1To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 2 August 1789 (Washington Papers)
Sometime ago Mr Fitzhugh, of Chatham, gave me a list of tickets in Colo. Byrd’s lottery, in which yourself, several other gentlemen, as well as my father or uncle (I forget which) were jointly interested. He promised to procure, if possible, some more authentic grounds for proceeding in the recovery of the prize, and, if I do not mistake, he expected further information from you. I will thank...
2To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 22 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
Immediately upon the receipt of your private communication of my appointment, I wrote to you with a head, very much disordered by a fever. As soon as I recovered, I should have written to you again, had I not heard of your tour to the East. By this time I presume you have returned, & therefore beg leave to inform you, that I shall leave Virginia on the 15th of January for New-York. The reason,...
3To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 26 November 1789 (Washington Papers)
Since my last, written about five days ago, the committee of the whole house have been engaged in the amendments from congress. Mr Henry’s motion, introduced about three weeks past, for postponing the consideration of them, was negatived by a great majority. The first ten were easily agreed to. The eleventh and twelfth were rejected 64 against 58. I confess, that I see no propriety in adopting...
4To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 6 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
When I had the honor of writing to you last, the amendments had, I believe, been under consideration in a committee of the whole, and ten were adopted, and the two last rejected. Upon the report being made to the house, and without a debate of any consequence, the whole twelve were ratified. They are now with the senate, who were yesterday employed about them. That body will attempt to...
5To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 11 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
The senate rejected the third, eighth, eleventh and twelfth amendments. The delegates disagreed to that rejection; and yesterday was spent in a conference between the two houses. I am informed, that the senate are determined to receive the 1st 2d 4th 5th 6th 7th 9th and 10th amendments only. This will probably oblige the delegates to give the rest up for the present. But the responsibility for...
6To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 15 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
Your friendly favor of the 30th Ultimo is this moment delivered to me. My three last letters since the 8th of October have, I hope, been received, and will satisfy you of my having determined to proceed to New York about the 15th of next month. You may be assured, that Mr Wythe neither wished nor expected to be the successor of Mr Pendleton. I will candidly tell you the reason, upon which this...
7To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 23 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
I returned from the assembly the day before yesterday. Since my last nothing material has occurred in either house; except that the bill is passed, authorizing restitution to be made of Abingdon to Mr Alexander, if you shall approve. I found a fortunate moment for a conversation with Mr Wythe. He repeated what I wrote to you in answer to your favor of the 30th Ulto. Indeed he declared himself...
8To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 5 February 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 5 Feb. 1790. GW mentions in his 13 Feb. 1790 letter to Randolph “your letter to me of the 5th inst.”
9To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 10 February 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 10 Feb. 1790. In a letter to Randolph of 10 Feb. 1790 GW refers to Randolph’s letter “of this date.” He again mentions “your letter of yesterday” when writing to Randolph on 11 February.
10To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 13 February 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 13 Feb. 1790. In a letter to Randolph of 13 Feb. 1790 , GW states “I have received your letter of this morning.”
11To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 12 August 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 12 Aug. 1790. In a letter to Randolph of 12 Aug. 1790 GW referred to “your letter of this date.”
12To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 24 August 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 24 Aug. 1790. In a letter to Randolph, 26 Aug. 1790 , GW refers to Randolph’s letter “of the 24th inst.”
13To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 9 September 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 9 Sept. 1790. GW’s 22 Sept. 1790 letter to Randolph mentions having received the attorney general’s “letters of the 9th and 10th instant” (see Shubael Swain to GW, 3 Sept. 1790, n.5 ).
14To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 10 September 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 10 Sept. 1790. GW wrote to the attorney general on 22 Sept. 1790 and mentioned receiving Randolph’s “letters of the 9th and 10th instant” (see Shubael Swain to GW, 3 Sept. 1790, n.5 ).
