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
Third. For the purposes of the act aforesaid you will consider the "high
seas" to extend to low-water mark on all the coasts of France and her
dominions and of all places subject to her power in any part of the
world, and exercise accordingly the powers of capturing and recapturing
granted by the act aforesaid. By the same rule, seeing a war exists
between Great Britain and France, you may capture and recapture as
aforesaid on all the coasts of the British dominions and of all places
subject to the British power. But you are to refrain from exercising the
aforesaid powers of capturing and recapturing in waters which are under
the protection of any other nations, that their peace and sovereignty
may remain unviolated. If, however, any armed French vessel, regardless
of the rights of these other nations, shall within their jurisdictional
limits attack or capture any vessel, goods, or effects the property of
citizens of or residents in the United States, and you are able to
attack and take such armed French vessel or to retake her prize within
the jurisdictional limits of such nations, you are to do it, provided
their governments, respectively, or the commanders or governors in chief
in such places give their permission.
Fourth. The master or pilot and one or more of the principal persons of
the company of every armed French vessel captured as aforesaid are to be
sent as soon after the capture as may be to the judge or judges of the
proper court in the United States to be examined upon oath touching the
interest or property of the captured vessel and her lading, and at the
same time are to be delivered to the judge or judges all passes, charter
parties, bills of lading, invoices, letters, and other documents and
writings found on board; the said papers to be proved by the affidavit
of the commander of the capturing vessel or some other person present
at the capture, to be produced as they were received, without fraud,
addition, subduction, or embezzlement.
Fifth. The commanders of American private armed ships are by all
convenient opportunities to send to the Secretary of the Navy written
accounts of the captures they shall make, with the number and names
of the captives and intelligence of what may occur or be discovered
concerning the designs of the French and the destinations, motions,
and operations of their fleets, cruisers, and armies.
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