From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 11 September 1792
To George Washington1
Philadelphia Sepr. 11. 1792
Sir
Herewith is an official letter submitting the draft of a Proclamation.I reserve some observations as most proper for a private letter.
In the case of a former proclamation I observe it was under the seal of the UStates and countersigned by the Secretary of State. If the precedent was now to be formed I should express a doubt whether it was such an instrument as ought to be under the seal of the UStates; and I believe usage as well in this Country under the state Governments as in Great Britain would be found against it; but the practice having been begun, there are many reasons which in this instance recommend an adherence to it and the form of the attestation is adapted to this idea.2
But still if the Secretary of State should be at so great a distance or if an uncertainty of his being in the way should involve the probability of considerable delay it will be well to consider if the precident ought not to be departed from. In this case the Attestation would require to be varied so as to omit from the words “In testimony” to the words “my hand” inclusively and to substitute the word “Given” to “Done” and it may be adviseable to direct the Atty General to countersign it.
Every day’s delay will render the Act less impressive & defeat a part of its object.
The propriety of issuing the proclamation depends of course upon a resolution to act in conformity to it and put in force all the powers and means with which the Executive is possessed as occasion shall require. My own mind is made up fully to this issue and on this my suggestion of the measure is founded. Your letter by the last Post, confirming former intimations, assures me that you view the matter in the same light.3
The words in the Proclamation “dictated by weighty reasons of public exigency and policy” are not essential to the general scope of it. They amount to an additional commitment of the President on the question of the merits of the law and will require to be well considered.4
That the Proclamation both as to manner and matter will be criticised cannot be matter of surprise, if it should happen, to any one who is aware of the lengths to which a certain party is prepared to go. It ought to be anticipated as probable.
In a step so delicate & so full of responsibility, I thought it my duty to make these observations; though I was sure they would of themselves occur.
It is satisfactory to know that a Jury in Chester County in this state convicted a person who was guilty of assaulting an Officer of Inspection. On being interrogated they answered that they had found him guilty upon the Count in the Indictment which charged him with assaulting the Officer in the execution of his duty—that the law was a constitutional act of Government and was not to be resisted by violence.5 I have directed Mr. Coxe6 to collect & publish the particulars.7 The symptom is a good one.
With the most faithful & affectionate attachment. I have the honor to remain Sir Yr. Obed & hum serv
A Hamilton
The President of The UStates
ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress; copy, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. For background to this letter, see H to Tench Coxe, September 1, 1792; H to Washington, September 1, 8, first letter of September 9, 1792; H to John Jay, September 3, 1792; “Draft of a Proclamation Concerning Opposition to the Excise Law,” September 7, 1792; Washington to H, September 7, 1792; Jay to H, September 8, 1792; Edmund Randolph to H, September 8, 1792.
2. See “Draft of a Proclamation Concerning Opposition to the Excise Law,” September 7, 1792, note 1.
4. For Randolph’s opinion on this wording, see Randolph to H, September 7, 1792.
5. Randolph had written to Washington about this case on September 10, 1792. Randolph’s letter reads in part as follows: “At a late court in Chester county in this state several persons were indicted for an assault on an excise officer. Notwithstanding a strong defence, they were convicted and fined; the jury having said to the attorney-general [Jared Ingersoll of Pennsylvania], that it was not a question with them, whether the law was good, or bad; but that they would never countenance an opposition to laws in such a form. This event, which I shall endeavour to have published with all its circumstances, will increase the abhorence, which several of the very party, who are associated with [Albert] Gallatin and [John] Smilie, feel themselves compelled to express in order to avoid the imputation of a love of anarchy. The probability is, that the proceedings at Pittsburg will contribute to defeat the ticket, which has been proposed by that party” (ALS, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress).
6. Tench Coxe, commissioner of the revenue.
7. On September 26, 1792, the [Philadelphia] Gazette of the United States printed the following notice: “At the last Court of Quarter Sessions for the County of Chester, in this State, Joseph Evans and Robert Fletcher, with several others, were indicted for a riot, assault and battery on Jacob Humphreys, who was in the execution of his office under what is commonly called the ‘Excise Law’ of the United States.
“The other defendants had not, at the time of the trial, been taken.
“The Jury convicted both the defendants, and Fletcher was fined 50 £.”