Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-08-09
INTERESTING OFFICIAL PAPER.

! INTERESTING OFFICIAL PAPER.
J. Al this moment, the following official
! Letter, defining the duty OF our Revenue
i officers in regard to the European Belli.
gerents, will be read with great interest !:
Circular to the Collectors Of Customs.
Treasury DEPARTMENT.,
3Uih July, 1923
SIR: Az il is probable that, in the Fro
gress OF The War which now exists be.
! tween France and Spain, the public and
/ private armed vessels OF one, and perhaps
Of both belIigerenls, may, by stress OF
weather, pursuit Of enemies, or some 9TH
er urgen, necessity. be forced 10 enter the
ports and harbors of the United States,
it becomes The duty of the Government 10
prescribe The manner in which they shall
be treated whilst they remain within lis
Jurisdiction.
As there exists upon this subject, no
! legislative enactment, the question must
be decided by the conventional engage
menls which the United States have con-
tracted with The beiligerent parties.
! BY The 9th article Of the Treaty be-
tween the United States and Spain, it is
provided that the public aud private ves-
sells Of SPAN, when forced by stress Of
weather, pursuit OF enemies, or any other
urgent necessity, to seek shelter or barber,
may enter into any OF The rivers, bays,
roads, OF ports, belonging TO the United
States, and shall be received with all hu-
manly, and enjoy all favor, protection
and help, and be permitted to refresh and
provide themselves, at reasonable rates,
with provisions and all things needtul tor
the subsistence OF their persons or repa-
ration Of their ships and prosecution OF their
voyage and they shall be no way binder
ed from departing from the said ports or
roads, but may remove and depart when
and whittier they please, without any let
or h"drance
With France. the United States have
no treaty stipulations upon the subject -
The obligations otneulraity, however, I'M.
pose upon them The observance OF the
same course OF conduct towards both bel
ligerents, unless Spain has right, by trea-
ty, TO exclusive privileges. A reference
to the provisions Of the 9Th article ct the
treaty above reciled, proves that 40 ex.
elusive privileges have beengranted 10 her.
1t becomes, then the duty OF the U States
10 treat the public and private armed yes.
sells of both parties in the same manner,
Assuming the provisions of the article
referred to, as the rule by which the con.
! due. Of the United States is To he regula-
ted, am instructed by the President 10
! direct -
LIST That the public and private armed
vessels Of France and Spain, with their
prizes, may, under the circumstances ces-
cribed in the said article. enter the ports,
harbors, and waters, OF the United States,
and repair any damages which they may
have sustained; but no increase OF arms
or munitions OF war, or OF the number ot
men on board, can be lawfully made.
Cd. That su.h prizes cannot be con-
demned or sold within The jurisdiction OF
the United States, and, consequently, can.
not be admitted 10 entry at the custom
house, nor permitted 10 enter Iato the
| general consumption.
3 That they may, at aoy time, depart
| FROM the United States, without let o. hin.
/ drance.
4lh. That, when prize vessels have
been wrecked. or so disabled as not 10 be
rendered seaworlby, their cargoes may be
re.shipped in any other vessel which shall
not enjoy All exemption from capture. not
enjoyed By such prize vessels. For ex-
ample: it France, in the progress OF the
war, shall conform to the rule that free
vessels make free goods, The cargoes of
vessels captured by either belligerent,
when resbipped in neutral vessels, will en-.
joy an exemption from capture which The
prize vessel did not enjoy.
8. During the time that prize vessels
may remain in the ports Of the United
States, they shall be subject to such in
spection, and such superintendent, by
the custom-bouse officers, as may be ne
cessary to prevent struggling of any kind
The same rules are TO be observed
in relation to the public and Private arm.
ed vessels OF Spain and of the lndepen-
dent governments established in Spanish
America, and their prizes. when bruugh,
within the Jurisdiction OF the United
States
lTemain. With respect, your ooedient
servant, WIN. II. CRAWFORD.