A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents. Section 1 (of 3) of Volume 10.
History
A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents. Section 1 (of 3) of Volume 10.
Presidents -- United States; United States -- History -- Sources; United States -- Politics and government
It is proper you should be informed that the minister of France intends
to leave this city for New York to-morrow, and not amiss, perhaps, to
know that in mentioning the seasonable aid of hands which the _Ambuscade_
received from the French Indiaman the day preceding her meeting the
_Boston_ he added that seamen would no longer be wanting, as he had
_now_ 1,500 at his command. This being the case (although the
allusion was to the subject he was then speaking upon), some of these
men may be employed in the equipment of privateers other than those
_now_ in existence, as the right of fitting out such _in our
ports_ is asserted in unequivocal terms.
Was the propriety of convening the Legislature at an earlier day than
that on which it is to assemble by law considered yesterday?
The late decree of the National Convention of France, dated the 9th of
May, authorizing their ships of war and armed vessels to stop any
neutral vessel loaded in whole or part with provisions and send them
into their ports, adds another motive for the adoption of this measure.
Go. WASHINGTON.
[From Annals of Congress, Seventh Congress, second session, 746-747.]
JOHN ADAMS, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMANDERS OF ARMED VESSELS BELONGING TO THE UNITED
STATES, GIVEN AT PHILADELPHIA THIS 28TH DAY OF MAY, A.D. 1798, AND IN
THE TWENTY-SECOND YEAR OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE SAID STATES.
Whereas it is declared by an act of Congress passed the 28th day of
May, 1798, that armed vessels sailing under authority or pretense of
authority from the French Republic have committed depredations on the
commerce of the United States and have recently captured the vessels and
property of citizens thereof on and near the coasts, in violation of the
law of nations and treaties between the United States and the French
nation:
Therefore, and in pursuance of the said act, you are instructed and
directed to seize, take, and bring into any port of the United States,
to be proceeded against according to the laws of nations, any armed
vessel sailing under authority or pretense of authority from the French
Republic which shall have committed, or which shall be found hovering
on the coasts of the United States for the purpose of committing,
depredations on the vessels belonging to citizens thereof, and also to
retake any ship or vessel of any citizen or citizens of the United
States which may have been captured by any such armed vessel.
By command:
JAMES M'HENRY, _Secretary of War_.
[From American State Papers, Foreign Relations, Vol. II, pp. 365-367.]
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PRIVATE ARMED VESSELS OF THE UNITED STATES.
First. In exercising the powers granted by the act of Congress entitled
"An act further to protect the commerce of the United States," passed
the 9th day of July, 1798, and which is hereto annexed, the regulations
therein prescribed are to be strictly attended to and observed.
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