George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Henry Knox, 18 April 1794

From Henry Knox

War department April 18. 1794

Sir,

I have the honor to submit a draft of a letter to the Governors, and to the commanding Officers of Militia of certain Ports to the southward, which are out of the route of the residence of the Governors.1 I have the honor to be Sir with perfect respect Your obedient Servant

H. Knox secy of war

LS, DLC:GW: LB, DLC:GW.

1In a circular letter of this date to the maritime governors and militia officers, Knox wrote: “The president of the United States has directed me to inform Your Excellency of the Continuance of the Embargo upon Vessels bound to any foreign port or place, untill the 25th of next Month; And that the same be regulated conformably to the former Resolve of the 26th ultimo, and to the enclosed Resolves of the 2nd instant—and of this date.

“And he requests that the co-operation of Your Militia may be afforded, if necessary, as mentioned in my former Letter of the 26th ultimo (Knox to Arnoldus Vanderhorst, 18 April, ScCoAH: Governor’s Messages; see also Knox to Arthur Fenner, 18 April, R-Ar: Letters to Governors). For the congressional resolves of 26 March, imposing an embargo on “all ships and vessels in the ports of the United States”; the resolve of 2 April, giving detailed instructions for the collectors of customs to use in enforcing the embargo; and of 18 April, extending the embargo until 25 May, see Stat description begins Richard Peters, ed. The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America, from the Organization of the Government in 1789, to March 3, 1845 . . .. 8 vols. Boston, 1845-67. description ends . 1:400–401. For Knox’s circular letter of 26 March, see n.1 of Thomas Mifflin to GW, 27 March.

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