I M P O R TANT
A ND
C O M M UNIC ATI O N
LUM IN O US
O N
T% E
S UB %E CT O F T% E
IM P R E S S ME N T O F A M E R I C AN AN D F O R E I GN
AND O T% E R P E R S O NS
.
beco m e m an i fes t t o e ve ry a tten tive observ er, tha t
t h e e a rly a n d co n ti n ued a ggression s o f G re a t Brit ai n o n our
pers o ns our property , a n d our rights , i m periously de m an d a
fir m s t a n d—an e ffectu a l , t h ou g h c a l m sy ste m o f m e a sures o f a r
r est a tio n
For this purpp s e , it is our duty to m ake ourselves
c o m pletely m a sters o f t h e gre a t truth s a n d a rgu m e n ts by w h ic h
our ri h ts h a ve bee n elucid a ted supported a n d m ai n t a in ed
g
O n th e 1 7 t h o f %a n u a ry , 1 8 0 6 , th e P reside n t of th e Un ited
S t a tes co m m u nic a ted to C on gress a n extr a ct fro m a disp a tc h o f
%a m es M a di on E s q our secret a ry o f st a te , to %a m es M on ro e
s
E s q our m in i ster i I n d n m hi clp co main s m n y f ts h ig hl y
i m portan t a n d observ a t i on s a n d a rgum e n ts per fect ly s a tis fa ctory
“ im z r e s s m en t s o f se a m e n n d p sse gers
co
clusive
g
i
n
st
a
n
a
a
a
n
n
a d
f
,
wh eth er Foreign or A m eric an , on bo a rd o f our vessels
Th e
re public a tion of t h a t docu m e n t a t t h is crisis will a t on ce dis
p l ay s o m e o f t h e re a son s on which t h e gover nm en t h a s p roba
b l y decli n ed to s an ction th e rece nt dr a u ght o f a trea ty wit h
G re a t B ritai n , an d will elucid a te th e groun d on w h ic h the ques
tion o f th e im/zr es s mcn t of fl cr s on s , bot h n ative an d alie n , h as
b e e n rested by our a d min istra tion
I T ha s
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We con sider a n eutra l
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S e cr e t a ry
f
o
S ta t e
to
%a mes
d a t e d 5 th %a n ua r y,
igh se a s , a s a s afegu a rd
to t h ose s aili n g u n der it Gre a t Brita in on th e con tr a ry , a s
: ert s a r ig h t to se a rc h fo r, an d s e iz e h e r o wn s u
bj ect s an d un
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th e
fla g, on
th e h
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r
t ha t cover a s c a n n ot but h a ppen , a re o ften seized a n d t ake n
o ff c itize n s o f t he Un ited S t a tes , a n d cit ize n s or subjects o f
other n eu tr a l cou n tries n a viga ting the high se a s , u n der the pro
t e c tio n o f the Am eric an fla g
W ere t h e right of Gre a t Brita in , in t h is c a se , n ot den ied the
a buses flowi n g fro m it would j usti fy the Un ited S t a te s in cl a i m
But t he
in g a n d e xp e ctin g a dis con t inua n c e o f its exercise
right is den ied a n d o n the best grou n ds
Although Gre a t Brit a in h a s n ot yet a dopted , in t h e s am e l a ti
t ude with m ost other n a tio n s , the i mm u n ities o f a n eutr a l fla g,
she wil l n ot d e n y the ge n e ral fre edom of the high se a s an d o f
n eutr a l vessels n a vig a ti n g the m , wit h such exceptio n s o n ly a s
a re a n n exed to it by t he la w of na tio n s
Sh e m ust produc e the n
such a n exceptio n in t he law of n a tion s , in fa vour o f the rig h t s h e
con te n ds fo r But in wh a t writ ten a n d rec e ived a uthority will
s he fi
n d it 2 in wh a t u s a ge ex c ept her o w n
will it be fou n d 3
S h e will fin d in both t ha t a n eutr a l vessel does n o t protect cer
t a i n objects de n o m in a ted cont r ab a n d o f w a r in cludin g en e mies
servi n g in t h e w a r , n o r a rticles goi ng i n to a block a ded port, n o r
a s she h a s m
a i n t a i ned a n d a s we
a ve n o t co n tested , e n e m ies
h
prope rt y o f a ny kin d But n o w h ere will she fin d a n exception
t o this freedo m o f t h e s ea s , an d o f n eutra l fl a gs which j u s ti fi
es
t h e t a ki n g a wa y o f a n y p erson, n ot a n en e my in milit ar y s er vice ,
fo u n d on b o a rd a n e utra l v e ss el
I f tre a ties British a s well a s oth e rs , a re t o be con su lte d on
;
t h is s u
bj ect it will equa lly a ppea r, th a t n o counte n a n ce t o the
ra c tic e c a n be fou nd in them
n t r ab a n d
ils
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o f w ar
by e n u mera tin g it s ar t icles an d t h e e ffec t o f a re al
