Autograph Letter Signed

Regarding Duties & Definition of Officer Appointments & Commissions, in Relation to a Military Death Sentence

Returns various officer recommendations, with approvals, as well as the report of a court-martial of a deserter. Writes that he believes that strong examples of military discipline are necessary, and implies he will not pardon the man, Richard Hunt. The only remaining question is whether the officers who comprised Hunt's court-martial were allowed to act in that capacity as not all had received their commissions. Regarding McHenry's assertion that he had evidence of those officers who had accepted appointments, and thus commissions were not necessary to allow them to begin their military duties, Adams ponders whether anything other than the president's signature on a commission would hold up as evidence of appointment under the law. Asks that McHenry lay this issue before the department heads [Cabinet] and get their opinions. If the opinion is unanimous that the officers had a right to act as members of the court-martial, Adams will order the execution.

1799

06

19

Quincy

2 COLLECTIONS: one with photocopy images, one without images.

James McHenry

John Adams

major

officers

General Pinckney

General Washington

Mr. Steele

deserter

Richard Hunt

Senate

Quincy

North Carolina

South Carolina

Georgia

recommendations

proceedings

court martial

pardon

appointment

signatures

1799061940001