The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-07-07
aDolueatic.
WASHINGTON, July 2.
BY THOMAS JEFFERSON,

iNIs'DENi ot THE U. STAES OF AMERICA,
n CLAM.fTTON.
DURING the wars which, for fome time,
have unhapPi!y prevailed among the powers of
Europe, the United States of America, firm in
their principles of peace, have ;endeavoure,i
by Jnsice, By regular difcharge of all their
national and focal duties, and by every friend
W office their htuation has admitted, to main.
tam, with all the belligerente, their accuftomcd
relations OF frendihip, hospitality, and COM
mercial Intercourie. Taking no part in the
queftions which animate theie powers againft
each other, nor permitting themfeIves to en-
terrain with but for the reftoration of general
peace, they have o5terved with good faith the
neutrality they afumed, and they believe that
no initance OF departure from its duties can
be jnltly imputed to them by any nation.
free NE OF their harbours and waters, the meaus
OF retittng and of refrefhment, of fuccour TO
their tick and fufferng, have, at all times, and
on equal principles, Been extended to all, and
TINS TOO amidtt cortant recurrence of acts OF
IInfuoordnation 70 the laws, Of violence 20 the
perions, and of trefpafes on the property OF
our citizens, committed by officers of one OF
the belligerent PARTIES received among us. III
truth, the!e atutts OF the laws of honitalitv have
with few exceptions, become habi;uaI to
the commanders of the Britifl armed vefi;.ls
lowering on our COATS, and frequenting our
harbours. They have been the fiihieta of re d.
peated approximations to their government -
Ahurances havTtecn given that proper orders
saouid refrain them within the limit OF the
rights and Of The reipeG due to Il friendly ma
ton: but thofe orders and anurancey have
been without effect; no inftance Of puniihneui
tor Patt wrongs has taken place. At length, A
deed, tranlcendiug all we have hitherto Csrn or
iutteTed, brings the public fenGbility to q
ferrous criiis, aud our forbearance to ;. necer-
fafy Pauie. a friea'c Of the UniIed States
truhing to fate of peace, and leaving her har.
bour on a difsnt fervice, has been fsrpriG,d
and attacked by BJitih vcifel of Tupe,ior force.
enc of iquadron then lying in our waters and
coveriRg the tlanfatiion, and has been diiahled
from fervice, with the loff Of number of men
killed and wounded. This eDormity was nor
| only without proyocatioH or juHihabe cau1e.
but WAS committed with the ayowed purpofe
of taking by force, from a fhip of war OF the u.
nited States, part Of her crew, and that no
circuntance might he wanting to mark its
| character, IT had been previOuily afcertained
that The feanlsn demanded were native citizens
OF the United States. Having efested his pu
! pole, he returned 70 anchor with his fouadron
within our jUriIdi6ion. llofpitaity mn, er fuch
cmCumitarCes ceales 10 be duty and con.
tinuahce OF ~, With fuch uncontrolled abufrs
would tend only by multiplying injuries aud ir.
TItatlons, to bring on a rupture Between the
two nations. This extreme reGort is equally
cpPofrd 10 the inte,ets of both, as it is TO AZ
furnaces of the mof friendly dhpohiious on lht
part OF the Britlih government, in the m,dR o
which this outrage has been committed. lr
tins light the iuhJea cannon but prCient itiel
toIhat government, and Rtepgjl!en the motive,
to an honorable rspaiation of the wrong wi icl
has been done, aud to that efeetual control OF
ITS naval commanders, which alone can iuAify
the government Of the Uuiied States in The ex
erciic OF thofe hoipitaIltits IT is nov conRran
cd 10 difcon,inue.
in confederation Of thefc circumstances anc
OF the right OF every nation to regulate its owr
police, 10 provide for its p a,e and for the afe
ty OF its citizens, and conf qutnty to refule tb
admliion Of armed vefIes lhtO it's harbors o
: waters, either IN fuch numbers or OF fuch DEF
crIptioHs, as are irconGGent with tbeie, or will
: tie maintenance Of the authority OF the laws
nave thought proper ~ poriuance of the AZ
Z ,horinss ipecially given by law TO iiIue this m
! PROCLAMATIQH, hereby requiring all arm