1To George Washington from Charles Lee, 3 July 1789 (Washington Papers)
Having long served as the custom house officer of South Patowmack and I trust with the approbation of my country, I have been induced to express my wishes to be reappointed in the same department least my silence should be misunderstood. I pray leave at this time to mention Mr Richard Marshall Scott as a person from long experience in this line of business capable and deserving of any office...
2To George Washington from Charles Lee, 12 September 1790 (Washington Papers)
Alexandria [Va.], 12 Sept. 1790. Informs GW of his readiness to comply with the secretary of the treasury’s orders to provide the president with any required funds in his hands. ALS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. Alexander Hamilton wrote to the collector of customs at Alexandria on 26 Aug. 1790 that “I had this morning the honor of a Message from the President of the United States...
3To George Washington from Charles Lee, 4 April 1793 (Washington Papers)
The objects which I have in veiw at this time will not permit me conveniently to continue in the Office of Collector at Alexandria which you were pleased to entrust to me. About the 12th of this month I shall have occasion to leave town and previously it is my wish to deliver up all my official books documents & papers to my successor and I am therefore to request that you will be pleased to...
4To George Washington from Charles Lee, 18 July 1795 (Washington Papers)
Some time ago I received from mr Gill your letter with the papers accompanying it for the purpose of preparing an instrument according to your instructions, which I regret could not have been done before now on account of my absence with my family from town on account of the Small pox. Only last teusday we returned and I mention this to excuse mr Gill as well as myself for the delay which has...
5To George Washington from Charles Lee, 30 November 1795 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your letter of the 19th to which I take the earliest opportunity of answering. In expressing my willingness to accept the office of Attorney General of the United States, I do it with the utmost diffidence of my competency and can only assure you I will endeavour to discharge its important duties with diligence and fidelity. I had been arranging for a retired life, but...
6To George Washington from Charles Lee, 18 January 1796 (Washington Papers)
Upon the Petition of Robert Randall the Attorney General reports most respectfully to the President of the United States That to attempt to corrupt the intergrity of a member of the legislature in his legislative functions, by offering to him a bribe in money, land or other valuable commodity is an offence indictable at common law and most properly cognisable in a court of justice. It is a...
7To George Washington from Charles Lee, 20 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have very little doubt, that Mr John Marshall would not act as a commissioner under the treaty with Great Britain for deciding on the claims of creditors. I have been long acquainted with his private affairs and I think it almost impossible for him to undertake that office. If he would, I know not any objection that subsists against him—1st He is not a debtor, 2d He cannot be benefitted or...
8To George Washington from Charles Lee, 26 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
It is my opinion that the house of representatives have not a right by the constitution to demand and obtain the papers described in their resolution of the 24th instant without the consent of the President. I am not acquainted with those papers, but supposing they contain nothing which may not be disclosed to the public I think it will be expedient under the circumstances of this particular...
9To George Washington from Charles Lee, 29 March 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have examined with care the journals of the house of representatives and I have not met with any act of your administration which contradicts your present opinion relative to the right of that house to participate in making treaties, or any other part of your intended message. Col. Pickering was desired to express this as my opinion, and least he should omit it I have thought it necessary to...
10To George Washington from Charles Lee, 18 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have conversed with Mr Rawle on the petition of Daniel Hamilton for a pardon of his offence and on the petition of Daniel Leet and others for a general pardon of all those concerned in the late western insurrection to whom the clemency of government has not yet been extended. We concur in opinion that so long as any offender keeps himself out of the power of that court to which he is...
11To George Washington from Charles Lee, 22 April 1796 (Washington Papers)
There is reason to believe unless the Congress during their present Session shall make some addition to the fees or emoluments now allowed to the Attornies of the United States in the several Districts, that some of the most useful of those Officers will resign and their vacancies I fear it will be found impossible to fill with fit persons. None but eminent Counsel ought to be called to those...
12To George Washington from Charles Lee, 8 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
I have been reflecting on the train of measures to be pursued respecting the western posts which yesterday seemed to meet your approbation. The subject was new to me then, and therefore I hope you will excuse me for presenting to your better judgment the result of mine on the letter proposed to be written to Lord Dorchester. That part of it which is to express an acquiescence on your part in...
13To George Washington from Charles Lee, 20 May 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General having considered the information contained in Mr Wolcott’s note of the 19th instant most respectfully reports. That it affords reasonable ground to believe that the Republic of France has serious expectations to obtain from the King of Spain all or a part of his territories on the continent of North America, and contemplating a separation in government of the Western from...
14To George Washington from Charles Lee, 4 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General having taken into mature consideration “the act for the relief and protection of American Seamen” which grew out of the bill “for the relief and protection of American Seamen” passed in the house of representatives of the United States on the 28th march 1796 and afterwards amended in the Senate, the opinions of William Lewis and William Rawle thereupon, the letter from the...
15To George Washington from Charles Lee, 7 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
After bestowing the best consideration upon the several matters mentioned in your letter of the 6th I had formed an opinion that our minister plenipotentiary at Paris, ought not to be permitted to continue there, any longer than until the arrival of his Successor; and that it was not only expedient but absolutely necessary that he should be immediately recalled and another minister appointed....
16To George Washington from Charles Lee, 14 February 1797 (Washington Papers)
I have examined the journals of the House of Representatives and also of the Senate respecting your message to Congress of the 18th of February 1793 accompanied with a report and plot of the territory of the United States on Patowmack. In each House an order was made that the message lie on the table. On the next day the Clerk of the House of Representatives delivered to the Senate a message...