PROCLAMATION. "WHEREAS Certain violent and unwarrantable proceedings have lately taken place, tending to obstruct the operation of the laws of the United States for raising a revenue upon spirits distilled within the same, enacted pursuant to express authority delegated in the constitution of the United States; which proceedings are subversive of good order, contrary to the duty that every citizen owes to his country and to the laws, and of a nature dangerous to the very being of a government ; "And whereas such proceedings are the more unwarrantable, by reason of the moderation, which has been heretofore shown on the part of the government, and of the disposition which has been manifested by the legislature (who alone have authority to suspend the operation of laws) to obviate causes of objection, and to render the laws as acceptable as possible; and whereas it is the particular duty of the executive to take care that the laws be faithfully executed,' and not only that duty, but the permanent interests and happiness of the people require, that every legal and necessary step should be pursued, as well to prevent such violent and unwarrantable proceedings, as to bring to justice the infractors of the laws and secure obedience thereto. "Now therefore I, George Washington, President of the United States, do by these presents most earnestly admonish and exhort all persons, whom it may concern, to refrain and desist from all unlawful combinations and proceedings whatsoever, having for object or tending to obstruct the operation of the laws aforesaid; inasmuch as all lawful ways and means will be strictly put in execution for bringing to justice the infractors thereof and securing obedience thereto; "And I do moreover charge and require all courts, magistrates, and officers whom it may concern, according to the duties of their several offices, to exert the powers in them respectively vested by law for the purposes aforesaid, hereby also enjoining and requiring all persons whomsoever, as they tender the welfare of their country, the just and due authority of government, and the preservation of the public peace, to be aiding and assisting therein according to law. "In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. Done this 15th of September, in the year of our Lord 1792, and of the independence of the United States the seventeenth. GEORGE WASHINGTON," CIRCULAR TO THE GOVERNORS OF PENNSYLVANIA, NORTH SIR, United States, 29 September, 1792. Enclosed you will find the copy of a proclamation, which I have thought proper to issue, in consequence of certain irregular and refractory proceedings, which have taken place in particular parts of some of the States, contravening the laws therein mentioned. I feel an entire confidence, that the weight and influence of the executive of will be cheerfully exerted in every proper way to further the objects of this measure, and to promote on every occasion a due obedience to the constitutional laws of the Union. With respect, I am, Sir, &c. GEORGE WASHINGTON. No. XV. p. 337. QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE CABINET RESPECTING A PROCLAMATION OF NEUTRALITY, AND THE RECEPTION OF A FRENCH MINISTER. Philadelphia, 18 April, 1793. I. Shall a proclamation issue for the purpose of preventing interferences of the citizens of the United States in the war between France and Great Britain, &c.? Shall it contain a declaration of neutrality or not? What shall it contain? II. Shall a minister from the Republic of France be received? III. If received, shall it be absolutely or with qualifications; and, if with qualifications, of what kind? IV. Are the United States obliged by good faith to consider the treaties heretofore made with France as applying to the present situation of the parties? May they either renounce them, or hold them suspended till the government of France shall be established? V. If they have the right, is it expedient to do either, and which? VI. If they have an option, would it be a breach of neutrality to consider the treaties still in operation? SS* VII. If the treaties are to be considered as now in operation, is the guarantee in the treaty of alliance applicable to a defensive war only, or to war either offensive or defensive? VIII. Does the war in which France is engaged appear to be offensive or defensive on her part? Or of a mixed and equivocal character? IX. If of a mixed and equivocal character, does the guarantee in any event apply to such a war? X. What is the effect of a guarantee such as that to be found in the treaty of alliance between the United States and France? XI. Does any article in either of the treaties prevent ships of war, other than privateers, of the powers opposed to France from coming into the ports of the United States to act as convoys to their own merchantmen? Or does it lay any other restraint upon them more than would apply to the ships of war of France? XII. Should the future regent of France send a minister to the United States, ought he to be received? XIII. Is it necessary or advisable to call together the two Houses of Congress, with a view to the present posture of European affairs? If it is, what should be the particular object of such a call? GEORGE WASHINGTON. OPINION OF THE CABINET. At a meeting of the heads of departments and the attorneygeneral at the President's, April 19th, 1793, to consider the foregoing questions proposed by the President, it was determined by all, on the first question, that a proclamation shall issue forbidding our citizens to take part in any hostilities on the seas, with or against any of the belligerent powers; and warning them against carrying to any such powers any of those articles deemed contraband, according to the modern usage of nations; and enjoining them from all acts and proceedings inconsistent with the duties of a friendly nation towards those at war. On the second question, "Shall a minister from the Republic of France be received?" it was unanimously agreed, that he shall be received. The remaining questions were postponed for further consideration.