1To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, [13] May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to transmit, for the information of the Secretary of State, the Copy of a letter of the 23rd. of April last from the Collector of the District of Nantucket to the Register of the Treasury. Copies of the declarations on the Registers, therein referred to, are also transmitted. RC ( DLC ); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Hamilton; endorsed by TJ as...
2Memorandum from Alexander Hamilton and Edmund Randolph, [ca. 13–15 May 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
A Perhaps the Secretary of State, revising the expression of this member of the sentence, will find terms to express his idea still more clearly and may avoid the use of a word of doubtful propriety “Contraventions” B “but be attentive” C “mere” to be omitted D Considering that this Letter will probably become a matter of publicity to the world is it necessary to be so strong? Would not the...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, 23 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor of your note , transmitting the copy of one from Mr. Genet of yesterday. As our laws stand, no transfer of any part of her cargo from one vessel to another within our Ports, can take place ’till after a regular entry and the paying or securing the payment of the duties. You are sensible, Sir, that I have no discretion to dispense with their requisitions. If the wines are be...
4Cabinet Opinion on the Creek Indians and Georgia, 29 May 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States having assembled the heads of the respective departments and the attorney General, laid before them for their advice thereon, sundry communications from the Governor of Georgia, and others, relatively to the recent alarming depredations of the creek Indians upon the State of Georgia. Whereupon after the subject was maturely considered and discussed it was...
5Cabinet Opinions on Sending an Agent to the Choctaw Indians, 1 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
That an Agent be sent to the Choctaw nation to endeavour secretly to engage them to support the Chickasaws in their present war with the Creeks, giving them for that purpose arms and ammunition sufficient: and that it be kept in view that if we settle our differences amicably with the Creeks, we at the same time mediate effectually the peace of the Chickasaws and Choctaws, so as to rescue the...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, 3 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
It was not till within an hour, that I received your letter of the 1st with the papers accompanying it. I approve all the Drafts of letters, as they stand, except that I have some doubt about the concluding sentence of that on the subject of Henfield. If the facts are (as I presume they are) established—may it not be construed into a wish, that there may be found no law to punish a conduct in...
7IV. Alexander Hamilton’s Draft Report on the American Debt to France, with Jefferson’s Commentary, [5 June 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
The Secy. of the Treasury, to whom were referred by the President of the US. sundry documents communicated by the Min. Plenipy. of the Republic of France, respectfully makes the following report thereupon. The object of the communication appears to be to engage the US. to enter into arrangements for discharging the residue of the debt which they owe to France by an anticipated payment of the...
8VI. Alexander Hamilton’s Addition to His Draft Report, with Jefferson’s Commentary, [6–7 June 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
The President concurring with the Preceeding letter , and so signifying to Colo. Hamilton he erased the words ‘Which is humbly submitted’ on the former report , and added on the same paper as follows. If nevertheless the President should be of opinion that reasons ought to be assigned the following seem to [be] the best which the nature of the case will admit, viz. ‘Two modes of reimbursing or...
9VIII. Alexander Hamilton’s Report on the American Debt to France, 8 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury to whom was referred a Communication from the Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France, on the subject of the Debts of the United States to France, respectfully makes thereupon the following Report. The object of this communication is to engage the United States to enter into an arrangement for discharging the residue of the debt which they owe to...
10Enclosure: Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 3 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The failure of the late enterprize against the United Netherlands may be expected to have made a favorable alteration in regard to the prospects of obtaining loans there for the US. Such an expectation is also countenanced by a late letter from our bankers at Amsterdam, which however as yet gives no certainty, that can be a basis of operation. The existing instructions from the department to...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, 10 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The Comptroller of the Treasury has reported to me that “On examining the subsisting contracts between the United States and the Government of France and the Farmers General and a comparison thereof with the foreign accounts and documents transmitted to the Treasury the following facts appear. That, previous to the Treaty of February 1778, the sum of Three Millions of livres had been advanced...
12Cabinet Opinions on the Republican and the Catharine, 12 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
June 12. 1793. The President having required the opinions of the heads of the three departments on a letter from Governor Clinton of the 9th. inst. stating that he had taken possession of the sloop Polly, now called the Republican, which was arming, equipping and manning by French and other citizens to cruize against some of the belligerent powers, and desiring to know what further was to be...
13Enclosure: Alexander Hamilton’s Report on a New Foreign Loan, 15 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of the treasury in obedience to the order of the President of the US. of the 6th. inst. respectfully makes the following report. The statement herewith transmitted, marked A. shews in the Credit side thereof, the amount of the fund arising from foreign loans transferred to the US. amounting to 2,965,643.47 D. and, on the Debet side thereof, the amount of the sums which have been...
14Cabinet Opinion on French Privateers, 17 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
June 17. 1793 At a meeting of the heads of departments at the President’s this day, on summons from him, a letter from Mr. Genet of the 15th. inst. addressed to the Secretary of state on the subject of the seizure of a vessel by the Govr. of New York as having been armed, equipped and manned in that port with a design to cruize on the enemies of France, was read, as also the draught of an...