bloc k a de hy d e fin in g it in n o in s t a n ce do the y afli rm or im ply a
V
tie r
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infir ce h is
to
cla ims
t o th e a lleg ia n ce
of h is
the C O %
t r a ry, w h e n ev er a belliger en t cl a i m a ga in st p ers on s o n boa rd a
n eu
tr al ve ss e l is re fe rr e d to in tr e a ties En e m ies in m ilitar y s e r
vi ce a lone a re e xc epte d from t h e gen eral i mmu nit y o f 7pe r s on s
in th at situ ation a n d t hisfi e xt eptio n con fir ms th e i m m un it yo f
t h ose who a re n o t in clude d in it
I t i s n ot th en fro m th e lawor th e usa ge of n a tion s , nor fro m
s
t
io
n ca n be de rived for
th e;te n or of t h e tre aties , th a t an y
an c
th e p act ic e in questio n
nd surely it wil l no t be pret e n ded
A
r
t h a t the so vereign ty of an y n ation , ext e n ds in any ca se w h a t e ve r,
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beyon d its
ow n
d omin ion s ,
d it s
an
ow n
v es s e ls
on t h e
h igh
s ea s .
S uch a doctri n e Would give j ust a l a r m to a ll n a tion s , an d m or e
tat ion o f a s pirin g to
n te nan ce t h e im p u
ld e ou
than an y thing w o u
pit 3 3f the sea s It would be t he less a d m is si
an u n i vers a l arm
ble too , a s it w o ult b e a pplic able to ti m es o f pe a ce, a s well a s to
’
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ti m es of wa r, a nd t %
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grop e rty
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er
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I f t he law
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5
llegi ance , wh ic h is a mun ici/z a l law be in fo rce a t all on t h e
h igh se a s , oh bo a rd forei gn vessels it m ust be so a t a ll ti m e s
t here a s it is within its a ck n owledged sphere I f t h e re a son a ll eged
for it be good in ti m e o f w a r n ame ly t h a t the sovereign h a s th e n a
ri gh t to the service o f a ll his subj
e c ts it m ust be
goo d a t a ll ti m es ,
bec a use a t a ll ti m es he h a s the s a m e rig ht to t heir service W a r
is n o t the on ly occ a sion fo r which h e m a y w an t their se rvice s n o r
is ex t ern a l da n ge r the on ly d an g er a g a in st whic h their services
m a y be required fo r his security
Ag ai n if the a ut h ority o r 5/
a mun ici/z a l la w ca n oper a te o n perso n s in foreig n vessels o n t h e
h igh se a s , b ec a us e‘ w it hin t h e dom i n ion o f t h eir sov ereig n th ey
would be subject to th a t la w , an d a re viol atin g th a t law by bei n g
in th a t situ a tion , how rej ec t t h e i n fere n ce th a t t h e a uthority o f a
mun ici/z a l la w m a y equ a lly be e n forced on bo a rd forei gn ves sels
o n t h e high se a s , a g ai n st a rticles o f [z r o/z e r t
y e xported in v iol a
tio n o f such a la w or belon gin g to t he cou n try from which it w a s
expo rted
a n d t h us every co m m erci a l regul a tio n , in ti m e o f
p ea ce t oo, a s well a s o f wa r, would be m a de oblig a tory o n foreign
e rs a n d their vessels , n o t on ly whilst withi n the do m i nion o f th e
sovereig n m a ki n g the regul a tio n , but in every s e a , an d a t every
dist an ce w h ere an a r m ed vessel m i ght m eet with t h e m An o
t h er in feren ce deserves a tte n tion I f t h e subjects of o n e sove
reign ma y be t a ke n by force fro m t he ves sels o f a n other on t h e
h igh se a s t h e rig h t o f t a ki n the m w h e n fou n d , i m plies t h e
g
rig h t o f se ar c hin g fo r the m a ve xa tiorn o f com m erce , especia lly
in
tim e o f pe a ce , w h ich h a s n ot yet been a tte m pted and
w hic h for t ha t a s we ll as othe r rea son s, m a y be r ega rded a s 00 3
t radic tin the pri n ciple , fro m wh ich it would flo w
g
T a ki n g re a son an d j us tice fo r t h e t e sts o f t h i s pra c tice , it i s
pec uli a rly i n de fe n sible bec a use it deprives t he d ea re s t r igh t s o f
a r e gu
la r rfi a li t w hich h e m ost i n co n sider able a r ticl e s of p ro :
t
perty c a pture d o n t he h i g h s e a s gf s e n tlue d
d le aV e s th e i r
'
destin y to t h e will o f an officer , s om eti mes cruel , o fte n i gnoran t ,
a n d ge n er a lly i n tereste d by his w a n t o f m a ri n er s, in his o w n de
