1To Alexander Hamilton from William Bradford, 7 February 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I have considered the letter from the Collector of Newport inclosed in yours which I received yesterday, and the questions which he states as arising upon the proviso to the 66§. of the Collection Act passed on the 4th August, 1790, and I am of opinion. That a capias or attachment issued within three years after the penalty of forfeiture was incurred, and returned by the proper officer, is a...
2Cabinet Meeting. Opinion on Expeditions Being Planned in Kentucky for the Invasion of the Spanish Dominions, [10 March … (Hamilton Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments, and the attorney general at the President’s on the 10th. day of March 1794. The intelligence from Kentucky, and the territory no. West of the Ohio, was laid before them; whereupon it was advised 1. that a proclamation issue against the expeditions, understood to be prepared in Kentucky, for the invasion of the Spanish dominions. 2. that a...
3Cabinet Meeting. Opinion on a Request for Payment of Installments on the French Debt, [11 March 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments and the attorney general, on the 11th. of March 1794. It is advised unanimously, that Mr. Fauchet be informed, that He shall be supplied with the instalments, due in September and November next, according to the manner, expressed in the report of the Secretary of the treasury to the President on this subject. It is proposed by the Secretary of the...
4To Alexander Hamilton from William Bradford, 14 March 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your letters of the 5th instant and have considered the question therein stated for my opinion. It is, at what time does the credit upon the duties imposed on a cargo first entered for exportation and afterwards for landing, begin to run. Although this case does not appear to have been distinctly foreseen or provided for in any of the Impost...
5Cabinet Meeting. Opinion on the Best Mode of Executing the Embargo, [26 March 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments, and the Attorney general of the U. S. at the President’s, on the twenty sixth day of march 1794. The resolution of congress, of this date being submitted to them by the President for their opinion as to the best Mode of executing the same; It is advised unanimously, that the governors of the several States ought to be called upon to enforce the said...
6Cabinet Meeting. Opinion on Restoring the Brigs Conyngham and Pilgrim to the British, [27 March 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments and Attorney general. March 27. 1794. The Secretary of War, the attorney general and the Secretary of State advise, that the Conyngham be not delivered up to the British owners; the secretary of the treasury dissenting. The Secretary of the treasury, the Secretary of war, and the attorney general advise, that the Pilgrim be delivered up to the British...
7Cabinet Meeting Opinion on a Request for a Passport, 2 April 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
We are of opinion, that a passport ought to be granted for a vessel under the above restrictions. Edm: Randolph. Alex Hamilton I am inclined to think the vessel ought [to] sail not only by the permission , but in consequence of the directions of the President. D , in the handwriting of Edmund Randolph, William Bradford, and Henry Knox, and signed by Randolph, Bradford, H, and Knox, RG 59,...
8To Alexander Hamilton from William Bradford, 15 April 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
I have attentively considered the question which you have stated for my consideration & I am clearly of opinion “that the stock of the United States standing in the names of individuals on the books of the Treasury are not liable to attachment by the Laws of Pennsylvania.” Independent of the strong considerations which arise from the nature of the debt and the manner in which transfers are...
9To Alexander Hamilton from William Bradford, 1 May 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
From your Letter of the 25th ultimo which I had the honor of receiving yesterday, I learn that “among the French Officers who served in the United States and who obtained Certificates for the sums due to them there are several who are in the condition of Emigrants and whose whole property has been confiscated by the actual gov: of that Country” upon which a question is made, whether this...
10Cabinet Meeting. Opinion on Call for Volunteers from Kentucky, 13 May 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of the departments and the attorney General, at the house of the President of the United States, the subject of affording an auxiliary force to Major General Wayne for the purpose of enabling him to make a vigorous and offensive campaign against the hostile Indians being considered, it was advised, that he be authorised, to call for two thousand mounted volunteers...
11Cabinet Meeting. Opinion on Drafting of Militia by Governor Thomas Mifflin, 24 May 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Upon consideration of the letter of Governor Mifflin to the President of the US of this date respecting his drafting one thousand men of the Western militia of this state, for the purpose of supporting a detachment directed to take possession of Presque Isle it was advised That an answer of the following purport be given. “That on mature reflection the President is of opinion that it is...
12Cabinet Decision. Rules for Departure from United States Ports of Belligerent Nations, [16 June 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
When any Vessel, whether of war or merchandize, public or private, belonging to any belligerent nation, shall depart from the United States, beyond the jurisdictional line of the United States, on the Ocean; and a Vessel of War whether public or private, belonging to another of the belligerent nations, being adverse, shall at the time of the departure of the first mentioned vessel, be within...
13To Alexander Hamilton from William Bradford, 22 August 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Pittsburgh, August 22, 1794. On August 23, 1794, Bradford wrote to Hamilton : “Yesterday I wrote to you.” Letter not found. ]
14To Alexander Hamilton from William Bradford, 23 August 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
Yesterday I wrote to you pretty fully —to day I have little to add beyond what is contained in the official communication. Whatever may be the declarations of a determination to submit, or exertions on the part of those whose indemnity depends upon a general acquiescence in the execution of the acts of Congress—there seems to be a necessity for some force being stationed here, to overawe the...
15William Bradford and Alexander Hamilton to Edmund Randolph, 4 November[–9 December] 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
The case of Mr. Green upon which you request my opinion appears to be, in substance, as follows. Mr Green being a subject of his britannic Majesty, emigrated to America after the treaty of peace in 1783, and by his residence & taking the requisite oaths became a citizen of the United States. He afterwards entered into a contract with certain British Merchants established at Ostend: and on a...
