At a conference at the President's, where I read
several letters of Mr. Genet; on finishing one of them, I asked what
should be the answer. The President thereupon took occasion to observe,
that Mr. Genet's conduct continued to be of so extraordinary a nature,
that he meant to propose to our serious consideration, whether he
should not have his functions discontinued, and be ordered away. He
went lengthily into observations on his conduct, to raise against the
executive, 1. the people, 2. the State governments, 3. the Congress.
He showed he felt the venom of Genet's pen, but declared he would not
choose his insolence should be regarded any farther, than as might be
thought to affect the honor of the country. Hamilton and Knox readily
and zealously argued for dismissing Mr. Genet. Randolph opposed it with
firmness, and pretty lengthily. The President replied to him lengthily,
and concluded by saying he did not wish to have the thing hastily
decided, but that we should consider of it, and give our opinions on his
return from Reading and Lancaster. Accordingly, November the 18th, we
met at his house; read new volumes of Genet's letters, received since
the President's departure; then took up the discussion of the subjects
of communication to Congress. 1. The Proclamation. E. Randolph read the
statement he had prepared; Hamilton did not like it; said much about his
own views; that the President had a right to declare his opinion to
our citizens and foreign nations; that it was not the interest of this
country to join in the war, and that we were under no obligation to join
in it; that though the declaration would not legally bind Congress, yet
the President had a right to give his opinion of it, and he was against
any explanation in the speech, which should yield that he did not intend
that foreign nations should consider it as a declaration of neutrality,
future as well as present; that he understood it as meant to give them
that sort of assurance and satisfaction, and to say otherwise now,
would be a deception on them.
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