Officer Commissions During Congressional Recess
Document 1800Reports that commissions have been sent to all the officers who have been approved by the Senate. Says it would have been useless to write out or send commissions for men appointed during the Congressional recess, as new ones would have needed to be produced once Senatorial approval was granted. States that the War Department's policy is to not issue commissions for positions which require the concurrence of the Senate until that concurrence has been noted.
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[E 151]
War Department
1 April 1800
Sir.
The Secy. of war hes [undecipherable: probable reading "Caus'd"] to inform the President that commissions have been transmitted, to all the officers of the new regiments whose appointments have been confirmed by the Senate.
It would have been a very useless and unnecessary expence to have made out commissions for those appointed on the recess of the Senate, inasmuch as new ones must have been issued on their appointment being advised by the Senate.
The uniform practice of the office has been, not to issue a commission to any officer whose appointment depended upon the concurrence of the Senate until that concurrence was obtained.
I have the honor to be with the greatest respect your obt St.
The President of the United States James McHenry
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Description
Reports that commissions have been sent to all the officers who have been approved by the Senate. Says it would have been useless to write out or send commissions for men appointed during the Congressional recess, as new ones would have needed to be produced once Senatorial approval was granted. States that the War Department's policy is to not issue commissions for positions which require the concurrence of the Senate until that concurrence has been noted.
Date
04/01/1800
Author
Recipient
Sent from
War Department
Repository
Collection
Document number
1800040100101
Page start
1
Note
2 COLLECTIONS: one with photocopy images, one without images.
Notable persons
John Adams
James McHenry
Congress
officers
Senate
Notable locations
War Department
Notable items
commissions
appointment
confirmation
expense