During the wars which, for some time, have unhappily prevailed
among the powers of Europe, the United States of America, firm
in their principles of peace, have endeavored, by justice, by
a regular discharge of all their national and social duties,
and by every friendly office their situation has admitted, to
maintain with all the belligerents their accustomed relations
of friendship, hospitality, and commercial intercourse. Taking
no part in the questions which animate these powers against
each other, nor permitting themselves to entertain a wish
but for the restoration of general peace, they have observed
with good faith the neutrality they assumed; and they believe
that no instance of a departure from its duties can be justly
imputed to them by any nation. A free use of their harbors and
waters, the means of refitting and of refreshment, of succor
to their sick and suffering, have, at all times, and on equal
principles, been extended to all, and this, too, amidst a
constant recurrence of acts of insubordination to the laws, of
violence to the persons, and of trespasses on the property of
our citizens, committed by officers of one of the belligerent
parties received among us. In truth, these abuses of the laws
of hospitality have, with few exceptions, become habitual to
the commanders of the British armed vessels hovering on our
coasts, and frequenting our harbors. They have been the subject
of repeated representations to their Government. Assurances
have been given that proper orders should restrain them within
the limits of the rights and of the respect due to a friendly
nation; but these orders and assurances have been without
effect; no instance of punishment for past wrongs has taken
place. 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 on a distant service, has been surprised and attacked
by a British vessel of a 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 previously
ascertained that the seamen demanded were native citizens of
the United States. Having effected her purpose she returned to
anchor with her squadron within our jurisdiction. Hospitality
under such circumstances ceases to be a duty; 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
wrong which has been done, and to that effectual control of its
naval commanders, which 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 consequently
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 proper, in pursuance
of the authorities specially given by law, to issue this my
Proclamation, hereby requiring all armed vessels bearing
commissions under the Government of Great Britain, now within
the harbors or waters of the United States, immediately and
without any delay to depart from the same, and interdicting
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.
And if the said vessels, or any of them, shall fail to depart
as aforesaid, or if they or any others, so interdicted, shall
hereafter enter the harbors or waters aforesaid, I do in that
case forbid all intercourse with them, or any of them, their
officers or crews, and do prohibit all supplies and aid from
being furnished to them or any of them.
And I do declare, and make known, that if any person from or
within the jurisdictional limits of the United States, shall
afford any aid to any such vessel, contrary to the prohibition
contained in this Proclamation, either in repairing any such
vessel, or in furnishing her, her officers 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 purpose 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 enjoin and require all persons bearing office,
civil or military, within or under the authority of the United
States, and all others, citizens or inhabitants thereof, or
being within the same, with vigilance and promptitude to exert
their respective authorities, and to be aiding and assisting to
the carrying this Proclamation, and every part thereof, into
full effect.
Provided, nevertheless, that if any such vessel shall be forced
into the harbors or waters of the United States, by distress,
by the dangers of the sea, or by the pursuit of an enemy, or
shall enter them charged with despatches or business from their
Government, or shall be a public packet for the conveyance of
letters and despatches, the commanding officer immediately
reporting his vessel to the collector of the district, stating
the object or cause of entering the said harbors or waters, and
conforming himself to the regulations in that case prescribed
under the authority of the laws, shall be allowed the benefit
of such regulations respecting repairs, supplies, stay,
intercourse, and departure, as shall be permitted under the
same authority.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed to these presents, and signed the same.
Given at the City of Washington the second day of July, in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven, and
of the sovereignty and independence of the United States the
thirty-first.