15To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 26 September 1790 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 26 Sept. 1790. In his 3 Oct. 1790 letter to Randolph , GW referred to the attorney general’s “letter of the 26 ultimo.” Randolph’s letter from Philadelphia informed the president of the capture of one of the Pine Creek Indian murderers (see GW to Timothy Pickering, 4 Sept. 1790 [first letter], source note , and to Randolph, 3 Oct. 1790 ).
16To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 10 January 1791 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of informing you, that the plan for opening a contract with the woollen manufacturer, appears, as far as I am able to judge, to be proper in itself, and likely to be approved by the legislature of Virginia. But I must confess, that I have paid more attention to the propriety of the President, undertaking a correspondence with the British Artist. I am told and believe,...
17To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 12 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
I had arranged a course of animadversions to be transmitted to you, on the expediency of the Bank-bill—but after the recollection of the two conversations, which I have had the honor of holding with you on this subject, I am uncertain whether its expediency constitutes a part of your enquiry from me. If it should be your pleasure, that I should enter into this branch of the question, I can...
18To George Washington from Thomas Jefferson and Edmund Randolph, 14 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
The opinion is, 1. that the attorney for the district of Kentucky do forthwith take the most effectual measures for prosecuting according to law O’Fallon; and that he be informed, that unless the testimony within his reach will clearly subject him to the charge of treason, the prosecution be for a riot. 2. that a proclamation issue, reciting the treaties, law and further proclamation on this...
19To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 13 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
Having been engaged in court from the time of my leaving you yesterday, for the greater part of the day, I had not an opportunity of conversing with Mr Lewis, until the evening. He has committed to paper the result of his mind, in consequence of my interview with him, and I do myself the honor of inclosing it to you. I was indirectly informed that Judge Yeates would not be induced, upon any...
20To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 23 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
In preparing the letter, which I had the honor of addressing to you on the 20th instant, respecting the controversy between the governors of Pennsylvania and Virginia, I kept in view the propriety of saying something of a reference to congress, and of ascertaining the time, when you would probably choose to interpose in such disputes. Presuming, that you would not wish to confirm more of the...
21To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 12 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
If the Foederal laws were ever so precise in censuring the conduct, to which you alluded in your communication to me on Saturday last, I should doubt, whether the source of your information is not too delicate to become the groundwork of a public act. Courts would be very reluctant in extracting testimony from the mouth of an associate, and perhaps the character of government demands, that...
22To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 1 October 1791 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 1 Oct. 1791. On 10 Oct. GW informed Randolph : “I received your communications of the 1st instant.”
23To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 21 January 1792 (Washington Papers)
By the papers, which I have now the honor of returning to you, a wish seems to be expressed, that the President should recommend to congress a digest of federal law, the appointment of one person only to such a service, and the selection of the author of those papers for that work. Whether at a future day, when congress shall appear to have neglected or slumbered over, the subject, it may be...
24To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 1 February 1792 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 1 Feb. 1792. In a letter of 2 Feb. to Randolph, Tobias Lear mentioned “the Atty Genls note of last evening” to the president. Tobias Lear informed Edmund Randolph: “the President thinks it proper that the Atty Genl should proceed in Cottrell’s case in the manner mentioned in the Atty Genls note of last evening as the result of the conference between him...
25To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 28 February 1792 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 28 Feb. 1792. On 2 Mar. Tobias Lear wrote Randolph “that the President received the Attorney General’s letter of the 28th of february.” By the president’s command Tobias Lear wrote Edmund Randolph that GW was “of opinion that it would be inexpedient for a pardon to issue for a person against whom an indictment is depending for false swearing. The...
26IV: From Edmund Randolph, 4 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
The attorney general of the U.S. has the honor of reporting to the President of the U.S., on the representation-bill, as follows: The points, which involve the question of constitutionality, are three: The bill does not announce in terms the principle of proceeding, either in the establishment of the total number of 120, or its apportionment among the states. Some principle, however, it must...
