Case ID: us_19/html/0152-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice Johnson", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

(Prize.)
    The Bello Corrunes. The Spanish Consul, Claimant.
    A foreign consul has a right to claim, or institute a proceeding, in rem, where the rights of property of his fellow-citizens are in question, without a special procuration from those for whose benefit he acts.
    But a consul cannot receive actual restitution of the res in controversy, without a special authority from the particular individuals who are entitled.
    A capture made by citizens of the United States of property belonging to subjects of a country in amity with the U. S. is unlawful, wheresoever the capturing vessel may have been equipped, or by whomsoever commissioned; and the property thus captured, if brought within the neutral limits of this country, will be restored to the original owners.
    Whatever difficulty there may be, under our municipal institutions, in punishing as pirates, citizens of the U. S. who take from a State at war with Spain, a commission to cruise against that power, con. trary to the 34th article of the Spanish treaty, yet there is no doubt that such acts are to be considered as piratical acts for all civil pur-> poses, and the offending parties cannot appear, and claim in our Courts the property thus taken.
    
      It seems, that the terms, “ a State with which the said King shall be at toar,” in the 14th article of the treaty, include the South American ..provinces which have revolted against Spain.
    But, however this may be, the Neutrality Act of June, 379/, c. i. extends the same prohibition, with all its consequences, to a colony revolting, and making war against its parent country.
    In the case of such an illegal capture, the property of the lawful owners cannot be forfeited, for a violation of the revenue laws of this ' country, by the captors or by persons who have rescued the property from their possession.
    The rights of salvage may be forfeited by spoliation, smuggling, or other gross misconduct of the salvors.
    Appeal from the Circuit Court of Rhode Island.
    This was the case of a Spanish vessel and. cargo, stranded on Block Island, and there seized by the officers of the customs. An information on behalf of the United States, was filed in the District Court, against the property, as forfeited, for an alleged breach of the revenue laws. His Catholic Majesty’s Vice Consul for the district of Rhode Island, interposed a claim on behalf ofCt certain subjects of the King of Spain,” the original owners of the ship and cargo, which was bound on a voyage from the port of Tarragona, in Spain, to La Vera Cruz, and was taken off Cape St. Antonio, on the west end of the island of Cuba, on the 21st of March, 1818, by an armed vessel called thé Puyerredon, commanded by one James Barnes, sailing under Buenos Ayres co-lours, and asserting a right to make, captures under the authority of the government of that place. Restitution to the original Spanish owners was claimed, upon the ground that the capturing vessel had been equipped in the ports of this country, in violation of our neutrality. An allegation was also filed by Barnes, demanding restitution of the property to the captors, as having been taken, jure belli, on the high séas. Another claim was also filed by certain persons, part of the original crew of the Bello Corrunes, left on board after the capture, who asserted a claim for salvage, in case the property should be restored to the original Spanish owners, under the following circumstances. The master of the captured vessel, and all her crew except four, were taken out, and a prize master and crew put on board from the Puyer-redon. Thus equipped, the Bello Corrunes cruised in company with the Puyerredon nearly two months, during which period another Spaniard, of the original crew of the Bello Corrunes, was returned to that vessel. The two vessels afterwards separated, and on the 8th of May, in lat. 32° 30' north, and longitude 74° W. from London, the prize crew, assisted by the persons originally on board the Bello Corrunes, rose on the prize master and other officers, and rescued the vessel from their possession. They then steered their course for the United States, and the vessel was by some means stranded upon Block Island, where the vessel and cargo were seized by the revenue officers.
    A decree was entered in the District Court, pro forma,) and by consent of parties, restoring the property to the original Spanish owners as claimed, and dismissing the other allegations and claims. This decree was affirmed, pro format and by consent, in the Circuit Court, and the cause was brought by appeal to this Court.
    
      February 8th.
    