cis io n s
W he n ever property fou n d in a n e ut ral vessel is sup
posed to be liable , on a n y grou n ds ,to c a p ture and con de mn a ti on ,
%
the rule in a ll c a ses is th a t the question sh a ll n ot b e dec ided by
t h e c apt or , but be c a rried be fore a leg a l tribu n a l , w here a re gu
la r t ri a l m a y be ha d , 'a n d wher e t h e c a ptor h i m sel f is li ab le to
d a m a ge s , for an abus e o f his power C a n it be re a son a ble then ,
’
or j ust , th a t a b elligere n t co mm an der wh o is thus restricted ,
a n d t h us e s o n sible in a c a se o f mere property o f trivi a l a m ou n t ,
r p
ld be per mitt ed , wit hout recurri n g t oan y tribu n a l w ha tever ,
Sh o u
tra l ve sse l, to deci de t h e i m porta n t
t o ex a m in e t h e crew o f a n e u
question o f their res pective a lle gi an ces , a n d to c a rry th a t deci
S ion i n to ins ta n t e xecu tio n , by fo rci n g every iiid ivid ua l h e m a y
c h use , i nto a s e rvice ab h orre n t to hi s feelin gs , cutti n g him o ff
fro m h is t e n der con n ection s , exp osing his m i n d a n d his
of a
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person to t h e m os t h u mili a t ing di s c1 ph ne , an d h l S h fe itsel f to th e
gre a test d an gers R e a son jus tice a n d h u m a n ity u nite in pro
testin g a g ai n st so extra v a g an t a proceedi n g An d wh a t is t h e
pret e xt fo r it % Is it th a t the si m il a ri ty o f l an gu a ge a n d o f fe a
tures between A m eric a n citize n s a n d British subjects , a re suc h
a s n c t e a sily to be disti n guished ; a n d th a t with out this a rbitr a ry
a n d su m m a ry a uthority to in a k e t h e disti n ction British subjects
would esc a pe u n der the n a m e o f A m eric an ci tize n s from th e
dut y whic h they owe to thei r sovereign
Is then t h e difficulty
o f disti n guishi n g a m a ri n er o f o n e cou n try fro m t h e m a ri n er o f
the other a n d the i m porta n ce o f his services a good ple a fo r re
ferri n g t h e q ue s t io n whether he belo n gs to t h e o n e or to th e
othe r to a n a rbitra ry decision o n the spot by an in terested a n d
I n a ll other c a ses , the difficulty a n d the
un respo n sible o ffice r
i m port a n ce o f question s a r e con sidered a s re a son s fo r requirin g
gre a ter c a re an d for m a lity in i n vestig a tin g the m a n d gre a ter
security fo r a right decision on the m To s a y th at prec a ution s
o f t his sort a re i n co m p a tible with the obj ect is to a d m it the o h
si
n ce the o n l y m e a n s by which it can be
e c t is u n justi fi
able
j
pursued a r e suc h a s c a n n ot be justi fied
The evil t a kes a deeper die whe n viewed in its pra ctice a s
well a s its pri n ciples \V ere it a llow able th a t Britis h subjec t s
s h ould be ta ken out o f Am eric an vessels on the hig h se a s it
m ight a t le a st be required t h a t the proo f o f their a llegi an ce
This obvious an d j ust rule is ,
s hould lie o n the British sid e
a n d every se a m a n o n bo a rd though goi n g
h o w ever reversed
fro m a n A meric an port an d s aili n g u n der the A m eric an fla g,
a n d s o m t im e s e ven s pe a ki n g a n idi o m provi n g h im n o t to b e a
e
ect is pre s u m ed to be such u n less shew n to be an
British subj
A m e ric a n citizen It m a y s a fely be a ffir m ed t h at t his is an
outra ge a n d a n i n dig n ity which h as n o p re d e n t s 5n d WhiC h
G rea t Brita in W uld b e a m on g th e l a st n at ion s in the world to
Nor
re d to h er o w n subj ects , a n d h er o w n fla g
s u ffer if o fl e
is it a lw a ys a g a i n st the right presu m ptio n a lon e w h ic h is it;
fa vour o f t h e citize n ship correspo n di n g wit h the fla g th a t t h e
Not u n frequen tly it ta kes p lace ’in
v iole n ce is co m m itted
de fia n ce o f the m ost positi ve proo f certi fied in due for m by
Le t it n o t be s a id , th a t in gr a ntin g to
a n Am e ric a n o fficer
Am eric an se a m e n t his protection fo r their rights a s s uch t h e
p oi n t is y ielded , th a t t h e proo f lies on t h e A m eric an s ide , a n d
s t h e i n fere n ce
t h a t the w a n t o f it in t h e prescribed for m j usti fi
e
It is dis tin ctly
