31First Conversation of August 8–12 with George Beckwith, [8–12 August 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
… Supposed 7. I have mentioned Your application with all the circumstances attending it; there will be no sort of difficulty in Your seeing Mr. Mc.Gillivray whenever you please; General Knox, at whose house he resides, is apprized of it, and will introduce You to him. I cannot think it probable, that any of the attempts to sound Your ideas or dispositions during our negotiations with the...
32Conversation with George Beckwith and William Macomb, 31 January 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
A Conversation: Mr. Hamilton, Mr. William Macomb of Detroit, and Lieutenant Colonel Beckwith. Lt. Colo. B. Mr. Macomb, I think it for the honor of the King’s government, for its interests, and I really believe it for the interests of this country also, that the true state of things in the western Country should be known, and if there are any misconceptions, or errors arising from...
33Conversation with George Beckwith, [15 July 1790] (Hamilton Papers)
… supposed 7. There is one thing more which I wish to mention to You; I do it altogether as from one gentleman to an other, and I trust it will be so considered. I have decided on doing it at this time from the possibility of my not having it in my power to come to such an explanation hereafter. If it shall be judged proper to proceed in this business by the sending or appointing a proper...
34Conversation with George Beckwith, 12 August [1791] (Hamilton Papers)
An Officer at the Head of an Executive Department Mr. —— Since I saw you, we have got Mr. Ternant, the minister pleniopotentiary from France; I have seen him for a few minutes only. You will find him a man of easy, pleasing manners, and very fit for the objects of his appointment. There has been a sort of alarm in France, and a degree of jealousy of your having lately turned your attention...
35Certificate on John Hanson by Anthony L. Bleecker, Peter S. Curentius, Alexander Hamilton, John Lamb, and Hercules … (Hamilton Papers)
We the Subscribers do certify that we were acquainted with Capt John Hanson deceased in his life time, and at an early period of the Revolution of the United States, and have satisfactory grounds to believe that he was firmly attached to the cause of the Revolution and to the liberties of this Country. We also certify, that we particularly recollect as eye Witnesses his conduct on a certain...
36Cabinet 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...
37William 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...
38Cabinet 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...
39Cabinet 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...
40Cabinet 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...
41Cabinet 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...
42Cabinet 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...
43Cabinet 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...
44Cabinet 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,...
45Cabinet 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...
46Articles of Agreement between Alexander Hamilton and Samuel Breck, 1 January 1795 (Hamilton Papers)
Treasury Department , January 1, 1795 . “Articles of agreement between Alexander Hamilton … And Samuel Breck Esquire of the City of Philadelphia in behalf of the Proprietors of the Canvas or Sail cloth Manufactory at Boston…. First That the United States agree to purchase of the said company of Manufacturers … One thousand five hundred and fifty four bolts of Sail canvas or sail cloth…....
47[“C”], [10 November 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
[Philadelphia] Gazette of the United States , November 10, 1792. Philip Marsh has written: “In November, ‘C.’ taunted Freneau, the translator-editor, for publishing a French poem without translating it. Hamilton, who as ‘T. L.’ and ‘An American’ had called attention to Freneau’s lack of translating ability, may well have taken this opportunity to point out the editor’s awkward situation”...
48[“C”], [20 June 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
[Philadelphia] Gazette of the United States , June 20, 1792. Philip Marsh has written: “On June 20th of the same year, when Hamilton, aroused by the attacks in Philip Freneau’s National Gazette , was admittedly on the point of exposing the ‘plot’ to subvert the Constitution led, as he thought, by Jefferson, a strong indictment of that newspaper and its supporters as ‘a faction,’ signed ‘C.,’...
49Cabinet Opinion on Relations with Spain and Great Britain, 20 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting this day of the heads of departments at the President’s on summons from him, a letter from Messrs Viar & Jaudenes dated June 18. & addressed to the Secretary of state, was read: whereupon it is the opinion that a full detail of the proceedings of the U.S. with respect to the Southern Indians, & the Spaniards be prepared, and a notification as to the particular matters charged in...
