Alexander Hamilton Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-17-02-0263

From Alexander Hamilton to Oliver Wolcott, Junior, 29 September 1794

To Oliver Wolcott, Junior

Treasury Department
29th September 1794

Sir

Being about to leave the seat of Government for a few Weeks to accompany the Army on its march against the Western Insurgents of Pennsylvania, I commit to you during my absence the management of those matters which are reserved to my superintendance under the constitution and regulations of the Department, especially the receipts and expenditures of money, and I rely upon your deligence and zeal, that nothing will suffer during my absence.

With regard to remissions & mitigations of penalties and forfeitures it will be best to avoid acting in any case in which particular inconvenience will not arise from delay, as there is not time to explain the priniciples which have governed in the past, and the course of policy may without such explanation be innovated upon, so as to occasion something like inconsistency. But in urgent cases you will act, consulting the most recent precedents in similar cases.

To preserve the usual forms I have signed and left in my Office a large number of Blank Warrants, of the different kinds which issue.

Inclosed is a letter to the President and Directors of the Bank of New York.1 If they agree to the loan you will conclude it. You will find in the Office a Power from the President for the purpose.

It will be regular in any contract which may be made to pursue the terms of the power as to parties.2

With great consideration & esteem   I am Sir   Your obedient Servant

A Hamilton
Secy of the Treasy

Oliver Wolcott Esqr.
Comptroller of the Treasury

LS, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford; ADf, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford; copy, RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters, 1790–1799, National Archives; three copies, Papers of Tench Coxe in the Coxe Family Papers at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

1Letter not found, but see H to Gulian Verplanck, September 28, 1794.

2At this point in the draft H wrote and crossed out the following sentence: “The contract may be concluded if not more than 6 per Cent interest is demanded.”

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