The Washington times., 1901-10-06
THE FIRST TREASURER
Michael HilleRas and His Great Ser.
vices to the Country.

| TO THE EDITOR OF THE TINES: That no
/ serious movement has been made to
| place the portrait of Michael Hilie-
gas. the first Treasurer OF the United
states, upon the paper currency of the
| country is an Illustration of the official
and historical neglect that has persist
| emily followed this gentleman When IL
is known that he held the Office of Treas
urer from the beginning. HIS, and was,
| continued In the position until September
l'Ss' indicating that he had administered,
| 1t In successful manner: that he was
| native born citizen of Philadelphia. that
mis- means enabled him by gift and loan
| 10 contribute literally to the necessities
| of his country, which he did, this omis-
| sion becomes a perversion of civic in
| stincts and would seem TO indicate an
! ignorance OF historic facts or a lack Of
| thorough research on the part OF the
| chroniclers Of the events connected with
the early days OF the Republic. The truth
| IS. that in the examination and presenta-
| ton of this subject. the general historian
| las failed to lock to original sources, and
| has In some instances drawn upon his i'm
| aginstion for facts. while the so-calied
historical specialist, bent upon establish
ing a theory. frequently overiooks and
I ieii0Fea much that he sees, when 1t de-
| tracts from his line of argument. and
i lhrusts his own personality into the
| oreech to hide the hiatus. One sees only
| Morris; the other Meredith. And the
comparatively recent efforts in the city OF
Philadelphia and in the PENNSYLVANIA
| Legislature to give additional honor to
these gentlemen and patriots on the basis
Of service in the Treasury Department. Tor
| as hrst Treasurer OF the United States CD,
| respectively, and entirely overlooking
| or negiecting Mr.. Hillegas, cannot be ap-
| proved on historical grounds by any dill
| gent examiner OF the original data in con-
heclion with the Treasury Department, as
round IN the pennsylvania Archiyes'
the votes of the Assembly the Jour
nails OF Congress" and the department it
self 1t Is mere begging of the question
to say the United States was not the
United States between July T. l776. and
the organization of the Treasury Depart
ment under the Constitution in 17Ss.
The representatives of the Common
wealths. that had been Colonies, In gen.
eral congress assembled, designated them
the United States; not only once. and in
connection with the Treasury Depart-
ment, but in every important Instance
After the Declaration of Independence,
July 4, 1776. the Colonies became Com
monwealths. They were no longer de-
pendent provinces. but independent States,
and by the Articles of Confederation"
United States. This admitted, and it can
not be evaded, Michael Hillegas was the
first Treasurer of the United States and
as such deserves official recognition.
The Treasury Department alone re-
mained continuous from the beginning
The financial chain must of necessity be
m iafn
government may take, If it is TO have any
stability the treasury must be maintained
The first links in this department were
practically forged by Michael HIlegas.
1t will not do. as many have DONE to
proceed upon the conclusion that the
Treasury Department existed from the
beginning upon the same plan as it exists
today. A careful examination of the rec
Ords shows that the Treasurer was not
only very important factor but II sal
ary means anything he was at the head
of the department Be this as it may.
the proof is abundant that the position
sustained a more important relation to
the department than Il does IL this yestr
Of grace 1901. Prof. William G. Sumner,
while he fails to make any recognition of
Mr.. Hillegas, states: ''On the 5th of Sep
tember q7Sl) Morris recorded the nego-
tiations by which he secured means to
pay the soldiers. He applied to Rocham-
beau for twenty thousand hard dollars.
promising repayment at any time he should
name He met Luzerne, Rochambeau,
and Chastellux at Luzerne's house. Their
military chest was low. and although they
had money at Boston 1t would take six
or eight weeks to get 1t to Philadelphia.
Money was also on the feet Of De Grasse.
but its arrival was uncertain Moreover.
the consent of the intendant and the
Treasurer Iwho was Michael Hillegasl
was necessary, and they had set out for
the head Of Elk. The whole party rode
thither to see them" (P. 303. Vol. l. THE
| Ffnancier and the Finances OF the Ameri-
can Revolution.O
During the crucial part of this nations
life and the formative period of her or
ganization when the services of patriot
more than a politician were required. the
steady hand of Hillegas at the helm kept
the finances of the ship of state within
control The satisfactory manner in which
he administered the affairs of the depart
rnent led gradually to the enlargement of
his bowers and the increase of his duties.
June Is IN, the Treasurer was included
among the number of those authorized to
borrow money for the use of the Govern
ment July 23 1TS1. F. Hopkins, Treasurer or
Loans. resigned, and that office was abol-
ished. and the business thereof annexed
TO the office of Treasurer of the United
States. September q. 17S1, T. Mexican.
President of Congress. wrote Mr.. Hille-
gas: Il have the pleasure to transmit you
two acts of Congress, one of the 11th. the
other of the 18th instant. whereby you
will perceive you are again elected Treas
urer of the United States of America
You were chosen by an unanimous ballot,
which is the fullest epprObation of your
past conduct" This letter and the reply
are in the archives of the Department OF
State) October 16. 17S5. in the ordinance
for the establishment of the Mint of the
shall be among its officers "a paymaster.
who shall be the Treasurer of the United
States for the lime being" and defines
his duties.
The minutes of the Pennsylvania As
sembly. generally known as Votes of the
Asse sembly." from 1865 to 1li5-hiS term of
service as Il member of that body-will
illuminate page of heretofore unwritten
history of Colony and Commonwealth, of
State and Government. of finance and
fnanciers and place in bold relief thereon
the name of Michael Hillegas. He is re-
al & most remarkably ready man As a
broad gauge statesman. well an
acute financier: a philanthropist. interest
cd in the negro, the Indian. and the poor
of his native city The Pennsylvania
Hospital the employment and support of
the poor and the erection of buildings for
the purpose, provision for prisoners in
confinement and both public and private
wrongs commanded his personal interest
and support. He was the active leader in
ing of what was then the Capital Of the
nation He was deeply interested and