    It appeared by the evidence in the Courts below, •and" by the farther proof taken under a commission from this Court, that the capturing vessel was formerly owned by citizens of the United States, and called the Mangoree, and was originally armed, equipped, and manned at Baltimore;. and sailed from that port in March, 1817, under the command of Barnes, a citizen of the United States, domiciled in that city, under Buenos Ayres colours, on a cruize; and after capturing several Spanish vessels, proceeded to Buenos Ayres, where the vessel arrived in August, 1817. The vessel was then altered from a schooner into a brig, and her name changed to the Pwyerredon, an addition of one gun was made to her armament, some of the original crew were reshipped, and other seamen recruited. An alleged sale of the vessel took place to one Higginbotham, a citizen of the United States domiciled at Buenos Ayres; and a commission was issued by the Supreme Director of the United Provinces of South America, dated the 20th of November, 1817, authorizing Barnes to capture Spanish, property ; with which the vessel sailed from Buenos Ayres on the Cruise, during which the present capture was made.
    
      The Attorney-General, for the United States,
    ar-güed, that the officers of the Government being in possession of this property, would hold it as a droit until some person appeared duly authorized to claim it. The consul of Spain has no authority ,to claim, in his own name, and in his official character, the property of persons to him unknown, and by whom he cannot therefore have been invested with a special procuration. He is not invested with a general authority for that purpose, virtute officii, nor is there evidence in this particular case that the consul is the agent, consignee, or correspondent of the owners, who are sometimes permitted to claim for their principal, when the latter is absent from the country. Great public inconveniences and mischief, might follow from allowing foreign consuls, not spe-cialiy authorized by their own government, or by this, nor by the parties, to receive restitution of property, for which they may interpose a claim as belonging to their fellow subjects. Supposing the property here to be devested out of the original owners by the capture, and vested in the captors, jure belli, it must be forfeited to the United States for violating the revenue laws, which was the original intention of the parties, and was partially accomplished at Block Island. Or supposing the recapture by the prize crew to be valid, they must be considered as the agents of the original proprietors, and, their misconduct must be visited upon the original proprietors.
    Mr. Winder, for the appellants and captors,
    insisted, that the present capture being made on the high seas, jure belli, under a commission regularly issued by a Government acknowledged to be entitled to exercise the rights of war against its enemy, could not be inquired into by the Courts of this country ; but that the captors being entitled to the possession, having only been dispossessed by the criminal misconduct of the prize crew which they had put on board to secure the prize, were entitled to restitution, in order to enable them to. proceed against it as'prize in the competent Court. Whatever military means are directed, from within the territory of one of the belligerent States, against its enemy, are not subject to the review or control of any neutral or other foreign tribunal or authority, except in the single cage of a direct violation of the neutral territory itself. This principle grows out of the perfect independence and equality of nations, existing as it were in a state of nature in respect to each other. Their conduct in authorizing acts of war is no more reviewable by other nations, than any other their acts of sovereignty . It is this perfect independence and equality of sovereign States which is the sole foundation of the exclusive jurisdiction of the Prize Courts of the captor’s country over every thing done under a prize commission. In the celebrated case of the Exchange,
      
       this Court held, that the commission of a sovereign protected that vessel from all inquiry, notwithstanding the flagrantly unjust conduct of the French Emperor in appropriating the property of an American citizen to his own use, without the form of a trial, and incorporating it into his military marine. It must be shown, that the act of the Government of Buenos Ayres in granting this commission is unlawful, before it can be shown that any of the effects of that act are invalid. Suppose the Exchange, on her voyage, had made a -capture, could this Court have restored it to the former owners ? Or could it inquire into the validity of such a capture consistently with the principles laid down in that case ? The enlistment of men in neutral countries to serve the belligerent powers is lawful, unless there be some express prohibition' of the neutral State. Such a municipal prohibition would certainly make it unlawful, in respect to the neutral State whose laws are violated ; but it does not, therefore, follow, that all the acts of Such persons in war would be unlawful, or that they are not entitled to the rights of lawful war. The carrying of contraband is prohibited by the law of nations under the penalty of confiscation, and the exportation, of contraband articles may be prohibited by thev municipal code under other penalties 5 but such prohibition would not invalidate a capture made with the munitions of war thus exported.. The Government of this country naturalizes all foreigners indiscriminately, in peace and m war, and employs them in its land and naval service ; and it is not for us to question the right of a citizen of the United States to enter into the military service off a foreign State. It is insisted, that not only the Court has no authority by the law of nations to restore to the original owners a prize thus captured, but that the law of nations gives the Congress no power to authorize the Court to restore. The Legislature may prohibit our citizens from enlisting in the service of the belligerents, or from fitting out ships to be employed in cruising, under ever so severe penalties ; but those penalties cannot extend to a forfeiture of the rights of prize acquired under the commission of an independent sovereign State. Nor are Spain and the United States competent to regulate by their mutual treaty stipulations the sovereign rights of the South American Provinces, though they may stipulate to inflict penalties in personam, for what they deem the criminal conduct of their subjects or citizens. As to the claim of the United States for a forfeiture on account of the alleged violation of the revenue laws, it is already settled by this Court, that the property of foreigners cannot be forfeited for the misconduct of those who are tor-tiously in possession, as was the case here with the rescuers.
    
