From Alexander Hamilton to William Buchanan and Samuel Smith, 1 December 1794
To William Buchanan and Samuel Smith1
Treasury Department, December 1, 1794. “A Bill from you for Ten thousand Dollars in favour of Philips & Cramond2 has been presented and will be paid to morrow. But though intirely disposed to give effectual support to Messrs. Elliot & Williams3 and every facility to your House in their Agency for those Gentlemen4—I cannot countenance the practice of drawing upon the Treasury without previous communication and permission. I am obliged therefore to apprise you that future Bills without such communication & permission must be refused, and I rely consequently that none will be drawn.…”
Copy, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford.
1. Smith and Buchanan were Baltimore merchants. Smith had been commander of the Maryland militia during the Whiskey Insurrection.
2. William Crammond and Henry Philips were Philadelphia merchants who were associated with George and Robert Philips, merchants of Manchester, England. See Robert Morris to Crammond, March 14, 1795; Morris to George and Robert Philips, March 16, October 10, 1795; Morris to William Temple Franklin, May 14, 1795 (LC, Robert Morris Papers, Library of Congress).
3. Robert Elliot and Elie Williams, contractors for supplying the Army on the western frontier.
4. Smith supplied Elliot and Williams with dry goods for the Indian trade.