Title: Conference with a Committee of the United States Senate, 10 August 1789
From: Washington, George
To:

[New York, 10 August 1789]

Sentiments deliver’d by the President at a second conference with the Senate—held

10 August 1789

The President has the “power by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make Treaties and to appoint Offices.”
The Senate when these powers are exercised, is evidently a Council only to the President, however its concurrence may be

to his Acts—It seems incident to this relation between them that not only the time, but the place and manner of consultation should be with the President—It is probable that the place may vary. The indisposition or inclination of the President may require that the Senate should be summoned to the President’s House—Whenever the Government shall have buildings of its own, an executive Chamber will no doubt be provided, where the Senate will generally attend the President. It is not impossible that the place may be made to depend in some degree on the nature of the business—In the appointment to offices, the agency of the Senate is purely executive, and they may be summoned to the President. In treaties, the agency is perhaps as much of a legislative nature and the business may possibly be referred to their deliberations in their legislative chamber[.] The occasion for this distinction will be lessened, if not destroyed, where a Chamber shall be appropriated for the joint business of the President and Senate.
The manner of consultation may also vary. The indisposition of the President may supersede the mere question of conveniency. The inclination or ideas of different Presidents may be different—The opinions both of President and Senators as to the proper manner may be changed by experience. In some kinds of business it may be found best for the President to make his propositions orally and in person, in others by written message. On some occasions it may be most convenient that the President should attend the deliberations and decisions on his propositions; on others that he should not—or that he should not attend the whole of the time. In other cases again, as in Treaties of a complicated nature, it may happen that he send his propositions in writing, and consult the Senate in person after time shall have been allowed for consideration. Many other varieties may be suggested, as to the mode, by practice.
If these remarks be just, it would seem not amiss that the Senate should accommodate their rules to the uncertainty of the particular mode and place that may be preferred—providing for the reception of either oral or written propositions—and for giving their consent and advice in either the presence or absence of the President, leaving him free to use the mode and place that may be found not eligible and accordant with other business which may be before him at the time.


Title: To George Washington from Henry Hill, 10 August 1789
From: Hill, Henry
To: Washington, George

Sir
Philada Augt 10th 1789

It is with the utmost Satisfaction I perceive in the Commission lately granted to Mr Meredith, a distinguishing instance of your powerful friendship. The publick Sentiment I sincerely believe if well express’d would accord with the appointment—As to my own feelings you will pardon my being not altogether prepar’d to render a just account of them on this agreeable occasion—The ability however to serve any of your purposes will I hope be distrusted rather than the gratitude Respect & affection that are due to you from, Sir Your most obedt Sert

Henry Hill


Title: To George Washington from Ralph Izard, 10 August 1789
From: Izard, Ralph
To: Washington, George

Sir
[New York] August 10th 1789.

The Committee will have the honor to wait on you this Evening at Six o’clock. I am with great respect Sir Your most obt Servant

Ra. Izard.


Title: To George Washington from Leonard Jarvis, 10 August 1789
From: Jarvis, Leonard
To: Washington, George

Sir!
Boston Aug. 10th 1789

I should not on this Occasion have interrupted your attention to the more important concerns of the Union, had I not been informed that it was your expectation, that all those who were candidates for office under the new Confederation should apply directly to you. without therefore troubling you with any further Appologys I take the freedom to inform you, that some years past the Legislature of this Commonwealth thought it indespensably necessary to appoint some person to the head of the Revenue arising from imposts & excises as a check upon the Collectors & the better to reduce the collection into a System, for the want of which, it had suffered exceedingly—at this period I was a Member of the General Court of this State and had the honor without the least solicitation on my part, to be chosen to the place by a very respectable majority of both Houses—I have the satisfaction of knowing that by my exertions, the revenue has been encreased, the business systematized & the imports & exports of the Commonwealth ascertained and I have every reason to believe that was the disposal of public Offices continued by the Constitution in the Legislature there would be no doubt of my reelection.
I need not observe to you, Sir! that Individuals have been too apt to over-rate their services and sufferings in behalf of their Country. but if these are to be admitted as pleas, I could urge, that no one has gone further in proportion to their abilities, in supporting the Credit of the United States, and although it has been highly injurious to my interest I have never been heard to complain.
If Congress should judge it necessary to appoint a Superintendant of the Revenue in each State or to certain districts, I flatter myself the Representatives of this State in both Houses will speak of me in such terms as shall induce you Sir! to believe that the office will not be misplaced if bestowed upon me & give me leave to assure you, that if I should be happy enough to obtain it, it will be my constant Study to approve myself worthy the appointment—I have the honor to be with the greatest respect sir! Your most Obedient & most humble servt