16To Alexander Hamilton from William Bradford, 13 January 179[5] (Hamilton Papers)
In conformity to your request I have perused the records annexed to the Writs of error sued out in the case of Jeremiah Olney plntf in Error against Edward Dexter and Welcome Arnold. The pleadings do not state with clearness the fact which you consider as the material one in the cause to Wit, that the assignment of the Cargo was pretended & Collusive . In such case, Welcome Arnold would have...
17To Alexander Hamilton from William Bradford, [17 January 1795] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, January 17, 1795. On January 28, 1795, Hamilton wrote to Tench Coxe : “I send you copy of a letter from the Attorney General of the 17 instant.” Letter not found. ]
18To Alexander Hamilton from William Bradford, 21 May 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you very sincerely for your letter of the 10th. inst. which I received a few days ago. The conduct of Fauchet which you so justly reprobate could not escape the notice of the president tho’ it does not seem to have excited so much public attention as I expected. A little before this took place, that minister had intimated to Mr Randolph his expectation of returning soon to France; and...
19To Alexander Hamilton from William Bradford, 2 July 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Your letter of last month should not have remained so long unanswered had I not been suddenly carried off to Easton by the allurement of a stout fee, and detained on my return, by the funeral of Secr Stockton, till the day before yesterday. I took care, however, before my departure, to bring the situation of La Fayette into the President’s view and submitted to him the propriety of the step...
20To Alexander Hamilton from William Bradford, 4 August 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
The record of the proceedings in the cause relating to the Carriage Tax is not yet returned —but I expect it this week. I learn however that Taylor, who has published his speech, has advised the defendant to make no further argument & to let the Supreme Court do as they please & that in consequence of this advice no counsel will appear in support of the writ of Error. I have denied that the...
21To Alexander Hamilton from William Bradford, 27 September 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, September 27, 1794. The description of this letter in the dealer’s catalogue reads: “Concerning expenses of ‘The Commissioners appointed by the President of the United States.’ Bradford … had apparently advanced the money needed to buy horses, etc., and he inquires if the sums advanced were to be repaid him by the Quartermaster or charged in his account against the U.S.” Letter...
22To George Washington from William Bradford, January 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General has the honour to report, That having considered the Resolve of the Senate of the 24th instant whereby the President of the United States is requested to lay before that body the correspondence which has been had between the minister of the United States at the French Republic and the said Republic and between said Minister and the office of Secretary of State — He is of...
23Cabinet Opinion, 13 May 1794 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of the departments and the attorney General, at the house of the President, of the United States, the subject of affording an auxiliary force to Major General Wayne for the purpose of enabling him to make a vigorous and offensive campaign against the hostile Indians being considered, it is advised, that he be authorised, to call for two thousand mounted volunteers...
24To George Washington from William Bradford, 14 July 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General, agreeably to the directions of the President, has considered the late communication from Georgia and the resolves of the persons assembled at Lexington on the 24th of May last, and has now the honor to report to the president his opinion thereon. It appears by Mr Seagrove’s letter that a combination has been formed by a number of persons in Georgia, for the purpose of...
25To George Washington from William Bradford, 5 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General has the honor of stating, as required to the president of the United States his opinion upon the late combinations in the Western Counties of Pennsylvania and on the measures requise to suppress them. The offence which has already been committed and which the Insurgents beyond the Alleghany Mountain still persist in, appears to the Attorney General so far as respects the...
26To George Washington from William Bradford, 17 August 1794 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ a pretty full narrative of the situation of this County is prepared to be transmitted to the Secretary of State I take the liberty of adding a few observations on this interesting subject, which may not be so proper in an official communication. It will appear to you, Sir, from that letter to be our joint opinion that the people cannot be induced by conciliatory offers to relinquish...
27To George Washington from William Bradford, 17 October 1794 (Washington Papers)
Foreign Intelligence is conveyed to you so quickly and domestic occurrences have been so unimportant, that I have been unwilling to trouble you with a letter which could give you no material information: but I perceive, that if I indulge these scruples longer, I shall not have the honor of writing to you at all. I spent part of last week in New Jersey & had an opportunity of conversing with a...
28To George Washington from William Bradford, 16 February 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General has the honor of submitting to the president of the United States his opinion on the petition of George Hoffner and others, prisoners now confined in the gaol of Washington County in Maryland. The Attorney General is of opinion that the acquital therein stated cannot be legally pleaded in bar of an indictment for Treason against the United States; the state Courts not...
29To George Washington from William Bradford, 9 March 1795 (Washington Papers)
The Attorney General having made the necessary inquiries respecting the case of John Mitchell, one of the insurgents, recommended by General Morgan as a proper object for a pardon —has now the honor to report to the president of the United States, That it appears by the voluntary Confession of the said John Mitchell, that he was present at and concerned in the Attack upon & destruction of...
30To James Madison from William Bradford, [13] October 1772 (Madison Papers)
FC (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). The RC is not known to exist. Given below is the text of the first letter copied by William Bradford in his commonplace book. On page 1 of this notebook he wrote, “Letters to and From Mr. James Maddison jr. From October the seventh 1772 to July 28th … 1775 inclusive.” Unaccountably, Bradford misdated the present letter “October 7th 1773.” JM’s reply of...