I LAY before you, as being connected with the Correspondence, already in your possession, between the SECRETARY of STATE, and the MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY of the French Republic, the copy of a letter from that Minister, of the 25th of December, 1793; and a copy of the proceedings of the Legislature of the state of South-Carolina.
I HAVE the honor of transmitting to you, the Resolves of the Legislature of this state, with a number of affidavits, setting forth, that certain persons in this state, have been enlisting men for the service of the French Republic, to go on an expedition against a power, not at war with the United States. The investigation of the whole business▪ is fully expressed, in the report of the committee.
P. S. In the message with which the resolves and affidavits were sent to me, I am desired to request, that the names of the several deponents, who have given testimony in the business, may not be made known. The reasons which suggest this secrecy, must be obvious.
STATE OF SOUTH-CAROLINA. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, December 6th, 1793. The Committee to whom was referred the business of examining into, and ascertaining the truth of a report that an armed force is now levying within this state, by persons under a foreign authority, without the permission, and contrary to the express prohibition of the government of the United States, and of this state, REPORT,
THAT they have made diligent enquiry respecting the truth of this report, and have collected such evidence relating thereto as was immediately within their reach—that your committee are perfectly satisfied, from the information, on the oaths of divers credible persons, which they have received, that William Tate, Jacob R. Brown, William Urby, Robert Tate, Richard Speke, citizens of this state, and other persons unknown to your committee, also citizens of this state, have received and accepted military commissions from M. Genet, minister plenipotentiary from the republic of France to the United States of America, authorising them, and instructions requiring them, to raise, organize, train, and conduct troops, within the United States of America—That the avowed purpose for which these troops are now raising, is, to rendezvous in the state of Georgia, and from thence to proceed into the Spanish dominions, with a view to conquest or plunder, as their strength might enable, or opportunity might tempt them—That in the event of a French fleet approaching the coasts of the southern states, a junction and co operation with it is contemplated by the persons abovementioned; but that though this was the avowed object of these troops and their leaders, among themselves; from the injunction to conceal the whole system from persons not initiated, and the subordination established to Mr. Genet, the author of the plan, and the source of authority to the officers. It is probable that the corps, when raised, must yield to any change of destination which the judgment or inclination of Mr. Genet may point out to them— That several of the persons above named, received, together with their commissions, instructions by which they were to regulate their enrollments of men, stating the pay, rations, cloathing, plunder, and division of conquered land, to be allotted to the officers and men who should enter into this service, and marking the proportions of the acquisitions to be reserved to the republic of France— That the persons above named, in pursuance of the powers vested in them by the said commissions, and in obedience to the instructions of M. Genet and his agents, particularly M. Mangourit, who signed some of the papers, have proceeded by themselves, and by their agents, without any authority from the United States, or from this state, to enroll numbers of the citizens of this state, whom they deluded with the hopes of plunder and the acquisition of riches, in the service of the republic of France, to be subject to the orders of Mr. Genet, the Minister Plenipotentiary of France.
[Page 6]That Stephen Drayton and John Hamilton, also citizens of this state, have made application to the good citizens thereof to engage in this scheme of raising men in this state for the service of France, to act under the orders of M. Genet, and to commit acts of hostility against nations at peace with the United States of America; and have avowed that they acted by the authority of M. Genet, the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France; that upon the whole of the information which your committee have been able to obtain, this is a daring and dangerous attempt by a foreign minister to intermeddle in the affairs of the United States, to usurp the powers of government, and to levy troops in the bosom of the union, without the authority, and contrary to the express sense of the government of the United States, and in violation of the laws of nations—
That the direct tendency of these measures of the foreign minister is to disturb the internal tranquility of the United States, and to involve them in hostilities with nations with whom they are now at peace, which sound policy requires should be preserved.—That in the opinion of your committee this attempt is the more dangerous and alarming as many citizens of the United States have been thereby seduced from their duty by insidious arts practiced on their kindred affection to the French republic; and have been drawn into a scheme, in the execution of which they have usurped the functions of government, and exercised the power of the sword, which the wisdom of the constitution hath vested exclusively in the Congress and President of the United States.—That this committee therefore recommend that the governor of this state be requested to issue his proclamation, forbidding all persons from enrolling any of the citizens of this state, and prohibiting the citizens from enlisting under any officers, or for any purposes not previously sanctioned by the government of the United States, or of this state; and also forbidding all unlawful assemblages of troops, unauthorised by government; and that the governor be requested to exert the whole public force to the utmost extent, if necessary, to insure obedience to his proclamation.
