From George Washington to Timothy Pickering, 24 June 1796
To Timothy Pickering
Mount Vernon 24th June 1796.
Sir,
The information contained in a letter of which the enclosed is a correct copy, (with the reservation only of names, agreeably to the request of the writer) may serve as a comment upon the conduct of the Owner of the Privateer Flying Fish; and as a developement also of the intentions of the French government so far as it relates to the Commerce of the United States with Great Britain.1 The communications in the last numbers of the Aurora (that I have seen) afford still further evidence of this system, and are calculated most evidently to prepare the public mind for this event, at the sametime that they labour to make it appear that the Treaty with that Country is the cause of such conduct in France.2
The source from whence the information is derived, cannot, as to its authenticity & knowledge of facts, be doubted; of course if the persons thro’ whom it has passed to the reciter, are not mistaken in their details, the mos⟨t⟩ entire credit is to be given to the Account.
Under these impressions, and the serious aspect they present, it is my request that you, and the Secretaries of the Treasury and War would meet—Consult the Treaties—the Laws of Nations & of the United States, which have any relation to the subject—and, after mature deliberation, to Report to me your opinions of the measures which you conceive ought to be adopted under such information and circumstances—particularly
1st. Whether immediate explanation should be asked on this subject from the Minister of the French Republic, in Philadelphia—And in that case (which I am inclined to think is right) to proceed without delay, of sending to me, to make the requisition accordingly: unless from the tenor of the answer to the letter you had draughted before I left Philadelphia respecting the Capture of the Mount Vernon, it should, in your judgments, be rendered unnecessary.3
2d Whether there is power in the Executive, and in that case, whether it would be expedient in the recess of the Senate to send an Extra: character to Paris to explain the views of this Government, and to ascertain those of France. and in the affirmative of these, to suggest for my consideration the names of such persons as, in your opinions, are best qualified to subserve these purposes.
I shall expect to hear fully from you on this interesting subject; and shall only add that, if in the investigation of it my presence in Philadelphia is deemed necessary—or if any other occurrence should require my return before the time I had allotted for it, I can, and will set out for that place so soon as I am advertised of the necessity.4
Go: Washington
ALS, MHi: Pickering Papers; ADf, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State. The ALS reached Pickering on 28 June (see n.4 below).
1. For the enclosure, see Alexander Hamilton to GW, c.16 June. For the Flying Fish, see Pickering to GW, 12 June, n.2.
2. See the communications presented at Oliver Wolcott, Jr., to GW, 20 June, n.9.
3. Pickering had written French minister Pierre-Auguste Adet on 13 June (see Pickering to GW, 12 June, n.2). For Adet’s reply on 14 June, see Pickering to GW, 22 June, n.1.
4. Pickering replied to GW from Philadelphia on 1 July: “I communicated to the Secretaries of the Treasury & War your confidential letter of the 24th instant, on the day of its arrival, which was on the 28th. We have since been considering the subject, and by the next post will present to you our opinions and the reasons on which they are founded. In the mean time I am authorized to say, that we think the President of the United States has not the power to originate the appointment of a minister extraordinary to France; and that the recall of Mr Monroe, by creating a vacancy, can alone authorize the sending of another minister to that country. On the expediency of this change we are agreed; and I am desired to mention it, together with the following names of gentlemen for the office, to be considered with others which may occur to you; in order that if the reasons we shall have the honor to lay before you shall appear sufficiently weighty to induce the change, time may be gained in making the choice. The names are those of Patrick Henry & John Marshall of Virginia, & of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney & William Smith of South Carolina. The Secretary of War mentioned besides, Charles Caroll of Carolton.
“At present we see no necessity of interrupting your repose or views in your retirement to Mount Vernon: Should any events appear to us to render necessary or expedient your return to the seat of government, we shall not fail to state the same for your consideration” (ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; ALS [letterpress copy] MHi: Pickering Papers; LB, DNA: RG 59, GW’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State). For the promised opinion, see Cabinet to GW, 2 July; see also Wolcott to GW, 20 June, and n.10, and 1 July; and James McHenry to GW, 2 July.