t h a t the se a m a n is n ot o f A m e ric a n a llegi a n ce
t o be u n derstood th a t the cer ti fic a te usu a lly c a lled a p rotection
t o Am eric an se a m e n , is n o t m e an t to protect the m un d er t h eir
W e c an
mm or e v en a n y oth e r n e ut ral fl a g o n the h igh se a s
ch a situ
ation ;a n y ot h er pro tec tio n is
never admi t, t hat in su
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7
’
quire d for th e m, t h an th e n eutra l fl ag its elf on t h e h igh se a s ;
Th e docu m en t is give n to prove their re al c h a r a cters , in situ a tion s
to w h ich n either the la w o f n a tion s n or the law o f their o w n
cou n try , a re a pplic able in o th er words to p ro te bt t h e m withi n
t h e j urisdictio n o f t h e Britis h l a ws a nd to secure to t h e m , with in
every other j
urisdiction the rights an d i m m u n ities due to t h e m
I f, in th e course o f t heir n a vig a tion even o n the hig h se a s the
docu me n t should h a ve t h e e ffect o f repell in g wron gs o f a n y
w hich they a v ai l
of
s ort i t I S a n i n cide n t a l a dv a n t a ge o n ly
th e m selves , a n d is by n o m e a n s to be m iscon strued i n to a right
to ex a ct suc h a proo f, or to m a ke an y dis a dv an ta geous i n fere n ce
from the w a n t o f it
W e re it eve n a d m itted th a t ce rtifiCa te s for protection m igh t
be justly required in ti m e o f w a r, fro m A m eric an se a m en , th ey
could on ly be required in c a ses where th e l a pse o f ti m e
fro m its co m m e n ce m e n t h a d give n a n opportu n ity fo r t h e
A m eric a n se a m en to provide the m selves with suc h a docu m e n t
% e t it is cert a in t h a t in a v a riety o f i n st an ces , se am e n h a ve bee n
i m pressed from A m eric an vessels , o n the ple a t h a t they h a d n ot
t h is proo f o f citizen ship w h e n the d at e s a n d pl a ces o f t h e
i m press m e n ts de m on stra ted the i m possibility o f their kn owin g
in ti m e to provide t h e pro of, t ha t a st a te o f w a r h ad re n dere d it
n ecess a ry
W h eth er , t h ere fore , we con sul t th e law o f n a tion s , t h e ten or
o f tre a ties , or t h e dict a tes o f re a son a n d j ustice , n o fwa r r a n t ,
re
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fir e t ex t
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c
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B
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a
k
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i
t
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r
a
fl
9f
g
f
f
fl r es em en t s f r om fl me r z ca n v e s s els on th e h igh s ea s
Gre a t Brit a in h a s th e less to s a y in excuse fo r th is pra ctice ,
a s it is in direct con tra dictio n to the pr n ciples , o n w h ic h s h e
no
‘
ca n
oun d
be
or t h e
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i
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g
hilst sh e cl ai m s a n d seizes on t h e
p r o c e e d s in other c a ses
lu n t a r ily s e rv in
h i gh se a s , h e r o w n s ub js t ,
g itL A m e ric a a
vessels , s h e h a s con sta n tly given , w h en s he could give , a s re a son
fo r n ot disch a rgi ng fro m h e r service A m eric a n citize n s , t h a t
.
e
s
v o
th ey h a d volu n t a rily e n g a ged in it N a y, m ore , whilst sh e
i m presses her ow n subj ects from t h e Am eric an service , a l th ou g h
t h ey m a y h a ve bee n settled a n d m a rried , an d even n a tur a lized
in t h e Un it ed S t a tes s h e con st an tly re fuses to rele a se from
h ers , A m eric an citize n s i m pressed in to it , w h e n e ver s h e c a n
ive
f
or a re a so n , th a t they were eit h er settled or m a r ried wit h i n
g
T h us , when the volu n ta ry con se n t o f t h e
h e r dom i n i on s
i n dividu a l fa vours h e r prete n sion s , s h e ple a ds the v a lidity o f t h a t
co n sen t Wh e n the volu n ta ry con sen t o f t h e in dividu a l stan ds
in th e w a y o f he r preten sion s it g oe s f or n oth ing
W he n m ar
ria e or reside n ce c a n h e ple a ded in he r fa vor , she a v ails herse l f
g
o f the ple a
When m a rri a ge an d reside n ce an d even n a tura li
z ation a re a gainst h e r, n o resp e ct wha t e ver is p aid to ei th er 1
.