That in the opinion of this committee, the said William Tate, Jacob R. Brown, Robert Tate, Stephen Drayton, John Hamilton, and Richard Speke, have been guilty of high crimes and misdemesnours; and they recommend that the attorney-general and solicitors be directed, forthwith to institute, or cause to be instituted and conducted, prosecutions in the proper courts of law, against the said William Tate, Jacob R. Brown, Robert Tate, Stephen Drayton, John Hamilton, and Richard Speke, for accepting, or engaging to accept commissions from a foreign power, to raise troops within the United States, and for going about within the state, levying or attempting to levy troops, and for seducing, and endeavoring to seduce the citizens of this state, to enroll themselves for foreign service, to commit acts of hostility against nations, with whom the United States are at peace, without the permission of the government, and contrary to the proclamation of the President of the United States, declaring these states to be in a state of neutrality and peace.
That copies of the evidence collected by this committee, together with the proceedings of this House thereon, be forwarded immediately to the President of the United States, and to the executives of the states of North-Carolina and Georgia, for their information.
Resolved unanimously, That this House do concur in the said report.
Ordered, That the report and resolution be sent to the Senate, for their concurrence.
Resolved unanimously, That this House do concur with the House of Representatives, in the foregoing report and resolution.
[Page 7] Ordered, That the report and resolutions be sent to the House of Representatives.
A true copy, and which I attest,
THE STATE OF SOUTH-CAROLINA. By his Excellency William Moultrie, Governor and Commander in chief in and over the state aforesaid. A PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS information hath been given to me, that an armed force is now levying within this state by persons under a foreign authority, without the permission, and contrary to the express prohibition, of the government of the United States, and of this state: and whereas measures of this fort, if permitted by government, must tend to disturb the internal tranquility of the United States, and involve them in hostilities with nations with whom they are now at peace, which sound policy requires should be preserved; and as many of the citizens of this state may be induced, by the insidious arts of the persons acting under the foreign authority as aforesaid, in violation of every law, as well of the United States, as that of nations, to enlist themselves, and engage in a scheme so replete with injury to this country.—I do therefore, in order to put an immediate stop to such unlawful and pernicious practices, issue this my proclamation, hereby strictly forbidding any person to enrol any of the citizens of this state, and prohibiting the citizens thereof from enlisting under any officer, or other person, for any purpose not previously sanctioned by the government of the United States, or of this state. And I do positively forbid all assemblages of troops, unauthorized by government, under pain of suffering the penalties declared by law for such offences.
[...] maketh oath, that Robt. Tate applied to this deponent during the sitting of the Pinckney court November term last, and urged him to accept an appointment in a body of troops that was to be raised in this state under French commissions; which troops were to go on an expedition against the Spanish possessions, on some part of the American continent—And this deponent adds that Robt. Tate expressly told him that he was then acting under a French commission from the French government and was determined to inlist men as soon as possible.
Sworn before me this 2d December 1793.
