The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-01-04
WILLIAM C. C. CLAIBORNE.

Catholic majefty, which have transcribed to you in
my iat Of the Sth int. For the fame reaion, when
his exeellency, general Wiiknfon, requeaej to allow
the pats Of two American velfeis one in the fprne
the other in the fall, which did not grant, ard his
najeAy approved my cendua and caufed the treaty
to be carried into execution"
lheie circumstances will convince your e1ceency,
that 1T is not in my power to comply with your
queN: however, will reprefen, the cafe t, the king,
and inform you Of the reiult as foon as pofible
Accept aAuraacss of nay reipe4 and con-
liberation,
Signed,
", VOLCH.
His exst!ltney GOO Claiborne.
Ertra9 ea letter from Jettb CJa,.Jr-I, United stres
dor, TO 5eIeere.a.y Of zsay, Dated Cboe!a1v trad
ing boye, -fp,H IL, 1904.
/" 1t may not be improper in me to Rate, that it
will be mpobe continue the trading houfe on the
river Tombigby, and to afford to the Indians that
friendly accommodation intended by the government
without mourning certain ofs unles we are fpeediy
freed from the heavy eYaaion of I2 per centun de-
nanded by the Spanih officers at Mobile on all ex-
ports that pats this Poa, and the fame imports,
making together nearly one fourth per centum."
E*fras Of letter from Coz. Claiborne to .5e fie,e,avy
Of SOaS, dafed," Wtrv-0rIean,, 2oib .4b,il, 1904.
conformity with my advic. Jaleph Chambers,
United States factor for the Chocfaw naten has hip-
ped quanti,y of peltry for Philadelphia (via New
orleans) On the Pahage of the peltry down the
Mobile river duty demanded by the Spani(h
Officers at the town of Mobile and which Mr. Cham
bers PAID not, however, without entering protect a.
gainG the proceedings copy of which now encloie
YOU
Some proviions, fent by the contractor from this
city to fort Stoddart, alto detained at Mobile
until duty OF l per cent paid thereon dutes
are a'io exated on all exports Paling down the Mo-
bile, and paid very reluctantly by cur citizens.
The spanisrds are terrifying Peniacola and the
town Of Mobile; at the former place there is to be
ffationed five fix hundred men, and at the latter
battalion OF artillery AID company of dragons
are now employed"
Copy Of tie f'of5f Of Jg:pb Chambers. Llaiied Slater
fae7or.
Whereas, by the order of the proper officers of the
government OF the United States of America 60
bales, three hogheads and barrel of petries and
iurs the property of faid government, collected at
the governmental trading houfe eltabled by aatho-
rity tor the friendly accommodation of the Chocaw
nation OF indians, directed he IMPORTED from
faid trading houfe, in the county of Wilmington Milf
illhPPi territory, by defending the Tombigbee or
Mobile river, and from thence the city of PhIa-
delpha, in the Atlantic part of the United States via
New-Orleans) 'Fhe iid cargo OF petries and furs
being on its paage aforefad the mouth of faid
river, at the pof of Mobile, the officers of his mott
Catholic maeay the king of Spain, did at that poa
demand duty of ~ per centum upon their Ell
mated value offaid cargo, to be paid for the uie of
his niajefty, and it then made known and proper
y certified to the faid officers that the fd peries and
furrs were the property of the government; of the u
States, and was there on its paGage from one part
thereof to another; notwithstanding which the faid
officers did, on the 9Th April, 1904 detain and Rop
the iad cargo at the fid po of Mobile, and did then
aud there relute to permit proceed its paage
until the iaid duty Of ~ per centum, amounting to
1872 dollars and IS cents, was paid
Now the undersigned. ages, to the United States,
having paid The aforefaid fun of SO dollars and 6s
cents, mot admitting the right of his mott catholic ma
Jetys Officers to exact iinpoe the aforeiaid duty in
nanuer and form aforefaid, cannot fuer proceeding
10 accommodating and apparently unjult, to pals
with faeh acquiefcence, and in compliance with his
oeal o0igauons, hs enters this his remembrance and
folemn pro;eR.
Beeaufe the exaaion of duty upon the property
OF government Pafng upon navigable waters (Which
are the common highway of nature) from one part of
its teritorr, TO another, altho this paage might in
terlea the limits Of different government is vio-
laton Of right, which ought net to be queitoned by
nstiort friendly to each other
Beesuie his moi Catholic ntajeny has manfefled
diPoiition friendly, liberal and jun towards the
government, Of the United States, and the chief ma
gIitrates Of each nation have mutually cultivated
peace, harmony and good will between their re(pec.
tive citizens and fubjeas il is therefore fuppoled
that this proceeding without his majenys orders or
his knowledge, and that it has probably rnanated
from the fame fopree from which the unauthorized s
of hutihg the por, Of New-orleans agsiuft the Uni
ted States right Of depoft, in the year 1902, pro-
eeeted. That the proceedings aforefaid may be daily
made known to bis Catholic MajeAy the king of
Span, and to the PRECEDENT Of the United States Of
America, and thereby beeoue the fubjec Of proper
inveGgstion, this remembrance and nrotsh i. made
and delveredto col MsSin,iiiaB AfaGant, COMMAND.
ant political aud military ar Noble
Done at Mobile this 9Th April, 1903.
Signed, JOSEPH CHAMBERS,