    
      Mr. Webster and Mr. Wheaton, for the respondent and claimant,
    the Spanish Consul, (1.) contended, that the Consul, from the necessity of the case, had a right to interpose a claim for the property of his .fellow subjects, brought into our ports in this manner. He does not claim as attorney in fact, but his character is more like an attorney at law. There is no necessity of a special procuration from those for whom he claims, because it does not follow, that the property will be actually delivered into his hands until the respective rights of the owners are determined, and a special authority produced from them to receive distribution. There is the more necessity for permitting the Consul, as the official protector of the commercial rights and interests of his fellow subjects in a foreign country, to interpose a claim in a case of this nature, because the usual term of a year and a day allowed in prize causes, where there is no claim, would not be allowed here, since the property .is demanded by the captors under their pretended commission, and if the subjects of Spain, residing at a distance, and ignorant even of the fact of the capture, were not allowed to be represented by their Consul, the property would be taken away by the captors, and irrecoverably lost to the original owners. It will also frequently be impossible for the Consul to specify the owners for whom he claims, and he ought, therefore, to be allowed to file allegations claiming it for Spanish subjects generally, íhe opinion of M. Portalis in the case of the Danish Consul, proceeds entirely upon the peculiar regulation of France, - which makes the. Procuréur General, the official attorney of all persons who arp not represented before the tribunals by any special procuration ; which would, of course, render unne* cessary the interposition of foreign Consuls in cases where the rights of their countrymen were involved.
    2. They argued, that the vessel by which the present capture was made, having been fitted out in the ports of the United States, and the capture having been made by our citizens, in violation of the law of nations, the acts of Congress, and the treaty with Spain, the property must be restored to the original owners, according to the uniform decisions of this Court. Under our municipal constitution, the treaty is the supreme, law of the land ; and it would be so by the law of nations without that constitutional provision.. “Every treaty,” says Sir W. Scott, “ is a part of the private láw of; the country which has entered into that treaty, and is as binding on the subjects as any part of their municipal laws.” The 9th article of the Spanish treaty declares, that goods taken from pirates shall be restored to the* lawful owners; and the 14th article, declares the. captors, in. the present case, to be pirates, as it provides, that they shall be punished as such for taking a commission to cruise against Spain. And-yet we are inquiring whether they are entitled to have restitution of the very property which they have thus piratically taken. It may be admitted, that in some cases citizens of one country may lawfully engage in the wars of another; we may take the doctrine cited from Bynkershoeck, that they may enlist where there is no prohibition. It may also safely be admitted, that as fax as- the other belligerents are concerned in their hostile relations with each other, it is lawful war. Spain cannot justly complain of the South American Provinces for employing foreigners in their service. And if the capturing ship were a national vessel, like the Exchange, no doubt her commission would estop all judicial inquiry into her conduct. But this is a private claim. The original Spanish owners claim nothing against the Government of Buenos Ayres. That Government claims nothing of the Spanish owners. Our own citizens assert a claim to.this property acquired in war, which can only be maintained upon the supposition, that they may be at war whilst their country is at peace ; that they are not bound by the laws and treaties of their own country ; that they may expatriate them-sélves, Jlagrante bello, for the purpose of committing hostilities against nations in amity with the United States. If the doctrine contended for on the part of the captors, that the commission is conclusive, be correct, then the Court can never look behind it, and the belligerents may dispense with our laws, and the allegiance of our citizens, at their pleasure. The case of Talbot v. Janson,
      
