To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 31 July 1795
From Edmund Randolph
Private.
Philadelphia July 31. 1795.
Sir
The only letter, which I had the honor of receiving from you by the mail of yesterday, was one written on monday the 27th instant late in the evening. I mention this circumstance, solely because the first paragraph of it renders it possible, that some other had been sent to the Post-office for the same mail.
Mr Woolcott, Colo. Pickering and myself agree in the draft of an answer, now enclosed.1 The first gentleman, however, doubted the propriety of answering all addresses. We thought that a distinction between them was impracticable—Mr Bradford could not be consulted; not being to be found.
About three months ago, I asked Capt. Truxtun to give me a statement of the East India Trade. Until yesterday I did not receive it. As it is sensible, I take the liberty of inclosing it for your perusal.2
Mr Hammond has not, as yet, communicated any part of his late advices from England; but I expect them hourly. He has complained of the indignity, offered to him and the British consul, by the burning of the treaty before their doors. I have sent his representation for the opinion of the attorney-general. But I am convinced, that neither law nor expediency will support any governmental movement.3 Indeed in the conversation, which had with him, he was very calm, and appeared to concur in the impossibility of a public measure, in relation to the event.
Mr Adet has been ill, ever since you left this city. So that I have not seen him, nor do I collect any of his opinions. He bolted into objections to the treaty so zealously, and retreated so suddenly, that I cannot help thinking, that he conceived, that he had in a degree committed his government.
Mr Fitzsimmons told me the day before yesterday, that he would ascertain the temper of the merchants here, as to a step, similar to that of the chamber of commerce at New-York.4
I have heard nothing of Mr Rutledge, or from him, except what I have already had the honor of writing to you.5
I wait only for the mail of tomorrow, which will bring your sense upon My memorial,6 to give out, what you have resolved to do. This is previously necessary, as the one must square with the other. I have the honor to be sir with the most respectful and affectionate attachment yr mo. ob. serv.
Edm: Randolph.
P.S. 9 O’clock a.m.
The Schuylkill has risen to the foot of the hill, on which the pump stands, as you descend to the middle ferry. The bridge and boat there are gone. I do not learn whether it be passable or not at any of the other ferries.
ALS, DLC:GW.
Also on 31 July, at “½ after 9 o’clock,” Randolph wrote to GW and enclosed “a letter just received from Mr Izard. The resolutions are not forwarded, as a copy is gone on to the President” (AL, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State).
1. As requested in GW’s letter of 27 July, Randolph enclosed a draft for an answer to the resolutions from New York: “I have received your letter of the [ ] covering resolutions of a meeting in New-York as The answer, which I have given on a similar occasion to the selectmen of Boston is applicable to those resolutions; I think it proper to transmit a copy thereof to you.” The undated draft, in Randolph’s writing, also included the variations for a response to the recent Philadelphia citizens meeting:
“Instead of resolutions say ‘the address.’
Instead of New-York say ‘Philadelphia.’
Instead of those resolutions say ‘that address.’”
This draft subsequently was used as a model for GW’s replies to other addresses to him about the Jay Treaty. Below the draft, GW added a list of the letters sent up to 14 Aug., directed to the individuals who had forwarded the addresses to him:
“Answers have been sent to
The Selectmen of Boston
| Doctr Shippen—Chairman of the Meeting in Phila. dated 12th Augt | ||
| Colo. Wm S. Smith Do Do | N. York | 12th Augt |
| Mr Alexr[Andrew] Dunscomb. Mayor | Richmond | Do Do |
| David McMechen & others | Baltimore | Do Do |
| Jonathan Warner | Portsmouth N.H. | Do Do |
| Colo. M. Furman | Trenton | 14 Augt |
| Jno. Dickenson Esqr. & others | Wilmington Del. | 14 Augt |
| Honble Jno. Mathews | Charleston S.C. | 14 Do” |
(AD, partly in Randolph’s writing, partly in GW’s, DLC:GW).
2. Randolph referred to a letter of 27 July from Thomas Truxton, who described advantages and disadvantages of the trade to India and China, as well as products generally taken to and from those lands, including tea, silk, calico and other cotton cloth, chinaware, spices, sugar and pepper (DLC:GW).
3. British minister George Hammond submitted a written statement to Randolph on 29 July in which he detailed the information about a recent protest against the Jay Treaty in Philadelphia: “a very numerous and tumultuous collection of the people assembled before the House of Mr Bond his Majesty’s Consul General, and after much clamour burnt a copy of the treaty.” The same group, which Hammond estimated at 300–400 in number, proceeded to his house, led by Blair McClenachan. There the crowd stood in front of the residence, “where after a great clamour” they burned another copy of the treaty. The selection of the two residences left “no doubt” in Hammond’s mind that “this outrage … was the design of the individuals concernd in it to offer an indignity to the British nation” (DNA: RG 59, Notes from the British Legation).
In a letter recorded as written on 29 July, William Bradford replied that “the conduct complained of is not an offence punishable by the existing laws of the United States, and that no prosecution grounded on it could be sustained by any of their courts” (DNA: RG 60, Letters from and Opinions of the Attorney General, 1791–1811). Randolph enclosed a copy of Bradford’s report to Hammond on 31 July “as expressive of the sense of Government.” Randolph “deeply regretted” the attacks but stated firmly, “the law is the only guide” (DNA: RG 59, Domestic Letters).
4. See the address of the New York Chamber of Commerce to GW, 21 July.
6. Randolph was referring to the proposed memorial to Hammond about the Jay Treaty ratification (see Randoph to GW, 20 July, n.4).