Printed or published document

Bill to Establish the Department of War

Bill to establish the Department of War. Either a draft or amended version.

1789

06

No day was found in the date.

Congress

House of Representatives

executive department

Department of War

Senate

Secretary of War

Secretary to the United States for the Department of War

President of the United States

troops

interior officer

chief clerk

War Department

Bill

Constitution

military affairs

military commissions

warlike stores

fortresses

vacancy

records, book, and papers

salary

1789069900001

1

Ordinance for
the War Department
dated
June 1789
[printed text with handwritten annotations, representated by italic writing]
A BILL to establish an EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
to be denominated the DEPARTMENT of WAR.
BE it enacted by the CONGRESS Senate & House of Representatives of the United States, of America in Congress assembled,
That there shall be an executive department, to be denominated THE
DEPARTMENT of WAR : and that there shall be a principal officer therein,
to be called the Secretary to the United States, for the Department of War,
to be removable from office by the President of the United States, and who
shall perform and execute such duties, services, and functions, as shall, from
time to time be enjoined on, or entrusted to him, by the President of the United
States, agreeable to the Constitution, relative to military commissions, or
to the troops, fortresses, or warlike stores of the United States, or to such other
matters respecting military affairs, as the President of the United States shall
assign to the said department, or relative to the granting of lands to persons entitled
thereto by reason of military services rendered to the United States, or
relative to Indian affairs : And furthermore, that the said principal officers shall
conduct the business of the said department in such manner as the President of
the United States shall, from time to time, order or instruct.
And be it further enacted, That there shall be in the said department, an
inferior officers, to be appointed by the said principal officer, and to be employed
therein as he shall deem proper, and to be called the chief Clerk in the
Department of War, and who ^ in case of vacancy in the said office of Secretary
to the United States for the Department of War, shall, during such vacancy,
have the charge and custody of all records, books, and papers, appertaining
to the said Department. Provided nevertheless, That no appointment of
such chief Clerk shall be valid, until the same shall have been approved by the
President of the United Stats.
[written in the margin:]
^ whenever the said principle officer shall be removed by the President or a Vacancy in any [undecipherable] happen
And be it further enacted, That the said principal officer, or every other
person to be appointed or employed in the said department, shall, before he
enter on the execution of his office or employment, take an oath, or affirmation,
well and faithfully to executed the trust committed to him.
[the following paragraph is crossed out completly with: I X]
And be it further enacted, That there shall be allowed to the said Secretary,
for his services, a salary, ath the rate of
[blank space] per annum, and that there shall be allowed to the said
chief Clerk, for his services, a salary of
[blank space] per annum ; the said salaries to be payable quarterly, in
equal payments.
And be it further enacted that the Secretary for the
department of War in immediately after his appointment
be impowered to take into his custody all the books
& papers belonging the late department of War established
by the united states in congress assembled