       whatever may be thought of -it in other respects, has never been overruled»» to the principle, that the neutral tribunals have a right tó inquire into* the validity of a captor’s commission, to see whether it was obtained and used in violation of the laws of the neutral country. That case has been made the basis of a series of decisions, which have become the settled láw of this Court, and which it is now too late1 to question. The Court has uniformly treated it as a necessary consequence of the. personal illegality of the act of taking the commission, that the property captured under it should be restored to the lawful owner. It is, therefore, immaterial where, or by whom, the capturing vessel was equipped. It is sufficient, that the capturing persons are citizens of the United States, and cannot assér a right of property founded on their own illegal conduct.
    3. But even admitting that the original capture was legal, the prize cannot now be reclaimed by the captors. An interest acquired in war by possession, is lost with the possession. The rights of capture are completely devested by recapture, escape, or rescue. Here the property has been devested out of the possession of the captors by the rescuers, for the 'benefit of the original owners, and the rescuers hold it in trust for their benefit.
    Mr. Wheaton, for the salvors,
    stated, that the original owners being thus shown to be entitled to restitution, the next question would be, whether the salvors were entitled to any, and what salvage. Unless the property were thus restored to the Spanish owners, the rescuers could not claim any salvage ; for certainly the captors would not admit that any. meritorious service had been rendered them by the rescue. But, as against the former owners, the rescuers have a just claim, having saved the property from the grasp of their enemy :■ and it would be idle to send the salvors to the Courts of Spain, to prosecute their claim, since the possession of the property enables this Court to do complete justice between all the parties. And this Court has already determined, that in a case of derelict by one belligerent, a neutral is entitled to salvage, and the Courts of the neutral country into which the property is brought, have authority to award it. As to the quantum of salvage: one third was allowed in that case; and it was doubted whether more ought not to have been allowed, if the salvors had appealed. The case of the Adventure,
      
       which was a donation at sea by .the belligerent captor to a neutral, who brought the property into a port of his own country, was held to Be a lawful salvage, and a moiety was allowed. In the case of Rowe et al. v. the Brig-, which was a Spanish vessel captured by a South American cruiser, one of the learned judges of this Court allowed a moiety of the net value. And in general, it may be affirmed that there is no inflexible rule, either in cases of derelict, or of rescue ; a reasonable salvage, proportioned to the meritorious exertions of the salvors, is to be decreed ; but never less than a third, unless the property is very valuable, or the services rendered very inconsiderable.
    
    
      February 26th.
    
    Mr. Webster, contra,
    upon the claim for salvage, insisted, that it appeared by the evidence that there had been a partial embezzlement of the property by the alleged salvors, and that it was a fixed rule that such misconduct,'or any circumstance of fraud, for-, feited the rights of salvage.
    
    
      
      
         This was the same vessel which captured the Divina Pastora, in 1816. Fide ante, Vol. IV. p. 52.
    
    
      
      
         The Anne, 3 Wheat. Rep. 435. De Steck, des Consuls, 64. Warden on Consuls, IIS- and opinion of M. Portalis there cited. This opinion of M. Portalis, in the case of the claim of the Danish Consul before the French Council of Prizes, will be' found in the Appendix to the present volume of Reports, Note No. V.
      The passage cited from De Steck, is as follows :
      “ § 27. Selón la régle par la plüpart des traites de commerce et par l’usage presque genéralement regu les consuls sont les juges des gens de mer et des négocians et marchands de leur nation.
      
      28. II leur est ordinairement attribuée la jurisdiction tant en matiere civile que criminelle.
      29. Cette jurisdiction attribuée aux consuls n’émane point de la puissance et de l’autorité du souverain, qui les établit, qui n’a point de pouvoir sur ses sujets expatriés, démeurans, com-mergans, établis en des pays étrangers. Elle depend et derive plutót de la concession, de l’attribution du souverain de l’état ou les consuls résident. Elle suppose done toujours des traités par lesquels elle eststipulée, accordée, attribuée.
      