15Cabinet Opinion on Relations with Spain and Great Britain, 20 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
June 20. 1793. At a meeting this day of the heads of departments at the President’s on summons from him, a letter from Messrs. Viar and Jaudenes dated June 18. and addressed to the Secretary of state, was read: whereupon it is the opinion that a full detail of the proceedings of the US. with respect to the Southern Indians, and the Spaniards be prepared, and a justification as to the...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, 24 June 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that the Collectors have been furnished with all the Sea letters that have been received from Your Department, And that a demand exists at several of the Custom Houses for more. With great respect, I have the honor to be, Sir, your Obedt Servt. RC ( NNP ); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Hamilton; at foot of text: “The Secretary of State”; endorsed by TJ as received...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, 5 July [1793] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Hamilton presents his Compliments to the Secretary of State—requests to be informed, if it will be convenient to him to meet the Secretary at War and Mr. H. to day at twelve oClock. If it will, they will be at that hour at Mr. Jefferson’s office. RC ( DLC ); partially dated; endorsed by TJ as received 5 July 1793 and so recorded in SJL .
18Cabinet Opinions on the Little Sarah, 8 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
At a meeting at the State house of the city of Philadelphia July 8. 1793. Present the Secretary of state, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary at War. It appears that a brigantine called the Little Sarah has been fitted out at the port of Philadelphia, with fourteen cannon, and all other equipments indicating that she is intended as a Privateer to cruise under the authority of France,...
19To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, 10 July [1793] (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his Compliments to the Secretary of State. He has signed the Counterpart ; but for the present leaves in the words as a privateer to consider jointly of some substitute the kind of vessel not being wholly indifferent and there being a doubt whether the general words would be descriptive enough. The letter supposed to have been received from the...
20Cabinet Opinion on Consulting the Supreme Court, 12 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
July 12. 1793. At a meeting of the heads of the departments at the President’s on summons from him, and on consideration of various representations from the Ministers Plenipotentiary of France and Great Britain on the subject of vessels arming and arriving in our ports, and of prizes it is their opinion that letters be written to the said Ministers informing them that the Executive of the US.,...
21I. Alexander Hamilton’s Questions for the Supreme Court, [ca. 18 July 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
I Do the Treaties between the United States and France give to France or her Citizens a right , when at War with a Power with whom the UStates are at peace, to fit out originally, in and from the Ports of the UStates, vessels armed for War, with or without commission? Agreed x II If they give such a right Does it extend to all manner of armed vessels or to particular kinds only? If the...
22IV. Questions for the Supreme Court, [18 July 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
1. Do the treaties between the US. and France give to France or her citizens a right , when at war with a power with whom the US. are at peace, to fit out originally in and from the ports of the US, vessels armed for war, with or without commission? 2. If they give such a right , does it extend to all manner of armed vessels, or to particular kinds only? If the latter, to what kinds does it...
23To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, 26 July 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Hamilton presents his Compliments to Mr. Jefferson And has the honor of sending him, herewith, the Copies of two letters from the Commissioner of Loans for Virginia on the subject of Mr. Short’s Stock. RC ( DLC : William Short Papers); in a clerk’s hand; endorsed by TJ as received 27 July 1793 and so recorded in SJL . Enclosures: (1) John Hopkins to Hamilton, 29 Apr. 1793, reporting that...
24Cabinet Opinion on Prizes and Privateers, 3 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
That the Minister of the French Republic be informed that the President considers the UStates as bound pursuant to positive assurances, given in conformity to the laws of neutrality, to effectuate the restoration of, or to make compensation for, prizes which shall have been made of any of the parties at war with France subsequent to the fifth day of June last by privateers fitted out of their...
25Rules on Neutrality, 3 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
1. The original arming and equipping of vessels in the ports of the United States by any of the belligerent parties, for military service offensive or defensive, is deemed unlawful. 2. Equipments of merchant vessels by either of the belligerent parties in the ports of the United States, purely for the accommodation of them as such, is deemed lawful. 3. Equipments in the ports of the United...
26Cabinet Opinions on Privateers and Prizes, 5 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments and the Attorney general at the Secretary of state’s office Aug. 5. 1793. The case of the Swallow letter of marque at New York, desired to be sent out of our ports, as being a privateer. It is the opinion that there is no ground to make any order on the subject. The Polly or Republican , in the hands of the Marshal at New York, on a charge of having...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, 13 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury proposes to the Secretary of State a Meeting of the Trustees of the Sinking Fund at the Office of the Secy. of State the day after tomorrow twelve oClock. If convenient to him he will please to give notice accordingly to The Atty. General. If the Sy. of the Treasury hears nothing to the contrary he will attend of course. RC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ as received 13...
28I. Alexander Hamilton’s Outline for the Letter of Recall, [ca. 2 August 1793] (Jefferson Papers)
I Discussion of the points in controversy I fitting out privateers—1 as it stands on the general law of Nations—2 upon the Treaties Right of […] { ☞ Inlistment of our Citizens as connected with it with reference to his observations. II Exercise of consular Jurisdiction— I as it stands on general law of Nations II Upon treaties III Upon the principles of France herself—see
29Cabinet Opinions on Edmond Charles Genet, 23 August 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
At meetings of the heads of departments and the Attorney General at the President’s on the 1st. and 2d. of Aug. 1793. On a review of the whole of Mr. Genet’s correspondence and conduct, it was unanimously agreed that a letter should be written to the Minister of the US. at Paris, stating the same to him, resuming the points of difference which had arisen between the government of the US. and...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Alexander Hamilton, 26 August [1793] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Hamilton presents his Compliments to Mr. Jefferson informs him that he has abandonned the intention of sending Mr. Little on being satisfied that the business may as well be confided to the Capt. of the Sloop. The Sloops name is the Hannah. The Capts. William Culver. The letter for our Consul at Havre is all that is now wanting to complete. RC ( DLC ); partially dated; with apparently...