41To John Adams from Charles Lee, 13 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
In acknowledging the honor you have been pleased to confer on me by authorising me to perform the duties of Secretary of State until the present vacancy shall be filled, permit me to express the diffidence with which I undertake even for a short time so great a charge. My abilities and knowledge I am sensible are unequal to it but such as they are I shall diligently employ them in the business...
42To John Adams from Charles Lee, 13 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
The Attorney General of the United States most respectfully reports to the President his opinion that the President may reprieve for offences against the United States in all cases except in cases of impeachment. MHi : Adams Papers.
43From John Adams to Charles Lee, 16 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I transmit you a copy of a resolution of the Senate of the United States, passed in Congress, on the fourteenth of this month, by which I am requested to instruct the proper law officers, to commence & carry on a prosecution against William Duane, Editor of the newspaper, called the Aurora for certain false, defamatory, scandalous & malicious publications, in the said newspaper of the...
44From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
Questions 1. Among the three Criminals under sentence of death is there any discrimination in the essential Circumstances of their Cases which would would justify a determination to pardon or reprieve one or two and execute the other? 2. Is the Execution of one or more, so indispensably demanded by public Justice and by the Security of the public Peace, that Mercy cannot be extended to all...
45From John Adams to Charles Lee, 21 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received Yesterday the opinion of yourself the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of the Navy on the Case of the Prisoners under Sentence of death for Treason, formed, as I doubt not under the full Exercise of Integrity and humanity. Nevertheless as I differ in opinion, I must take on myself alone the responsibility of one more appeal to the humane and generous natures of the...
46From John Adams to Charles Lee, 21 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have read your report of the 17th of May relative to the conduct of Dr Stephens and Mr. Mayer & the documents under the labell useful. I have also read the report of the late Secretary of State of May 12th on the same subject & agree with both, that the conduct of Dr. Stephens ought to be approved and that Mr Mayer ought to be removed from his office. Mr. Hammond may be appointed to succeed...
47To John Adams from Charles Lee, 28 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
With infinite pleasure I inform you that Genl. Marshall has accepted the office of secretary of state. With perfect respect / I remain Sir your / most obed sert MHi : Adams Papers.
48To John Adams from Charles Lee, 29 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday morning I had the honor to write to you from Philadelphia that a letter from Genl. Marshall had been received at the office of State expressing his respectful acknowledgements for the honor you had conferred on him in appointing him Secretary of State, which he had accepted. As this letter may not meet overtake you, I now repeat a peice of intelligence very important to the United...
49To John Adams from Charles Lee, 12 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
In deferring my answer to the letter which I had the honor to receive relative to your speech to Congress I was induced from the expectation of authentic information relative to the most recent state of the negotiations between this country and the great nations of England & France. These are topicks which every one expects to find embraced in the speech. Though the newspapers last from...
50Enclosure: John Adams to James McHenry, Timothy Pickering, Oliver Wolcott, Junior, and Charles Lee, 24 January 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
The President of the U S. requests the Secy of State, the Secy of the treasury, the Secy of War and the Atty. general to take into consideration the state of the nation and its foreign relations especially with France. These indeed may be so connected with these, with England Spain Holland and others that perhaps the former cannot be well weighed without the other. If our Envoys extraordinary...