50Cabinet Opinion on the Rules of Neutrality, 3 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
August 3. 1793 The foregoing rules having been considered by us at several meetings, and being now unanimously approved, they are submitted to the President of the United States. DS , in George Taylor, Jr.’s writing, DLC:GW ; copy (letterpress copy), DLC : Jefferson Papers; LB , DLC:GW ; Df , in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC : Jefferson Papers; copy, DNA : RG 46, Third Congress, 1793–1795,...
51Cabinet Opinion on French Privateers and Prizes, 5 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments & the Attorney general at the Secretary of state’s office Aug. 5. 1793. The case of the Swallow letter of marque at New York, desired to be sent out of our ports, as being a privateer. it is the opinion that there is no ground to make any new order on the subject. The Polly or Republican, in the hands of the Marshal at New York, on a charge of having...
52Cabinet Opinion on the Little Sarah [Petite Démocrate], 8 July 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting at the State house of the city of Philadelphia July 8. 1793. Present the Secretary of state, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary at War. It appears that a brigantine called the Little Sarah has been fitted out at the port of Philadelphia, with fourteen cannon, & all other equipments indicating that she is intended as a Privateer to cruise under the authority of France, &...
53Cabinet Opinion on the Recall of Edmond Genet, 23 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
At meetings of the heads of departments & the Attorney General at the President’s on the 1st & 2d of Aug. 1793. On a review of the whole of mister Genet’s correspondence & conduct, it was unanimously agreed that a letter should be written to the Minister of the U.S. at Paris, stating the same to him, resuming the points of difference which had arisen between the government of the U.S. & mister...
54Cabinet Opinion on French Privateers, 17 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the heads of departments at the President’s this day, on summons from him, a letter from mister Genet of the 15th inst. addressed to the Secretary of state on the subject of the seizure of a vessel by the Govr. of New York as having been armed, equipped & manned in that port with a design to cruize on the enemies of France, was recd as also the draught of an answer prepared by...
55Cabinet Opinion on Sending an Agent to the Choctaws, 1–5 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
That an Agent be sent to the Choctaw nation to endeavor secretly to engage them to support the Chickasaws in their present war with the Creeks, giving them for that purpose arms and ammunition sufficient: and that it be kept in view that if we settle our differences amicably with the Creeks, we at the same time mediate effectually the peace of the Chickasaws & Choctaws, so as to rescue the...
56Cabinet Opinion on the Polly (Republican) and the Catherine, 12 June 1793 (Washington Papers)
The President having required the opinions of the heads of the three departments on a letter from Governor Clinton of the 9th inst. stating that he had taken possession of the sloop Polly, now called the Republican, which was arming, equipping & manning by French & other citizens to cruize against some of the belligerent powers, and desiring to know what further was to be done, and they having...
57Cabinet Opinion on French Privateers, 3 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
That The Minister of the French Republic be informed that the President considers the U. States as bound pursuant to positive assurances, given in conformity to the laws of neutrality, to effectuate the restoration of, or to make compensation for, prizes which shall have been made of any of the parties at war with France subsequent to the fifth day of June last by privateers fitted out of...
58Cabinet Opinions on the Roland and Relations with Great Britain, France, and the Creek Indians, 31 August 1793 (Washington Papers)
At a meeting of the Heads of departments & Attorney General at the President’s on the 31st day of Aug. 1793. A letter from mister Gore to mister Lear, dated Boston Aug. 24. was read, stating that the Roland, a privateer fitted out at Boston & furnished with a commission under the government of France, had sent a prize into that port, which being arrested by the Marshal of the district by...
59The Defence No. X, [26 August 1795] (Hamilton Papers)
The object of the third article is connected with that of the second. The surrender of the posts naturally drew with it an arrangement with regard to inland Trade and navigation. Such an arrangement convenient in several respects appears to be in some respects necessary. To restrain the Indians on either side of the line from trading with the one party or the other at discretion, besides the...
60From Alexander Hamilton to Defence No. XX, [23 and 24 October 1795] (Hamilton Papers)
The point next to be examined is the right of confiscation or sequestration, as depending on the opinions of Jurists and on usage. To understand how far these ought to weigh, it is requisite to consider what are the elements, or ingredients, which compose what is called the laws of Nations. The constituent parts of this system are, 1 The necessary or internal law, which is the law of Nature...