From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 6 May 1794
To Alexander Hamilton
(Private)
Dear Sir,[Philadelphia] May 6th 1794.
In answering your note of yesterday, respecting the request of Mr Talleyrand de Perigord,1 I do not hesitate to declare that, I find it difficult to hit upon a line of conduct towards characters, under the description that Gentleman is—Emigrants—that is satisfactory to my own mind; or more properly, that is free from exception, by avoiding what might seem incivility on one hand, or unpleasant political consequences on the other.
I can perceive very clearly, that the consequence of receiving these characters into the public rooms will be, driving the French Minister from them. His visits are much less frequent than they were—and an occurrance on tuesday last (which shall be mentioned when you call here) has left no doubt as to the cause.2
A particular introduction of these characters (out of the usual course), would, I presume be more noticed than the reception of them in public. It has become expedient therefore, in my opinion, that principles should be adopted in these cases (not only for the conduct of the President, but the Executive Officers also) by which evils may be avoided and uniformity observed.
What these had best be, deserves consideration.
My wish is, and it is not less my duty as an Officer of the Republic, to avoid offence to Powers with whom we are in friendship by conduct towards their proscribed citizens which would be disagreeable to them—Whilst, at the same time, these emigrants, if people of good character, ought to understand that they will be protected in their persons & property and will be entitled to all the benefits of our laws—for the rest, they must depend upon their own behaviour & the civilities of the citizens at large who are less restrained by political considerations than the Officers of Governmt must be. Yours always
Go: Washington
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; copy, DLC: Hamilton Papers; LB, DLC:GW.
2. The previous Tuesday was 29 April. The specific occurrence has not been identified. However, Jean-Antoine-Joseph Fauchet later reported to the French foreign minister that each time he had encountered emigrés at GW’s house he had withdrawn and that he had expressed his astonishment to the secretary of state: "Dès les premiers jours de mon arrivée j’ai rencontré quelques émigrés chez le général Washington; chaque fois qu’ils entroient je me retirois sur le champ en saluant le Président profondément; Je me suis addressé au Sécrétaire d’état et je lui ai témoigné mon étonnement de cette conduite de la part du représentant d’une nation libre" (Fauchet to Minister of Foreign Affairs, 5 June, in Turner, Correspondence of the French Ministers, 2:378-81).