In the report the commissioners describe the work they have overseen on the river, including a lock and dam that has been completed, which will "advance the growth of Milledgeville, ultimately add to the convenience & prosperity of the agricultural...
In the letter Dr. Thomas discusses problems he has had with their slaves. He explains that he wants to resolve the situation peacefully and that he has no intention of harming Martha: "John I believe was influenced to run away by Matilda...I could...
Most of the act deals with the punishment of slaves who have violated the law. Possible offenses include running away; gaming; stealing; selling merchandise; carrying weapons; drinking alcohol; "assembling in great numbers...and drumming or making...
The act attempts to protect the "Infant Colony" from disorder and idleness: "Whereas Drunkness and Debauchery in every Community tend very much to inervate [sic] the Constitutions of such unhappy persons as are addicted to those Vices, and when...
In the letters Hamilton asks for Caller's assistance in a murder trial of "a Mrs Cabbet who is charged with poisoning of her Husband." Testimony collected early in the case "is charged as a forgery," so he asks Caller to have statements "taken...
In the letter Claiborne explains that Caller's son, Robert, has been selected to serve in the military "and to draw for money for the purpose of recruiting." Because Robert has not answered the order, the captain who issued it assumes that he...
In the letter Hanes discusses petitions circulating in Washington County, regarding the proposed boundaries. Apparently, there are two petitions: one "for a devision of this county a cross the river" and another "for the devision by the river."...
In the letter Coffee, who is Surveyor General of the northern section of the Mississippi Territory, carefully describes his proposed boundary lines between the United States and the Indian lands; he subtly reproves his fellow commissioners, who...
In the letter Dale discusses several scouting expeditions he has made recently, and he reports that "I am under a full belief there is no Indians of the disaffected in this quarter." He then asks about the future of the fort he established in...
The constitution includes articles on the following subjects: preamble; declaration of rights; distribution of powers; legislative department; executive department; militia; judicial department; education; impeachment; taxation; and slavery. The...
In the letter Mason and Dexter describe the climate, landscape, and business opportunities of the area: "No part of the United States offers greater encouragement to the adventurer, especially the agriculturist than Alabama. The country is yet new,...
In the letter Flournoy says that he is no longer interested in maintaining a plantation, and he asks Hall to purchase some of his slaves: "Lawyers, doctors, & merchants should have nothing to do with plantations & negroes--Overseers are...
In the letter Powell explains that he has moved from Huntsville to Franklin County near Tuscumbia and Florence ("they are even now places of great trade and considerable importance but are waging an eternal war against each other - which will...
In his introduction, Tait reminds the men of the jury that they are performing a vital civic duty: "We should never forget that true patriotism consists in devotion to our constitutions and the laws emanating from them - that there is no true...
The commissioners discuss the towns through which they traveled; the points marked on the proposed boundary line; and the landscape in northeastern Alabama and northwestern Georgia. They also refer to the conflict between themselves and the...
Both men served on the Georgia-Alabama Survey Commission; Lewis represented Alabama, and Blount represented Georgia. In the letter Blount reports that the commissioners have "clos'd the boundary line." He describes specific points along the line,...
In his address Cobb insists that the slavery question, the central issue influencing the pending secession of the South, was not answered by the recent presidential election: "But gentlemen say they cannot do anything. They say that the edict went...
Dickinson writes while traveling through the Alabama to settle claims before going to New York. He asks Dellet to collect money owed him by B. F. Porter; because Porter has land and slaves, Dickinson thinks he should have no trouble paying the debt.
In the letter Thomas discusses sickness in the area; the death of a couple of relatives from the disease; and the unnecessary expense of current lifestyles: "We live in a world of exstravegancy [sic] of dress & eating which cant [sic] be kept up...
Schermerhorn writes on behalf of the United States commissioners who are negotiating the cession of Cherokee land east of the Mississippi River. In the letter he mentions objections the Cherokees have made to the treaty proposed during a meeting at...