To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 26 March 1794
From Edmund Randolph
[Philadelphia] March 26. 1794.
The Secretary of State has the honor of sending to the President the translation of a declaration from Spain;1 And the President will be pleased to say, whether it be important enough to be sent to Congress.2
AL, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State.
1. The undated document begins with an expression of sorrow and indignation by Charles IV (1748–1819) of Spain at the execution of Louis XVI of France and an acknowledgment that he has been “necessitated to defend himself against the same Frenchmen, who, usurping the royal Authority and tyrannizing their fellow Subjects declared War to him, has resolved to make war in Opposition to his own natural and decided Reluctance to every Infringement of peace.” He also has decided to support those members of the royal family in prison and those Frenchmen who have rebelled against, or who will in the future rise up against, the current French government, and “to reinstate them in the unmolested Enjoyment of their Habitations and Property. . . . His Majesty is persuaded, that the Views of His Majesty, the King of Great Britain [George III] His Alley coincide therein, and does also not doubt but the other Powers that took up Arms in Combination against France, will on their part coöperate in supporting and protecting those Frenchmen, that will come forth ready to support So beneficial a Plan” (translation, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters).
2. No written reply from GW has been found. The declaration was not sent to Congress.