Special Message
01/12/1809
https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu...
The title to these grounds appears to have been retained in the former sovereigns of the Province of Louisiana as public...
The want of such characters is already sensibly felt, and will be increased with the enlargement of our plans of militar...
they prove more and more the expediency of retaining our vessels, our seamen, and property within our own harbors until ...
It has been adjudged that the legal title was not in the city.