Description:

(1753 – 1813) American attorney and politician, 7th Governor of Virginia and delegate to the Constitutional Convention, serving on its Committee of Detail. First Attorney General and subsequently the second Secretary of State during George Washington's presidency. Superb content manuscript L.S. 'Edm. Randolph', 1p. 4to., Philadelphia, October 29, 1794, to Pierpont Edwards (1750-1826), Continental Congress delegate, district court judge and uncle to Aaron Burr, regarding a recent correspondence with the French minister. It reads in full: 'Mr. Fauchet, the Minister of the French Republic, has expressed his apprehension from a recent occurrence, that the second article of the consular convention providing for the immunity of the papers of office, may be occasionally infringed in the federal courts of the several states. I have therefore to request that if in those, in which you practice, any motion should be made contrary to the spirit of that article, you would oppose it...' The Consular Convention of 1788 was an agreement between the United States and France signed at Versailles on Nov 14, 1788, with the purpose of 'defining and establishing the functions and privileges of their respective consuls and vice consuls.' The second article, mentioned in this letter, deals with the immunity of consuls in the foreign lands and their exemption from duties, taxes, impositions, and charges, etc. Trimmed at left margin, slightly toned, else very good. Randolph would eventually resign as Secretary of State a year after this due to a scandal involving him and his correspondent, French Minister Joseph Fauchet (1761-1834). In August of 1795 the British Navy intercepted a correspondence from Fauchet to French superiors that was turned over to George Washington. He was dismayed to find the letter contained contempt for the United States, and the implication that Randolph was the cause by exposing sensitive cabinet matters to the French minister. When Randolph was confronted by the president in front of the whole cabinet, he was speechless and immediately resigned

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August 26, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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