631Report on Acts of Congress, 10 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of state, according to the requisition of the President of the US. of the 8th. instant has examined the laws passed during the late session of Congress and Reports That none of those laws relate to, or require the immediate or special agency of the President, except the ‘Act regulating foreign coins and for other purposes,’ (a copy of which is hereto annexed) whereupon it would...
632Cabinet Opinions on Edmond Charles Genet and James King, 7 December 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments and Atty. Genl. at the President’s on the 7th. of Dec. 1793. Mr. Genet’s letter of Dec. 3. questioning the right of requiring the address of Consular commissions to the President was read. It is the opinion that the address may be either to the US. or to the President of the US. but that one of these shoud be insisted on. A letter from James King was...
633Cabinet Opinions on the Roland and Relations with Great Britain, France, and the Creeks, 31 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
At a meeting of the Heads of departments and Attorney General at the President’s on the 31st. day of Aug. 1793. A letter from Mr. Gore to Mr. Lear dated Boston Aug. 24. was read, stating that the Roland, a privateer fitted out at Boston and furnished with a commission under the government of France, had sent a prize into that port, which being arrested by the Marshal of the district by process...
634Report on the Proceedings of the Southwest Territory, 19 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State having received from the Secretary of the territory of the US. South of the Ohio a report of the proceedings of that government from Sep. 1. 1792. to the 16th. of Feb. 1793. Reports to the President of the US. That they do not contain any thing necessary for him to act on: unless, as it is suggested by Mr. Smith, it should be necessary to lay before Congress the act of...
635Note on the Subject of Vacant Consulships, 22 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Lisbon. Candidates. Edward Church. His case is known to the President. John Telles of Philadelphia. His papers inclosed. Samuel Harrison. See Colo. Humphrey’s lre. to the President. John Cowper. (Virginia) Recommended by Josiah Parker. Cadiz. The former candidates not approved, and no new offer. It is very desireable we should have a consul there. Should Mr. Church not be appointed to Lisbon,...
636Report on Appointment of Consul at Copenhagen, 10 January 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State having received information that the Merchants and Merchandize of the United States are subject in Copenhagen and other ports of Denmark to considerable extra duties, from which they might probably be relieved by the presence of a Consul there; Reports to the President of the United States: That it would be expedient to name a Consul, to be resident in the port of...
637IX. Report of the Secretary of State to the President, 18 January 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State having received from the Chargé des Affaires of France a note on the Tonnage payable by French vessels in the ports of the United States has had the same under his consideration, and thereupon makes the following Report to the President of the United States. The Chargé des Affaires of France, by a Note of the 13th. of December represents, by order of his Court, that they...
638Cabinet Opinion on French Privateers, 17 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments at the President’s this day, on summons from him, a letter from mister Genet of the 15th inst. addressed to the Secretary of state on the subject of the seizure of a vessel by the Govr. of New York as having been armed, equipped & manned in that port with a design to cruize on the enemies of France, was recd as also the draught of an answer prepared by...
639IV. Estimates of Funds Required for the Diplomatic Establishment, 1790–1791, [19 July 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Dollars Minister Plenipotentiary. His salary 9000. His Outfit. Suppose it to happen once in 7. years, will average 1285. His Return at a Quarter’s salary, will average 321. Extras. viz. Gazettes, translating, printing, aids to poor American sailors, couriers and postage about 350. His Secretary 1350. 12,306. Estimate for a Chargé des affaires. Chargé des affaires. His salary 4500 His...
640X. First Opinion of the Secretary of State, 28 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
I am so deeply impressed with the magnitude of the dangers which will attend our government if Louisiana and the Floridas be added to the British empire, that in my opinion we ought to make ourselves parties in the general war expected to take place, should this be the only means of preventing the calamity. But I think we should defer this step as long as possible; because war is full of...
641Opinion on Compensation to the Commissioners of the Federal District, 11 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Qu. 1? What sacrifice may be made to retain Mr. Johnson in the office of Commissioner for the federal territory? Answ. for such an object it is worth while to give up the plan of an allowance per diem, to give, instead of that, a sum in gross, and to extend that sum to 500. Dollars per annum, and expences; the latter to be rendered in account. If Mr. Johnson persists in resigning, as it is...
642Enclosure: Report on Commerce, 23 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Footing of the Commerce of the United States, with France & England; and with the French & English american Colonies. Wheat, Flour &c. France Grt. Britn: & Ireland French Ama. English Ama: Free Prohibited till it is 6/3 a Bushel Wheat, Flour &c. Prohibited by a genl. Law, Free by Suspensions from Time to Time. Free by Proclamaton Rice Free 7/4 sterlg. the Kent.
643I. Statement of the American Debt to France, [ca. 12 February 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
Loan of 18. Millns. 6. Millns. Interest payable 10. Millions Total due in Dollars. Payments made each year. Balance unpaid at end of each year. Principal payable Interest payable Principal payable Interest payable day of paiment Sep. 3. day of payment Jan. 1. day of payment Nov. 5. 1784. 900,000 300,000 1785. 900,000 300,000 }
644Jefferson’s Opinion on Fiscal Policy, 26 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
On consideration of the letter of our bankers of Jan. 25. 1790. the Secretary of the Treasury’s answer to it, and the draught of powers and instructions to him, I am of opinion, as I always have been, that the purchase of our debt to France by private speculators would have been an operation extremely injurious to our credit; and that the consequence foreseen by our bankers, that the...
