Measures for Georgia's Defense & Interactions with Blacks
Item
Type
Letter Signed
Title
Measures for Georgia's Defense & Interactions with Blacks
Description
Apologizes for not responding earlier, due to the evacuation of the public offices from fever-stricken Philadelphia. Congratulates the recipient on Georgia's adoption of a new constitution, and hopes for a new period in which the federal government will not have headaches caused by "the western lands" [presumably of Georgia]. Also approves of Georgia and South Carolina's barring entrance to people from Port au Prince, and says the U.S. would do well to prevent such people of color from gaining entrance. Recommends a well-prepared militia for response to sudden emergencies in Georgia's defense; notes that the new Navy is preparing galleys to defend Georgia's coastline. Refers to some incident involving Indians at Coleraine as outside the U.S. boundary and thus his jurisdiction. Mentions that negotiations between "Mr. Seagrove" and a Spanish government agent concerning Negroes have created a need to place the issue before the president and Congress; asks that Georgia abide by the current laws until such time as they might be changed.
year created
1798
month created
09
day created
11
author
sent from location
War Department
recipient
sent to location
Georgia
in collection
in image
note
Enclosed in McHenry to Adams, 09/15/1798.
Letter is likely written to the Governor of Georgia
Letter is likely written to the Governor of Georgia
notable person/group
James McHenry
Secretary of War
Governor Jackson
Governor Georgia
federal government
refugees from Port Au Prince
militia
James Seagrove
Benjamin Hawkins
agent of Spanish government
President
Senate
Negroes
notable location
Georgia
War Department
Philadelphia
Trenton
New Jersey
western lands
South Carolina
Port Au Prince
Saint-Domingue
Haiti
Colerain
Indian factory
Spain
notable item/thing
defense
defence
yellow fever epidemic
adoption of constitution
articles of agreement
document number
1798091100002
page start
8
transcription
Copy of Mr. McHenrys
letter to Gov. Jackson of
Georgia respecting the
defence of that State &c
received Sept 20th
War department September 12. 1798
Sir
You will be pleased to consider yourself as Field Officer in Command and
of the several recruiting parties within the State [inserted, written above:] of Massachussetts [end insert] and will do all things appartaining to
that service agreeably to the particular and regulations herewith transmitted.
As soon as you are noticed that the convicts have been removed from Castle
Island, you will examine it and report in fulness to receive the recruits and for
a general rendezvous for which use it is contemplated and for a place of Arms.
The following Officers of the second Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers
are employed on the recruiting service when your [undecipherable] Capt. Ames Stoddard
at Portland _ Capt. Samuel Gates at Boston and L. George Washington Duncan Marblehead.
As the fifteenth and sixteenth articles of the regulations are intended
to have application only upon an extensive [undecipherable] of recruiting they are
to be considered in the present state of things as inapplicable and not
entitling the Commandant & to any extra allowances other than the
actual expence they are at for stationey and portage of letters to be
certified as required.
Your Command, as yet, is to be considered merely as a
recruiting station and not intitle you to the extra Rations -
granted by the fourth section of the act of the 3.d March 1797 to an
Officer commanding a spearate fort.
I am Sir the
signed James MHenry
Major Danl. Jackson
Copy
War department Trenton
11th September 1798
Sir
I have received your Letter of the 17th June ultimo
together with the several Papers enclosed.
The derangement occasioned by the sudden removal
of the Public Offices from Philadelphia, in consequence of the
fatal epidemic, which rages in that devoted City, have rendered
it impossible for me to observe that punctuality in Business
which I wish to do. This is the Reason why you have not
received my Answer before.
The adoption of a Constitution which is no doubt, not
calculated to promote the Interests and happiness of the Citizens
of Gerogia, is a subject of much congratulation. And I am
confident that with respect to the western Lands, which have
heretofore been the subject of so much Altercation and disquiet.
The Federal Government whenever it is neccessary will take up the
Business on fair, just and honorable terms; and with dis[undecipherable]
not less amicable and conciliatory than thou I with pleasure
see, expected in your Letter.
There however are affairs on which I can only speak as
an Individual.
The vigorous Measures pursued by the States of Georgia
and South Carolina, to prevent the refugees from Port au Prince
from intruding themselves into these States, are people of a
vigilant and active Exectutive.
letter to Gov. Jackson of
Georgia respecting the
defence of that State &c
received Sept 20th
War department September 12. 1798
Sir
You will be pleased to consider yourself as Field Officer in Command and
of the several recruiting parties within the State [inserted, written above:] of Massachussetts [end insert] and will do all things appartaining to
that service agreeably to the particular and regulations herewith transmitted.
As soon as you are noticed that the convicts have been removed from Castle
Island, you will examine it and report in fulness to receive the recruits and for
a general rendezvous for which use it is contemplated and for a place of Arms.
The following Officers of the second Regiment of Artillerists and Engineers
are employed on the recruiting service when your [undecipherable] Capt. Ames Stoddard
at Portland _ Capt. Samuel Gates at Boston and L. George Washington Duncan Marblehead.
As the fifteenth and sixteenth articles of the regulations are intended
to have application only upon an extensive [undecipherable] of recruiting they are
to be considered in the present state of things as inapplicable and not
entitling the Commandant & to any extra allowances other than the
actual expence they are at for stationey and portage of letters to be
certified as required.
Your Command, as yet, is to be considered merely as a
recruiting station and not intitle you to the extra Rations -
granted by the fourth section of the act of the 3.d March 1797 to an
Officer commanding a spearate fort.
I am Sir the
signed James MHenry
Major Danl. Jackson
Copy
War department Trenton
11th September 1798
Sir
I have received your Letter of the 17th June ultimo
together with the several Papers enclosed.
The derangement occasioned by the sudden removal
of the Public Offices from Philadelphia, in consequence of the
fatal epidemic, which rages in that devoted City, have rendered
it impossible for me to observe that punctuality in Business
which I wish to do. This is the Reason why you have not
received my Answer before.
The adoption of a Constitution which is no doubt, not
calculated to promote the Interests and happiness of the Citizens
of Gerogia, is a subject of much congratulation. And I am
confident that with respect to the western Lands, which have
heretofore been the subject of so much Altercation and disquiet.
The Federal Government whenever it is neccessary will take up the
Business on fair, just and honorable terms; and with dis[undecipherable]
not less amicable and conciliatory than thou I with pleasure
see, expected in your Letter.
There however are affairs on which I can only speak as
an Individual.
The vigorous Measures pursued by the States of Georgia
and South Carolina, to prevent the refugees from Port au Prince
from intruding themselves into these States, are people of a
vigilant and active Exectutive.
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (5 pages) | IDE13 (11 pages) | Collection: John Adams Papers | R: 391 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | James McHenry | War Department | [n/a] |
| Recipient | James Jackson | Georgia | Governor Georgia |