Papers of John Adams, volume 21
Mr. Randolph presents his
respectful Compliments to the Vice-President of the United States, and
president of the Senate—
In the Communications, made by the President this morning, is an Act of the National Convention of France in the original.1 It’s length prevented an attempt to translate it; as it would occasion too much delay. But if on this or any other occasion when originals are, from the pressure of time, forwarded, it shall be the pleasure of the Senate, that they should be translated, it shall be done with as much expedition, as the course of such business will permit—
The Vice-President will perceive, that this note is not of consequence enough to be laid before the Senate; but is wished to be made known to the Members informally—
RC (Adams Papers).
For the enclosures related to Edmond Charles Genet,
see George Washington’s
8 Jan. letter, and note 1, above. Washington also sent a copy
of the French National Convention’s decree of 23 May 1793, which
exempted U.S. ships from its 9 May decree authorizing the seizure of
neutral vessels “bound to an enemy’s port, or having on board
merchandise belonging to an enemy.” The terms of the 9 May legislation
had contravened Art. 16 of the 1778 Franco-American Treaty of Amity and
Commerce (vol. 7:index;
Amer. State Papers
, Foreign Relations, 1:244;
Annals
of Congress
, 3d Cong.,
1st sess., p. 31).