But
without appealing to treaties, we are at peace with them all by the
law of nature. For by nature's law, man is at peace with man till some
aggression is committed, which, by the same law, authorizes one to
destroy another as his enemy. For our citizens then to commit murders
and depredations on the members of nations at peace with us, or combine
to do it, appeared to the executive, and to those whom they consulted,
as much against the laws of the land, as to murder or rob, or combine
to murder or rob its own citizens; and as much to require punishment, if
done within their limits, where they have a territorial jurisdiction,
or on the high seas, where they have a personal jurisdiction, that is
to say, one which reaches their own citizens only, this being an
appropriate part of each nation on an element where all have a common
jurisdiction. So say our laws, as we understand them ourselves. To them
the appeal is made; and whether we have construed them well or ill, the
constitutional judges will decide. Till that decision shall be obtained,
the government of the United States must pursue what they think right
with firmness, as is their duty. On the first attempt that was made, the
President was desirous of involving in the censures of the law as few as
might be.
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