Free Frank of Alexander Hamilton as Treasury Secretary, Signed “Treasury Department”
It is also signed by two of his customs collectors, showing how they forwarded mail between their various offices
During the Revolutionary War, it was a widely understood defect in the Articles of Confederation that the Federal government was virtually powerless to raise monies. A main goal of the new U.S. Constitution was the correction of that defect, and with the support of advocates like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, it...
During the Revolutionary War, it was a widely understood defect in the Articles of Confederation that the Federal government was virtually powerless to raise monies. A main goal of the new U.S. Constitution was the correction of that defect, and with the support of advocates like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, it established a means to fund the country by authorizing Congress to collect taxes to raise revenue. This revenue would come mainly from tariffs and tonnage duties on goods coming into the U.S., which would be collected at customs houses at the ports of entry. On July 4, 1789, an act was passed formalizing this, allowing for the collection of import duties. The Collectors of these customs houses were appointed by President George Washington, and were men of substance who could be relied on (for example, Signer of the Declaration of Independence William Ellery was the first Collector in Newport, R.I.). In September of 1789, in one of the first substantial Acts of Congress passed and signed by President Washington, the U.S. Treasury was formed. That same month, Alexander Hamilton became the first U.S. Treasury Secretary. This put in place an agency to handle the nation’s finances.
Because of the key role of tariffs collected at ports, the maintenance of waterways was of paramount importance. This involved the creation and upkeep of lighthouses to protect shipping traffic. In August of 1789, in one of the first acts of the First Congress, representatives set up a system of maintaining the waterways, and complying with this act was one of Hamilton’s first responsibilities as Treasury Secretary. In late September, he sent out his first note to his collectors.
As his term continued, he communicated measures of import to these collectors.
Free frank panel, in the hand of Alexander Hamilton, granting free passage by use of the term “Treasury Department”, also in Hamilton’s hand; unsigned. It is also signed by Treasury Agents Joseph Hiller and Samuel R. Gerry.
We don’t recall having seen another example of Hamilton’s notes having been sent like these between his customs agents.
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