[undecipherable] [docket: a. Hami[undecipherable]] [endorsed vertically: Operation [undecipherable]] James H. Henry Esquire [undecipherable] [undecipherable] U S Philadelphia My dear Sir I have received your letter of [undecipherable] Not having [undecipherable] the law [undecipherable] the [underline: Naval Armament], I cannot tell [undecipherable] it [undecipherable] any [undecipherable] power to the President, that [undecipherable] any [undecipherable] whatever with regard to the employment the Ships. If not, and he is left [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] [of] the Constitution, [as] I understand to be the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] I am not ready to say that he [undecipherable] any other power than merely to employ [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] as Convoys with authority to repel [undecipherable] force (not to [undecipherable: capture?]) [undecipherable] to repel [undecipherable: hostilities?] within our waters [undecipherable] a marine league [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] beyond the [undecipherable] all under the idea of [undecipherable: reprisals?] I believe [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of that Department which [undecipherable] to [undecipherable: declare?] or make the war. [undecipherable] so delicate a [undecipherable] [undecipherable] one which involves [undecipherable: directly?] [undecipherable] a consequence [undecipherable] that of War — my [undecipherable] is that no [undecipherable] doubtful authority ought to be [undecipherable] by the President, but that as different opinions about his power have been [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] of Representatives and no [undecipherable] power [undecipherable] by the law, it will be [undecipherable] [undecipherable] his duty, and the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] has been to [undecipherable: bring?] the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of [undecipherable] by a [undecipherable: communication?] of [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] our powers — [undecipherable] so [undecipherable: averse?] to exceed the Constitutional limits. This course will remove all [undecipherable] as to what the President will do — [undecipherable] [undecipherable] him credit for frankness and an unwillingness to [undecipherable] the Constitution — and will [undecipherable] upon Congress the Question in a shape which cannot be eluded. [undecipherable] [undecipherable] you will have [undecipherable] before this reaches you that a French [undecipherable: cruizer?] has made captures at the mouth [undecipherable] our harbor. There is too much [undecipherable] after all that has [undecipherable]. Our Merchants are very indignant — our government very [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of [undecipherable: energy?] [undecipherable] May 17 [undecipherable] [endorsement: James H. [undecipherable]]