Pennevert and
Chervi. Making a point of this formality on your part, it becomes
necessary to make a point of it on ours also; and I am therefore charged
to return you those commissions, and to inform you, that bound to
enforce respect to the order of things established by our constitution,
the President will issue no Exequatur to any Consul or Vice-Consul, not
directed to him in the usual form, after the party from whom it comes
has been apprized that such should be the address.
I have the honor to be, with respect, Sir, your most obedient and most
humble servant,
Th: Jefferson.
LETTER CLXXIV.--TO MR. GENET, December 9, 1793
TO MR. GENET.
Philadelphia, December 9, 1793.
Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant,
which has been duly laid before the President.
We are very far from admitting your principle, that the government
on either side has no other right, on the presentation of a consular
commission, than to certify, that having examined it, they find it
according to rule. The governments of both nations have a right, and
that of yours has exercised it as to us, of considering the character
of the person appointed, the place for which he is appointed, and other
material circumstances; and of taking precautions as to his conduct,
if necessary: and this does not defeat the general object of the
convention, which, in stipulating that consuls shall be permitted
on both sides, could not mean to supersede reasonable objections to
particular persons, who might at the moment be obnoxious to the nation
to which they were sent, or whose conduct might render them so at any
time after.
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