The letter of the 27th instant, with which you have honored me, has
been laid before the President, and that part of it which contains your
observations on this subject has been particularly attended to. The
respect due to whatever comes from you, friendship for the French
nation, and justice to all, have induced him to re-examine the subject,
and particularly to give your representations thereon the consideration
they deservedly claim. After fully weighing again, however, all the
principles and circumstances of the case, the result appears still to
be, that it is the right of every nation to prohibit acts of sovereignty
from being exercised by any other within its limits; and the duty of
a neutral nation to prohibit such as would injure one of the warring
powers; that the granting military commissions within the United States
by any other authority than their own, is an infringement on their
sovereignty, and particularly so when granted to their own citizens to
lead them to acts contrary to the duties they owe their own country;
that the departure of vessels thus illegally equipped from the ports of
the United States, will be but an acknowledgment of respect analogous to
the breach of it, while it is necessary on their part, as an evidence of
their faithful neutrality.
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