[Secretary at War May 23: 1793 2 encl[undecipherable] — 93 all [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] 18-'93] War Department 23 May 1795 Sir, I am directed by the President of the United States to address your Excellency on the following Subject — A case has lately occurred in this vicinity which required the interposition of the general Government; and as similar cases may arise in other places, it is necessary that some uniform, adequate, and prompt remedy should be provided and operate throughout the United States — An armed Vessel of one of the powers engaged in the present war, captured a Ship of another, lying in the Bay of Delaware, and consequently under the protection of the United States. Both duty and honor required that the Government should cause the captured Vessel to be restored, which the Minister residing here of the power whose Vessel committed the aggression has very readily undertaken to have done — But as this remedy may not be adopted to every case, and especially distant ones, some other is to be resorted to of more universal application — The capture of Vessels being generally the consequence of an attack, or combat, and that, by an armed and foreign force is in its nature, if committed within our territory, a military aggression and to be repressed by the military force of the Nation — The standing power of the Union is its Militia, and this is every where at hand to meet every violation of the National protection — To your Excellency therefore as the head of the Militia of the State of Connecticut [strikethrough: ————] the President of the United States confides the charge of interposing in all cases of hostility committed between the belligerent parties, within the protection of your State, desiring that you would be pleased with the aid of your militia, to detain the parties first agressing until you could communicate the case to the President, with the evidence in writing which may establish the facts for his ultimate decision thereon — This, you may be assured of receiving with all the dispatch circumstances may admit — I have the honor to be with great Respect Your Excellency's Most Obed^t Hum Servant H Knox Sec^y of War His Excellency Sam^d Huntington The Governor of Connecticut