Autograph Letter Signed

Secretary of the Treasury's Opinion Regarding Presidential Power Over Officers' Commissions, Relative to the Court Martial of Richard Hunt

Regarding the issue of officer appointments, Wolcott believes that the laws dictates that officer appointments are made by the concerted action of both the Senate and the president. States opinion that no commission can be issued except one based on prior appointment by the president, as he holds control over such offices. Notes that a law states that all civil commissions must bear the Seal of the United States, but no regulations dictate the form of a military commission. Believes that those who convicted Richard Hunt were military officers fully empowered to do so; notes that questioning their authority might "highly injurious to the service."

1799

07

03

Treasury Department

Enclosed in McHenry to Adams, 07/12/1799.

James McHenry

Oliver Wolcott

President of the United States

Senate

Richard Hunt

Treasury Department

opinion

Constitution

office

nomination

appointment

commission

Seal of the United States

civil commission

military commission

courts martial

sentence

1799070340401

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