31To 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...
32To 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.”
33To 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...
34To 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....
35To 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...
36To 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...
37To 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...
38To 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...
39To 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...
40To 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...
41To 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,...
42To 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.”
43To 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.”
44To 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,...
45Memorandum 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...
46To 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,...
47Cabinet 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...
48To 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...
49To 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...
50To 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,...
51To 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...
52Cabinet 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,...
53Cabinet Opinion on French Privateers, 3 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
That The Minister of the French Republic be informed that the President considers the U. States as bound pursuant to positive assurances, given in conformity to the laws of neutrality, to effectuate the restoration of, or to make compensation for, prizes which shall have been made of any of the parties at war with France subsequent to the fifth day of June last by privateers fitted out of...
54To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 5 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Mr Randolph presents his respectful compliments to the President; and has the honor of inclosing to him the paper, on which he had committed his opinion, as to the calling of congress, and which he intended to have transcribed. But as he is now engaged in consultation with the heads of the departments, and is on the point of being called to the court, he begs the favor of the President to...
55Enclosure Edmund Randolph’s Opinion on Convening Congress, 5 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
On the question, whether congress be now called, At a past day this question was agitated; and it was an unanimous opinion, that congress should not be then called. A revision of that opinion confirms me in its propriety. Some farther reasons therefore, amounting to what the constitution calls an “ extraordinary occasion ” must have occurred since; before if that opinion is to be relinquished....
56To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 13 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
I am perfectly satisfied, that the conduct of the treasury as to Mr Fraunces has been right in all its parts. The kind of paper, which he holds, is suspicious; the particular paper is suspicious; it may have been already paid by the public; at any rate the extent of the allowance of such a claim, as circumstances now appear, cannot be foreseen. Fraunces himself ought to be convinced, that he...
57To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 21 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
Recollecting an expression in the letter, which was considered yesterday, respecting the motives of the jury in acquitting Hanfield, I made a particular enquiry this morning. I find, that the leading man among them expressed himself thus: “People must not suppose, that because Henfield was acquitted, every person in his situation would be. On the contrary, his declaration, that he would never...
58Cabinet Opinion on the Recall of Edmond Genet, 23 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
At meetings of the heads of departments & the Attorney General at the President’s on the 1st & 2d of Aug. 1793. On a review of the whole of mister Genet’s correspondence & conduct, it was unanimously agreed that a letter should be written to the Minister of the U.S. at Paris, stating the same to him, resuming the points of difference which had arisen between the government of the U.S. & mister...
59Cabinet Opinions on the Roland and Relations with Great Britain, France, and the Creek Indians, 31 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the Heads of departments & Attorney General at the President’s on the 31st day of Aug. 1793. A letter from mister Gore to mister Lear, dated Boston Aug. 24. was read, stating that the Roland, a privateer fitted out at Boston & furnished with a commission under the government of France, had sent a prize into that port, which being arrested by the Marshal of the district by...
60To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 3 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 3 Oct. 1793. On 14 Oct. GW wrote Randolph : “I have received yours of the 3d instt.”
61To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 13 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the honor of writing to you about ten days ago; since which time we have been in daily hopes and expectation, that a change in the temperature of the air would arrest the progress of the fever. But we are still without rain or cold. Our accounts from Philadelphia are hourly more and more gloomy; whether we consider the number of the deceased, of new patients, or of orphan...
62To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 14 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Edmund Randolph, 14 Oct. 1793. On 23 Oct. GW wrote Randolph : “Your letter of the 14th only came by the Post of last night, to Alexandria.”
63To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 22 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
On my return from Lancaster, I found, that Major Franks had agreed to let you have his house. But the terms are excessive; being no less than 150£ per annum, or for a shorter period, not under six months, at the same rate. Except a looking-glass or two, and a few pictures, he will not suffer any of the furniture to remain; tho’ I have prevailed upon his agent to permit a couple of beds and...
64To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 24 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
My messenger, who carried into Philadelphia yesterday the letter, which I had the honor of addressing to you at Baltimore, brought from the post-office your favor of the 14th instant. It is but lately, that I could procure an intercourse with it: but he will go in again tomorrow, in order to convey this letter, and receive any others, which you may have thought proper to write to me. I have...
65Enclosure: Draft for “A Proclamation By the President of the United States”, 24 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
Whereas the situation of public affairs requires, that the ensuing session of congress should not be postponed beyond the first monday in december next, being the day appointed by the constitution of the United States for the assembling thereof; and there is reason to doubt, whether the city of Philadelphia, the temporary seat of government, which for some time past hath laboured under a...
