Circular to the Governors of North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, 29 September 1792
Circular to the Governors of North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina
United States, September 29th 1792.
Sir,
Inclosed you will find the Copy of a Proclamation, which I have thought proper to issue, in consequence of certain irregular and refractory proceedings which have taken place in particular parts of some of the States, contravening the Laws therein mentioned.1
I feel an entire confidence, that the weight and influence of the Executive of North Carolina, will be chearfully exerted, in every proper way, to further the object of this measure, and to promote on every occasion, a due obedience to the constitutional laws of the Union.2 With respect, I am Sir, Your Excellency’s Obt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, addressed to Alexander Martin, Nc-Ar: Governor’s Papers; LS, addressed to Thomas Mifflin, PWacD; Df, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DLC:GW. The LS to Martin was posted at Alexandria, Va., on “1st Octr,” with a notation in GW’s writing: “President U.S.” The dateline and docket of the draft are also in GW’s writing.
1. On 15 Sept., GW issued a proclamation urging compliance with the federal excise tax on whiskey.
2. In his second letter to Alexander Hamilton of 17 Sept., GW asked him to prepare a draft of a letter to accompany the transmission of the proclamation to Thomas Mifflin, Alexander Martin, and Charles Pinckney, governors respectively of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The letter to Pinckney has not been found.