27To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 5 April 1792 (Washington Papers)
Both Mr Blair and Mr Wilson are now at Trenton. I have never heard Mr Blair say a syllable upon the subject of the representation bill. Some days ago I met Mr Wilson in Sixth Street, and he stopped to ask me, whether Mr Blair had communicated to me an idea, which both of them entertained on a late law of the present session, requiring the judges of the circuit courts to hear applications of...
28To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 5 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter has been delayed, longer than I intended. But whenever I have sat down to finish it, I have been unexpectedly interrupted. I trust, however, that it will reach you, before you shall have taken your definitive resolution. I have seen Fraunces thrice at the house; and he has informed me each time, that every thing was right. Parties run high here in the choice of electors and...
29To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 5 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have persuaded myself, that this letter, tho’ unconnected with any official relation, and upon a subject, to the decision of which you alone are competent, will be received in the spirit, with which it is written. The Union, for the sake of which I have encountered various embarrassments, not wholly unknown to you, and sacrificed some opinions, which, but for its jeopardy, I should never...
30To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 13 August 1792 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 13 Aug. 1792. On 26 Aug., GW wrote Randolph “to acknowledge the receipt of your favors of the 5th & 13th instt.”
31To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 26 August 1792 (Washington Papers)
Mr Bordley, who wrote the inclosed pamphlet, thought it too unimportant to present it to you with form. He therefore requested me, if an opportunity offered, to send it to Mount Vernon. Since I had the honor of writing to you last, nothing has occurred, worthy of a special mention. The arrivals from Europe have brought nothing; and no incidents in the political line attract any notice, except...
32To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 10 September 1792 (Washington Papers)
When I had the honor of receiving your favor of the third instant, I was too much indisposed by a fever to answer it by the return of the mail. The movements, said to be meditated at the next session of the Virginia assembly, are the disfranchisement of the excise-officers, by taking from them the right of suffrage, and also the establishment of a state-bank, in opposition to the Branch Bank....
33To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 28 October 1792 (Washington Papers)
On revolving the subjects, with which I am officially connected, I discover none, deserving the notice of congress, except those, which are comprehended in the necessity of reforming our judicial system. The detail of them would be almost infinite; and certainly too minute for a communication from the executive: Nor can the congress forget the admonitions, which they have already received on...
34To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 30 January 1793 (Washington Papers)
Mr Randolph presents his respectful compliments to the President; and incloses a memorandum of some intelligence, which he yesterday procured from Mr Campbell, the district-attorney, on the state of Virginia affairs. Mr R. thought, that it might not be unacceptable to the President; as it comes from a gentleman of Character, just from the theatre of the discontents. AL , DLC:GW . Randolph...
35To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 14 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have revolved with great attention the matter of the letter, which you yesterday did me the honor of confiding to my perusal. Convulsed as we are, I cannot but believe, that there is scarcely a man in the government, whom party will not sooner or later destine for an attack. A communication therefore, which seems even to be tinctured with particular objects, will naturally excite caution. I...
36To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 18 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
I have made the inquiries, which you suggested this morning, from men, well-acquainted with the three characters. Mr Cook appears to possess integrity, industry, punctuality, and the qualities, suited to a collecting lawyer. Upon the scale of eminence, he has no just pretensions; altho’ his vanity occasions him frequently to discover, that he conceives himself inferior to none of any bar. Mr...
37To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 22 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of presenting to you some of those views, which the very delicate affair of the removal affords, and the result of a provisional inquiry, which I set on foot. 1. The charges have come in an ambiguous form; half-private, half-public; and it must be uncertain, until the arrival of the new-minister from France, to what extent those charges are to be pressed. To seize so...
38To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 28 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
I did not receive the letter, with which you honored me this morning, until my return from the Statehouse at 4 O’clock this afternoon. I determined last night, not to communicate with Mr H——s; because I suspected his own opinion to have a wrong tendency; and I have not been always satisfied, that his conduct has not savoured of management or perhaps cunning. Mr Madison, who knows the other...