645Jefferson’s Memoranda for Washington, [29 November 1790] (Jefferson Papers)
Note of letters recieved. Mr. Short. July 16. A private letter in which he says it is true that the Queen of Portugal has appointed Mr. Freire her Minister resident for the U.S. Ignatius Polyart. Phila. Oct. 5. Announcing his commission as Consul general for the Queen of Portugal in the U.S. Dumas. Hague. May 26.—July 10.—July 14. Nothing new. Nathaniel Gilman. Exeter Sep. 10. } accepting...
646Opinion on Apportionment Bill, 4 April 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The Constitution has declared that ‘Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers,’ that ‘the number of representatives shall not exceed one for every 30,000, but each state shall have at least one representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse 3. Massachusets...
647Memorandum on Consuls and Consular Appointments, 15 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Consuls remaining in office. Feb. 15. 1793. Consuls &c. who have resigned or abandoned their Consulates. Candidates for appointments. Havre. Nathaniel Cutting of Massachusets to be Consul. Falmouth. Edward Fox. of Gr. Britain. to be Consul. Our ships often touch at Falmouth for orders, and have occasion for patronage to prevent their being forced to enter. A safe person there also for taking...
648III. Questions on the Application of France, 12 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Questions arising on the application of France for 3. millions of livres to be sent in Provisions to France. I. 1. Has the Legislature furnished the money? 2. is that money in it’s place, or has it been withdrawn for other purposes? 3. if it has, should we not take the first proper occasion of rectifying the transaction by repaying the money to those for whom the law provided it? 4. is the...
649Cabinet Opinions on Various Letters, [23 November 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
At sundry meetings of the heads of departments and Attorney General from the 1st. to the 21st. of Nov. 1793. at the President’s several matters were agreed upon as stated in the following letters from the Secretary of state. To wit: Nov. 8. Circular letter to the representatives of France, Gr. Brit. Spain and the U. Netherlands, fixing provisorily the extent of our jurisdiction into the sea at...
650Cabinet Opinion on Sending an Agent to the Choctaws, 1–5 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
That an Agent be sent to the Choctaw nation to endeavor secretly to engage them to support the Chickasaws in their present war with the Creeks, giving them for that purpose arms and ammunition sufficient: and that it be kept in view that if we settle our differences amicably with the Creeks, we at the same time mediate effectually the peace of the Chickasaws & Choctaws, so as to rescue the...
651Cabinet Opinion on the Creek Indians and Georgia, 29 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States having assembled the heads of the respective departments and the attorney General, laid before them for their advice thereon, sundry communications from the Governor of Georgia, and others, relatively to the recent alarming depredations of the creek Indians upon the State of Georgia. Whereupon after the subject was maturely considered and discussed it was...
652IV. Questions for the Supreme Court, [18 July 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
1. Do the treaties between the US. and France give to France or her citizens a right , when at war with a power with whom the US. are at peace, to fit out originally in and from the ports of the US, vessels armed for war, with or without commission? 2. If they give such a right , does it extend to all manner of armed vessels, or to particular kinds only? If the latter, to what kinds does it...
653Cabinet Opinion on the Polly (Republican) and the Catherine, 12 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President having required the opinions of the heads of the three departments on a letter from Governor Clinton of the 9th inst. stating that he had taken possession of the sloop Polly, now called the Republican, which was arming, equipping & manning by French & other citizens to cruize against some of the belligerent powers, and desiring to know what further was to be done, and they having...
654Enclosure: Statement II, 3 November 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Analysis of the Expences of the U.S. for their intercourse with Foreign nations from July 1. 90. to July 1. 91. and from July 1. 91. to July 1. 92. taken from the accounts of Messrs. Short, Humphreys, Morris, Pinckney & Willinks, Van Staphorsts & Hubbard given in to the Auditor. PrC ( DLC ); in TJ’s hand. Tr ( DNA : RG 46, Senate Records, 2d Cong., 2d sess.); in the hand of George Taylor, Jr.,...
655Cabinet Opinions on Privateers and Prizes, 5 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments and the Attorney general at the Secretary of state’s office Aug. 5. 1793. The case of the Swallow letter of marque at New York, desired to be sent out of our ports, as being a privateer. It is the opinion that there is no ground to make any order on the subject. The Polly or Republican , in the hands of the Marshal at New York, on a charge of having...
656Report on the Petition of John Rogers, 16 February 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of State, to whom was referred by the House of Representatives of the United States, the Petition of John Rogers, setting forth that as an Officer of the State of Virginia, during the last war, he became entitled to Two thousand Acres of Lands on the North east side of the Tennissee at it’s confluence with the Ohio, and to 2400 Acres in different parcels, between the same River...
657Opinion on McGillivray’s Monopoly of Commerce with Creek Indians, 29 July 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Mc.Gillivray, with a company of British merchants, having hitherto enjoyed a monopoly of the commerce of the Creek nation, with a right of importing their goods, duty-free, and considering these privileges as the principal sources of his power over that nation, is unwilling to enter into treaty with us, unless they can be continued to him. And the question is how this may be done...