Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison/Harrison to Secretary of State Public lands

by William Henry Harrison

Harrison to the Secretary of State

July 7th 1802

Mss. in Indiana State Library

Sir:

The mail which will carry this letter is the first from this place, since the month of March last—or I should before have done myself the honour to write to you—altho I had nothing material to communicate. This barrenness of events still continues, with the exception of such as come under my notice as Superintendent of Indian affairs & these as has been the custom will be detailed to the Secretary of War. The Secretary of this Terretory will transmit you a Copy of our proceeings from the commencment of the Government to the 4th Instant, & a Copy of the Laws—adopted by the Governor and Judges during the last Winter. The expence of printing laws adopted in the Territory has usually been borne by the United States, & I believe that part of the Contingent money voted annually by Congress is intended for this purpose. If I am correct will you please to inform me, Sir, whether it will be done under your direction at the seat of Government, or will you authorise me to employ some one of the printers in Kentucky to do this and other trifling articles in the Printing line—Such as land Patents, Civil and Military Commissions &c. The Citizens of the Territory suffer great inconveniance for the want of Printed Laws—& I shall shortly be ready to issue Patents for such of the land claims as have not been decided on by the former Governor. My proceeding on this subject shall be transmitted to you as it is brought to a close—which I hope to be able to effect in the course of one year from the present time. My labour in this business would be much lightened and the chance of making blunders rendered much less; If I could procure from Governor St. Clair certain Records in his possession, which exclusively relate to the land business in this Country. I have enclosed an extract of his answer to my application for these papers, in which he declares he does not think himself authorised to deliver them, without an order for that purpose from the President.^[1]

I am with respect &c.

Wm. Henry Harrison

1. For further details concerning the contents of this letter, se letter Jan. 19, 1802, above.