[Secretary of war Office 11. 1799 marked for deliver] War Department 11^th April 1799 Sir, Governor St Clair has made a representation to me in a letter dated the 13^th of February of which I enclose you a copy, by which it appears that much discontent and uneasiness has been occasioned by the proclamation of Martial law at Detroit. To give a full view of the subject I have also enclosed extraits from a correspondence between the Secretary of War and Brigadier General Wilkenson relative to the same business By the first extract of a letter from the Secretary of War to Brigadier General Wilkenson dated 25 of July 1797 you will perceive that it has been recommended to the commanding officer to suspend, or modify the military law, when no external danger was to be apprehended so as only to suppress those practices or sales of liquor to colours which incapacitates them from doing their duty, and renders the Indians less manageable and more burdensome. The second extract from the Secretary of War to General Wilkenson states generally, the complaints made by the Inhabitants of Detroit, and the Presidents wish that if circumstances will admit, the rigour of Military law should not be exercised The third extract is from a letter of Brigadier General Wilkensons to the Secretary of War dated Pittsburg March 8^th 1^st 98 contains his reasons for proclaiming martial law and the necessity there is for its continuance. This letter contains extracts from the general orders issued by the commandant of Detroit while under the British government; by these extracts it appears that the Inhabitants of Detroit have always been subject to martial law since the year 1785 As this is a subject which requires particular and immediate attention, I request that as soon as you have given it the necessary consideration, you will cause such orders to be issued as the circumstances of the case may require I have the honor to be, with great respect Sir, your most ob^dt ob^t James McHenry