Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 11.djvu/804

 759 APPENDIX. PROCLAMATION. No. 11. of their harbors and waters, the means of refifting and of refresnment, of succor to their sick and suffering, have, at all times, and on equal principles, bcenextended to all, and this too, amidst a constant recurrence of acts ot msubordmation to the laws, of violence to the persons, and of tresplasses on thelproperty of our citizens, committed by, officers of one of the beugerent parties received among us. In truth, these abuses of the laws of hospitalityhave, with few exceptions, become habitual to the commanders of the British armed vessels hovering on our coasts, and frequentinc our harbors. They have been the subject of repeated representations to dieir government.Assurances have been given that proper orders should restrain them withm the limit of the rights and of the res act due to a friendly nation ; but those orders and assurances have been without eifect; no instance of punishment for past wrongs has taken lace; at length a deed, transcending all we have hitherto seen or suffered, brings the public sensibility to a serious crisis, and our forbearance to a necessary pause. A frigate of the United States, trusting to a state of peace, and leaving her harbor 0n a distant service, has been surprised and attacked by a British vessel of superior force, one of a squadron then lying in our waters and covering the transaction, and has been disabled from service, with the loss of a number of men killed and wounded. This enormity was not only without provocation or justifiable cause, but was committed with the avowed purpose of taking by force, from a ship of war of the United States, a part of her crew; and that no circumstance might be wanting to mark its character, it had been reviously ascertained that the seamen demanded were native citizens of the Ulnibed States. Having effected her urpose, she returned to anchor with her squadron Within our urisdiction. Hgspitality, under such circumstances, ceases to be a dnt ; and a continuance of it, with such uncontrolled abuses, would tend only, by multiplying injuries and irritations, to bring on a rupture between the two nations. This extreme resort is equally opposed to the interests of both, as it is to assurances of the most friendly dispositions on the part of the British government, in the midst of which this outrage has been committed. In this light, the subject cannot but present itself to that government, and strengthen the motives to an honorable reparation of the wron which has _ been done, and to that effectual control of its naval commanders, whims: alone can justify the government of the United States in the exercise of those hospitalities it is now constrained to discontinue. In consideration of these circumstances, and of the right of every nation to regulate its own police, to provide for its peace and for the safety of its citizens, and conse uently to refuse the admission of armed vessels into its harbors or waters, either in such numbers, or of such descriptions, as are inconsistent with these, or with the maintenance of the authority of the laws, I have thought roper, in pursuance of the authorities specially given by law, to issue this my British armed groclamation, hereby requiring all armed vessels bearing commissions under the
 * °*;*°l$ '€g;l'°d government of Great Britain, now within the harbors or waters of the United

`gnégzf the tatcs, immediately, and without any delay, to depart from the same, and inter- Uumd Sum dieting the entrance of all the said harbors and waters to the said armed vessels, and to all others bearing commissions under the authority of the British government. Citizens {0,-- And if the said vessels, or any of them, shall fail to depart as aforesaid, or if bjdden to afford they or any others, so interiicted, shall hereafter enter the harbors or waters 3*m;s‘;“l_’g£°§ aforesaid, I do in that case forbid all intercourse with them, or any of them, ing or hem,;;?' their officers or crews, and do prohibit all supplies and aid from being furnished M-dying to them or any of them. penalties of And I do declare and make known, that if any person from, or within the the law threat- jurisdictional limits of the United States, shall afford any aid. to any such vessel, ¤n¤<r contrary to the prohibition contained in this proclamation, either in repairing any such vessel, or in furnishing her, her oflsicers or crew, with supplies of any kind, or in any manner whatsoever; or if any pilot shall assist in navigating any of the said armed vessels, unless it be for the p1u·pose of carrying them, in the first instance, beyond the limits and jurisdiction of the United States, or unless it be in the case of a vessel forced by distress, or charged with public despatches as hereinafter provided for, such person or persons shall, on conviction, suffer all the pains and penalties by the laws provided for such offences. And I do hereby en'oin and require all persons bearing office, civil or military, within or under tlie authority of the United States, and all others, citizens or inhabitants thereoti or being within the same, with vigilance andspromptitude, to exert their respective authorities, and to be aidin and assisting to the carry- ing this proclamation, and every part thereot into fhll effect.