Largely illegible draft of a letter to the President of the United States. Relates to the running of the War Department, with specific mention of the duties and powers of the Accountant of the War Department.
McHenry has received the list of Simmons' clerks and the sums to which each may be entitled during the coming year. According to the law, the Accountant's office is entitled to $6,340 but compensation is to be based on the previous year and Simmons never submitted the appropriate application. The compensation of clerks may vary as Simmons sees fit but the total cannot exceed the stated allocation.
John Halsted attests to John Dyer Mercier's status as a profitable businessman in Canada before the American invasion. Halsted further attests to Merciers arrest by the British for his assistance of American troops at the request of Benedict Arnold.
Bill of exchange drawn on Harris in favor of Nathan Wright. Money is salary of E. Wright for 3 months of service as factor at Creek Factory in Georgia.
There is only one vessel that may proceed to New Orleans but her owners are waiting on the decision of Congress relative to the drawback on goods. Several vessels will sail for Havanna soon so if Hodgdon's friend is agreeable, Stevens can arrange for accomodations on one of them. Gordon hopes that Simmons will soon make a remittance of clothing since he pressed for money.
Routine correspondence concerning the appointment, transfer, promotion, discharge, desertion, leave, and assignment of individual officers and soldiers.
In expectation for the time in which wages for clerks will be determined by the War Department, Samuel Armin - a single parent of four children - writes McHenry asking to please consider him for an increase in pay. Cites his integrity, good character, and two letters of recommendation.
List of clerks from War Office. Robert Ellis, John Brown, Benjamin Betterton, John Abbott, Johnathan Halsted, John Watson, Jeremiah Condy, James Eakin, James Hodnett. Simmons noted skills of clerks warranted an increase in pay and requested Sec. of War's authorization for additional sum.
Accounts of John Mackey, Pay Master and Store Keeper at Harper's Ferry Armoury had extraordinary charges Simmons felt required McHenry's decision. Details pertained to canal digging, dam, labor, and wages. Info on warrant 3532 dated Dec. 15, 1798.
Discusses the power of the President to dismiss military officers and instances where such action is or has been appropriate. Also considers the attitudes of Congress towards the Army.
McHenry advises that it would be a mistake to depart from the rules regarding relative rank, even though in the case of Beal and Hopkins, Beal is the preferable officer. Adding grades to ranks or departing from the rules would create more difficulties than solutions. McHenry refers to a letter of January 10, 1799 regarding appointments.
Reports that commissions have been sent to all the officers who have been approved by the Senate. Says it would have been useless to write out or send commissions for men appointed during the Congressional recess, as new ones would have needed to be produced once Senatorial approval was granted. States that the War Department's policy is to not issue commissions for positions which require the concurrence of the Senate until that concurrence has been noted.