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a
8
ubjec ts volun ta rily servi n g in our
ves sels She k eeps by force A m eric an citize n s in vo lu
serving in h ers More fla gra n t inc on s iste n cies c a n n ot be im
a
ned
gi
Notwi th s tan di n g t he power ful m otives w hich oug h t to be fel t
by t he British g o ver n m ent to r elin quis h a pra ct ice w h ic h exposes
i t to so m an y repro a ch es it is foresee n th a t objection s o f di ffer
e n t sor ts will be presse d on you
%o u will be to ld first o f t h e
a t n um ber of Britis h se ame n in t h e A m eric a n tr a de a n d o f
r
,
g e
t h e n ec e s sity fo r t heir services in ti m e o f w a r a n d da n er
Se
g
c on d ly o f the rig ht a nd t h e p rejudice o f t h e Britis h n a tio n wit h
respect to wh a t a re c a lled the British or n arr ow s eas w h ere
its d O m ai n would be a b an d one d by the ge n era l s tip ul a tio n req ui
Th ird ly , o f t h e use which would be ma de o f suc h a s an ct u
r ed
ar y a s th a t o f A m erican vessels , fo r desertio n s, and tr a itorous
c o m m u n i ca tio n s to h e r en e mi es , espe cia lly a cro ss th e c h a n n el
t o Fr an c e
l st W it h respect to th e Bri tis h se a me n se rvi n g in our tra d e ,
r st , th a t t h e n umb er th o ug h con sider a ble ,
it m a y be re m a rked fi
is prob ably l es s th a n m a y b e supp o sed S econdly , th a t wh a t is
wron g in itsel f c a n n ot be m a de ri gh t by c o n s id er at ions o f
T hirdly th a t it is pr o ved by t he
e xpe d ie n c y or a dva nt ag e
fa ct th a t the n u m ber o f re a l Britis h subjects g a i n ed b y th e p ra c
tice in q uestion, is of con siderable i m po rtanc e e ven in t h e s cale
The a n n exe d re po rt t o co n gr ess on t h e subj
e et
o f a dv an t a ge
of i m press m e n ts, wit h the a dditio n o f such ca s es as m a y be in
t h e h a n ds o f M r E rvi n g , the n our co n sul in Lon do n , will verify
Th e st at e
t he re m ar k in its a p plic a tio n to t he p re s en t w a r :
a d e by h is predeces s or dur i n g t h e la s t Wa r , an d w hic h
m
o
m
m
is a ls o a nne xed is in t h e s a m e V i e w still m ore co n clusiv e Th e
a ll t he a p p fi fiufl s m a d e b y
l
s t at em m co m p e hen d s n ot o u
v
r
h im in th e first I n st anc e for t he l i ber a tio n o f i m presse d se ame n ,
1 7 9 7 , an d S ept
et
ee
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P in ok n e y an d M r K i n g a n d whic h it w a s n ece ssar y fo r h im to
ren ew Th ese a pp li c a tio n s th ere fore m a y fa irly be c on sidere d
as e mbrac in g t he gre a te r p a rt o f t he period of th e wa r 3 a nd as
ap p li ca tio n s a r e k no wn t o be pr e t t y in d isc r imi n at ely m a de , the y
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c a ses on ly, a nd
% et the result exhibits
as we ll as oth ers
oil t his n u mbe r 1 0 % se am e n on ly , de t ai n e d as bei n g Britis h s ub
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dis c ha rged or ordere d t o be so, a s no t b ein g Britis h subjec ts,
w hi ch i s more t ha n ha lf t he w hol e n um b er le a vin g 8 0 5 for fur
th er p roo f, wi th t h e st ro nge s t presum p t ion ,; t hat t h e gre a t er
rt
if
o t t h e w h ole , were Am eric an s or o t h er a l ie n s , w h o s e
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ci
w
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z e n s h ip ha d bee n lo st or de stroy e d ,
ho se situa
p
t io n would a ccoun t for the d iflicultie s a n d del a ys in pro ducin g
S o th a t it is c ertain th a t for a ll the British s e ame n g ai n ed
it
by t his violen t procee din g, m ore t h a n a n e q ual n um be r w h o
we re no t so we re th e v icti m s ; it is highly prob able th a t fo r
every British se a ma n so ga in ed , a num be r o f others les s th an
t e n fo r o n e m us t h a ve be e n th e victi m s , a n d it is eve n possible
th a t th is n u m ber m a y h a ve excee ded the proport ion o f twen t y
