<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "html.dtd"> <HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>The Avalon Project : Thomas Jefferson - Message to the Senate and House of October 21, 1803</TITLE> <LINK REL="stylesheet" TYPE="text/css" W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/css/site.css" HREF="../css/site.css"> <META NAME="DC.Title" CONTENT=""> <META NAME="DC.Title.Alternate" CONTENT="The Papers of the Presidents of the United States"> <META NAME="DC.Title.Alternate" CONTENT="The Messages to Congress of the Presidents of the United States"> <META NAME="DC.Creator.PersonalName" CONTENT=""> <META NAME="DC.Creator.CoporateName" CONTENT=""> <META NAME="DC.Subject" CONTENT="Law"> <META NAME="DC.Subject" CONTENT="History"> <META NAME="DC.Subject" CONTENT="Diplomacy"> <META NAME="DC.Subject" CONTENT="Presidential Papers"> <META NAME="DC.Subject" CONTENT="(SCHEME=LCSH) "> <META NAME="DC.Subject" CONTENT="(SCHEME=LCCS) "> <META NAME="DC.Description" CONTENT=""> <META NAME="DC.Publisher" CONTENT=""> <META NAME="DC.Type" CONTENT="Text"> <META NAME="DC.Format" CONTENT="(SCHEME=IMT) text/html"> <META NAME="DC.Identifier" CONTENT="http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/presiden/messages/"> <META NAME="DC.Language" CONTENT="(SCHEME=ISO639-1) en"> <META NAME="DC.Rights" CONTENT="Copyright 1999 The Avalon Project"> </HEAD> <BODY><DIV CLASS="HeaderContainer"> <UL CLASS="HeaderTopTools"> <LI CLASS="Search"> <TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" BORDER="0"> <FORM ID="form" METHOD="get" TARGET="_blank" NAME="form" ACTION="http://www.google.com/u/yaleu"> <INPUT NAME="domains" VALUE="yale.edu" TYPE="hidden"> <INPUT NAME="sitesearch" VALUE="avalon.law.yale.edu/" TYPE="hidden"> <TR> <TD><INPUT / CLASS="SiteSearchBox" NAME="q" VALUE="Search Avalon" TYPE="text" ONFOCUS="if (this.value=='Search Avalon'){this.value=''}" ALT="Search Avalon" ONBLUR="if (this.value==''){this.value='Search Avalon'}"></TD> <!-- <td><A HREF="javascript:this.form.submit();"><IMG / SRC="http://www.law.yale.edu/library/searchGo.gif" ALT="Begin Search"></A></TD>--> <TD><INPUT / CLASS="go" STYLE="margin-left:5px;" SRC="http://www.law.yale.edu/library/searchGo.gif" TYPE="image" ALT="Submit Search"></TD> </TR> </FORM> </TABLE> </LI> </UL> <IMG / W3MIRSRC="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/images/avalon_logo2.gif" SRC="../images/avalon_logo2.gif" ALT="Logo"></A> </DIV><DIV CLASS="text-properties"><DIV ALIGN="center"> <TABLE CLASS="site-menu" CELLPADDING="5" BORDER="1"> <TR> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/default.asp" HREF="../default.asp">Avalon Home</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/major.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/major.asp">Document<BR> Collections</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/ancient.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/ancient.asp">Ancient <BR>4000bce - 399</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/medieval.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/medieval.asp">Medieval <BR>400 - 1399</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/15th.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/15th.asp">15<SUP>th</SUP> Century <BR>1400 - 1499</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/16th.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/16th.asp">16<SUP>th</SUP> Century <BR>1500 - 1599</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/17th.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/17th.asp">17<SUP>th</SUP> Century <BR>1600 - 1699</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/18th.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/18th.asp">18<SUP>th</SUP> Century <BR>1700 - 1799</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/19th.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/19th.asp">19<SUP>th</SUP> Century <BR>1800 - 1899</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/20th.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/20th.asp">20<SUP>th</SUP> Century <BR>1900 - 1999</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/21st.