The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-10
cDol,,s0tlr.
coN1REssIoNAL DOCUMENTS
MEMORIAL

From sunday Americans at ChrStiansend July
-, 1909. To his exceilency James Madison,
President Of the United States of North Amer.
ica-thc memorial of the undersigned Cap.
tans and Supercarsoes, citizens Of the United
States
Respectfully shevreth
That in the prosecution ofour
several voyages, undertaken with the sanction of
our government, and consequently, Gas We are
bound to believe1 not only conformable to its
laws, but also fair and legal, they respect the
treaties existing between the United States and
Denmark--and although we had severay attach
ed TO our ships all those official documents re-
qalred by our laws, and were, at the time of our
sailing from the United States issued by the sew.
era collectors, and other equally constituted au-
thoritieS for the purpose of provirr the national
character OF our vessels and carsoes; That new.
erthcless we have been (whilst alike uns. spici-
Gus OF insult or injury, and unprersred to resist
either) forcibly intercepted in the prosecution of
our voyages, and by the privateers of Norway,
acting under the commissions OF his majesty, the
king, to the great injury of the citizens of the u
States whose property we represent, aud in VIC.
lation OF those rights due to neutras in general
but more especially 10 us, whose government u
hlformly has respected with the most sacred 81
deity, the rights of others.
Your memorialists beg leave 10 call your excel
lencys attention to the annexed list, by which
you wii observe That vessels,
with cargocs to the amount of
dollars, exclusive offreight and charges, have
been detained here, some near'y three months
tie others less, as will appear by the annexed
iist-and that sc era! have been condemned un-
der pretexts the most degrading To our national
flag and character, and apparently tie most
destitute either Of reason or justce----As irdi-
Niduals, we have received a degree Of inciyIty
the more distressing, as We have seen the captain
Ola vessel, bearing the English flag, an avowed
enemy OF the country when captured and brought
inhere, meet with treatment III every respect
different, and even respectful. In some cases
where the most trfing inaccuracy could not be
found in our ships papers, we found them when
cut OF our possession mutilated and delaced In
some instances, people have been tempted
with brides, and threatened with punishments to
induce u'eir giving false evidence against our
property.
In those cases which have been adiudicated
all the proceedings are in the Danish Language,
with which your memorialsts are ur- cQuuinted !;
and we have been Invariably refused, either a CO.
ny ofthose proceedings generally, or even of the
Particular charges against until what they
call the trial, was over, and the Judgment pas
sed, by which the property Of the citizens of the
United States was condemned II is not the
least Of our present misortunes, that in addition to
the detention and condemnation of our property,
Our several crews are thrown upon us for SUD.
port, without any other provision for them by
this government, than that Of their entering into
its service, on board OF their national gun boats
or privateers, at the same time that cur ships
provisions are in almost many cases, and in O.
theirs, altogether exhausted, and the impoyersh.
ed state OF the country such, that supply for
the approaching winter, is at least precarious if
not absolutely understandable.
Your memorialists beg leave to lament, that
in the kingdom of Norway, the United States
have not either consul or commercial agent, TO
whom, IN circumstances so novel, unprecedcnt-
ed and distressing, we could apply, either for
pecuniary aid, advice or protection, and that our
distance from Copenhagen is great, and the
communication in consequence of the war with
Sweden and England, precarious ard un-
certain, that Mr. Saabye, consul at that court
has it not III his power, even If he were disposed
TO render that aid which We require under
these circumstances and because Mr. Saabve,
although well appraised of our situation, has not
taken those steps which were certainly in his
power to alleviate them.
We have thought it our duty, and for our in.
terest to solicit the friendship and protection of
Peter Isascsen, Esq of this place, and to which
he has generously acceded in consequence of
which, we have appointed him, by an instrument,
copy Of which is annexed, agent for the United
States IN this place unit. your e1cellency's plea
sure is known and we Canaot omit this oppor-
tunity Of recommending this gentleman as pro.
Tossing That honor and talent, integrity and indie
peDdence- bctb Of sentiment and fortune, which
in a distinguished manner qualities him for your
-exceiiency's appointment as cOMsU for the United
States, in the king dom of Norway.
Your mcmorialsts have further To represent
that the apparent cause of breach Of hospitality
and faith ON the part OF tue court of Denmark
of WHICH we noW cOnplsin, is assigned by those
constituted p0yyers with whom they have had an
opportunity Vi conversing, to circumstances which
your memOriaiSts aie fearful are too true, namely
that many ofuur citizens have, especially during
eighteen months last past, been engaged in a
commerce, violating alike tie laws of the United
States, aud those OF the beiligerents, and which
has been carried on under false papers procured
in England, aud under the magi: OF the American
flag. Of the truth OF which allegation, your
memoriaiisis have 10 their sorrow, seen one proof
an the Of The ship Ro'Dulns, of Boston, which
was brought into this port and very properly
condemned in lsst May. 1t is further ailudged,
and we think it not improbable, thu. l4ucrly the
Engiish have built their ships as much as posi-.
he to resemble the Americans, and with them
have been ca Iyiug OH ~ extensive trade, espe-
Uially to AYchansCl and the Baltic, under the A.
Inerican flag, and win American papers of En-.
giish manufacture. How far these unwarranta-
HE frauds may Lase been practised and bow they
IN future TO be prevented, will doubtless en-
gross your exceIlenCy's attention, and the more
especially, as this is made ground ofsuspicion,
operating against all American vessels, and on
the strength Of which I've are led 10 bclicve)
those condcrnnations which have tS>cn place
here, ave almost cxClusiyely founded.
Your memoriaksts further represent, that all
Tie ports from Bayonnc to the Weger, Gas we
uGder5tand) are IN state Of the most rigorous
blockade, from which your memorisiists infer
that as the activity ofthe privateers here evident
IL cncreases with the growing extent Of their