Mobile Act

109–118 In November, 1803, John Randolph, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, introduced into the House of Representatives a bill to carry into effect the laws of the United States within its new acquisition.

The act defined revenue boundaries for the newly acquired territories and gave Jefferson the opportunity to apply its provisions to a new district that would include Mobile, which was part of Spanish West Florida.

"These two sections placed a full legislative interpretation on the theories of Livingston, Monroe and Jefferson, and there remained only the open or tacit acquiescence of Spain to make good the title of the United States as far as the Perdido.

"In a violent personal interview which [the Spanish minister to the U.S.,] Marqués de Casa Yrujo held with him, Madison speedily learned that Spain would by no means consent to this interpretation.

"The president then cleared the situation by his proclamation of May 30, 1804," in which he placed all of the waterways and shores mentioned in the Mobile Act, lying within the boundaries of the United States, in a separate revenue district, with Fort Stoddert as its port of entry and delivery.

[8] p. 100 [S]hould it end in our getting the navigation of the Mobile only we must make our protestation to Spain that we reserve our right which neither time nor silence is to lessen & shall assert it when circumstances call for it –Letter from Thos.

Madison; April 1, 1805[4][11] When Napoleon gave no support to the American border claims, Jefferson did not have the power to contest the situation and did not press the issue, letting it lie for the time being.