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/21st.asp">21<SUP>st</SUP> Century <BR>2000 - </A></TD> </TR> </TABLE> </DIV> <DIV CLASS="document-title"> Thomas Jefferson - Message to the Senate and House of October 21, 1803</DIV> <BR> <P>OCTOBER 21, 1803. </P> <P>To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States: </P> <P>In my communication to you of the <A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/tj004.asp" HREF="tj004.asp">17th instant</A> I informed you that conventions had been entered into with the Government of France for the cession of Louisiana to the United States. These, with the advice and consent of the Senate, having now been ratified and my ratification exchanged for that of the First Consul of France in due form, they are communicated to you for consideration in your legislative capacity. You will observe that some important conditions can not be carried into execution but with the aid of the Legislature, and that time presses a decision on them without delay. </P> <P>The ulterior provisions, also suggested in the same communication, for the occupation and government of the country will call for early attention. Such information relative to its government as time and distance have permitted me to obtain will be ready to be laid before you within a few days; but as permanent arrangements for this object may require time and deliberation, it is for your consideration whether you will not forthwith make such temporary provisions for the preservation in the meanwhile of order and tranquillity in the country as the case may require, </P> <P>TH: JEFFERSON. </P> <DIV ALIGN="center"><TABLE CLASS="sourcetable"><TR><TD ALIGN="center"><B> <B>Source:<BR> A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents<BR> Prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on printing, of the House and Senate<BR> Pursuant to an Act of the Fifty-Second Congress of the United States.<BR> New York : Bureau of National Literature, Inc., 1897<BR> </B> </TD> </TABLE> <BR> <DIV ALIGN="center"> <TABLE CLASS="site-menu" CELLPADDING="5" BORDER="1"> <TR> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/default.asp" HREF="../default.asp">Avalon Home</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/major.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/major.asp">Document<BR> Collections</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/ancient.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/ancient.asp">Ancient <BR>4000bce - 399</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/medieval.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/medieval.asp">Medieval <BR>400 - 1399</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/15th.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/15th.asp">15<SUP>th</SUP> Century <BR>1400 - 1499</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/16th.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/16th.asp">16<SUP>th</SUP> Century <BR>1500 - 1599</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/17th.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/17th.asp">17<SUP>th</SUP> Century <BR>1600 - 1699</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/18th.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/18th.asp">18<SUP>th</SUP> Century <BR>1700 - 1799</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/19th.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/19th.asp">19<SUP>th</SUP> Century <BR>1800 - 1899</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/20th.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/20th.asp">20<SUP>th</SUP> Century <BR>1900 - 1999</A></TD> <TD><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/21st.asp" HREF="../subject_menus/21st.asp">21<SUP>st</SUP> Century <BR>2000 - </A></TD> </TR> </TABLE> </DIV> </DIV><DIV ID="ContainerDefaults" CLASS="FooterContainer"> <DIV CLASS="Copyright">© 2008 Lillian Goldman Law Library</DIV> <DIV CLASS="ContactInfo">127 Wall Street, New Haven, CT 06511.</DIV> <UL CLASS="NavBottom"> <LI><A W3MIRHREF="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/about/purpose.asp" HREF="about/purpose.asp">Avalon Statement of Purpose</A></LI><LI><A HREF="http://www.law.yale.edu/library/3312.asp">Contact Us</A></LI><LI><A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://library.law.yale.edu/">Yale Law Library</A></LI><LI><A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.library.yale.edu/">University Library</A></LI><LI><A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.law.yale.edu/">Yale Law School</A></LI><LI><A HREF="http://morris.law.yale.edu/">Search Morris</A></LI><LI><A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://orbis.library.yale.edu/">Search Orbis</A></LI> </UL> </DIV> </BODY></HTML>