71To George Washington from Charles Lee, 30 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 19th to which I take the earliest opportunity of answering. In expressing my willingness to accept the office of Attorney General of the United States, I do it with the utmost diffidence of my competency and can only assure you I will endeavour to discharge its important duties with diligence and fidelity. I had been arranging for a retired life, but...
72To George Washington from Charles Lee, 18 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
Upon the Petition of Robert Randall the Attorney General reports most respectfully to the President of the United States That to attempt to corrupt the intergrity of a member of the legislature in his legislative functions, by offering to him a bribe in money, land or other valuable commodity is an offence indictable at common law and most properly cognisable in a court of justice. It is a...
73To George Washington from Charles Lee, 20 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have very little doubt, that Mr John Marshall would not act as a commissioner under the treaty with Great Britain for deciding on the claims of creditors. I have been long acquainted with his private affairs and I think it almost impossible for him to undertake that office. If he would, I know not any objection that subsists against him—1st He is not a debtor, 2d He cannot be benefitted or...
74To George Washington from Charles Lee, 26 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
It is my opinion that the house of representatives have not a right by the constitution to demand and obtain the papers described in their resolution of the 24th instant without the consent of the President. I am not acquainted with those papers, but supposing they contain nothing which may not be disclosed to the public I think it will be expedient under the circumstances of this particular...
75To George Washington from Charles Lee, 29 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have examined with care the journals of the house of representatives and I have not met with any act of your administration which contradicts your present opinion relative to the right of that house to participate in making treaties, or any other part of your intended message. Col. Pickering was desired to express this as my opinion, and least he should omit it I have thought it necessary to...
76To George Washington from Charles Lee, 18 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have conversed with Mr Rawle on the petition of Daniel Hamilton for a pardon of his offence and on the petition of Daniel Leet and others for a general pardon of all those concerned in the late western insurrection to whom the clemency of government has not yet been extended. We concur in opinion that so long as any offender keeps himself out of the power of that court to which he is...
77To George Washington from Charles Lee, 22 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
There is reason to believe unless the Congress during their present Session shall make some addition to the fees or emoluments now allowed to the Attornies of the United States in the several Districts, that some of the most useful of those Officers will resign and their vacancies I fear it will be found impossible to fill with fit persons. None but eminent Counsel ought to be called to those...
78To John Adams from Charles Lee, 26 April 1796 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to transmit to Congress a report in pursuance of their resolution of the 3d of March, 1795, respecting the title to the land situate in the south western parts of the United States, claimed by certain companies in that resolution described under a law of the state of Georgia, passed the 7th day of January in the year 1794. It is accompanied with all the charters, treaties, and...
79To George Washington from Charles Lee, 8 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have been reflecting on the train of measures to be pursued respecting the western posts which yesterday seemed to meet your approbation. The subject was new to me then, and therefore I hope you will excuse me for presenting to your better judgment the result of mine on the letter proposed to be written to Lord Dorchester. That part of it which is to express an acquiescence on your part in...
80To George Washington from Charles Lee, 20 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General having considered the information contained in Mr Wolcott’s note of the 19th instant most respectfully reports. That it affords reasonable ground to believe that the Republic of France has serious expectations to obtain from the King of Spain all or a part of his territories on the continent of North America, and contemplating a separation in government of the Western from...
81To George Washington from Charles Lee, 4 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General having taken into mature consideration “the act for the relief and protection of American Seamen” which grew out of the bill “for the relief and protection of American Seamen” passed in the house of representatives of the United States on the 28th march 1796 and afterwards amended in the Senate, the opinions of William Lewis and William Rawle thereupon, the letter from the...
82From George Washington to Charles Lee, 6 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Having shewn you the answr of the French Minister, to the communication of the Secretary of State, relatively to the Capture of the Ship Mount Vernon, by the French Privateer Flying Fish. Having read you also, the contents of a Letter from —— respecting information from St Domingo, of the intended measures of the French government, to Harrass our commerce with Great Britain; and also my letter...
83To George Washington from Charles Lee, 7 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
After bestowing the best consideration upon the several matters mentioned in your letter of the 6th I had formed an opinion that our minister plenipotentiary at Paris, ought not to be permitted to continue there, any longer than until the arrival of his Successor; and that it was not only expedient but absolutely necessary that he should be immediately recalled and another minister appointed....
84From George Washington to Charles Lee, 14 November 1796 (Washington Papers)
This letter is for your eye only—It is written for the purpose of expressing my regret for your continued absence from the Seat of the Government. Rely upon it, it is productive of unpleasant remarks, in which I must be involved. It will, indeed is, considered as making a Sinecure of the Office. To suppose there is no particular occasion for the Law-Officer of the government at the Seat of it...
85From George Washington to Charles Lee, 27 December 1796 (Washington Papers)
I am sorry to hear that your cold is obstinate, & your indisposition continues. If it will permit you to give a little attention to the Virginia Address, to day, that it may be dispatched by the Post of tomorrow, I would thank you. In the moment I received it, I sketched something by way of an answer, but whether I have therein said too much, or too little for the circumstances attending the...
86To George Washington from Charles Lee, 14 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have examined the journals of the House of Representatives and also of the Senate respecting your message to Congress of the 18th of February 1793 accompanied with a report and plot of the territory of the United States on Patowmack. In each House an order was made that the message lie on the table. On the next day the Clerk of the House of Representatives delivered to the Senate a message...