3067. FOREIGN AGENTS, Duty of.—
The President of the United States being the only channel of communication between
this country and foreign nations, it is from
him alone that foreign nations or their agents
are to learn what is or has been the will of
the nation, and whatever he communicates as
such, they have a right and are bound to consider
as the expression of the nation, and no
foreign agent can be allowed to question it,
to interpose between him and any other
branch of government, under the pretext of
either's transgressing their functions, nor to
make himself the umpire and final judge between
them. I am, therefore, not authorized
to enter into any discussions with you on the
meaning of our Constitution in any part of it,
or to prove to you that it has ascribed to him
alone the admission or interdiction of foreign
agents. I inform you of the fact by authority
from the President.—
To Edmond Charles Genet. Washington ed. iv, 84.
Ford ed., vi, 451.
(G.
Nov. 1793)
