, recently received.

TH: JEFFERSON.

Washington, Dec. 30, 1802.

SIR,-Although an informal communication to the publick of the substance of the enclosed letter may be proper for quieting the publick mind, yet I refer to the consideration of the House of Representatives, whether a publication of it in form might not give dissatisfaction to the writer, and tend to discourage the freedom and confidence of communications between the agents of the two go

vernments.

Accept assurances of my high consideration and respect. TH: JEFFERSON. The Speaker of the House of Representatives.

House of Representatives of the United States, Jan. 7, 1803.

RESOLVED, That this house receive with great sensibility the information of a disposition in certain officers of the Spanish government at New Orleans to obstruct the navigation of the river Mississippi, as secured to the United States by the most solemn stipulations :

That adhering to that humane and wise policy which ought ever to characterize a free people, and by which the United States have always professed to be governed; willing at the same time to ascribe this breach of compact to the unauthorized misconduct of certain individuals, rather than to a want of good faith on the part of his catholick majesty; and relying, with perfect confidence, on the vigilance and wisdom of the Executive, they will wait the issue of such measures as that department of