War department May 25, 1793 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 requires 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 captures 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 capture[r] to restore 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 adapted to every case and especially to 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 Rhode Island 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 aggressing until you could communicate the case to the President with the evidences 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 obedient humble Servant [signature] H. Knox His Excellency the Governor of the State of Rhode Island