To James Madison from James Monroe, 26 May 1794
From James Monroe
Phila. May 26. 1794.
Dear Sir
I have been with Mr. R. & have given him no final answer.1 The fact appears to be that the message to me was directly from the President, so that a decision settles it. He has also had an interview with Mr. Dayton.
May I request of you to go to Mr. Randolph, & settle the matter with him. I promised him you wod. in the course of ½ an hour. If it has not the approbation of my few friends & yourself in particular &2 certainly will decline it. Weigh therefore all circumstances, & paying as little regard to private considerations as shod. be, tell him for me what answer to give. I write in haste in the Senate, being engaged on the balance bill. Yr. friend & servt
Jas. Monroe
An answer must be given the President immediately.
RC (DLC). Addressed by Monroe.
1. Edmund Randolph conveyed to Monroe Washington’s offer of appointment as U.S. minister to France, to replace Gouverneur Morris. After complying with the U.S. request for Genet’s recall, the French government asked for the recall of Morris, who was hostile to the revolutionary regime. The president wanted to nominate a prominent Republican, but Robert R. Livingston and JM had already declined the post. On 27 May Washington nominated Monroe, whom the Senate confirmed the following day (Ammon, James Monroe, pp. 112–14; , 1:157).
2. Monroe obviously meant “I.”