1To George Washington from Alexander Hamilton, 23 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury presents his respects to the President and sends him the opinion required which occupied him the greatest part of last night. The Bill for extending the time of opening subscriptions passed yesterday unanimously to an order for engrossing. LB , DLC:GW . See GW to Hamilton, 16 Feb. 1791 . See Journal of the House The Journal of the House of Representatives: George...
2Enclosure: Opinion on the Constitutionality of an Act to Establish a Bank, 23 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
The Secretary of the Treasury having perused with attention the papers containing the opinions of the Secretary of State and the Attorney General concerning the constitutionality of the Bill for establishing a National Bank, proceeds, according to the order of the President, to submit the reasons which have induced him to entertain a different opinion. It will naturally have been anticipated,...
3Editorial Note (Washington Papers)
The bill to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States had not yet been presented to GW for his signature when he solicited and received the opinion of the attorney general on its constitutionality. After receiving Randolph’s opinion, GW solicited the views of the secretary of state. Both Randolph and Jefferson had prepared written opinions arguing that the bank bill was...