66To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 26 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
I had this moment the honor of receiving your letter of the 23d instant by a special messenger from Philadelphia. As he is impatient to return, and I mean to write a duplicate for Elkton, I will trouble you with but a short communication. At Baltimore and Elkton, two letters of different dates are waiting for your arrival; one written on the 23d, the other on the 25th instant. Since the...
67To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 28 October 1793 (Washington Papers)
By the time, when this letter is delivered to you by Major Lenox, you will have received the different letters, which I forwarded to you at Baltimore and Elkton, stating, among other things, what I had done concerning your lodgings. Colo. Franks not being in town, and his agent not being willing to let the house for any period, short of six months, I could not combine the objects, which you...
68To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 2 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
The attorney general of the United States has the honor of submitting to the President of the United States the following considerations on the power and propriety of convening congress to a place, different from the city of Philadelphia. The constitution declares, that “neither house, during the session of congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more, than three days,...
69To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 10 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
(Private) Sir. Spencer’s [Germantown, Pa.] Novr 10. 1793. After I parted from you last night, I obtained a promise from Mr Dunlap, the printer, to bring out on monday his file of newspapers. This renders it unnecessary for me to continue my request as to yours. But while I am thus led to recollect, that you meditate a visit to the city to morrow, permit me to suggest one consideration. The...
70To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 24 November 1793 (Washington Papers)
Upon the proceedings against Ensign Morgan two questions may arise. The first is, whether the President, as the constitutional commander in chief of the army, ought to pass his judgment on them; and if he ought, the second will be, whether the sentence of the court-martial is supported by the testimony, and the articles of war. When the subject was opened yesterday for consideration, and I had...
71To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 24 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
Permit me either to have a personal interview with you on thursday, if the eruption on my hand will permit, or to write to you a candid opinion upon your kind, and always too friendly conduct towards me. I hope, that this delay will not be too long. I have the honor to be, Dear sir, with sincere and affectionate attachment and respect yr obliged humble serv. ALS , DLC:GW . The next Thursday...
72To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 2 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of inclosing to you a certificate from Judge Wilson, of my having qualified, as secretary of state. A duplicate is deposited among the files of the office. I must intreat you, sir, to receive my very affectionate acknowledgments, for the various instances of your confidence; and to be assured, that, let the consequence be, what it may, in this perilous office, no...
73To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 3 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of observing to you this morning, that the commissioners ought not, in my opinion, nor indeed in the opinion of Mr Jefferson and Mr Madison, to abandon the legal title to the lots sold. The facility, which occurred to me, was, that the commissioners might by a power of attorney authorize Mr Pinckney or any other of our ministers residing at places abroad, where Mr Greenleaf...
74To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 4 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
I must beg the favor of you to cast your eye over the list of business, which remains to be acted on in this office. My object in making this request is, that, if any part of it should deserve a priority, different from that, which I shall pursue in executing it, you would be pleased to suggest it. The order, in which I mean to take the subjects up, is according to the numbers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5....
75To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 4 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
I have examined the journal of the proceedings of the Executive in the territory North West of the Ohio. It is very little more, than a history of bickerings and discontents, which do not require the attention of the President. I shall therefore forbear to send it to you, unless you should call for it. The laws of that territory are now under transcription, that they may be forwarded to...
76To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 7 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State, after reviewing the letters from our Ministers, unanswered, has the honor to report to the President as follows: Three of those letters are from Messrs Carmichael and Short jointly of June 6th Aug. 15th and Sep. 29th in the last year. The first, which is the only important one, pressed for new instructions, adapted to the new relations, which had sprung up between the...
77To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 8 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of State has the honor of informing the President of the United States, that he examined Mr Rittenhouse on the third instant, as to the state of the mint and received from him the inclosed answer. LB , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. The enclosed answer from David Rittenhouse has not been identified.
78To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 11 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
Mr Jefferson has noted among the papers, which accompany the Algerine communications, that “there is no fund, out of which the hire of the Swedish vessel can be paid.” I beg leave therefore to submit, to your consideration, Whether you will order payment of Mr Church’s bill, to the amount of one hundred and fifty pounds sterling, out of the contingent fund in your disposal. I have the honor,...
79To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 11 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
I saw Mr Bourne and Mr Bradford together yesterday. The former is disinclined to the office of district attorney, saying, among many other things by way of objection, that nothing would tempt him to bring down upon him the fire of both parties. They agreed in the superiority of Howell as to talents; but as he never read the law, until he began to practise, I cannot conceive, that he possesses...
80To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 13 January 1794 (Washington Papers)
E. Randolph has the honor of sending to the President the inclosed letter, which came from the Post-office. E.R. cannot ascertain, whether it came by the mail, or some vessel recently arrived here. E.R. will thank the President to direct Mr Dandridge to inclose it, after he has read it. AL , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA : RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His...