From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Olney, 1 May 1794
To Jeremiah Olney
Treasury Department
May 1st. 1794.
Sir,
I have to reply to that part of your letter of the 31st. of March relating to certain vessels which escaped the Embargo.
The question is whether an indictment generally will lie for disobeying the injunction of the law? This is the only mode of punishment if any exists.1 The Collector of Newport has been instructed2 to report these cases to the Attorney of the district in order that what shall appear proper may be done.
With great consideration, I am Sir Your Obedient Servant
A Hamilton
Jere Olney Esquire
Collector Providence
Copy, RG 56, Letters to the Collector at Providence, National Archives; copy, RG 56, Letters to Collectors at Small Ports, “Set G,” National Archives.
1. For an earlier discussion of the question of penalties for evasion of the embargo, see Olney to H, March 31, April 3, 1794; H to Olney, April 23, 1794.