Official Letters of T.H. Williams,
NOTE: In the text below, any question mark (?), indicates unintelligible text.
P. 1
Thomas Jefferson President of the
To all who shall see these presents, -- Greeting:
Whereas the office of Secretary in and for the Mississippi Territory is at present vacant, Now Know Ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, diligence and abilities of Thomas H. Williams of the Mississippi Territory, I do appoint him Secretary in and for the Mississippi Territory, and do authorize and empower him to execute and fulfil (sic.) the duties of that office according to law; and to have and hold the said office, with all the powers, privileges and emoluments to the same of right appertaining during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being, and until the end of the next session of the Senate of the United States and no longer.
In Testimony
whereof, I have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the seal of the
Given under my
hand at the City of
(Signed) Th. Jefferson
By the President
James Madison
Secretary of State
P. 3, ibid.
I Thomas H. Williams do solemnly
swear that I will support the Constitution of the
Tho H. Williams
Sworn this 14 day of Aug. 1805
Before Robert Williams Gov. M.T.
P. 4, ibid.
I Thomas H. Williams do solemnly
swear that I will discharge with fidelity and according to law the duties of
Secretary of the
Tho H. Williams
Sworn this 14th day
Of August 1805
Before me,
(signed) Robert Williams
Governor of the
P. 5, ibid.
Sir,
I had the honor to receive a few
days ago, under cover from the Department of State, a commission as Secretary
of the
As my public engagements render any other than a temporary acceptance impracticable, I deem it proper to state to you candidly my situation, in order that the necessity for the speedy appointment of a successor may be more apparent.
I have been for some time past acting as Register and exofficio Commissioner, under the act of Congress for the adjustment of land-titles in this Territory. Various reasons have hitherto contributed to procrastinate the accomplishment of this business.
It begins now to assume a progressive form; and I need not point out to you how essentially important it is both to the interest and honor of the United States that it should be speedily and with the least possible delay completed. The relations subsisting between the General Government and the State of Georgia, render it not only extremely desirable but highly expedient; and the solitude of the people here who are more directly interested, still more so: -- for it is a subject on which hang, if not all their affections at least all their anxieties.
The labors of the Commissioners conjointly, and of the Register separately, will be daily increasing; and I have every reason to calculate upon such an accumulation of duty in the course of the ensuing autumn and winter, as will render it impossible for me to discharge, with any degree of credit to myself, or of utility to the Government, the additional duties of Secretary of the Territory. I will therefore respectfully suggest the propriety, indeed the necessity, of superceeding me in that office, by the first of November, or at any rate by the first of December next.
In thus declining the acceptance of an office highly honorable in its nature, I am guided by an honest conviction that in doing so I shall be more useful to the Government.
This consideration only, could have induced me to forego the pleasure of acting with my worthy friend at the head of the Government here – who by his inflexible integrity and patriotic devotion to the public weal, grows daily on the esteem of his friends and of his fellow citizens in general.
I beg leave to charge you with
the office of making my acknowledgements to the President of the
With cordial wishes for your political and domestic happiness,
I am,
With respectful consideration,
Y. Most Ob. Servt.
Tho H. Williams
James Madison esq.
Secretary of State
P. 12, ibid.
Sir,
I have drawn on you this day in favor of Lyman Harding, duplicate bills for three hundred and seventy five dollars, payable at sight, -- being the amount of salary due me as Secretary of the Mississippi Territory from the 1st of July to the 21st of December 1805.
As soon as my successor M. Meade
(sic) arrives and takes charge of the office I shall draw for the residue of my
salary ? from
I have the honor to be
Very respectfully,
Y. Mo. Ob. Serv.
Tho H. Williams
Secy. Of the Treasury
P. 13, ibid.
Thomas Jefferson, President of
the
To all who shall see these presents, Greeting:
Know Ye, That reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, diligence and abilities of Cowles Mead of Georgia, I have nominated and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate do appoint him Secretary in and for the Mississippi Territory and do authorize and empower him to execute and fulfil (sic) the duties of that office according to law, and to have and hold the said office with all the powers, priviledges (sic), and emoluments to the same of right appertaining for the term of four years from the day of the date hereof, unless the President of the United States for the time being should be pleased sooner to revoke and determine this Commission.
In Testimony
whereof I have caused these letters to be made patent, and the seal of the
Given under my
hand at the City of
Th. Jefferson
By the President
James Madison, Sec. of State
P. 14, ibid.
Be it remembered that Cowles Mead esquire late of Georgia, now constituted and appointed Secretary of the Mississippi Territory, by the written commission, personally appeared before me the undersigned one of the Superior Judges for said Territory and took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and an oath faithfully to execute the office of Secretary of said Territory according to the best of his skill and abilities.
Given under my hand this third
day of June in the year of the Christian Era 1806 –
and the thirtieth year of the
Thomas Rodney
P. 14-15, ibid.
Sir
After numerous unavoidable detentions, I arrived in this Territory on the first inst. And on the third received the office of Secretary from my predecessor.
On my arrival I seriously lamented the necessity of commencing the duties and responsibilities of the first Magistrate of the Territory – but a further acquaintance with the judicious administration of the Governor, induces me to believe that the ? of party and discontent has greatly subsided, and invited a hope, that with due vigilance I may be able to keep the ? steady until his return.
I have to request that you will tender my grateful salutations to the President – and be pleased to accept the best assurances of my respect.
Yr. Able Sevt.
Cowles Mead
James Madison Esq.
Secretary of State
P. 16-17, ibid.
Thomas Jefferson President of the
To all who shall see these presents greeting:
Know Ye, that reposing special
trust and confidence in the integrity, diligence, and discretion of Thomas H.
Williams of the
In Testimony
whereof I have caused these letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the
Given under my
hand at the City of
Thomas Jefferson
By the President
James Madison Secretary of State