To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 11 January 1799
From James McHenry
War Depart. 11 Jany 1799
Dear Sir
Permit me in addition to what I said yesterday to request, that laying aside other business you will occupy yourself on the two military bills only. The session is short, and but little of it to come. If possible let me have the bills by mondays mail or at furthest tuesdays.
I have not been able to ascertain what part some of our friends in the house mean to take respecting the appropriations necessary for the new army. Upon an examination of the laws I was obliged to relinqish the opinion, that they had provided for other expenditures on account of the new army than what might be incurred before the end of the next session of Congress—that is the present. See the act passed the 16 July 1798.1 You know the causes and obstructions which prevented me from doing any thing to carry the law for raising the army into effect during the last year.2
Yours affectionately
James McHenry
If you want money let me know that I may send your pay.
Majr Gen Alexr Hamilton
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; ADf, James McHenry Papers, Library of Congress.
1. This is a reference to “An Act to enable the President of the United States to borrow money for public service.” Section 1 of this act provided: “That the President of the United States shall be, and hereby is authorized to borrow, on behalf of the United States, from the Bank of the United States, which is hereby authorized to lend the same, or from any other body or bodies politic or corporate, or from any person or persons and upon such terms and conditions as he shall judge most advantageous for the United States, a sum not exceeding five millions of dollars, in addition to the monies to be received into the treasury of the United States, from taxes, for making up any deficiency in any appropriation heretofore made by law, or to be made during the present session of Congress; and defraying the expenses which may be incurred, by calling into actual service, any part of the militia of the United States, or by raising, equipping and calling into actual service any regular troops, or volunteers, pursuant to authorities vested or to be vested in the President of the United States, by law …” ( 607 [July 16, 1798]). Section 3 of the same act provided: “That the sums to be borrowed, pursuant to this act, shall be paid into the treasury of the United States; and there separately accounted for; and that the same shall be, and hereby are appropriated in manner following: First, to make up any deficiency in any appropriations heretofore made by law, or to be made, during the present session of Congress; and secondly, to defray the expenses which may be incurred before the end of the next session of Congress, by calling into actual service, any part of the militia of the United States, or by raising, equipping and calling into actual service, any regular troops or volunteers, pursuant to authorities vested or to be vested in the President of the United States, by law” ( 608).
2. This is a reference to “An Act to augment the Army of the United States, and for other purposes” ( 604–05 [July 16, 1798]). There were two major reasons why McHenry could not implement this law. First, the question of who would serve directly under George Washington was not settled until October, 1798. See the introductory note to Washington to H, July 14, 1798. Second, John Adams did not submit to the Senate the names of all the other officers for the Additional Army until December 31, 1798, and the Senate did not act on any of these nominations until January 8, 1799 (, 299, 303).