Certified FBI documents enclosed.

Delta clearance ONLY. Special Agent Alex Hwang

August 24, 1841

United States Department of Justice

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Subject Name Gender DOB

EDMOND- Male January 8,

CHARLES 1763
GEŇET
Known Aliases POB DOD

Citizen Geňet Versailles, July 14, 1834

France

Synopsis

Edmond-Charles Geňet was the only son of a French civil servant,

Edmond Jacques Geňet. Geňet quickly became a prodigy – he
could read French, English, Latin, Swedish, and German by age
12. He was appointed to court translator at 18. In 1783, Geňet
became the acting secretary of Legation to England to obtain
useful information regarding the trade between Great Britain and
France. Geňet was sent to Russia in 1787 to work in the French
Legation, but was expelled in 1792. He became the first Minister
of the French Republic to the United States in 1793.

An engraving of Edmond Geňet.

 Special Agent Alex Hwang
August 24, 1841

Citizen Geňet Affair

Edmond-Charles Geňet came to Charleston, South Carolina on

April 8, 1793 as a minister to the United States from the new
Girondist regime in France. He immediately began commissioning
privateers and making plans to use United States ports for
France’s war against British trade. Geňet also began gathering
support for expeditions intended to attack Spanish New Orleans
and British territories.

Geňet was shocked to hear that President George Washington

considered his plans and other proposed military activities an
infringement of his Neutrality Proclamation.
His actions seriously endangered American neutrality and could
possibly prove to be the beginnings of a war with Britain.

Geňet met with President Washington and asked for a suspension

of American neutrality. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson
promptly denied. While this negotiation was occurring, Geňet’s
privateers were continuing to attack British ships. His militia was
preparing to go on the offensive against Spanish territories.

Against the will of President Washington, Geňet continued to

recruit and arm privateers and capture British ships. With
opposing party members Alexander Hamilton and Thomas
Jefferson approving, Washington sent Geňet a large letter of
complaint.

When Geňet began arming and dispatching the American ship

Little Sarah (renamed as La Petite Democrate), President
Washington and his cabinet demanded Geňet’s recall. Geňet
obstinately refused to give in. Washington was furious. He
requested that Geňet be recalled by the French government.

Consequences

The Citizen Geňet Affair intensified party feelings and divisions,

especially in the South. From Vermont to South Carolina,
Democratic-Republican clubs were forming to celebrate the
triumphs of the French Revolution and support Geňet in his
efforts to fight Spain and Britain. Alexander Hamilton and his
supporters in the Federalist party were suspicious of these newly
 Special Agent Alex Hwang
August 24, 1841
forming parties as efforts to undermine the Washington
administration.

Asylum and later life

With the Jacobins now in power in France, Geňet had two choices,
either to return to France and the guillotine or stay in America.
He begged Washington for political asylum, which was granted.

Geňet moved to East Greenbush, New York and married Cornelia

Clinton in 1794, the daughter of New York Governor George
Clinton. She died in 1810. Geňet married Martha Brandon
Osgood, the daughter of Samuel Osgood, the United States’ first
Postmaster General, in 1818.

Geňet purchased a farm he called Prospect Hill. He wrote a book

about inventions. He died on July 14, 1834.

Ou
Included is a letter regarding this affair:

Recommendation on government action

to f da
te
[as written by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson to President
Washington dated May 12, 1793]

President George Washington,

Sir, this pest Geňet must be gotten rid of as soon as possible. He

poses a direct threat to security and safety of our nation. I fear
Britain may strike on us at any moment because of the ships they
are losing to our own country!

You, as well as I, know very well that this country is not capable
of going to war. We cannot risk the lives of our American citizens
– your Neutrality proclamation must be upheld no matter the
costs.

Despite my pro-French affiliations, I insist to you that this French

man must be recalled at once.

Mr. President, I hope for the best for our American people most of
 Special Agent Alex Hwang
August 24, 1841
all. This man Geňet must be recalled as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of State

[EOM]

Bibliography

"Citizen Genet Affair (United States-French History) -- Britannica Online

Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia.
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Digital History. Web. 03 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/documents/documents_p2.cfm
?doc=331>.
"FBI — Quick Facts." FBI — Homepage. Web. 02 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/quick-facts/quickfacts>.
Genet, August. "Genet Family Papers." Albany Institute. Web. 2 Apr.
2011.