Papers of John Adams, volume 21
r.23
rd.1795.
A Resolution of the Legislature of this State, passed on the 21 Inst. directs, “that the Governor shall transmit to the Senate of the United States, a Memorial Respecting Humphrey Marshall, a Senator from this State, in the Congress of the United States.” I now have the honor of complying with that Resolution by inclosing the said Memorial, together with those Numbers of the Kentucky Gazette which contain the publications therein alluded to, and of requesting that they may be laid before the Senate for their consideration.1
With every sentiment of respect and esteem I have the Honor to be, / Sir, / Your Most Obedient, / Humble Servant,
RC and enclosure (DNA:RG 46, Records of the U.S.
Senate); internal address: “The Speaker President of the / Senate of the United States”;
docketed: “Legis: 1st. Sess: 4th. Cong: / Comminication / to the Vice
President / from the Governor of / Kentucky relative / to Humphrey
Marshall / Feby 26th. / 1796.”; notation: “March 11th. 1796 Read:”
Surveyor Isaac Shelby (1750–1826), originally of Hagerstown, Md., was governor of Kentucky from 1792 to 1796 and again from 1812 to 1816. Lawyer Humphrey Marshall (1760–1841), originally of Fauquier County, Va., represented Kentucky in the Senate from 1795 to 1801. Shelby enclosed a memorial from Kentucky legislators informing U.S. senators that a pamphlet published after Marshall was elected alleged he was guilty of fraud and perjury in a suit James Wilkinson brought against him. Noting that politicians “should be Men of unshaken Virtue & Integrity,” the legislature asked the Senate to investigate and if it found Marshall guilty, to expel him.
JA laid the memorial before the Senate
on 26 Feb. 1796, and a committee was formed. Samuel Livermore of New
Hampshire reported on 11 March that the suit was eighteen months before
Marshall’s election to the Senate, that there were mutual accusations
between Marshall and the judges of the court, that the Kentucky
legislature had provided no documents to prove the accusations against
Marshall, and that although Marshall was willing to be tried by the
Senate, the committee did not think the Senate had jurisdiction;
therefore, the committee recommended that the Senate dismiss the
memorial. On 19 March the Senate voted to postpone any decision until
after a Kentucky state trial could be held, requesting that
JA relay its decision to Shelby (
ANB
;
AFC
, 10:347;
Amer. State Papers
, Miscellaneous, 1:141, 144; U.S. Senate, Jour.
, 4th Cong., 1st sess., p. 225).
th.1796.
In obedience to the order of the Senate, of the 23d of December 1795,1 I have now the honour to transmit,
“a return marked (A) of the Exports of the United States, supplemental to
that transmitted on the 26th. of February
1795,2 which compleats
the returns of 439
Exports to the 30th. of September 1794.”— A
similar Return for the year ending September 30th. 1795 is preparing, and will be transmitted as soon as
possible.
The order of the Senate above refered to, directs me to
transmit Returns of the Imports of the United
States, similar to those heretofore exhibited.— On examination I find, that
Returns relating to the Imports, have been presented to Congress in various
forms.— It appears however that Returns ’til the 30th. of September 1792 were exhibited, shewing as particularly as
the documents in the Treasury would admit, not only the specific articles
imported, but also the Countries from which the importations were made.— The
compilation of these returns was however found to be attended with a heavy
expence of Clerkship, and with delays & embarrassments to the business
of the Department, far exceeding any advantages likely to be derived from
the information which they would exhibit—of course no measures have been
taken for preparing Returns, in the form beforementioned, since the
completion of that for the Year ending on the 30th. of September 1792.3
To satisfy the resolution of the Senate as nearly as is
now in my power, I have however directed “a Statement to be prepared &
which is herewith transmitted marked (B.) shewing the specific Articles
imported into the United States in each Calendar year, commencing with the
establishment of the Revenue, and ending on the 30th. of December 1794.” being the latest period to which the
records of Imports have been compleated.
The Abstract marked (C) contains a list of the Articles of Merchandise enumerated in the Laws of the United States, as being subject to Ad valorem rates of duty, prior to the Year 1795.— It is hoped that an examination & comparison of this document with the Return marked (B) will substantially satisfy the principal objects of enquiry— If however the Senate shall be pleased so to direct, arrangements shall be made, for complying, strictly with their resolution as soon as possible.—
I have the honour to be / With perfect respect / Sir, / Your Obedient and / Humble Servant
Sec
yof the Treas
y
RC (DNA:RG 46, Records of the U.S.
Senate); internal address: “The Honorable / The President of the
Senate”; docketed: “Legis: 1st. Sess: 4th. Cong: / Communication / from the Secy of Treasury and with sundry statements /
January 11th. / 1796.”; notation: “The
statement A. is transfered / to No. 25.
& the other / statements repeated in No.
30. / This is omitted. also its / Statements B & C.”
Wolcott referred to the Senate’s recurring request
for Treasury Department reports on all imports and exports (U.S. Senate, Jour.
, 4th Cong., 1st sess., p.
202).
In the bottom margin, Wolcott added: “See No. 25.— The other statements afterwards sent
to House of Reps. see No. 30.”
In the bottom margin, Wolcott added: “This statement was not transmitted to Congress.”