John Jay Papers
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From John Jay to the President of Congress ( John Hancock), 29 May 1786

To the President of Congress (John Hancock)

Office for foreign Affairs 29 May 1786

Sir

In my Negociations with Mr. Gardoqui I experience certain difficulties which in my Opinion should be so managed, as that even the Existence of them should remain a Secret for the present.1

I take the Liberty therefore of submitting to the Consideration of Congress whether it might not be adviseable to appoint a Committee with power to instruct and direct me on every point and Subject relative to the proposed Treaty with Spain—In Case Congress should think proper to appoint such a Committee, I really think it would be prudent to keep the appointmt. of it secret, and to forbear having any Conversations on Subjects connected with it, except in Congress, & in meetings on the Business of it—2 with great Respect I have the Honor to be Your Excellencys most obt. & very h’ble Servt.

John Jay

His Excellency the Presidt. of Congress

ALS, DNA: PCC, item 81, 2: 185, 188 (EJ: 3911). Addressed: “His Excellency / The President of Congress”. Endorsed by CT: “… Read 30th.— / May 31/Referred to Mr King/Mr Pettit / Mr Monroe / Aug 3. 1786 / Referred to Comee of the / whole which is to Sit on / thursday”. C, DNA: PCC, item 5, 3: 1130 (Secret Journal, Foreign Affairs); LbkCs, DNA: PCC, item 81, 2: 259; DNA: PCC, item 125, 32 (EJ: 3703). DC, description begins William A. Weaver, ed., Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States of America, from the Signing of the Definitive Treaty of Peace, 10th September, 1783, to the Adoption of the Constitution, March 4, 1789 (7 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1833–34) description ends 6: 158. CT’s entry in the Secret Journal, also recorded in JCC, description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends 30: 323 and n., states that JJ’s letter was read on 30 May and referred on 31 May to King, Monroe, and Pettit, who reported on 1 Aug. that JJ’s letter should be referred to a committee of the whole. After debate on 1 Aug., not recorded, Congress ordered JJ to attend Congress on Thursday, 3 Aug., to explain his proposal. See JJ’s report of 3 Aug. 1786, below; and JCC, description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends 31: 457 and n.

1Although this communication was precipitated by Gardoqui to JJ, 25 May, above, JJ neither enclosed nor mentioned it.

2For the impact of this request, see the editorial note “Negotiations with Gardqoui Reach an Impasse,” below. For the use of such secret committees early in the Revolution, see Elizabeth Miles Nuxoll, Congress and the Munitions Merchants: The Secret Committee of Congress, 1775–77 (New York and London, 1985).

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