Leonard Jarvis


Title: To George Washington from William Moultrie, 10 August 1789
From: Moultrie, William
To: Washington, George

Dear Sir
Charleston So. Carolina Augst 10 1789

I beg leave to trouble you in favor of my friend Colonel Motte, whose merits deserves every consideration; he was a Lieut. Col. of the Regt which I had the honor to Command at the commencement of the War, and continued in the service for several years, after which he was chosen a member of Congress, at which time I believe he had the honor of being known to your Excellency; his very ample fortune which was mostly in money has been nearly sunk in the funds, in supporting the American War. I cannot but interest myself in his behalf from his merits, and my near Connection with him (his being a brother to Mrs Moultrie) to mention him to you as a Candidate for the Post of Naval Officer for the Port of Charleston. I have the honor to be, Dear Sir with the greatest respect & regard Your Excellencys Most Ob. and Very humble Servant

Willm Moultrie


Title: To George Washington from Aquila Giles, 11 August 1789
From: Giles, Aquila
To: Washington, George

Sir
New York 11th August 1789

It is with great diffidence that I trouble your Excellency with solicitations for office, conscious that you have already experienced a great deal of trouble from similar applications—I beg leave however to offer myself to your Excellency’s consideration for the Office of Marshall of this State—Should you on enquiry, find me qualified to discharge the duties of the Office, I shall flatter myself with the hope of your Excellency’s favour—I have

the Honor to be with all possible respect, Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Humble Servant

Aquila Giles


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Leaming, Jr., 11 August 1789
From: Leaming, Thomas Jr.
To: Washington, George

Sir
New York 11th Augt 1789

In Expectation that the Appointment of Officers for the Fœderal Courts will be left with your Excellency, beg leave to solicit the Honour of being appointed Clerk of the District Court of Pennsylvania, whenever the Nomination of Officers of that Court shall be made.

Permit me to mention that I was admitted to the Practice of Law in Pennsylvania in 1772, after having studied under the Direction of the late President Mr Dickinson, and am now in Practice there. That in 1776 I was amongst the Majority of the New Jersey Convention which instructed the General Convention to declare an Independance, the same year returned to Philadelphia and joined the Troop of Light Horse under Capn Samuel Morris, in which have continued ever since.
Beg leave to refer your Excellency to the Honorable Frederick A. Mulenberg, Robert Morris, William Maclay, Willm Patterson, Jonathan Elmer, George Reed and Richard Basset Esquires, from whom hope you will be satisfied that the Trust may with Propriety be committed to your Excellency’s most Obedient and very Humble Servt

Thos Learning Junr


Title: From George Washington to Benjamin Lincoln, 11 August 1789
From: Washington, George
To: Lincoln, Benjamin

Dear Sir,
New York August 11th 1789

On the 15th of September next there is to be a treaty held in the State of Georgia, between the Indians on the southern frontiers and Commissioners on the part of Georgia. At this treaty there will be a numerous and respectable concourse of Indians; two, and some say three thousand. Their famous Counsellor, the noted McGilvery is to be present at it; and it is now in agitation, and a bill is before the House of Representatives for that purpose, to appoint Commissioners on the part of the United States to attend at this treaty, to establish a permanent and lasting peace between the United States and the Indians on the Southern & western frontiers. It is necessary, in a matter of such importance to this Country, that these Commissioners should be persons who have been known in public life, and who are very respectable Characters—and if to these two circumstances could be added, their being held in high estimation in the Southern States, without being inhabitants of any of them, it would be a very desireable thing. Under these circumstances,

it is my wish that you should be one of these Commissioners; and I have therefore given you this early intimation of the matter that you might (if it should be determined to appoint Commissioners, and is agreeable to you, and can be made to comport with your present Office) be making such arrangments as will enable you to be at New York and ready to embark for Georgia, on or before the first day of September; and with an expectation of being absent 3 or 4 months.
You will make up your mind on this matter, and give me an answer by the first post after you receive this, as you see no time is to be lost; for it is absolutely necessary that the Commissioners should be on the Spot the 15th of September to prevent the enormous expense which would be incurred by detaining such a numerous body of Indians for any time. In the mean time you will keep this intimation to yourself, for in the first place, it is not certain that Commissioners will be appointed—and if they should other circumstances might render a concealment of this intimation proper. I am, my dear Sir, with very great esteem Your Affecte friend & Obedt Servt

Go: Washington


Title: To George Washington from John Taylor Gilman, 12 August 1789
From: Gilman, John Taylor
To: Washington, George

Sir
New York August 12th 1789.