        30. Lorsque la jurisdiction est attribuée aux consuls par íes traités de commerce, ils ont le pouvoir dans leur district, dans l’endroit deleur établissement et dans leur résidence, dejuger les différens, contestations et procés qui surviennent entre, les gens de mer, les négocians, les commergans de leur nation, qui s’élevent entre les capitaines, patrons, l’équipage, et les pas-sagers des vaisseaux et des batimens nationaux.
      31. Leur jurisdiction ne se borne pas alors aux affaires con-tentienses des nationaux. lis ont aussi la jurisdiction volon-taire, c’est á dire la faculté de recevoir les déclarations des capitaines des vaisseaux, et tous les actes que leur nationaux veulent passer dans leur chancellerie, de les légaliser, de re-cevoir leur testamens, de régler leurs successions et leur tu-telles, de faire l’inventaire de leur biens délaissés et nau-fragés, etc.
      32. Dans les procos que surviennent entre les nationaux et les habitaos et sujets de l’état oü les consuls sont établis, ou entre les commersans d’autres nations, ils assistent, protégent, défendent leurs nationaux. Dans les échelles du Levant les - juges du lieu n’osent dans ce cas procéder sans la participation et l’intervention du consul, sans la présence des on interprete.” De Steck des Consuls, p. 64.
    
    
      
      
        Valin. Com, Sur VOrdimn. de la Marine, 1.1, til. 9. art. 12; p. 251.
    
    
      
      
         Vattel, Droü des Gens, Prelim. s. 15 — 23. I, 2. c. 4. s, 54, 55.
    
    
      
      
         L’Invincible, 1 Wheal. Rep. 238. 254.
    
    
      
      
         7 Cranch, 116.
    
    
      
      
        Vattel, 1.3. c. 2. s. 13 — 15. Bynk. Q. J. Pvl. pp. 175. 177. of Du Ponceau’s translation.
    
    
      
      
         The Josefa Segunda, 5 Wheat. Rep. 338.
    
    
      
      
         Vide Appendix, Note No. V.
    
    
      
      
         The Alerta, 9 Cranch, 359. Talbot v. Jansen, 3 Dall. 133. L’Invincible, 1 Wheat. Rep. 233. The Divina Pastora, 4 Wheat, Rep. 52. Note to that case, p. 62. Sir L. Jenkins’ works, there cited. The Estrella, 4 Wheat. Rep. 298.
      
    
    
      
      
         The Eenroom, 2 Rob. 6.
    
    
      
      
         7 Cranch, 116.
    
    
      
      
         3 Dall. 133.
    
    
      
      
         The Astrea, 1 Wheat. Rep. 125. The Invincible, 2 Gallis. 35. Hudson v. Guestier, 4 Cranch, 293. S. C. 6 Cranch, 281. The Dibgentia, 1 Dodson, 404.
    
    
      
       The Mary Ford, 3 Dall. 198.
    
    
      
       8 Cranch, 221.
    
    
      
      
         1 Mason’s Rep. 372.
    
    
      
      
         Abbott on Shipp. 451. Story’s Ed. Note (1.) The Favourite, 4 Cranch, 347. The Jonge Bastiann, 5 Rob. 322. The Lord. Nelson, Edw. 79. L’Esperance, 1 Dodson, 49. The Blendenhall, 1 Dodson, 421. Barrels of Flour v. Prior, 1 Gallis. 133.
    
    
      
      
         The Blaireau, 2 Cranch, 240
    
   Mr. Justice Johnson

delivered the opinion of the Court.

This vessel was stranded on Block Island, in an alleged effort to reach a port of the United States. The vessel and cargo have been seized by the Collector of Newport, for supposed violations of the trade laws of this country, and an information was accordingly filed, to subject the whole to condemnation, in the District Court, for Rhode. Island District.

