To Thomas Jefferson from Edmund Randolph, 10 August 1790
From Edmund Randolph
New York August 10th. 1790.
Sir
I have examined the papers which you did me the honor of submitting to me yesterday, on the subject of the Georgia confiscations. But in the present mutilation of the necessary documents, it is impossible for me to form a satisfactory opinion. The act of May 1782 is not among the enclosures of Sir John Temple, but is the groundwork of the proceeding complained of. The last act appears in part only, nor does the Governor’s reasoning supply any of these defects.
I trust therefore, that you will see the propriety of my declining to enter into the question at this moment at least. Perhaps at any time the proper answer will be, that the executive of the United States ought to leave the whole business to the judiciary. On this however I do not now presume to decide. I have the honor to be &c.
Edmund Randolph
FC (DNA: RG 59, PCC No. 120); at head of text: “From the Attorney General for the United States”; at foot of text: “(signed).” Not recorded in SJL. See TJ to Temple, 11 Aug. 1790.
Randolph’s allusion to “enclosures” suggests that Temple transmitted the papers by letter, but such a letter has not been found and is not recorded in SJL. The last act of the legislature of Georgia was that of 10 Feb. 1787: for reference to that and other documents evidently alluded to in Temple’s representation, see Enclosure I, TJ to Temple, 11 Aug. 1790.