Early Governors' Papers

Vincennes Aug^t 18^th 1803

Sir

I have the honour herewith to enclose a copy of an Indictment from the Records of the General Court of this Territory against Robert Slaugter for the murder of Joshua Harbin & also a copy of a [ommission from me authorising [sic] John Harbin to receive from [?] person as your Excellency may think proper to appoint to deliver him, The said Slaughter & to convey him to this place.

The Constitution & laws of the United States having made it the Duty of the Executive authority of the Several States & Territory, &c Deliver fugitives from Justice upon the Appli cation of of the Executive of that State or Territory from which such persons know may have fled to Trust your Excellency will immediably [sic] cause the above mentioned fugitive to be delivered to M^r Harbin

Slaughter is I understand in the jail at Nashville to answer for some trifling offence which he has committed in Smith County & I have just heard from a respectable person who conversed with him a few days ago

also those he entered to plea guilty to the charge for the persons of evading for some time at least the demand which he expects is to be made for him from this Territory - I hope however that some means may be devised by your Excellency to defeat this intention & to cause him to brought to Justice as soon as possible for a most cruel & unprovked murder

M^r Harbin sends a persont o take this letter to Knoxville & will wait his return with the directions you may please to give him at Nashville

I have the Honour to be with the most Respectful Consideration Sir your Humble St.

Will^m Henry Harrison

His Excellency Gov^r Rowan

Indiana Territory [?]

by William Henry Harrison Esquire Governor and Commander in Chief of the Indiana Territory

To all shall see these presents Greeting

Know Ye that I have Constituted and appointed, and do by these presented Consti tute and appoint John Harbin my agent, (agreeably to the Law of the United States of the 12^th Feb^y 1793) to receive from the Executive of the State of Tennessee Robert Slaugh ter, who stands Indicted on the records of the Supreme Court of this Territory for the murder of Joshua Harbin, and [I do?] by these presents authorise and Empower the said John Harbin to Convey the said Robert Slaughter after he shall have been Legally delivered to him to the Jail of the County of Knox in this Territory, to be dealt with according to Law.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto see my Land and Caused the Seal of the Territory to be affixed at [?] this 10^th day of August 1803, and of the Independence of the United States, The twenty Eight

Will^m Henry Harrison

A true copy Attest

Jn^o. Gibson Secrety

Copy of a Commission to John Harbin

1803 Comission [sic]