I hope your Excellency will be pleased to Excuse the trouble of this Letter, as an Attack of the Rheumatism deprives me the Honor of waiting on you in person.
Having been Honored by the late Congress with an appointment as One of the Commissioners for adjusting the Accounts between the United States and Individual states, I met the other Commissioners in this place in January last, but as I cannot proceed in the business in the absence of the Gentlemen who are now Associated with me, and am desirous of Visiting my Family in New Hampshire, have to Request that your Excellency would be pleased to Indulge me with leave of Absence for a few Weeks. I have the Honor to be, with the Highest Respect, Your most Obedient and most Hume servt

John Taylor Gilman


Title: To George Washington from Brice McGeehon, 12 August 1789
From: McGeehon, Brice
To: Washington, George

Washington County [Pa.]
May it please your ExcellencyAugt 12th 1789
In a former letter, I informed your Excellency of my situation and circumstances that I was one of those unfortunate people who settled and claimed your lands on Millers Run.

One who thought my clame so Just, as to warrant my defence thereof against your Excellency in a suit at law. The event (tho’ too late) has proved my mistake: And now, while on the one hand I am legaly ousted from that Small plantation, whereon my fond hopes flattered me, I Should with Industry, be able to support a numerous family of growing children; so on the other hand, I am unable to purchase another.
In this Gloomy situation no chearing ray presents itself to my disturbed mind; but what dawns from the benificence, goodness, and Clemency, which stamps your Excellencys well known Character: and therefore, I am led to hope, you will not only forgive my provocations; but like yourself, generally make me a donation of the Improvement I have made, with so much land, as you may think sufficient to support my small family upon. and I will venture to predict, the President of the United States, will not rue such an act of benificence; when he is about [to] leave this dying world, with all those high-earn’d honors, his gratefull country has conferred upon him.
Permit me sir, to request an answer soon, directed to Alexr Wright Esquire Member of Assembly for this county and now in Philadelphia.
Whether you are pleased to grant my request, or no, my prayer is, and shall be, that you may enjoy as much felicity as this world can give, and that true and permanent happiness, which it can neither give nor take away. Your Moste obedient humble Servt

Brice McGeehon


Title: To George Washington from Henry Knox, 13 August 1789
From: Knox, Henry
To: Washington, George

War Office 13th August 1789.

The detail of the estimate of the expences for treating with the Southern indians which was formed the 20th of May 1789.
It is supposed that at least 1500 Creeks will attend at the treaty, each of whom according to custom, must have one and an half rations ⅌ day; this would require for each day 2250 rations. The treaty may be presumed to last 25 days.

56,250 Rations at ⅛th of a dollar ⅌ ration
7,031.22½/90

800 Cherokees for the same time and at the same rations. vz. 30,000 Rations at ⅛th of a dollar
3,750

Rations for 60 men for 4 Months to serve as a guard to the Stores and Commissioners 7,200 Rations @ ⅛th do
900

The pay of the Commissioners
3,000

Stores and Necessaries
1,000

Messengers, interpreters and Contingencies
2,000

Indian goods to be presented to the Creeks and Cherokees
5,318.67 1/2

Transportation
2,000

Dollars
25,000

H. Knox


Title: To George Washington from Thomas Nelson, Jr., 13 August 1789
From: Nelson, Thomas (1764-1824)
To: Washington, George

Sir
York Town [Va.] Augt 13th 1789

I reciev’d your favour two days ago, and have to return you my most grateful thanks, for the very great attention and friendship which you have been pleased to shew me—The offer which you have made, Sir, is so very flattering, that I can not hesitate to accept it.
The whole family are equally sensible with myself of the very great favour which by making me this offer, you have done them. However unequal to the duties of the Office, in other respects I may prove, in assiduity and necessary attention to it, I can assure you, I will not be deficient and shall strive to merit that friendship, which you have been pleased to shew us.
Your letter came to hand not so quickly, as from the date, it appears to me, it might have come—This Sir, will account for your not hearing from me as soon as probably you may have expected. I shall proceed to New York as soon as I possibly

can. I am, with the highest esteem Sir, your most obliged and humble Servant

Thomas Nelson jr