BEFORE me personally appeared [...] of Pendleton county, who being duly sworn, deposeth as followeth—That is to say, that on Sunday the twenty fourth of November last, he, this deponent, was in company with Mr. William Tate, and lodged in the same house with him, at Cambridge—That the said William Tate, shewed unto this deponent, a certain paper written in French, and also in English, and under the hand and seal of Citizen Genet, Minister Plenipotentiary, from the Republic of France, to the United States of America, which paper was a commission, directed to the said William Tate, constituting and appointing him a colonel, in the service of the French Republic—That he also saw in the possession of the said William Tate, another paper signed by Citizen Genet (as well as this deponent can recollect) being a plan for the formation of a military corps, ruled like a brigade return, with columns specifying the number of officers and men, the pay, the rations, and the proportion of spoil each one was to have—This deponent, thinks they specified one lieutenant colonel, a second lieutenant colonel, captains, and from thence down; containing thirty two commissioned, and non commissioned officers, and one hundred and twenty four privates—That the number of battalions was unlimited. That the spoil was to be so distributed, as to leave a certain portion thereof to the French nation, viz. two parts; but into how many parts the whole was to be divided, the deponent cannot recollect—The said William Tate, informed this deponent, that in pursuance of his instructions, he had sent out several persons, to enlist men in this state, into the French service; that if the measures taken, should be successful, blank commissions would be sent on from the Northward, and each person would receive a commission, according to the number of men he should enlist—The deponent saith, that this was set forth in the instructions; this deponent, further saith, that the said William Tate, told this deponent, that the object of the enlistment was, to march to South America, and attack the Spanish dominions. This deponent, farther saith, that he saw at the same time, in the possession of the said William Tate, other papers, relative to the foregoing transactions, signed by Monsieur M. A. B. Mangourit, the particular purport, whereof this deponent, cannot now recollect.
Sworn the 2d day of December 1793, before me.
BEFORE me personally appeared, [...] who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that on Saturday the 30th day of November last, as he was on his way to Columbia, to attend his duty in the House of Representatives, and in crossing the ferry at Granby, he fell in company with two men, one of whom, addressing him, mentioned that he had heard, that he, this deponent, was one of their party (meaning, as this deponent received the impression at the time the party for inlisting and raising men for the French service) the other person added, that he, and his companion, had their company filled up, and pulling a paper out of his pocket, said it was his commission, and offered to shew it to this deponent; this deponent told him he would not wish to deceive him, for that he, this deponent, was not of his party, and did not look at his commission or papers. One of the men told this deponent, that he hoped to see him, this deponent, in the new country, and that they were to have their rendezvous in Georgia; he asked this deponent, whether he had seen Capt. Tate, [Page 9] that he was informed, Capt. Tate had been at his, the deponent's house▪ Dept. replied, that he had not seen him, that he did not know him, and that he had not been at his house that he knew of.
Sworn the 2d day of December 1793, before me.
[...] of the county of Laurens, being duly sworn, maketh oath, that on or about the twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three, Capt. William Urbey, of the county of [...] told this deponent that he held a commission to raise troops, and offered to shew his commission, which Mr. [...] declined seeing. He added to this deponent that he was authorized to raise troops, which this deponent understood was for foreign service—That this deponent was made to understand that Capt. William Tate was to be commandant of the troops to be raised—Dr. Jacob R. Brown also communicated to this deponent that he was a lieutenant-colonel, and he shewed to him a paper which stated the pay, rations, proportion of spoil, number of men to be raised, and battalions, divisions of land, and other particulars. That the pay fixed was 25 cents per day to privates. That Dr. Jacob R. Brown, on shewing him this paper, asked this deponent if he would advise him to engage in this business, but this deponent declined giving any advice. That this deponent understood that the source of all power and the spring of action in this business was Mr Genet, the ambassador from the republic of France, from whom all these things originated. He understood this from Dr. Jacob R. Brown. This deponent also understood the number of men to be raised was five thousand. This deponent saw a paper in the hands of Dr. Brown, or Capt. Urbey, which was an enrolement of men, which was signed by about ten men, who had enlisted in the above mentioned service. This deponent thinks that both of the papers he saw were headed partly with initial letters; he does not recollect the purport of the heading▪
This deponent understood from both Urbey and Brown, that the business was to be conducted secretly.
Sworn to before me this 2d December, 1793.
