Description:

Hamilton Alexander

Alexander Hamilton, While Negotiating the Compromise of 1790, Signs a Letter as Treasurer Regarding Import Duties and Tariffs!

 

Bi-fold letter signed by Alexander Hamilton as secretary of the Treasury, 8 x 10. Penned on recto and verso of first page, balance of pages left blank, and docketed to last page. Dated "August 27, 1790", and signed by Alexander Hamilton in full signature "Alexander Hamilton". Lovely bright condition with but a few dots of foxing. Expected folds. Fine condition.

 

This spectacular letter was written during Hamilton's most tenacious periods while Treasurer. While he was juggling The Compromise of 1790, one of the most important compromises in US history, in the very same month Hamilton was also spear heading the financial issues revolving around imports and duties, in addition to land assignments. This two issues were intimately intertwined as Hamilton's proposed "Compromise" required the payment of his Government issued bonds using Import Duties and Tariffs. In this letter, Hamilton writes to William Ellery (1727–1820), collector at Newport and a Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Rhode Island. Shown in part below:

 

“I am unable to judge with precision of the situation of the Light House business of your state, for want of the letter to you from the Secretary, which you omitted to enclose…. I think it necessary however to remark generally that measures should be taken by the Legislature of Rhode Island to procure and investment of the land and appurtenances in the United States, as the provision of the expences of unceded Light Houses is only temporary.

 

The Collection Law was passed before your hint on the subject of securing at Newport the duties accruing on the cargoes of vessels bound to certain ports of delivery in that district. It is however noted for consideration, on a future occasion.

 

The prohibition of importing goods into the United States in vessels under thirty tons, extends as well to American as foreign bottoms.

 

A provisions was made by the Legislature to exempt from duty the produce of the United States returned from foreign countries. Their act has been transmitted  to you.

 

The 32nd Section of the late Collection Law, and a clause in the 36th page of the existing Act, prohibits the allowance of drawback on Fish Sale other Goods, not exported in the same Cask or package in which they were imported"

 

George Washington had recently paid a visit to Rhode Island when Ellery wrote a letter to Hamilton regarding Newport lighthouses—correspondence to which the treasury secretary here replies. Ellery had earlier contended that ‘the land on which the Newport lighthouse is located does not belong to the state of Rhode Island,’ and in addition to asking about ownership of the lighthouses also inquired about the collection of customs. Because Rhode Island had not ratified the Constitution until May, the jurisdiction of the lighthouse was still the state’s responsibility, with the state continuing to collect fees. For his part, Hamilton defers expressing an opinion until additional information is provided to his office. Interesting content as the new nation struggles with states and federal responsibilities on tariffs and how to pay for improvements to their new republic. Hamilton proposed to pay off the new Government bonds, which were issued to pay off the state debts from the cost of the American Revolution, with revenue from a new tariffs and duties on imports.

 

The Compromise of 1790 was a compromise between Alexander Hamilton on the one hand and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison whereby Hamilton won the decision for the national government to take over and pay the state debts, while Jefferson and Madison obtained the national capital (District of Columbia) for the South. The compromise resolved the deadlock in Congress. Southerners were blocking the assumption of state debts by the treasury, thereby destroying the Hamiltonian program for building a fiscally strong nation state. Northerners rejected the proposal, much desired by Virginians, to locate the permanent national capital on the Virginia-Maryland border. The compromise made possible the passage of the Residence and Assumption Acts in July 1790. Historian Jacob Cooke says it is, "generally regarded as one of the most important bargains in American history.  It was the critical issue; the location of the capital was a bargaining ploy. Hamilton proposed that the federal Treasury take over and pay off the debt states had incurred to pay for the American Revolution. The Treasury would issue bonds that rich people would buy, thereby giving the rich a tangible stake in the success of the national government.  Not only was the location of the future location of the Capitol at hand, but our entire financial system of the United States debts, bonds and our international money flows were established both at home and abroad.  This momentous push by Hamilton allowed the United States to obtain "Good credit", which resulted in  Jefferson's Treasury Secretary Albert Gallatin to borrow in Europe to finance the Louisiana Purchase in 1803,  borrow to finance the War of 1812 which was just the beginning.



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