* *On the third question, Jefferson and Randolph were of opinion, that the minister should be received absolutely and without qualifications. Hamilton PROCLAMATION. "WHEREAS it appears, that a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands, on the one part, and France on the other; and the duty and interest of the United States require, that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial towards the belligerent powers; "I have therefore thought fit by these presents to declare the disposition of the United States to observe the conduct aforesaid towards those powers respectively, and to exhort and warn the citizens of the United States carefully to avoid all acts and proceedings whatsoever, which may in any manner tend to contravene such disposition. "And I do hereby also make known, that whosoever of the citizens of the United States shall render himself liable to pun. ishment or forfeiture under the law of nations, by committing, aiding, or abetting hostilities against any of the said powers, or by carrying to any of them those articles, which are deemed contraband by the modern usage of nations, will not receive the protection of the United States against such punishment or forfeiture; and further, that I have given instructions to those officers, to whom it belongs, to cause prosecutions to be instituted against all persons, who shall within the cognizance of the courts of the United States violate the law of nations with respect to the powers at war, or any of them. and Knox deemed it "advisable, that the reception of the minister expected from the Republic of France should be qualified substantially to this effect; "That the government of the United States, uniformly entertaining cordial wishes for the happiness of the French nation, and disposed to maintain with it an amicable communication and intercourse, uninterrupted by political vicissitudes, does not hesitate to receive him in the character, which his credentials import; yet, considering the origin, course, and circumstances of the relations continued between the two countries, and the existing position of the affairs of France, it is deemed advisable and proper on the part of the United States to reserve to future consideration and discussion the question, whether the operation of the treaties, by which those relations were formed, ought not to be deemed temporarily and privisionally suspended; and under this impression it is thought due to a spirit of candid and friendly procedure, to apprize him beforehand of the intention to reserve that question, lest silence on the point should occasion misconstruction." The other questions were elaborately discussed by each member of the cabinet in writing, and the relations between France and the United States, as then existing, were largely examined. "In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the United States of America to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same with my hand. Done at the city of Philadelphia, the 22d day of April, 1793, and of the independence of the United States of America the seventeenth. "GEORGE WASHINGTON." No. XVI. p. 356. MINUTES OF A CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR. JEFFERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE, AND M. GENET. July 10, 1793. The Secretary of the Treasury having communicated to General Knox and myself, that he had been informed that the Little Sarah had much augmented her arms, and was greatly advanced in her preparations, we concurred in opinion, that the governor [of Pennsylvania] should be desired to have a reëxamination of the fact. It was done, and a report made, that she had entered the port with only four guns, and now had fourteen. The next day, being Sunday the 7th instant, I received a letter from the governor by express, informing me, that he understood she would sail that day. I went instantly to town. He told me he had received the intelligence the night before, and had sent Mr. Dallas at midnight to M. Genet. Mr. Dallas told me, that, on his proposing the subject of detaining the vessel, he flew into a great passion, talked extravagantly, and concluded by refusing to order the vessel to stay. As the governor had sent for General Knox also, I told him I would in the mean time go to M. Genet, and speak with him on the subject. I went. On his coming into the room I told him I had called on the subject of the Little Sarah; that our information was, that she was armed contrary to the decision of the President, which had been communicated to him, and that she would sail that day; and I requested that he would detain her till we could inquire into the fact, and lay it before the President, who would be here on Wednesday. He took up the subject instantly in a very high tone, and went into an immense field of declamation and complaint. I found it necessary to let him go on, and in fact could do no otherwise; |