39To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 5 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
The only additional inquiry, which I have been able to make, concerning Mr S——l, was from Mr Brown; who thinks that the inclinations of that gentleman are strong towards peace; but that he would not hesitate to contend with zeal for any boundary, which his instructions might prescribe. Indeed, if a doubt of his tendency on this head should be considered as the only objection to him, I suspect,...
40To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 25 March 1793 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 25 Mar. 1793. GW wrote Randolph on 27 Mar. , acknowledging “your letter to me of the 25t[h] inst.”
41To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, April 1793 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, April 1793. GW wrote Tobias Lear on 12 April that the “enclosed from the Attorney General I return to him through your hands.”
42To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 6 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
The attorney-general has the honor of reporting to the President, on the questions propounded for consideration, as follows: Altho’ the questions are separately stated; yet are they in general so interwoven in substance, that the discussion of one must frequently run into others. The proclamation has announced the neutrality of the U.S. With this almost every citizen is in unison; and the few,...
43Memorandum from Edmund Randolph, 17 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
The attorney general has the honor of submitting to the President the following opinion. It appears, that a privateer has been equipped and commissioned at Charleston in South Carolina, under the authority of the French government; and was at the same time manned in part by American citizens: that on the high seas she captured an English vessel; and that both of them are now in the port of...
44To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 18 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Private) [Philadelphia] May 18. 1793. E. Randolph presents his sincere respects to the President. I was from home, sir, on the business of your letter, when you did me the honor of stopping at our house. I really believe, that restitution is the wish of the majority of the merchants. But I find, that they do not distinguish the cases very accurately. Some, when they speak of restitution,...
45Cabinet Opinion on Sending an Agent to the Choctaws, 1–5 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
That an Agent be sent to the Choctaw nation to endeavor secretly to engage them to support the Chickasaws in their present war with the Creeks, giving them for that purpose arms and ammunition sufficient: and that it be kept in view that if we settle our differences amicably with the Creeks, we at the same time mediate effectually the peace of the Chickasaws & Choctaws, so as to rescue the...
46To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 11 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
On my arrival at Baltimore, Colo. S. Smith gave me a very early and easy opportunity of conversing with him on the subject of his letter to Colo. Hamilton. He repeated the same alarm, as still existing in the breasts of the merchants; adding, however, a confidence in the executive, as being better qualified to judge, from a comprehensive view of our situation. My explanations were apparently...
47To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 24 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
Soon after I had the honor of writing to you from Annapolis, I found an occasion of entering into discourse with the governor of Maryland on the subject of our political situation. He appeared to have been caught by the same apprehensions, as had taken hold of the people of Baltimore; and was very minute in his inquiries. Some hours afterwards he called at my lodgings, and in the presence of...
48To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 24 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
Mr Randolph has the honor of returning to the President Colo. Smith’s letter. Mr R. begs leave to suggest, whether it may not be proper to add to the instruction, to be given to Mr Jefferson concerning Mr Genet’s conduct, that he should state the verbal conversations with him, which respected the granting of commissions within the U.S., and the order, that the privateers, so commissioned,...
49To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 2 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter from A. G. Fraunces contains insinuations, which are undoubtedly without grounds, as I verily believe. Still they are of such a nature, as to render it too delicate, to pass them by without notice. On the other hand, the gentleman, who is spoken of, has a title to know a charge, like that expressed in the letter. Permit me therefore to suggest, that the papers be put...
50Cabinet Opinion on the Rules of Neutrality, 3 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
August 3. 1793 The foregoing rules having been considered by us at several meetings, and being now unanimously approved, they are submitted to the President of the United States. DS , in George Taylor, Jr.’s writing, DLC:GW ; copy (letterpress copy), DLC : Jefferson Papers; LB , DLC:GW ; Df , in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC : Jefferson Papers; copy, DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793–1795,...