531To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 7 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
The accounts of the last week from Lisbon, announcing an actual declaration of war by France against England & Holland, when applied to the preceding note of the British court ordering the French minister to leave London (which is generally considered as preliminary to a declaration of war), now render it extremely probable that those powers are at actual war, and necessary in my opinion that...
532From George Washington to Thomas Jefferson, 12 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 7th instant was brought to me by the last Post. War having actually commenced between France and Great Britain, it behoves the Government of this Country to use every means in it’s power to prevent the citizens thereof from embroiling us with either of those powers, by endeavouring to maintain a strict neutrality. I therefore require that you will give the subject mature...
533To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 18 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of state thinking it his duty to communicate to the President his proceedings of the present year for transferring to Europe the annual fund of 40,000 Dollars appropriated to the department of state (a report whereof was unnecessary the two former years, as monies already in the hands of our bankers in Europe were put under his orders) Reports That in consequence of the...
534Minutes of a Cabinet Meeting, 19 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of Departments & the attorney General, at the President’s april 19th 1793. to consider the foregoing questions proposed by the President: it was agreed by all on Quest. I—(to wit, “shall a proclamation issue” &ca) that a Proclamation shall issue forbidding our Citizens to take part in any hostilities on the seas with or against any of the belligerent Powers; & warning...
535Tobias Lear to Thomas Jefferson, 20 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
T. Lear has the honor to return to the Secretary of State the letter which he this day sent to the President —and to inform him that the President expects the Gentlemen to be at his house on monday at nine o’clock to decide upon the other questions which are before them. T. Lear begs leave to observe to the Secretary (if it has slipped his memory) that Colo. Humphreys mentions in his letter of...
536To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 28 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
According to the intimation the other day, and indeed according to my own wish in a question, if not difficult, yet very important, I have the honor to inclose you a written opinion on the question Whether the U.S. ought to declare their treaties with France void, or suspended? This contains my answer to the 2d 3d 4th 5th & 6th of the written queries. The 1st had been before answered & acted...
537To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his respects to the President and asks a dozen Passports for present use. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State; LB (photocopy), DLC:GW . The letter-book copies omit “his respects.”
538To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 4 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson having prepared a written opinion on the Question Whether Passports should be granted to vessels belonging to American citizens, but of foreign built, has the honor of inclosing it to the President as an explanation of the principles on which the affirmative was adopted yesterday. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW . In the enclosed opinion of 3 May, Jefferson...
539To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson, 5 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
Th: Jefferson with his respects to the President has the honour to inclose him the following papers. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; AL (letterpress copy), DLC : Jefferson Papers; LB , DNA : RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State; LB (photocopy),
540Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on a Cabinet Meeting, 6 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
Apr. 18. The President sends a set of Questions to be considered & calls a meeting. tho those sent me were in his own hand writing, yet it was palpable from the style, their ingenious tissu & suite that they were not the President’s, that they were raised upon a prepared chain of argument, in short that the language was Hamilton’s, and the doubts his alone. they led to a declaration of the...