To George Washington from James McHenry, 13 May 1796
From James McHenry
13 May 1796
Sir.
The Secry of the Treasury has mentioned to me this morning the substance of a communication, which he said he had imparted to you some time since. It respects certain instructions given by Mr Adet to persons who are on their road to the Western Country which affect and may bring into danger the peace and safety of the U.S.1
I inclose you papers containing matter apparently connected with this subject; that of the 24 was sent me, perhaps a week ago, by Mr Pickering; those tied together, I had to-day from General Wayne.2
When I conjoin with these circumstances, some of a private and others of a public nature, all tending to the same issue, there is too much room for apprehending a serious crisis to be approaching, which it may be proper to have the means to dissipate.
I have said to Mr Woolcot, that I thought such instructions as he mentioned, would justify the President to direct the persons employed to execute them to be seized. If this can be done with propriety, and the instructions be as represented, and can be obtained, their publication, at a fit moment, might be attended with the happiest consequences.
All these things together have made such an impression on my mind that I cannot help mentioning it to you for your own reflexions.3
Col. Rochfontaine has changed his request and now prefers a court of Enquiry. I have of course changed the order I had given to General Wayne to accord with his request.4 With the sincerest respect I am Sir your most ob. st
James McHenry
ALS, DLC:GW; LB, DLC:GW; ADf, MiU-C: James McHenry Papers.
1. Secretary of the Treasury Oliver Wolcott, Jr., probably conversed with GW (see Wolcott’s statement, 19 May).
2. Charles-Joseph Warin had sent Pickering on 24 March his resignation as an army engineer, written in French (MHi: Pickering Papers). McHenry may have enclosed a translation of Warin’s letter. The other enclosures have not been identified.
3. McHenry wrote Gen. Anthony Wayne privately on 25 May: “The President has received information that certain emissaries are employed and paid, to gain a knowledge of our military posts in the Western country, and to encourage and stimulate the people in that quarter to secede from the union, and form a political and seperate connexion with a foreign power.” The remainder of the letter identified the emissaries as Victor Collot, Thomas Power, and Warin. It also authorized their arrest and the seizure of their papers ( 481–84; see also Charles Lee to GW, 20 May, and McHenry to GW, 2 July, n.4).
4. On 12 May, McHenry wrote Wayne, enclosing charges exhibited against Stephen Rochefontaine by officers of the corps of artillery and engineers. Noting Rochefontaine’s desire for a court of inquiry, McHenry directed Wayne to order a court “to sit at West Point” and to “endeavour to form it of unprejudiced and the most enlightened Officers” ( 481). An undated document headed “Charges against Lieut. Col. Rochefontaine” listed conduct unbecoming an officer, neglect of duty, incompetence, and “Violating the laws of the United States in public orders” (PHi: Wayne Papers). McHenry’s earlier order on this subject has not been identified.