3423. GENET, Libelous attack on.—
The Minister Plenipotentiary of France has enclosed
to me the copy of a letter * * *
which he addressed to you, stating that some
libelous publications had been made against
him by Mr. Jay, Chief-Justice of the United
States, and Mr. King, one of the Senators for
the State of New York, and desiring that they
might be prosecuted. This letter has been laid
before the President, according to the request
of the Minister; and the President, never
doubting your readiness on all occasions to
perform the functions of your office, yet thinks
it incumbent on him to recommend it specially
on the present occasion, as it concerns a public
character peculiarly entitled to the protection
of the laws. On the other hand, as our
citizens ought not to be vexed with groundless
prosecutions, duty to them requires it to be
added, that if you judge the prosecution in
question to be of that nature, you consider
this recommendation as not extending to it; its
only object being to engage you to proceed in
this case according to the duties of your office
[Attorney General], the laws of the land, and
the privileges of the parties concerned.—
To Edmund Randolph. Washington ed. iv, 97.
Ford ed., vi, 484.
(Pa.,
Dec. 1793)
