Louisiana - Thomas Jefferson - 1808
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, COMMUNICATING INFORMATION OF THE SITUATION OF SUNDRY PARCELS OF GROUND, IN AND ADJACENT TO THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS. March 7, 1808. City of Washington. 1st, 4 pgs., dbd. vg cond.
This Jefferson message is important to New Orleans as Jefferson took part in the effort to obtain the Batture for the United States. Jefferson's communication is cunningly worded, and conveys and implication that the Congress can overturn the existing judicial decisions of the courts. He admits that Gravier has defeated New Orleans in the courts, but that "this question can be decided by legislative authority," and is "now submitted to the determination of the legislature." In the meantime Jefferson directed the Federal Marshal at New Orleans to evict Livingstone from the property and the Marshal had taken the action demanded by the President, although enjoined by the courts from so doing. Livingston was forcibly dispossessed by troops at Jefferson's order and ruined.