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The Louisiana Purchase Legislative Timeline -- 1806-1807
The Louisiana Purchase Legislative Timeline
9th Congress, 2nd Session
December 2, 1806
- Thomas Jefferson presents his Sixth Annual Message to Congress, which discusses
the success of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Annals
of Congress, 11-16; Senate
Journal, 106-9; House
Journal, 466-69; American
State Papers, Foreign Relations, volume 1, 68-69.
December 22, 1806
- The House of Representatives report on the “Explorations of the Western
Waters of the United States,” by Lewis and Clark.
American
State Papers, Miscellaneous, volume 1, 463.
January 2, 1807
- The House of Representatives introduces a resolution “That a Committee
be appointed to inquire what compensation ought to be made to Messrs. Lewis
and Clarke, and their brave companions, for their late services in exploring
the western waters, to report by bill, or otherwise.”
Annals
of Congress, 245-46.
(Note: William Clark’s name is consistently
misspelled in congressional documents by adding an “e” to the
end)
January 23, 1807
- The House of Representatives introduces “An Act making compensation
to Messrs. Lewis and Clarke, and their companions.”
Annals
of Congress, 383; House
Bills and Resolutions, H.R. 42.
- The House of Representatives receive communications on “Gratuities
to the officers and men in the expedition to the Pacific Ocean, under
Lewis and Clarke.”
American
State Papers, Military Affairs, Volume 1, 207-9.
February 3, 1807
- The House of Representatives introduces a bill "Respecting claims to land
in the territories of Orleans and Louisiana."
Annals
of Congress, 431; House
Bills and Resolutions, H.R. 50.
February 16, 1807
- The House of Representatives reports with amendments “An Act making
compensation to Messrs. Lewis and Clarke, and their companions.”
Annals
of Congress, 501.
February 20, 1807
- The House of Representatives debates “An Act making compensation to
Messrs. Lewis and Clarke, and their companions.”
Annals
of Congress, 591.
February 21, 1807
- The House of Representatives passes "An Act respecting claims to land in
the Territories of Orleans and Louisiana."
Annals
of Congress, 592.
February 28, 1807
- Thomas Jefferson sends a message to the Senate nominating Meriwether Lewis
to be governor of the Territory of Louisiana and promoting William Clark to
the rank of lieutenant colonel, in the 2d Regiment of Infantry.
Senate
Executive Journal, 53.
- The House of Representatives reads a third time and passes as amended “An
Act making compensation to Messrs. Lewis and Clarke, and their companions.”
Annals
of Congress, 658-59.
- The Senate passes as amended "An Act regulating claims to land in
the territories of Orleans and Louisiana."
Annals
of Congress, 96.
March 2, 1807
- The Senate agrees to the nomination of Meriwether Lewis to be governor
of the Territory of Louisiana.
Senate
Executive Journal, 54.
- The Senate votes and rejects the promotion of William Clark to
the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Senate
Executive Journal, 54.
- The Senate reads a second time and reports without amendment “An
Act making compensation to Messrs. Lewis and Clarke, and their companions.”
Annals
of Congress, 97-98.
- The House of Representatives agrees to the Senate amendments to
"An Act regulating claims to land in the territories of Orleans
and Louisiana."
Annals
of Congress, 673.
March 3, 1807
- The Senate passes “An Act making compensation to Messrs. Lewis and
Clarke, and their companions.”
Annals
of Congress, 103.
- Thomas Jefferson signs into law “An Act making compensation to Messrs.
Lewis and Clarke, and their companions.”
Statutes
at Large, volume 6, 65; Annals
of Congress, 1278.
- Thomas Jefferson signs into law "An Act regulating claims to land
in the territories of Orleans and Louisiana."
Statutes
at Large, volume 2, 440; Annals
of Congress, Appendix, 1283.
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The Louisiana Purchase Legislative Timeline -- 1806-1807
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