Alexander Hamilton Papers

Treasury Department Circular to the Collectors of the Customs, 6 October 1789

Treasury Department Circular to the
Collectors of the Customs

Treasury Department
October 6th. 1789.

Sir

I have reason to know, that some of the Collectors have conceived themselves authorised to make ye discount allowed by Law for prompt payment, after Bonds were given for securing the Duties. This is not in my opinion, the true construction of the Act.1 You will therefore under such circumstances avoid making the above discount.

I am Sir   Your Obedient Servant

A Hamilton
Secy of the Treasury

LS, to Jedediah Huntington, MS Division, New York Public Library; LS, to Charles Lee, Charles Lee Papers, Library of Congress; L[S], to Benjamin Lincoln, RG 36, Letters from the Treasury, 1789–1818 (vol. unnumbered), National Archives; L[S], to Otho H. Williams, Office of the Secretary, United States Treasury Department; LS, sold at the Swann Galleries, October 31, 1946, Lot 161; copy, Circulars of the Treasury Department, 1789–1814, Library of Congress; copy, United States Finance Miscellany, Treasury Circulars, Library of Congress; copy, RG 56, Circulars of the Office of the Secretary, “Set T,” National Archives.

1“An Act to regulate the Collection of the Duties imposed by law on the tonnage of ships or vessels, and on goods, wares and merchandises imported into the United States” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 29–49 [July 31, 1789]).

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