Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison/Proclamation: Convening the First Session of the Territorial Legislature

by William Henry Harrison

Proclamation: Convening the First Session of the Territorial Legislature, January 10, 1801

Executive Journal of Indiana Territory, 2^[1]

The Governor Issued a proclamation for the meeting of the legislature, and requiring the attendance of the judges of the territory, on Monday the 12th of this instant at St. Vincennes for the purpose of adopting and publishing such laws, as the exigencies of the government may require, and for the performance of such other acts and things as may be deemed necessary and conformable to the ordinances and laws of Congress, for the government of the territory.^[2]

1. The references to the Executive Journal are to the printed version in Indiana Historical Society Publications. III, No. 3 (1900). The original pagination is cited as therein given. Although the act setting off Indiana Territory was approved May 7, 1800, and Governor Harrison was appointed May 13. he did not arrive in the new Territory until early in the next year. Meanwhile the necessary measures for the administration of the Territory were taken by Secretary John Gibson. The Executive Journal, kept by the secretary, begins with these words, under date of July 4, 1800: "This day the government of Indiana Territory commenced." The issuance of the proclamation of January 10, 1801, is the first evidence we have of Harrison's presence at Vincennes. The last preceding entry in the Executive Journal is dated November 5, 1800. The proclamation no doubt was read to the three judges who with the governor constituted the territorial legislature. The text of this proclamation has not been found.
2. The three judges were William Clark, chief justice. Henry Vander Burgh, second judge, and John Griffin, third judge. Clark died at Vincennes. November 11, 1802; Vander Burgh died at Vincennes April 12, 1812. December 23, 1805 President Jefferson nominated Griffin "judge of the territory of Michigan, agreeably to his own desires, as is represented." (Executive Journal U. S. Senate.) Waller Taylor was appointed judge April 14, 1806. Benjamin Parke was appointed in place of Thomas Terry Davis April 21, 1808. Davis was appointed February 4, 1803 on the death of Clark. For biographies, see Esarey. Courts And Lawyers Of Indiana.