subsist between the two nations. His government will see too that the case is pressing. That it is impossible for two sovereign & independent authorities to be going on within our territory at the same time without collision. They will foresee that if mr. Genet perseveres in his proceedings, the consequences would be so hazardous to us, the example so humiliating & pernicious, that we may be forced even to suspend his functions before a successor can arrive to continue them. If our citizens have not already been shedding each other's blood, it is not owing to the moderation of mr. Genet, but to the forbearance of the government. It is well known that if the authority of the laws had been resorted to, to stop the Little Democrat, its officers and agents were to have been resisted by the crew of the vessel, consisting partly of American citizens. Such events are too serious, too possible, to be left to hazard, or to what is worse than hazard, the will of an agent whose designs are so mysterious. Lay the case then immediately before his government. Accompany it with assurances, which cannot be stronger than true, that our friendship for the nation is constant & unabating; that, faithful to our treaties, we have fulfilled them in every point to the best of our understanding; that if in anything, however, we have construed them amiss, we are ready to enter into candid explanations, & to do whatever we can be convinced is right; that in opposing the extravagances of an agent, whose character they seem not sufficiently to have known, we have been urged by motives of duty to ourselves & justice to others, which cannot but be approved by those who are just themselves; and finally, that after independence and self-government, there is nothing we more sincerely wish than perpetual friendship with them. I have the honor to be, with great respect & esteem, Dr Sir, your most obedient & most humble servant. TO JAMES MADISON. MAD. MSS. Aug. 18. 93. DEAR SIR-My last was of the 11th since which yours of the 5th & 11th are received. I am mortified at your not having your cypher. I now send the key of the numbers in mine of the 3rd this with my letter of the 11th by post & another of the same date by Davy Randolph who will be at Monticello the last week of this month will put you in possession of the state of things to that date. The paper I now inclose will fill up chinks & needs not a word of explanation. To these I must add that orders are given to drive out of our ports the privateers which have been armed in them before the 5th of June, by gentler means if it can be done, & if not by the ultima ratio: and we are seizing the prizes brought in since Aug. 7. to restore them to their owners. For those between June 5. & Aug. 7. we engage restitution or compensation. The enclosed paper will explain these distinctions of date, and justify the proceedings.--I return you the little thing of Ld. Chath's, because, for particular reasons, were it now to appear it would be imputed to me, & because it will have more effect if publa after the meeting of Congress.-I rejoice at the resurrection of Franklin. There was a charming thing from the same pen (I conjecture) on the subject of instrumentality late publ by Freneau from the Virga papers. -The addresses in support of the proclmn. are becoming universal, and as universal a rising in support of the President against Genet. Observe that the enclosed paper has only been read in cabinet for the 1st time as yet. On that reading H. objected to expressions implying a censure on other nations ("the war of liberty on herself &c."). He thought expressions of frdship to France suited the occasion. But R. protested against every expression of friendship to that nation lest they should offend the other party, and intimated that he should move to eradicate them all. It will pretty effectually tear up the instrument if he succeeds. Nous verrons Adieu. P. S. You are free to shew the enclosed to Colo. Monroe. If the appeal which I have mentioned to you should be pushed, I think that by way of compromise, I shall propose that instead of that, the whole correspondence be laid before Congress, merely as a matter of information. What would you think of this? TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. D. S. MSS. Aug, 22. 1793. Th. Jefferson has the honor to inclose to the President the letter of the National Assembly to him of Dec. 22. 92. It's most distinct object seems to have been to thank the US. for their succours to St. Domingo. It glances blindly however at commercial arrangements, and on the 19th of Feb. the same assembly passed the decree putting our commerce in their dominions on the footing of natives & directing their Executive Council to treat with us on the subject. On this the following questions arise. 1. Would the President chuse to answer the letter, acknoleging it's receipt, thanking them in turn for the favors to our commerce, and promising to consult the constitutional powers (the Senate) on the subject of the treaty proposed? 2. Would he rather chuse to make no reply to the letter, but that Mr. Morris be instructed to negociate a renewal of Mr. Genet's powers to treat to his successor? 3. Or would he chuse that nothing be said on the subject to any body? If the President would in his judgment be for a treaty on the principles of the decree, or any modification of them, the 1st or 2 measure will be to be adopted. If he is against a treaty on those principles or any modification of them, the 3 measure seems to be the proper one. TO THE U. S. MINISTER TO FRANCE. J. MSS. PHILADELPHIA, August 23, 1793. DEAR SIR,-The letter of the 16th instant, with its documents accompanying this, will sufficiently inform you of the transactions, which have taken place between Mr. Genet, the minister of France, and the Government here, and of the painful necessity they have brought on, of desiring his recall. The letter has been prepared, in the view of being itself, with its documents, laid before the Executive of the French Government. You will, therefore, be pleased to lay it before them, doing everything which can be done on your part, to procure it a friendly and dispassionate reception and consideration. The President would indeed. think it greatly unfortunate, were they to take it in any other light; and, therefore, charges you, very particularly, with the case of presenting this proceeding in the most soothing view, and as the result of an unavoidable necessity on his part. Mr. Genet, soon after his arrival, communicated the decree of the National Convention of February 19, 1793, authorizing their Executive to propose a treaty with us, on liberal principles, such as might strengthen the bonds of good will, which unite the two. nations; and informed us in a letter of May 23, that he was authorized to treat accordingly. The Senate being then in recess, and not to meet again till fall, I apprized Mr. Genet that the participation in matters of treaty, given by the Constitution to that branch of our Government, would, of course, delay any definitive answer to his friendly proposition. As he was sensible of this circumstance, the matter has been understood to lie over, till the meeting of Senate. You will be pleased, therefore, to explain to the Executive of France this delay, which has prevented, as yet, our formal accession to their proposition to treat; to assure them, that the President will meet them, with the most friendly dispositions, on the grounds of treaty proposed by the National Convention, as soon as he can do it in the forms of the Constitution; and you will, of course, suggest for this purpose, that the powers of Mr. Genet be renewed to his successor. CABINET OPINIONS ON RECALL OF GENET. J. MSS. Aug. 23d, 1793. At a meeting of the Heads of Department and the Attorney General at the President's, on the 1st and 2d of August, 1793, on a review of the whole of Mr. Genet's correspondence and conduct, it was unanimously agreed, that a letter should be written to the Minister of the United States at Paris, stating the same to him, resuming the points of difference which had arisen between the government of the United States and Mr. Genet, assigning the reasons for the opinions of the former, and desiring the recall of the latter; and that this letter, with those which have passed between Mr. Genet and the Secretary of State, and other necessary documents, shall be laid by Mr. Morris, before the Executive of the French government. At a meeting of the same at the President's, August 15th, the rough draft of the said letter, having been prepared by the Secretary of State, was read for consideration, and it was agreed that the Secretary of the Treasury should take measures for obtaining a vessel, either by hire or purchase, to be sent to France express with the dispatches when ready. At a meeting of the same at the President's, August 20th, said letter was read and corrected by paragraphs, and finally agreed to. At a meeting of the same at the President's, August 23d, it was agreed that the proceeding letter should bear the date of the last document which is to accompany it, to wit, August 16th; and unanimously approved, and to bear date this day. Sealed and signed this 23d day of August, 1793. TO JAMES MADISON. MAD. MSS. Aug. 25. 93. You will perceive by the enclosed papers that Genet has thrown down the gauntlet to the President by the publication of his letter & my answer, and is himself forcing that appeal to the public, & risking |