This claim of the United States has been opposed by three classes of competitors. The vessel and cargo, it . appears, are Spanish property, and were captured on the south western coast of Cuba, by the Puyerredon, a private armed brig, bearing the Hag of the. Buenos Ayrean Republic, and commandédby Captain James Barnes. Being armed, and well calculated for a privateer, she was manned with a complement of the privateer’s men, about thirty in number, and her original commander, and all except four of the Spanish crew, removed. Thus equipped, it appears that she cruised, as a tender to the Puyerredon, for about two months, during which time another Spaniard was added to her crew, and on the 8th May, w,hen in lat. 32 30, N. and long. 74, from London, the crew rose upon the officers, subdued them, put them on board the first vessel they met with, and steered their course for this continent.

Thus circumstanced, Capt. Barnes has libelled in behalf of the captors, the Spanish Vice Consul in behalf of the original Spanish owners* and the crew of the Bello Corrünes have libelled for a compensation by way of salvage, to which they suppose themselves entitled, in the event of restitution being decreed to the original owners.

To these several claims it is objected on behalf of the United States, that restitution cannot be decreed to the Spanish Vice Consul, because he is not in-that capacity a competent party in Court to assert the rights of individual subjects; nor, in favour of the captors, because the privateer was originally fitted out in the United States, and is still owned by American citizens; nor, in favour of the salvors, because they have forfeited their claim to salvage by spoliation, and an attempt to smuggle.

A foreign consul has a right toclaimorlibol, in rem, where the rights of property of his fellow subjects are in question, without any special authority from those for whose bene fit he acts.

As these suggestions open the whole case, it shall be disposed of by considering them severally in their order, only remarking en passant, that though they were all. sustained, it would avail the United States nothing 5 since, without evidence sufficient to. sustain the criminal charge, it would only follow that the proceeds of the property libelled, must lie in the registry of the Court, until a proper claimant shall make his appearance.

On the first point made by the Attorney General, this Court feels no difficulty in deciding, that a Vice Consul duly recognised by our Government, is a competent party to assert or defend the rights of property of the individuals of his nation, in any Court having jurisdiction of causes affected by the application of international law. To watch over the rights and interests of 'heirsubjects, wherevertho pursuits of commerce may draw them, or the vicissitudes of human affairs may force them, is the great object for which Consuls are deputed by their sovereigns ; and in a country where laws govern, and justice is sought for in Courts only, it would be a mockery to preclude them from the only avenue through which their course lies to the end óf their mission. The long and universal usage of the Courts of the United States, has sanctioned the exercise of this right, and it is impossible that any evil or inconvenience can flow from it. Whether the powers of the Vice Consul shall in any instance extend to the right to receive in his national character, the proceeds of property libelled and transferred into the registry of a Court, is a question rest~ ing on other principles. In the absence of specific powers given him by competent authority, such a right would certainly not be recognised. Much, in this respect, must ever depend upon the laws of the country from which, and to which, he is deputed. And this view of the subject will be found to reconcile the difficulties supposed to have been presented by the authorities quoted on this point. Considering, then, the original Spanish interest as legally represented, the questions are, whether that interest is not f~rfeited to the United States, or superseded by the superior claims of the capturing vessel.

But he cannot 1eceiye actual restitution with. out a special procuralion from the parties interested.

A Citizen of the (7. States cannot claim, in their Courtz, the property of foreign nations in amity with the Ti. S.,cap. tured by him us war, wheresoc.. ver the capturing vessel may have been equipped, or by whomsoever COmmis8ioned.

This is not the ordinary case of a capture made under the, taint of an illegal outfit. The decision of this Court must rest upon a very different principle. In those cases, the national character of the claim.. ant is immaterial. He has violated the neutrality of this country, and cannot shelter himself under his commission, or his allegiance, however unquestionable his right, individual or national, would have been otherwise. But can a citizen of this country, whb has violated its laws, ever be recogni-sed in our Courts as a legal ëlaimant of the fruits of his own wrong ? We are of opinion he c~nnot, and it therefore becomes material to determine what~ is the national character of the claimants, under the capture made by the Puyerredon.

