| Title: |
Thomas Jefferson to William Carmichael, March 12, 1791
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| Source: |
Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress
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| Overview: |
Tension along the Mississippi River worries Thomas Jefferson, who asks William Carmichael to clarify the position of the Spanish regarding navigation of the Mississippi below the mouth of the Ohio River.
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Philadelphia March 12th. 1791.
I enclose you a statement of the case of Joseph St. Marie
a citizen of the United States of America, whose clerk Mr. Swimmer
was, in the latter part of the year 1787, seized on the Eastern side
of the Mississippi, in latitude 34°-40', together with his goods,
of the value of 1980 dollars, by a party of Spanish soldiers.
They justified themselves under the order of a Mr. Valliere their
officer, who avowed authority from the Guovernor of New Orleans,
requiring him to seize and confiscate all property found on
either side of the Mississippi Maps:
below the mouth of the Ohio Maps:
.
The matter being then carried by Ste. Marie before the Governor
of New Orleans, instead of correcting the injury, he avowed the
Act and it's principle, and pretended orders from his Court for
this and more. We have so much confidence however in the
moderation and friendship of the Court of Madrid, that we
are more than ready to ascribe this outrage to Officers acting
at a distance, than to orders from a just sovereign. We have
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hitherto considered the delivery of the post of the Natchez Maps:
on the part of Spain,
as only awaiting the result of those arrangements which have
been under amicable discussion between us; but the remaining in possession of a Post, which is so near our limit of 31° as to
admit some colour of doubt whether it be on our side or theirs,
is one thing, while it is a very different one to launch 250 miles
further, and to seize the persons and property of our citizens; and
that too in the very moment that a friendly accommodation of all
differences is under discussion. Our respect for their candour and
good faith does not permit us to doubt that proper notice will be
taken of the presumption of their Officer, who has thus put to
hazard the peace of both Nations; and we particularly expect
that indemnification will be made to the individual injured.
On this you are desired to insist in the most friendly terms, but
with that earnestness and perseverance which the complexion
of this wrong requires. The papers enclosed will explain the
reasons of the delay which has intervened. It is but lately
they have been put in the hands of our Government.
We cannot omit this occasion of urging on the Court of Madrid
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the necessity of hastening a final acknowledgment of
our right to navigate the Mississippi Maps:
: a right which has been long suspended in exercise, with extreme inconvenience on our part, merely
with a desire of reconciling Spain to what it is impossible for us to
relinquish. An accident at this day, like that now complained of,
would put further parley beyond our power; yet to such accidents
we are every day exposed by the irregularities of their officers, and
the impatience of our citizens. Should any spark kindle these
dispositions of our borderers into a flame, we are involved beyond
recall by the eternal principles of justice to our citizens, which we
will never abandon. In such an event, Spain cannot possibly gain, what may she not lose?—
The boldness of this act of the Governor of New Orleans and of his avowal of it, renders it essential to us to understand the Court of Spain on this subject. You will therefore avail yourself of the earliest occasions of obtaining their sentiments, and of communicating them to us.
Banner image: From the Collection of The New-York Historical Society. Accession number 1867.306.
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