Early Governors' Papers

New orleans was delivered over up to the American agents on 20th of December ult; If anything of importance should Occur, I shall do myself the pleasure of writing you

I have the honor to be sir &c

The John Oerton esq^r.

Copy

John Overton esq.^r 12th January 1804- P post

Recorded

Executive Department office of State 2 February 1804

Sir

On the 28^th instant I received official information from the Secretary of the War department, that the President of the U, States on the 15 instant had received authentic information that New Orleans with its immeadiate dependencies was amicably given up to the American Agents, in consequence of which the services of the fifteen hundred men required from Tennessee would be dispensed with - You will please without delay to cause regular & proper Returns to be made to this office^department of all those who have been regularly mustard & enrolled in companies agreably to my instruction to the Brigadiers Generals, Issued on the November last, in order that the same may be transmitted to the War office in due time - The Mounted Infantry that proceeded on to Natchez, are all on their return, and probably in a few days will reach their respective homes - I am requested by the President of the U. States to assure them that he feels the highest respect & regard for all of those who was ready to render their services on at the call of their Country - Through the extraordinary Wisdom and wise political conduct of the Executive of the U States our General Government, their is an immense and almost boundless

be offered to them, and on Considering how little will be expended out of the large sum appropriated for the purpose of taking possession of that Country Ientertain no doubt but the Executive will not hesitate about the small sum that at any rate will have to be advanced - to pay them the customary Wages

With respect to the Organization of the 1500 provisional troops- I have been was unwilling for a time past to communicate any on the subject fearing, it would miscarry, as opposition ^if possible was greater on that head than the former, However Ihave the pleasure to inform you, that the whole ^greater part of the Companies has been no is nearly full and compleat, not and further beg leave to observe, that now the people have become ^greatly undeceived, was there a real call for their services, they would turn out with great alacrity

Permit me to observe that the characters cheifly in opposition on the present occasion, was in March 1803 runing mad and complaining against Government for not suffering it to be done to flock down and take possession of Orleans at all events - I mention this to show how uniformly those friends of order & regularity go together

Your letter of 21^st Novem^r [ult?] With the Cherokees respecting the road therein enclosed ^the receipt thereof with a copy of the treaty I have the Honor to acknowledge, came duly to hand, and have accordingly addressed the Governor of Georgia on the subject - the Executive of this state have not as yet made any appointment of Commissioners, neither is he possessed of Funds for such a purpose, would be [good?] to know whether the General Government contemplates paying commissioners for Explo ring and laying off the road or not proper way for the road to be opened provided that was is intended, Iam of opinion no other difficulty would arise on the part of

has been shamefully neglected from what cause this neglect has arisen we will not undertake to state, but beg leave to suggest the propriety of having the Law in relation to those road examined and such amendments made as the wisdom of the Legislature may deem necessary for the public good

The support of a Line of stages from Knoxville to Nashville for the transportation of the mail and passengers is certainly desirable to the Citizens of this state and the more so when it is considered that on it depends the main western mail route to New Orleans being continued through in that direction -

We are solicitous also to ascertain the sense of the Legislature whether the owners of those Turnpikes are authorized to require that the United States mail shall pay Toll when conveyed in stages or on horseback over said roads - we know that it is not contemplated in the Contract and if considered Legal will make the contractors liable to pay upwards of of six hundred dolars per year for which no allowance will be made them by the Gen^l Government-

Should your Excellency deem the foregoing remarks worthy of Legislative consideration we pray you to have the goodness to communicate them by so

lately been run by commissioners on the part of this State to Sparta thence along the Stage road by way of McMinnville, Winchester and Salem to Huntsville ^but also through the counties of Rhea and Hamilton along the main road down what is called the Tennessee valley, crossing the Tennessee river at Browns ferry so as to admit the direct continuance of the route in Alabama through Wills' Valley. There is an other route in the examination of which, West Tennessee feels very deeply interested. Many are impressed with a belief, that the great national road from Washington city South Westward should terminate at some point on the Mississippi river, near the ^mouth of big Hatchee river. If it is inconvenient for the Engineers to make the latter survey on their way to New Orleans you will indeavour [sic] to prevail on them to do so as they return to Washington city.

It is understood that the Engineers are instructed are instructed to make a survey of a route along which a canal would have to pass connecting the waters of the Hiwassee with those of the coosa. To this subject so essential to the ^commerce of ^the Eastern part of the State your attention wil be parti cularly directed. It will be proper for you to keep a Journal of the routes examined, noticing the quality of the land through which they pass - the elevation of the principal hills - water courses, and the convenience of materials for the construction of good turn pike roads

Without adding any thing further, the whole matter is submitted to your Judgement and direction.

I am most respectfully y.r ob.^t serv^t W^m Carroll

Colo Newton Cannon, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.