At the time of this vessel's first sailing from Bat-timore, she was unquestionably American owned and commanded. During the time of her cruising under the name of the Mangoree, it is not pretended that she changed owners. The legality of her conduct at that period has been defended altogether on the ground of her taking the flag of Buenos Ayres, being commissioned in a foreign state, and.her commander, Barnes, assuming the character of a citizen of the power that had commissioned him. It is not until her arrival at Buenos Ayres, in 1817, that any change of property in the vessel has been set up in proof. At that time, it is contended, she was set up at auction, and changed owners, passing into the hands of a Mr. Higginbotham, a citizen of the United States, married and domiciled at Buenos Ayres.

If this fact had been satisfactorily made out. in evidence, it would have drawn this Court into the consideration of some questions of great nicety, which have never yet received a solemn adjudication in this Court. But the evidence to support this pretended change of property is so wholly unsatisfactory, that the Court rejects it; for, the ordinary solemnities of such transfers are too well known, to admit the belief that in this instance, the change of property, had it been real, would not have been effected or commemorated by written documents. .

This Court, then, proceeds upon the assumption that the Puyerredon is still, in reality, American owned, and they are also of opinion, that she must be held to be American commanded ; since, even if the doctrine could be admitted, that a man’s aller giance may be put off with his coat, it is very cleaf that Mr. Barnes’ citizenship is altogether in fraud of the laws of his own country. His family has never been removed from Baltimore, and his home has been always either there, or upon the ocean.

The question then is, whether thus circumstanced, the claim in behalf of the owners and mariners of the Puyerredon, can be sustained.

We are decidedly of opinion it cannot.

By the 2d section of the 14th article of the treaty with Spain, “ Citizens, subjects or inhabitants” of the United States, are strictly prohibited from taking “ any commission or letter of marque, for arming any ship or vessel, to act as privateers against the subjects of his Catholic Majesty, or the property of any of them, from any Prince or State with which the said King shall be at war.” And it is further provided, “ that if any person of either nation shall take such commissions or letters of marque, he shall be punished as a pirate!”

Whatever difficulties there may exist under the free institutions of this country, in giving full efficacy to the provisions of this treaty, by punishing such aggressions as acts of piracy, it is not to be questioned that they are prohibited acts, and intended to be stamped with the character of piracy: and to permit the persons engaged in the open prosecution of such a course of conduct, to appear, and claim of this Court, the prizes they have seized, would be to countenance a palpable infraction of a rule, of conduct, .declared to be the supreme law of the land.

: Some doubts have been suggested on the use of the words. “ State at war” with-Spain. This Court would not readily lean to favour a restricted construction of language, as applied to the proiisions of a treaty, which always combines the characteristics of a contract, as well as a law: but it is not necessary to examine the grounds of these doubts, as applied to the present case; because this treaty has been enforced by the provisions of the act of Congress of the 14th June, 1797, ~o as to leave no doubt of its extension to the case of cruising against Spain, under a commission from the new states formed in her colonies.

In case of an illegal capture, in violation of the neutrality of this country, the property of the lawful owners cannot be forfeited for a breach of its revenue laws, by the captors, or persons who have rescued the property from their pot. session.

• Citizens of the United States, •therefore, present themselves to this Court to demand restituti~n of a prize which they had made in violation of the most solemn stipulations of a treaty, and provisions of a law of their own country, and of which they have been dispossessed by their own associates in guilt. Under such circumstances, this Court cannot hesitate to reject the claim, and adjudge the property to the original proprietors.

This view of the subject obviates the necessity of examining the reality and effect of the alleged r,es-cue on behalf of the origitial owners, with a view to the question of restitution; but it still becomes necessary, with a view to the question of forfeiture, and th~ merit of the alleged salvors. With regard to the former, it is very, clear, that supposing the rescue to have been real and compleat, the Spanish `consul ought not to be precluded from his election, whether to put his claim upon the ground, that the interest of those wh~m he represents was nevei legally devested, or that it was afterwards legally recovered, In the' one case, there is no ground for affecting it with the forfeiture, because of the conduct of the crew; and in the other, some question may be made,-how far the property was affected by the illegal acts of those who, at that time, held in the'rightof the owners. - But even in this latter view of the state `of the . property, we are of opinion, that the forfeitnre~ was `not incurred; since, although it be supposed, that the property was in' custody of those who held for the Spanish owners, it was `not held by those~to' whom the Spanish owr~ers had entrusted. the' ~vessèl and cargo. And' this is the only ground upoii'which the acts of the ship's company are `made to. produce forfeitures. ~f the interest of `shippers or `ship `owners. For,' besides the considerations drawn from the great predominance of the force detached' from the privateer, in the effort to recapture, `the few- men of her own crew, were gratuitous actors. Their contract with the owners had cea~ecl, an4 they assumed the character of voluntary agents, `-whose conduct the owners might or might notadopt, according tothèir own views or interests.