to o n e
be
It éan n ot th ere fo re
doubted th a t the ac quisition o f British
se am e n by th ese i m pressm en ts Wh a tever m a y be its a dvan ta ge
is los t in the wron g don e to A m eric an s ign or a n tly or wilfull y
m ist a ke n fo r British subj ects in t h e je a lousy a n d ill will e xcited
a m on g a ll m a r i t i m e n a tio n s by an a dhere n ce to such a pr a cti c
e,
an d in t h e p a rticul a r pro voca tio n to m eas ures o f redress o n t h e
p a rt o f the Un ited S t a tes n ot less disa gree able to th e m , t h an
e m ba rra ssin g to G re a t Brit ai n , an d which m a y thre aten th e good
u n derst an din g w hich ough t to be faith fully cultiv a ted by bo th
The copy o f a bill brought i n to co n gress u n der the i n fluen ce o f
viola tio n s co mm itted o n our fla
gives
f
orce
to
this
l
a tter cousi
g
d era tio n
‘V h e t h e r it will pa ss i n to a la w , an d a t t h e prese n t s es
s io n , is m ore th a n can yet be s a id
As there is every re a son t o
be lie ve th a t it h a s be e n pr opo s ed with reluct a n ce it will proba
bly no t be pursued i n to e ff ect if a n y hop e can be supporte d o f a
re m edy , by a n a m ic able a rran ge m e n t be t wee n t h e two na tio n s
T h e re is a further con s ide ra tion which oug h t to h a v e w ei ght
in t h is question
Although t he Brit is h sea m e n e m plo y ed in
ca rryi n g o n A m eric an co m m erce be in s o m e respe cts lo s t to
t hei r o w n n a tion yet such is t h e in ti m a te a n d exte n s ive co n
n e c t io n o f this co m m er c e dir ect an d circuitous , with the co m
u
é
fi f ur e s t h reve n ue a n d th e gen era l re so urce s
m erce , t h e
f
e
o f th e Britis h n a ti on , th a t ln other respect s it s m a ri n ers o n
boa rd Am eric a n vesse ls , m a y truly be s a id to be r e n deri ng it the
It wou ld n o t be extra v a g a n t to m a ke it
m o s t va lt mble ser vi ces
wh ethe r G re a t Brit a i n w duld n ot s ufier mo re by
a questi o n
w it h dr a wi n g her se a m e n fro m t h e m erch a n t ve s s e ls o f t h e
Un ited S t a tes th a n her e n e m ies w ould su ffe r fro m the a dd iiio n
of t h e m to th e crews of her ships o f Wa r a n d cruiser s
lty be st a rte d co n cern in g se a me n born
S ho uld a n y d iffic u
w it hin th e Brit ish do m i n io ns a n d n a tur a li zed by t h e Un ite d
S t a te s sin c e the tre a ty o f 17 83 y ou m a y re m ove it by o bservi n g
First th a t very fe w , if an y s uc h n a tura liz a tion s ca n t ak e p la c eq
t he la w here requirin g a prepa r a t ory reside n c e o f fiv e ye a rs,
Wi t h n otice o f the in te n tion to b ecom e a citiz e n e n tered o f re
cord two y ea rs be for e t he l a st n e c e s s a ry for m a lity , besides a
re guia r proof o f go od a n d mo r a l ch a r a cter , cond i tio ns lii t le lik e
Sec ond
1y ro be d omp iie d wi th by o rd i nar y seafa r in g pe rs ons
ro af of
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10
i m pressm ents on th e high s eas will
preclude a n a ctu a l c ollision betwee n the i n ter fering c la
With in t he jurisdiction of e a ch n a tion a n d in t h eir respective
vessels o n the h ig h se a s , e a c h will e n force t he a llegi a n ce w h ich
s I n o ther s itua tion s the i n dividu a ls doubly cl a i m ed ,
will be with i n a j urisdiction i n depe n den t o f both n a tion s
S e con d ly—Th e Britis h prete n sion s to do m a in over t he n a rrow
s e a s ar e so obsolete , an d so in de fe n sible th a t t hey n ever w ould
ha ve o ccurred a s a prob a ble objection in this c a se if they h a d
no t a ctu a lly frustra ted a n a rr an ge m e n t settled by M r K in g w it h
the British m i nistry, o n t h e subj ect o f i m press m en ts fro m A
At t h e m om e n t when t he
m eric a n vessels o n t h e hig h se a s
a rticles were expected to be sign ed a n exception o f the
n ar
row se a s w a s urged a n d in s isted o n by lord S t V in ce n t an d
