The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-01-23
MESSAGE

MESSAGE
From the prefdent of the United States, re-
fpeding the APPLICATION of HAMET CA
RAMALLr, Ex-Baihaw of Tripoli.
Referred to Mr.. Jefeph Clay, Mr.. John c.
Smith, Mr.. Roger Mellon, Mr.. Crownnihield,
Mr.. Garnett, Mr. Fix, and Mr.. Dxfon.
70 the Sernte. and Hogft erReprsentnti4,es of tbe
United States.
! lay before Congrefs the application of Hamet
Carama, elder brother of the reignins hafhaw
of Tripoli, foiciting from the United States, at
teution ts his fcrvices and fnfferings in the late
war aYainit that fate: and in order to pofIcfs
them Of the ground on which that application
HaDds, the facts hall be ftated according to the
N..ws and information of the executive,
During the war with Tripoli, it WAS ftIggeft-
ell that Hamet Caramalli, elder brother of the
reignng hafhaw, and driven by him from his
throne, meditated the recovery of his inherit
ance, and that concert i'm action with US was
dcfirabIe to him. We confidered that concert
cd operations by thofc who have common e.
nemy were entirely jultifahe, and might pro-
duce effects favourable to both, without binding
either to guarantee the Objects of the other.
But the diftance of the fcene, the difficulties of
communication, and the uncertainty of our in
formation, inducing the lefs confidence in the
neafure, it was committed to our agents as one
which might he reiorted to if it promiied to
promote Our fuccefs.
Mr.. Eaton, however, our late coaful, ON his
return from the Mediterranean, poiIeifing per-
fOnal knowledge of the fcene, and having con-
fdence in the eHett of joint operation, we
authorized commodore Barron, then procee ling
With his fquadron, 70 enter into an understand
ing with Hamet, if he (hould deem it ufeful /:
and as it was reprefented that he would need
fomt aids of arms and ammunition, and even of
morsy, he was authorized to furniih them to
moderate extent, according to the profpeGt of
utility TO be expected from it. IN order to avail
him of the advantages of Mr.. Eaton's know
Ledge oT circumstances, an vocational employ
nient was provided for the latter as an agent for
TIE navy in that fea. Our expectation was,
tina. an intercourse fhou!d be kept up between
Lie ex-hafhaw and the commodore that while
{ former moved on by land, our fuuadron
flrulh proceed with equal pace, 70 as to arrive
at their defamation together, and to attack the
co rmon enemy by land and fea AT the fame
time. Theinfrnttions of June 9th, to commo-
dore Barron, Thew that cooperation only was
intended, and by no means an union of our OBJ.
jeGf with the fortune of the ex-hafl,aw; and
the commedore's letters of March %, and Nav
i9, prove that he had the mott correct idea of
our Intentions. His verbal infruGfons, indeed,
to Mr.. Eaton and captain Hull, If the exprefTi.
Ons are accurately committed to writing by
thofe gentlemen, do not limit the extent of his
cooperation as rigerouny as he probably in
tended; but it is certain from the ex-bafhaw's
letter OF January 3, written when he was pro-
ceeding to join Mr.. Eaton, and in which he
fays, "your operations fhould be carried on by
fea, mine by land" that he left the petition in
which he was, with proper idea of the nature
of the cooperation. IF MIR. Eaton's fubfe-
quent convention fhould appear to bring for.
ward other objects, his letter of April 90, and
May !, views this convention but as proyifion-
al, the cd article, as he expressly fates, guard
ing 1T aeainit any i'll effect, and his letter of June
80 confirms this contribution. In the event it
was found, that, after placing the ex-bafnaw in
pollr!lion of Derne, one of the mott important
cities and provinces of the country, where he
had retided himfelf as governor, he was totally
unable to command any refources, or to bear
any part in cooperation with us. This hope
was then at an end aud we certainly had never
contemplated, nor were we prepared to land an
army of our own, or to rafe, pay or fub6ft an
army of Arabs, to march from Derne to Tripo-
il, and to carry on land war, at fllch diftance
from our refOurces. Our means and ocr au-
thority were merely naval and that fuch were
tie expectations of Hamet, his letter of June
20 is An uneq vocal acknowledgment. While,
therefore, an impreilion from the capture of
Derne might fill operate at TriDoli, and an at
ia TX on that place from our fquadron was daily
expected, colonel Lear thought it the bef mo-
ment to linen to overturcs of peace then made
by the baihaw. lie did 70, and while urcing
provilions for the United States he paid atten.
ton ALTO to the interefs of Hamet but was A.
bic to effect nothing more than to engage tine
refitution Of his family, and even the perfeyer-
ing in this demand fUfpended for fome time the
concluiiop of this treaty.
In operations at fuch dift7uce IL becomes
DcceHary to leave much to- the difcretion of the
agents employed but events may fiil turn ND
beyond the limits of that dHcretion. Unable
in fuch cafe to confult his government, zea.
lous citizen will aet as he believes that would
diiett him were it apprifed of the circumitan-
ces, ADD will take on himfelf the Responsibility.
In all ttefe cafes, the purity and patriotiffn of
the motives mould fhield the agent from blame,
and even fechre a fan6tion where the error is not
too injurious. Should it he thought by anv
that the verbal infru6lions faid TO have been
given by commodore Barron 10 Mr.. Eaton, A.
mount TO z fpslation that the United States
lIuuld place Hamct Caramalli on the throne Of
Trpo; liquidation 70 entirely unauthorized,
70 far beyond our views, and ~ onerous, could
not be fartlioned by our government; or 0lould
ii ,met Caramalli, contrary 10 the evidence Of
biz letters Of zachary and June 29, be thought
a Il. 80. 4. A. L