Natchez, MS William Claiborne, Governor of the Mississippi Territory, answers President Jefferson‘s Louisiana questions and describes smuggling at New Orleans.
Flatboat going down the Mississippi
Courtesy State Historical Society of Missouri.
Near NATCHEZ August 24th 1803.
Dear Sir,
I have turned my attention, to the several Subjects embraced in your Queries relative to Louisiana, and I now lay before you, the result of my Inquiries and Reflections.—
. . . . .
33rd “What are the usual dilapidations of the public Treasury?
Answer.— That smuggling to a considerable amount is carried on at New-Orleans, by the connivance of the Inferior officers of Collection, and sometimes by that of their Superiors, is understood in this Country to be a matter of common notoriety. Merchants calculate on it;—every boat-Master on the River, goes down impressed with the idea, and I never met with any, who have yet returned, with the impression removed. To attempt an accurate estimate of what the Revenue loses by those Frauds would be vain; but the losses are certainly great.
. . . . .
I take this occasion to offer you, my best wishes for your health and happiness, and to renew the assurances of my sincere and respectful attachment:—
William C. C. Claiborne[1]Clarence E. Carter, The Territorial Papers of the United States (Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1948), 9:16–24, digitized by Google books.
For Jefferson’s complete list of questions, see July 17, 1803.
Notes
| ↑1 | Clarence E. Carter, The Territorial Papers of the United States (Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1948), 9:16–24, digitized by Google books. |
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