Alexander Hamilton Papers

From Alexander Hamilton to Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg, 31 January 1795

To Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg

Treasury Department, January 31st. 1795.

Sir,

I have the honor to transmit herewith, reports on petitions heretofore referred to me by the House of Representatives,1 and to return others, as noted at foot, the subjects of which have been embraced in Communications already made from this department;2 and to be,

With perfect respect, Sir, Your most obedient, and humble servant

The Honorable,
The Speaker of the
House of Representatives.

Copy, RG 233, Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury, 1784–1795, Vol. IV, National Archives.

2At the bottom of this letter the following note appears: “List of petitions returned. The petition of Daniel Lombard and others. Thomas Russell and others. Inspectors of the revenue, New York.”

On February 24, 1794, the House referred to H “A petition of Daniel Lombard, junior, and others, holders of certain bills of credit, emitted in pursuance of the resolution of the late Congress, of the eighteenth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty … praying that adequate provision may be made for securing to the petitioners the amount of the principal and interest due on the said bills” (Journal of the House description begins Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (Washington, 1826), I, II, III, IV. description ends , II, 71). For the resolution of March 18, 1780, which provided for the issuance of bills of credit called “new emissions,” see Charles Pettit to H, April 30, 1791, note 2. On February 21, 1794, a similar memorial was received from “Thomas Russell, Eleazer Johnson, Jeremiah Allen, Joseph Russell, junior, David Spear, A. Rand, Samuel Belknap, Daniel Austin, John Fisher, and Richard Lillings” (Journal of the House description begins Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (Washington, 1826), I, II, III, IV. description ends , II, 67). For H’s earlier communication on the payment of bills of credit, see “Report on a Plan for the Further Support of Public Credit,” January 16, 1795.

On January 16, 1794, the House referred to H “A petition of the Inspectors of the Revenue at the port of New York … stating the insufficiency of the fees and other emoluments allowed them by law, and praying that the same may be increased, and rendered more adequate to their services” (Journal of the House description begins Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (Washington, 1826), I, II, III, IV. description ends , II, 40–41). Section 58 of “An Act repealing, after the last day of June next, the duties heretofore laid upon Distilled Spirits imported from abroad, and laying others in their stead; and also upon Spirits distilled within the United States and for appropriating the same” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 213 [March 3, 1791]) had provided that the President “make such allowances to the said supervisors, inspectors, and to the deputies and officers by them to be appointed and employed for their respective services as he shall deem reasonable and proper: Provided always, That the aggregate amount of the allowances to all the said supervisors, inspectors and other officers, shall not exceed seven per cent. of the whole produce of the duties arising from the spirits distilled within the United States: And provided also, That such allowance shall not exceed the annual amount of forty-five thousand dollars, until the same shall be further ascertained by law.” In his “Report on the Difficulties in the Execution of the Act Laying Duties on Distilled Spirits,” March 5, 1792, H had recommended that the salaries of the revenue officers be raised to seven and one-half percent of the whole amount of the duties. In Section 16 of “An Act concerning the Duties on Spirits distilled within the United States” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 270–71 [May 8, 1792]) H’s recommendation was enacted.

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