Papers of Thomas Jefferson. Volume 20 The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Volume 20: April 1791 to August 1791

This volume documents exhaustively for the first time Edmond Charles Genet's dramatic challenges to American neutrality and Jefferson's diplomatic and political responses. After welcoming Genet's arrival as the harbinger of closer relations between the American and French republics, Jefferson becomes increasingly distressed by the French minister's defiance of the Washington administration's ban on the outfitting of French privateers in American ports, the enlistment of American citizens in French service, and the exercise of admiralty jurisdiction by French consuls in American ports. Although the Supreme Court declines to advise the executive branch on neutrality questions that Jefferson prepares with the President and the Cabinet, he helps to formulate a set of neutrality rules to meet Genet's challenge.Unable to convince the impetuous French envoy to adopt a more moderate course, Jefferson works in the Cabinet to bring about Genet's recall so as to preserve friendly relations with France and minimize political damage to the Republican party, in which he takes a more active role to prevent the Federalists from capitalizing on Genet's defiance of the President. Grappling with the threat of war with Spain, Jefferson involves himself equivocally in a diplomatically explosive plan by Genet to liberate Louisiana from Spanish rule. In this volume Jefferson also plays a decisive role in resolving a dispute over the design of the Capitol and plans agricultural improvements at Monticello in preparation for his retirement to private life. The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson Is A Projected 60-volume Series Containing Not Only The 18,000 Letters Written By Jefferson But Also, In Full Or In Summary, The More Than 25,000 Letters Written To Him. Including Documents Of Historical Significance As Well As Private Notes Not Closely Examined Until Their Publication In The Papers, This Series Is An Unmatched Source Of Scholarship On The Nation's Third President--publisher's Description. V 1. 1760-1776 -- V. 2. 1777-18 June, 1779, Including The Revisal Of The Laws, 1776-1786 -- V. 3. 18 June, 1779 To 30 September, 1780 -- V. 4. 1 October, 1780 To 24 February 1781 -- V. 5. 25 February 1781 To 20 May 1781 -- V. 6. 21 May 1781 To 1 March 1784 -- V. 7. 2 March 1784 To 25 February 1785 -- V. 8. 25 February To 31 October 1785 -- V. 9. 1 November, 1785 To 22 June, 1786 -- V. 10. 22 June To 31 December, 1786 -- V. 11. 1 January To 6 August, 1787 -- V. 12. 7 August 1787 To 31 March, 1788 -- V. 13. March To 7 October, 1788 -- V. 14. 8 October 1788 To 26 March, 1789 -- V. 15 March 1789 To 30 November 1789. -- V. 16. 30 November 1789 To 4 July, 1790 -- V. 17. 6 July To 3 November 1790 -- V. 18. 4 November 1790 To 24 January 1791 -- V. 19. 24 January To 31 March 1791 -- V. 20. 1 April To 4 August 1791 -- V. 21. Index, Volumes 1-20 -- V. 22. 6 August 1791 To 31 December 1791 -- V. 23. 1 January To 31 May 1792 -- V. 24. 1 June To 31 December 1792 -- V. 25. 1 January To 10 May 1793 -- V. 26. 11 May To 31 August 1793 -- V. 27. 1 September To 31 December 1793 -- V. 28. 1 January 1794 To 29 February 1796 -- V. 29. 1 March 1796 To 31 December 1797 -- V. 30. 1 January 1798 To 31 January 1799 -- V. 31. 1 February 1799 To 31 May 1800 -- V. 32. 1 June 1800 To 16 February 1801 -- V. 33. 17 February To 30 April 1801 -- V. 34. 1 May To 31 July 1801 -- V. 35. 1 August To 30 November 1801 -- V. 36. 1 December 1801 To 3 March 1802 -- V. 37. 4 March To 30 June 1802 -- V. 38. 1 July To 12 November 1802 -- V. 39. 13 November 1802 To 3 March 1803 -- V. 40. 4 March To 10 July 1803 -- V. 41. 11 July To 15 November 1803 -- V. 42. 16 November 1803 To 10 March 1804 -- V. 43. 11 March To 30 June 1804. Julian P. Boyd, Editor ; Lyman H. Butterfield And Mina R. Bryan, Associate Editors. Supplemented By Three Temporary Indexes Covering Vols. 1-6, 7-12, And 13-18, Compiled By Elizabeth J. Sherwood And Ida T. Hopper; Published: Princeton, Princeton University Press, 1954-73. Beginning With V. 21, Permanent Cumulative Indexes Will Appear After Each Decimal Volume; Vol. 21 Provides An Index To The First 20 Vols. And Replaces The Earlier Temporary Indexes. Vol. 21-23: Charles T. Cullen, Editor, Eugene R. Sheridan, Associate Editor, Ruth W. Lester, Assistant Editor; Vol. 24-28: John Catanzariti, Editor, Eugene R. Sheridan, Senior Associate Editor; Vol. 29-41: Barbara B. Oberg, General Editor; Vol. 42-43: James P. Mcclure, Editor, Elaine Weber Pascu, Senior Associate Editor. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. From Vol. 21-23, The Editor Is Charles T. Cullen ; Vol. 24-28 ; John Cantanzariti ; Vol. 29-41 : Barbara B. Oberg ; Vol. 42- : James P. Mcclure.