BEFORE me personally appeared, [...] who being duly sworn, deposeth as follows: That some time about the middle of November last, Stephen Drayton Esqr. and Major Hambleton, called at the house of this deponent, and mentioned to this deponent as a very advantageous plan that was a foot, to get as many men as possible to agree to assemble by small parties upon some of the shores near Charleston or elsewhere, and that a French fleet was to attend for the purpose of receiving them, and that the object was, to make a descent upon some of the Spanish Islands, that would be a very lucrative conquest, if effected—They mentioned that Mr. Tate had gone forward on the same business to Mr. Genet, to obtain commissions; and this deponent understood from [Page 10] the said Stephen Drayton and Major Hambleton, that they the said Stephen Drayton and Major John Hambleton, were acting under the authority of the Minister of the French Republic at the time. This deponent was thereupon, applied to by the said Stephen Drayton, to be concerned in the enterprize, adding, that this deponent could be advanced to a pretty high commission. This deponent immediately refused to have any connection, or be at all concerned in the enterprize, and thereupon suggested doubts of the legality of the undertaking, in as much as it would be inconsistant with the Proclamation of the President of the United States; adding, that it would in all probability, be taken notice of by the executive of this State.
Sworn the 3d day of December 1793, before me.
J'APPRENDS par les rapports du consul de la République à Charlestown, et par les papiers publics que la législature de la Caroline du Sud, avoit fait arrèter différentes personnes accusées d'avoir reçu de moi des commissions à l'effet de lever une force armée dans cet etat pour le service de la République. Sentant qu'une pareille demarche, si elle était véritable offenserait la souveraineté du peuple Americain, Je m'empresse de vous affirmer, monsieur, que je n'ai autorisé en aueune maniére le recrutement, la formation, ou le rassemblement d'une force armée, ni d'aucun corps sur le terretoire des Etats Unis; mais en même temps je suis trop franc pour vous déguiser, qu'autorisé par la nation Française à délivrer des brevets à ceux de vos concitoyens qui se sentiroient animés du desir de fervir la plus belle des causes, J'en ai accordé à plusieurs braves républicains de la Caroline du Sud dont l'intention in'a parû être en s'expatriant, de se rendre ché [...] des tributs Indiennes independantes, anciennes amies et alliées de la France pour rendre, s'íls le pouvaient de concert avec nous aux Espagnols et aux Anglais le mal que les gouvernemens de ces deux nations avoient la lâcheté de faire depuis longtems à vos concitoyens sous le mon de ces sauvages de même que depuis peu sous celui des Algeriens.
Je vous préviens, monsieur, queje publierai cette déclaration, afin de calmer les inquietudes et de dissiper les doutes auxquels la dénunciation faite à la législature de la Caroline a pû donner lieu.
TRANSLATION.
I LEARN by the reports of the consul of the Republic, at Charleston, and by the public papers, that the legislature of South-Carolina, had caused to be arrested, different persons, accused of having received from me commissions for [Page 11] the purpose of levying an armed force in that state, for the service of the Republic. Conceiving that such conduct, if it were true, would offend the sovereignty of the American people, I hasten to affirm to you, sir, that I have not authorized in any manner, the recruiting, the formation, or the collecting of an armed force, or of any corps in the territory of the United States; but at the same time, I am too frank to disguise from you, that, authorized by the French nation, to deliver commissions to those of your fellow-citizens, who should feel themselves animated with a desire of serving the best of causes, I have granted them to several brave republicans of South-Carolina, whose intention appeared to me to be to expatriate themselves, and to go among the independent Indian tribes, ancient friends and allies of France, in order to retaliate, if they could, in concert with us, on the Spaniards and English, the injury which the government of these two nations had the baseness, for some time to commit on your fellow-citizens, under the name of these savages, in like manner, as is lately done under that of the Algerines.
I notify you, sir, that I shall publish this declaration, in order to calm inquietudes, and to dissipate the doubts to which the denunciation made in the legisture of Carolina, might give rise.
I HEREBY certify, that the foregoing papers, consisting of seventeen pages of writing, are truly copied from the originals (except the omission of certain names therein, agreeably to the letter of 7th December, 1793, from Gov. Moultrie) on file in the office of the Department of State.