From George Washington to Oliver Wolcott, Jr., 6 July 1796
To Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
Mount Vernon 6th July 1796.
Sir,
When the letter herewith enclosed, dated the 4th instant was written in answer to yours of the 28th Ulto, part of it, as you will perceive, was dictated under the impression of much hesitation & doubt; for I am not fond of rectifying Legislative mistakes by Executive Acts. I determined however to take the Attorney Generals opinion on the case: resolving, if it accorded with those which had been sent me, to give the Act you forwarded, my signature.1
For this purpose I requested that his opinion might be fully stated to me in writing and delivered at Alexandria on the 4th where I had promised to be at the celebration of the Anniversary of Independance;2 that I might, by the Post of next day, or rather the Mail of that evening, if his opinion had not a tendency to increase my own doubts, forward the Act to you.
Knowing, that neither time nor opportunity would be allowed at a crowded meeting, to write, I prepared my letter in the morning, before I left home, on the supposition of a concurrence; & in that case, that I might have nothing to do but to sign & enclose the Act; but his opinion being adverse to this (as you will see by the enclosure, which I request may be returned to me) I declined doing it; and have desired him to draught something anew.
This, when it comes to hand, (wch I expected would have been in time for this days Post) shall be sent.3
Go: Washington
ALS, CtHi: Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Papers.
1. GW had written Wolcott from Mount Vernon on 4 July: “Your letter of the 28th Ulto with its enclosures, was received by the Mail on friday.
“I wanted no delay in the Commissioning of Mr Jno. Davis, to be Attorney for the District of Massachusetts; if to you, or those who were better acquainted with his professional knowledge (before he embarked in the Comptrollership) than I am, thought them competent to the duties thereof.
“That an entire Section of a Bill which had passed both Houses of Congress should be omitted in copying of it; and that such omission should have escaped the Committee of Inrolment; is a circumstance so singular in its nature as scarcely to have a parallel. Being desirous, however, of carrying the intentions of the Legislature into effect—I have, though I confess not willingly, endeavoured to supply the defect by the Executive Act which is herewith enclosed. The consequences that might result from delay, have produced this Act on my part; otherwise, as its operation is to be Exterior I should have hesitated longer, before the signature was given; if at all.
“By the last Mail, I received a Letter from the Governor of Pennsylvania, requesting ’that I would direct such co-operative measures, on the part of the Officers of the United States, as may effectually counteract the danger, wch is apprehended from Vessels holding an intercourse with the shores of New Jersey, in evasion of the Quarantine prescribed under the authority of the Laws of this State.’ I expected, from what passed previous to my leaving Philadelphia, that circular orders had issued, long since, to the Collectors of the different Ports; and to the Officers commanding the fortifications of our Harbours, to afford such aid, agreably to the Act of Congress relative to Quarantine. As there are two letters from the Governor on the same subject, I shall send both of them by this days Post, to the Secretary of State; & desire that if any thing needful, remains to be done, that orders to that end may issue immediately” (ALS, CtHi: Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Papers; LB, DLC:GW). For the quarantine issue, see Thomas Mifflin to GW, 25 and 27 June; see also Timothy Pickering to GW, 8 July.
2. GW’s attendance at the celebration in Alexandria, Va., was reported in The Centinel of Liberty and George-Town Advertiser for 12 July: “The President came to town about 12 o’clock, under escort of the troop of Light Dragoons, at three sat down to an elegant dinner which had been prepared for the occasion; after spending a cheerful day with a numerous company of his fellow-Citizens, he retired in the evening amidst their reiterated acclamations.” GW withdrew after fifteen toasts, and a sixteenth—“The President of the United States—May he ever enjoy the patriot’s best reward—The confidence, affection and gratitude of his Fellow-citizens”—received nine cheers after his departure.
3. See Charles Lee to GW, 4 July, and GW to Lee, this date.