So
that, on neither supposition, would the executive be justifiable in
interposing.
With respect to the United States, the transaction can be in nowise
imputed to them. It was in the first moment of the war, in one of their
most distant ports, before measures could be provided by the government
to meet all the cases which such a state of things was to produce,
impossible to have been known, and, therefore, impossible to have been
prevented by that government.
The moment it was known, the most energetic orders were sent to every
State and port of the Union, to prevent a repetition of the accident.
On a suggestion that citizens of the United States had taken part in
the act, one, who was designated, was instantly committed to prison, for
prosecution; one or two others have been since named, and committed
in like manner; and should it appear that there were still others, no
measure will be spared to bring them to justice. The President has
even gone further. He has required, as a reparation of their breach of
respect to the United States, that the vessels so armed and equipped,
shall depart from our ports.
You will see, Sir, in these proceedings of the President, unequivocal
proofs of the line of strict right which he means to pursue. The
measures now mentioned, are taken in justice to the one party; the
ulterior measure, of seizing and restoring the prizes, is declined in
justice to the other; and the evil, thus early arrested, will be of very
limited effects; perhaps, indeed, soon disappear altogether.
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