From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 9 November 1803
To James Madison
Nov. 9. 1803.
Th:J. to mr Madison.
I inclose you Clarke’s memoranda. the following articles seem proper for Executive attention.
an instrument vesting in the Collector of Natchez the powers of the administrator, Treasurer & Contador.
| Instructions to Claiborne | to suppress useless offices |
| to remove any existing officers. | |
| to appoint others |
it would be well these could go by next post.
would it not be well to send in what documents we have, and furnish what is not yet prepared, as well as what may come hereafter in a supplementary way from time to time as recieved.
PrC (DLC). Recorded in SJL as a letter to the State Department with notation “powers to Claiborne.” Enclosures: see Madison to TJ, [5 Nov. 1803], and Gallatin to TJ, 8 Nov. 1803.
instructions to claiborne: in a 14 Nov. 1803 letter to William C. C. Claiborne, Madison enclosed a “supplimental commission” from the president, also dated 14 Nov., which expanded the authority granted in his previous commission of 31 Oct. The additional document gave Claiborne the power “to remove such officers and to appoint to such offices which are or may become vacant, and to suppress such other offices,” in Louisiana, “as the public good may seem to you to require” (FC in Lb in DNA: RG 59, MPTPC; Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser., 6:36-7).