Autograph Letter Signed

Expired Law Permitting Trading Houses

McHenry notifies Wright that the Act authorizing trading houses for exchange with Indian tribes has expired. The President will determine if trade should continue and the fate of the factories. McHenry notes that he has resigned the office of Secretary of War. He advises Wright to continue to submit accounts as soon as possible.

1800

05

22

War Department

Edward Wright

James McHenry

President

Congress

Indian Tribes

Secretary of War

Secretary of the Treasury

Comptroller of the Treasury

Accountant of the War Department

successor

Assistant Storekeeper

War Department

Fort Wilkinson

Creek Factory

Georgia

Oconee Factory

factory

trading houses

resigned

account

statements

forms

explanation

report

trade

exchange

1800052200401

1

1800 No. 4
Letter from Secry McHenry
dated 22nd March 1800
War Department 22d May 1800
Sir
The "Act for establishing Trading Houses with the
Indian Tribes" passed the 18th April, 1796, being limited to the term
of two Years, and to the end of the next Session of Congress thereafter,
and no longer, expired on the 14th inst,, the day on which the late
Session of Congress ended, no Law having passed to receive the same.
It will of course rest with the President to continue
the Factories, on Trading-houses for trading with the Indians, or other-wise,
as to him shall seem proper, and, as I have resigned the Office
of Secretary of War, it will devolve on my Succession to take Order on the
Subject.
To a correct understandind of the actual Situation
of the Factory under your direction, the accounts & Statements I
have heretofore received of you will be indispensable. You will prepare
& transmit them as soon as possible, and will also transmit Duplicates
of your Accounts to the Secretary of the Treasury. The Act itself
requires that the Accounts of the Factories shall be made up half yearly,
and transmitted to the Secretay of the Treasury of the United
States, which Injunction it is requisite should in future be strictly
complied with, as well as the other requierments of the Law.
If you have not heretofore been furnished with dorms
for keeping and rendering your Accounts, wou will request the same
from either the Comptroller of the Treasury or the Accountant of the
War Department; and if you have already been furnished with forms,
which to you appear to require Explanation in any particulars, you
will apply to the same Gentlemen for such Explanation.
I regret to inform you that I have not yet been able
to select a suitable character for an Assistant Storekeeper at the
Oconee factory. I shall however inform my Successor of the absolute
Necessity for one, & call his Attention specially to supply the vacancy.
I enclose a Copy of the Report of the Committee of
Congress on the Factories, with my Report thereon annexed.
I am Sir, Your obt. Servt.
James McHenry


Mr. Edward Wright