Instructions for Whiskey Rebellion
Document 1794Transfer of constitutional power during time of Insurrection while Hamilton meets troops in Western Pennsylvania. Directs Wolcott to act for him in urgent causes but to delay actions in his absence, including attention to penalties and forfeitures. Instructs Wolcott as to office supplies and forms. References a loan from the Bank of New York with power from the President to act accordingly.
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[Docket/address leaf: 1, [undecipherable] of 6 [undecipherable] — Comptroller of the Treasury — general [undecipherable] — Sep 29 1794 [undecipherable]]
[N° 1-]
[56]
Treasury Department —
29th September 1794
Being about to leave the seat of Government for a few Weeks to accompany the Army on its march against the Western Insurgents of Pennsylvania, I commit to you during my absence the management of those matters which are reserved to my superintendance under the constitution and regulations of the Department, especially the receipts and expenditures of money, and I rely upon your diligence and zeal, that nothing will suffer during my absence —
With regard to remissions & mitigations of penalties and forfeitures it will be best to avoid acting in any case in which particular inconvenience will not arise from delay, as there is not time to explain the principles which have governed in the past, and the course of policy may without such explanation be innovated upon, so as to occasion something like inconsistence. But in urgent cases you will act, consulting the most recent [strikethrough: precedents] in similar cases —
To preserve the usual forms I have signed and left in my Office a large number of Blank Warrants, of the different kinds which issue —
Inclosed is a letter to the President and Directors of the Bank of New York — If they agree to the loan you will conclude it — You will find in the Office a Power from the President for the purpose — It will be regular in any contract which may be made to pursue the terms of the power as to parties —
With great consideration & esteem
I am Sir
Your obedient Servant
A Hamilton
Sec of the Treasy
Oliver Wolcott Esqr
Comptroller of the Treasury
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Description
Transfer of constitutional power during time of Insurrection while Hamilton meets troops in Western Pennsylvania. Directs Wolcott to act for him in urgent causes but to delay actions in his absence, including attention to penalties and forfeitures. Instructs Wolcott as to office supplies and forms. References a loan from the Bank of New York with power from the President to act accordingly.
Date
09/29/1794
Author
Recipient
Sent from
Treasury Department
Repository
Collection
Document number
1794092990001
Page start
1
Notable persons
Oliver Wolcott
Alexander Hamilton
President
Bank Board of Directors
Notable locations
Treasury Department
Western Pennsylvania
New York
Notable items
Constitution
office
warrants

