1Cabinet Opinion on the Administration of the Presidential Oath, 28 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
If the qualification is to be in private, T.J, A.H H.K and E.R, are of opinion, that Mr Cushing should administer the oath to the President at his own house, where such officers, or others, as He may notify, will attend. T.J. and A.H. think, that it ought to be in private. H.K. and E.R. on the other hand think, that the qualification ought to be in public: and that the Marshal of the district...
2Cabinet 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...
3Cabinet Opinion, 7 December 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments & Attorney Genl at the President’s on the 7th of Dec. 1793. Mr Genet’s letter of Dec. 3. questioning the right of requiring the address of Consular commissions to the President was read. it is the opinion that the address may be either to the U.S. or to the President of the U.S. but that one of these shoud be insisted on. A letter from James King was...
4Enclosure: Cabinet Opinion on an Address from the Democratic Society of Washington County, Pennsylvania, 14 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
The President wishes your opinion, as to the step, proper to be taken, upon the inclosed address. To send to congress, what the President thinks unfit for himself, will be unkindly received; being uncivil in itself. To acknowledge the body, as such, is in every view inadmissible. So that the question seems to turn upon this; whether it be better to treat the paper with unqualiffied and silent...
5Cabinet Opinion on the Administration of the Presidential Oath, 1 March 1793 (Washington Papers)
It is our opinion, My opinion given yesterday was founded on prudential considerations of the moment; though I think it right in the abstract to give publicity to the Act in question. If this is to be done on the present occasion, I see no objection to the above form. I am not, however, satisfied that prudential considerations are not equally ballanced. LS , DLC:GW ; copy, NNGL : Knox Papers....
6To George Washington from the Cabinet, 2 July 1796 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to your directions, we have consulted together on the subject of your letter of the 24th of June; and we are of opinion that a direct explanation should be asked of Mr Adet, the minister of the French Republic, in the terms of the inclosed draught of a letter to him, which, as you desired, will be sent without delay. We are also of opinion that the Executive has not the power, in the...
7Cabinet Opinion on Georgia and the Creek Indians, 29 May 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President of the United States having assembled the heads of the respective departments and the attorney General, laid before them for their advice thereon, sundry communications from the Governor of Georgia, and others, relatively to the recent alarming depredations of the creek Indians upon the state of Georgia. Whereupon after the subject was maturely considered and discussed it was...
8Cabinet Opinion on Granting a Passport, 2 April 1794 (Washington Papers)
We are of the opinion, that a passport ought to be granted for a vessel under the above restrictions. I am inclined to think the vessel ought sail not only by the permission, but in consequence of the directions of the President. The same opinion. DS , DNA : RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters. This opinion appears at the bottom of a letter from Philadelphia merchant Thomas FitzSimons to Edmund...
9Cabinet Opinion on the United States Debt to France, 25 February 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President desires the opinions of the heads of the three departments and of the Attorney General on the following question, to wit. Mr Ternant having applied for money equivalent to three millions of livres to be furnished on account of our debt to France at the request of the Executive of that country, which sum is to be laid out in provisions within the U.S. to be sent to France, Shall...
10Cabinet Opinion on Foreign Vessels and Consulting the Supreme Court, 12 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of the departments at the President’s on summons from him, and on consideration of various representations from the Ministers Plenipotentiary of France & Great Britain on the subject of vessels arming & arriving in our ports, and of prizes it is their opinion that letters be written to the said Ministers informing them that the Executive of the U.S., desirous of...