bei n g utterly i n ad mis s ible on o ur p a rt, t h e n e go cia tion wa s
ab an do n ed
T lie obj ction in i tsel f h as cer t a in ly no t t h e sligh t est foun d a
e
tion The ti m e h a s be e n ind ee d w he n E n gl a n d n o t on ly cl ai m
ed , but exercised pret e n sio n s sc a rcely i nferior to full sovereign
t y over the se a s surrou n din g the Britis h isles , a n d eve n a s fa r
a s C a pe Fi n isterre to the south , an d V a n S t a te n , in Norw a y , to
t h e n ort h : It w a s a ti m e h ow ever , w h e n re a son h a d little sh a re
in deter m i n i n g t h e la w , 8: the i n tercourse o f n a tion s whe n pow er
a lo n e decide d quest i o n s o f ri ht a n d w h en th e ig n or a n ce a n d
g
w a n t o f co n cert a m o n g oth er m a riti m e cou n tries fa cilita ted s uc h
an usurp a tion
The progress o f ci viliz a tion a n d i nform a tion
h a s produced a ch a n e in a ll those respects an d n o pri n ciple
g
in the code o f public la w is a t prese n t better est ablished th a n
t h e co m m on freedo m o f the se a s beyon d a very li m ited dis
t a n ce from territories w a shed by t h e m
T h is distan ce is n ot
i
“
in deed fixed wit h a bsolute precisio n
It
ut l m ici e s , a nd p e r h a ps I t m a y be re a so n ably
d egree b y w r itt e
'
v aried in so m e d egree by l oc a l peculi a rities But t h e gre a te s t
dist an ce whic h would n o w be liste ned to a n y w h ere , would m a ke
a s m a ll proportio n o f t h e n a rrowe st p a rt o i the na rrowest se a s
in question ;
W h a t a re , in fa ct, th e prerogati ves cl a i m ed an d exercised by
Gre a t Brita i n o ve r t h e s e se a s I f t h ey were re a lly a p a rt o f her
dom a i n , h er a uth ority would be t he s a m e there a s withi n her
other dom ai n Foreign vessels would be subject to all the l a ws
a n d regul a tio n s fr a m ed fo r the m , a s mu ch a s if t hey were with
Nothin g o f this sort
in the h a rbour s or ri vers o f the cou n try
is preten ded Nothi n g of th is sort will be tolera ted Th e on ly
i n st a n ces in which thes e s e a s a re distin guishe d fro m other se a s,
or in w hich G re a t B ritain e njoys within the m a ny distin ction
rst ;the co m pli men t p ai d by o ther fla gs
o v er ot h er n a t ion s , a re fi
to h ers S ec on dly , t he e xte ns ion of h er t er ritorial j
urisdic tion
ly, t h at
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II
P
r
i n certai n cas es m the dis tan ce of fou r le ague s from th e co as t
The first is a relic of an c ien t: usurp a tion , which h as t h us lon g
,
.
s ped t he corre ction , wh i ch m odern an d m ore e n lighten e d
I h e pre roga tive h a s
t im
e s h a ve applied to ot h er us urp at ion s
b ee n ofte n cont e st ed , however, eve n at t h e expens e o f b lood y
wa rs , a n d is still born e w ith ill will an d im p atienc e b y he r n eig h
bo rs At t he las t trea ty of pe a ce at Am im sfih e abolition o f it
an d it is n o t
Wa s repe ate dly a nd stron gly pressed by
i mprob a ble t hat a t n o re m ote d a y it w ill follow the fa te o f t h e
K in g o f Fr an ce , so lon g wor n by the British m on
t itle o f
ced to t he lesson s o f a
a rchs a n d a t le n gt h so properly s a crifi
ma gn ani mous wisdo m As far a s thi s h o m a ge to th e Britis h
flag h a s an y fou n d a tion a t pres en t , it re st s m erely on lon g us a ge
a nd lo n g a cquiesce n ce , w h ich a r e co n strued , a s in a fe w oth er
c as e s o f ma ritim e cl a im s , in to t he e ffect ot3a ge n era l t h dugh
t acit co nve n tio n
T he secon d in st an ce is t h e e xten sion of t h e
t e rritori a l juris diction to four le a gues fr om th e shore This
too a s fa r a s the dist an ce m a y exceed th a t whi ch is ge n era lly
a l lo wed , rests on a like fou n d a tio n , stre n gth en ed , per h a p s , by
the loc a l fa cility o f sm uggli n g an d the peculia r in terest w h ich
Gre at Brita in ha s in preven tin g a pra ctice a ffecti ng so deeply
h e r whole syste m o f reven ue , co m m erce , an d m an u fa ctures
