Prevention of French Aggression Against Spain

Item

Type

Copy of document

Title

Prevention of French Aggression Against Spain

Description

Aggression by French towards landholdings of Spanish along Mississippi discussed, U.S. peace with Spain authorized the use of military force to prevent French action.

year created

1793

month created

11

day created

09

author

recipient

in image

note

Letter found in "Message from the President of the United States to Congress, Transmitting Certain Documents Relative to Hostile Threats Against the Territories of Spain, in the Neighbourhood of the United States," Philadelphia: Francis Childs and Josh Swaine, 1794.

notable person/group

Isaac Shelby
Henry Knox
Spanish
French
Secretary of State
Governor of Kentucky
Frenchmen
belligerent parties
President of United States
George Washington
his excellency
Secretary of War

notable location

Spain
France
Mississippi
Germantown
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
Kentucky
Mississippi River

notable item/thing

neutrality
military force
expense

notable idea/issue

neutrality
peace
military force

document number

1793110900001

page start

1

number of pages

1

transcription

Copy of a Letter from the Secretary of War, to His Excellence the Governor of Kentucky, dated Germantown, near Philadelphia, November 9th 1793.
Sir,
I have the honor to enclose your Excellency a Letter from the Secretary of State, relatively to the designs of four Frenchmen to excite some enterprize against the possessions of Spain on the Mississippi with wich Power the United Sates at peace. To permit such a measure in any of the United States would be a breach of our neutrality and of course involve the
195.
United States in the existing war between the belligerent parties, and therefore the enterprize is not to be tolerated in the least degree.
The Secretary of State has suggested how this design may be prevented by the usual course of the laws - but if this mode should be ineffectual, I am instructed by the President of the United States to request that your Excellency will use effectual military force to prevent the execution of the plan of the said Frenchmen, or any other persons who may support or abet their designs; for the lawful expenses of which the United States will be responsible.
Any proceedings which may take in consequence of the letter from the Secretary of State or of this Letter, you will please report, in order to be submitted to the President of the United States.

Item sets

Document instances

In image In source Location in source
[view document] (2 pages) NMP02 (2 pages) Collection: Transcribed Reports and Communications Transmitted by the Executive Branch to the Senate, 1789-1819. (RG46) (M1257, rolls 1-3) M1275, Rolls 1,2,3
[view document] (1 pages) HAA14 (1 pages) Collection: FO 5/5 Foreign Office Correspondence, America(United States), General Correspondence. P: 116
[view document] (0 pages) [no image] Publication: American State Papers, Forgn Rel. [unknown]

Document names

Type Name Location Notes
Author Henry Knox [unknown] [n/a]
Recipient Isaac Shelby [unknown] [n/a]