71From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 23 February 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have maturely considered the questions raised by your letter of the 21 of January with the aid of such lights, as memory or inquiry could furnish with regard to usage. The truth is that the articles are so obscurely worded as to preclude a very clear construction. The second article of the 18th section of the original code seems to me to be repealed by the first resolution of the 31 of May...
72From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 5 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 5, 1799 . “I recur to your letters of the 31st of January 4th 15 21. 22 23 & 27 of February, for the purpose of doing whatever may remain to be done in relation to their contents. “… the complete formation of the several corps and their subdivisions which includes the appointment of the full complement of Officers is so essential to order that delay in this respect is very...
73From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 5 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
As the original of the inclosed duplicate must have miscarried, I take the liberty to ask the favour of you to cause the Duplicate to the addressed to the proper Officer by name & to be forwarded to him in a mode that will be render the conveyance certain. It is necessary that the Letter for Col. Moore should immediately get to hand. He has requested me to transmit all letters for him under...
74From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 10 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Ought it not to be a rule to forward from your department to the Major Generals, as they are passed, copies of all laws respecting the military establishment? At any rate you will oblige me by sending those of the session just finished. I observe in the 5 § of the Recruiting Instructions, filled up in Manuscript, the term of inlistment is five years. The law for augmenting the army § 2 directs...
75From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 14 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
It is a construction of the law warranted by usage that the President shall appoint the requisite number of Lieutenants & leave three of them to be designated for Quarter Master & Pay Master in the manner practiced in the late army. But if this is supposed not to be a good construction the end may be produced by making it a rule that recommendations shall come through the described Channels to...
76From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 15 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
I have digested some alterations in and additions to the Recruiting Instructions which I now send for consideration and decision. The nature of each will announce its motive so as to render little comment necessary. A few remarks will be seen in the margin of some of the clauses. I shall be glad of a determination as soon as may be in order to the transmission of the instructions that they may...
77Enclosure: Additions to the Recruiting Instructions, [15 March 1799] (Hamilton Papers)
To Section III No foreigner by birth shall be enlisted unless he shall have become a citizen of the UStates and shall have resided at least one year in the County where he shall be enlisted. To Section VI These attestations must always be taken in the presence of and certified by a Commissioned officer and must be forwarded to the Inspector General (through the Commanding Officer of the...
78From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 16 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 16, 1799. “Though I have not as yet complete materials for arranging all the States into Districts and subdistricts—I now submit to you an arrangement as to some of them, in order that the recruiting service may begin in these, when you deem other things sufficiently mature to commence it. There occurs no important reason why it should not be successively undertaken. On the...
79From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 18 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Beware, my Dear Sir, of magnifying a riot into an insurrection, by employing in the first instance an inadequate force. Tis better far to err on the other side. Whenever the Government appears in arms it ought to appear like a Hercules , and inspire respect by the display of strength. The consideration of expence is of no moment compared with the advantages of energy. Tis true this is always a...
80From Alexander Hamilton to James McHenry, 18 March 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
In compliance with the object of your letter of the 15. instant, I have put in motion two companies of Artillerists from Fort Jay (Henrys and Cochrans) who are to embark at ten this morning for Amboy and to proceed from thence by way of Brunswick to New Town in Bucks County. There (at Brunswick) Lt: Boote with his party is instructed to join them. The two companies as they march will exceed...