whils t t he l imitation itsel f to four le a gue s n ecess a ri ly im plies
:
t h a t beyo n d th a t di st a n c e n o terr itori a l juri s dictio n is a ss u m ed
But wh a tever ma y b e the origi n or v a lue o f th es e p re ro ga
t ive s ov e r for eig n fla gs in o n e c a se , a n d wit h in a li mi ted portion
O f t h e e S e a s in an o t her it is obvious t h a t n e ithe r o f t h e m wil l
,
s
be vi ol a ted b y t he exe m ption o f Am eric an vessels fro m i m pres s
:
me n ts whic h a re 130 WiSe con n ected wi t h eit h er h a vin g n e ver
f w it h h o ld ing the wo n ted h o
been m a de o n t h e p r a m “ i t h
m a ge to t h e Britis h fla g, or o f s m u ggli n g in defian ce o f Briti sh
la ws
This exte n sion o f t h e British law to four le a gues from t h e
shore is i n ferred fro m a n a ct p f p a rli a m e n t p a ssed in t h e ye a r
1 7 3 6 , ( 9 G 2 C 3 5 ) the ter m s o f which co m prehe n d a ll ve s f
It is possible however, th a t the
s els foreign a s well a s British
S hould your i n quiries a s
for m er a re co n structiv ely excepted
nd yoursel f o n be tter
c ert a i n this to be the c a se , you Will fi
rou
n d th a t the co ncessio n here m a de
g
W ith respe ct to th e co m pli m e n t p aid to t h e British flag it i s
n d to
a lso possibl e th a t m ore is h ere con ceded th an you m a y fi
be n ecess a r y A fter th e p eace o f 1 7 8 3 , t h is co m pli m en t w a s
pere m ptorily withheld by Fran ce, in spite o f the re m on str an ces
'
h e r it
o f Gre a t Brit a i n
a n d it r e m ain s fo r y
our i n quiry , w h e g
\
did n o t co n tin ue to be re fused n otwithsta n di n g the fai lure a t
Am ie n s , to ob tain fro m Gre at Britain a forma l renu n ci ation of
t h e c laim
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12
subject , it is re as on a ble t o e xpect
t h at t h e exceptio n o f th e n a rrow se a s fro m the stip ul a tion
a gai n st i m press m en ts will n o t be in fle xibly m a in t a i n ed
S hould
Th e tr uth is , th a t
it be so , your n e go cia tio n will be a t a n e n d
re
t
proportio
n o f our tr a de , direct a n d circuitous , p a sses
so
a
a
g
t h roug h t h ose c h ann els a n d suc h is its pe culi a r exposure in
t h e m to t h e wro n g pr a c tised th a t with such a n exceptio n , a n y
An d we can n ever con se n t to
r e m edy would be very p a rti a l
‘
purc h as e a p a rti a l re m edy , by con firm in g a ge n era l evil , a n d
b y subjecti n g ourselves to our o wn repro a c h es , a s well a s to
t h ose o f other n a tion s
T h ird It a ppe a rs , a s well by a letter from Mr T h orn ton in
a n swer to o n e fro m m e , o f both which copies a re e n closed a s
f ro m con vers a tion s wit h M r M err y t h a t th e fa cility w hic h
w ould be give n p a rticul a rly in the British c h a n n el by the im
mun ity cl ai m ed fo r Am eric an vessels , to the esc a pe o f t r a itors ,
a n d the desertion o f o t hers whose services in ti m e o f w a r m a
y
b e p a rticul a rly i mporta n t to a n e n e m y , for m s on e o f t h e ple a s
for t h e British pr a ctice o f ex a m in i n g A m eric a n crews a n d wil l
be o n e o f t h e objection s to a for m a l reli n qui sh m e n t o f it
T his ple a , like a ll the others , ad m its a solid a nd s atis fa ct or y
I n t h e first pla ce , if it could prev a il a t a ll a g a i n s t t h e
r eply
n eutr a l cl a i m , it would a ut h orise the seizure o f the perso n s
described on ly , an d in vessels bou n d to a hosti le cou n try on ly
w h ere a s th e pra ctice o f im pressi n g is a pplied to person s fe w, if
a n y, o f who m a r e a lleg e d to be o f either description a n d t o
In
v essels w h it h ersoever bou n d eve n to Gre a t Brit ai n hersel f
t h e n ext pl a ce , it is n ot o n ly a pre fere n ce o f a s m a ller object o n
o n e side to a gre a ter object o n t h e other , but a s acr ifi e o f rig ht
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