The ights of salvage may be forfeited by the• misconduct cd the salvors.

As to the claims of the salvors, it may be remarked, that maritime Courts always approach them with great• benignity and favour. Yet, in proportion to the inclination to favour where there is merit, is the indignation with which they. view every indicatioi~ of a disp9sition, to take advantage of the unfortunate. Spóliation, and even gross neglect, may forfeit all the pretensions of salvors to compensation.

In the case before us, it is not too much to pronounce the claim of those. of the crew of the Puy- erredon who libel for salvage, to be not only groundless but impudent; for, besides spoliation, smuggling, and the grossest irregularities, it is perfectly clear, from the pilot’s evidence, that they run the vessel on shore purposely. So, that whatever may have been the reality of their benevolent designs towards the Spanish owners originally, their subsequent conduct not only casts a doubt over their candour, but devests them of all pretensions to compensation.

Nor do the .five Spaniards who composed a part of ihe crew of the Bello Corrunes, at the time she was stranded, and who were not of the capturing crew, escape being involved in the suspicions which fasten on their associates.

It is a melancholy truth, too well known to this Court, that the instruments used in the predatory voyages carried on under the colours of the South American States, are among the most abandoned and profligate of men. Under the influence of strong interests or fears, the mind of man too often yields, even where the moral sense still exerts its influence; but hold out to one of these practised adventurers in a course of plunder, the hope of gain on the one hand, and the fear of imprisonment for piracy on the other, and what are the chances for truth !

That these men were selected from the Spanish crew to associate with those of the capturing vessel, is a circumstance not very favourable to their characters and conduct, and it would require some strong evidence of their innocence to remove from.them the suspicion of a voluntary association with the enemies of their King. Joining in, or even setting on foot or promoting the recapture, (facts which rest wholly on their own veracity,) can prove very little in their favour, since such mutinies are become everyday occurrences whenever such a crew find themselves in possession of a valuable cargo. Nor will the inference in their favour be very strong from their resorting ,to the Consul of their country, since it was the only course which held' out a chance of gain, or of escape from the imputation both of piracy and smuggling.. There is no evidence to separate their conduct from a compleat identification with the rest of the crew, except what is obtained from their own testimony. Yet it is suggested, that they may still make theirinnocence and merits to appear; and as the parties have signified their consent that the case may be opened in the Court below as to this class of salvors, the case will be remanded to the Circuit Court, for further proceedings, so far as the claim for salvage is concerned.

Decree accordingly.

Decree. This cause came on to be heard on the transcript of the record of the Circuit Court for the District, of Rhode Island, and was argued by counsel: on consideration whereof, it is ordered and decreed, that the Decree of the said Circuit Court in this case be, and the same is hereby affirmed, with costs, against Barnes and others, except so far as relates to the libel for salvage of Emanuel Rodriguez, Emanuel Josef, Emanuel Barbaras, Antonio Josef, and Josef Isnages, who formed no part of the crew of the private armed brig Puyerredon: , 1 „ , , and as. to so much of the said Decree as relates to the said libellants Emanuel Rodrigues and others, js further pecreed and ordered, by consent of parties, by their counsel, that the Decree of the said Circuit Court be, and the same is hereby reversed and annulled. And it is further ordered, that the said cause be remanded to the said Circuit Court for farther inquiry. And that the proceeds of the said Bello Corrunes and cargo lie in the Registry of the said Circuit Court, to be paid over, under the order of that Court, to the Spanish owners, as interest shall be made to appear. 
      
      
         The Two Friends, 1 Rob. 281.