Regulations Adapted by the President for the Preservation of Our Neutrality
Item
Type
Document Signed
Title
Regulations Adapted by the President for the Preservation of Our Neutrality
Description
Knox list eight regulations to be followed by the States in their dealings with the vessels of foreign belligerents that might seek refuge in American ports.
year created
1793
month created
08
day created
07
author
sent from location
War Department
recipient
sent to location
Governor of Delaware
in collection
in image
notable person/group
Joshua Clayton
Henry Knox
belligerent parties
Commander in Chief of Your Militia
notable location
War Department
ports of the United States
United Netherlands
Prussia
notable item/thing
general laws of nations
arming and equipping of vessels
vessels of war
prize
property of France
treaty of amity and commerce
privateers of the powers at war with France
violation of these regulations
happiness of our country
document number
1793080700001
page start
1
number of pages
4
transcription
War Department
August 7, 1793
[To Joshua Clayton, governor of Delaware.]
Sirâ
Applications having been made by the Governors of several of the states for more precise rules to direct their conduct in pursuance of my letter of the 24th May last, the President of the United States has upon mature consideration thought proper to adopt the following regulations for the preservation of our neutrality as deductions from the general laws of Nations, to wit.
1. The original arming and equipping of vessels in the ports of the United States by any of the belligerent parties for military service offensive or defensive is deemed unlawful.
2. Equipments of merchant vessels by either of the belligerent parties in the ports of the United States purely for the accommodation of them as such is deemed unlawful.
3. Equipments in the ports of the United States of vessels of war in the immediate service of the Government of any of the belligerent parties, which if done to other vessels would be of a doubtful stature, as being applicable either to commerce or war, are deemed lawful; except those which shall have made prize of the subjects people or property of France coming with their prizes into the ports of the United States pursuant to the seventeenth article of our Treaty of Amity and Commerce with France.
4. Equipments in the ports of the United States by any of the parties at war with France of vessels fitted for merchandize of war, whether with or without commissions which are doubtful in their nature as being applicable either to commerce or war, are deemed lawful, except those which shall have made prizes.
5. Equipments of any of the vessels of France in the ports of the United States which are doubtful in their nature as being applicable to commerce or war, are deemed lawful.
6. Equipments of every kind in the ports of the United States of privateers of the powers at war with France are deemed unlawful.
7. Equipments of vessels in the ports of the United States, which are of a nature solely adapted to war are deemed unlawful; except those stranded or wrecked as mentioned in the eighteenth article of our treaty with France, the sixteenth of our treaty with the United Netherlands, the ninth of our treaty with Prussia; and except those mentioned in the nineteenth article of our treaty with France, the seventeenth of our treaty with the United Netherlands, the eighteenth of the treaty with Prussia.
8. Vessels of either of the parties not armed, or armed previous to their coming into the ports of the United States which shall not have infringed any of the foregoing rules may lawfully engage or enlist therein their own subjects or citizens, not being inhabitants of the United States; except privateers of the powers at war with France, and except those vessels which shall have made prizes.
The President has instructed me to request that your Excellency in your capacity as commander in chief of your militia, would in the earliest stage possible suppress all practices throughout the state of Delaware, which shall be a violation of those regulations, or the neutrality of the United States so essential to the happiness of our country.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your Excellencyâs obedient servant, Henry Knox, Secretary of War.
War Department
August 7th 1793
Sirs
Applications having been made by the Governors of several of the States for more precise rules to direct their conduct in pursuance of my letter of the 24th May last, the President of the United States has upon mature consideration thought proper to adopt the following regulations for the preservation of our neutrality as deductions from the general Laws of Nations, to wit,
1. The original arming and equipping of vessels in the ports of the United States by any of the belligerent parties for military service offensive or defensive is deemed unlawful.
2. Equipments of Merchant vessels by either of the belligerent parties in the ports of the United States purely for the accommodation of them as such is deemed lawful.
3. Equipments in the ports of the United States of vessels or war in the immediate service of the Government of any of the belligerent parties, which if done to other vessels would be of a doubtful nature, as being application either to commerce or war, are deemed lawful, except those which shall have made prize of the subjects people or property of France coming with their prizes into the ports of the United States pursuantly to the seventeenth article of our treaty of Amity & Commerce with
with France.
4. Equipments in the ports of the United States by any of the parties at war with France of vessels fitted for merchandize of war, whether with or without commission which are doubtful in their nature as being applicable either to commerce or war, are deemed lawful; except those which shall have made prize &c
5. Equipments of any of the vessels of France in the ports of the United States which are doubtful in their rating as being applicable to commerce or war, are deemed lawful
6. Equipments of every kind in the ports of the United States of privateers of the powers at war with France are deemed unlawful.
7. Equipments of vessels in the ports of the United States, which are of a nature solely adapted to war are deemed unlawful; except those stranded or wrecked as mentioned in the eighteenth article of our treaty with France the sixteenth of our treaty with the United Netherlands, the ninth of our treaty with Prussia; and except those mentioned in the nineteenth article of our treaty with France the seventeenth of our treaty with the United Netherlands the eighteenth of our treaty with Prussia.
8. Vessels of either of the parties not armed, or armed previous to their coming into the ports of the United States which
which shall not have infringed any of the foregoing rules may lawfully engage or inlist therein their own subjects or citizens, not being inhabitants of the United States; except privateers of the powers at war with France, and except those vessels which shall have made prize &c
The President has instructed me to request that your Excellency in your capacity as Commander in Chief of your militia, would in the earliest stage possible suppress all practices throughout the State of Delaware, which shall be a violation of these regulations, or the neutrality of the United States so essential to the happiness of our Country.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, Your Excellency's obedient servant,
H Knox
Secy of War
His Excellency The Governor of Delaware
August 7, 1793
[To Joshua Clayton, governor of Delaware.]
Sirâ
Applications having been made by the Governors of several of the states for more precise rules to direct their conduct in pursuance of my letter of the 24th May last, the President of the United States has upon mature consideration thought proper to adopt the following regulations for the preservation of our neutrality as deductions from the general laws of Nations, to wit.
1. The original arming and equipping of vessels in the ports of the United States by any of the belligerent parties for military service offensive or defensive is deemed unlawful.
2. Equipments of merchant vessels by either of the belligerent parties in the ports of the United States purely for the accommodation of them as such is deemed unlawful.
3. Equipments in the ports of the United States of vessels of war in the immediate service of the Government of any of the belligerent parties, which if done to other vessels would be of a doubtful stature, as being applicable either to commerce or war, are deemed lawful; except those which shall have made prize of the subjects people or property of France coming with their prizes into the ports of the United States pursuant to the seventeenth article of our Treaty of Amity and Commerce with France.
4. Equipments in the ports of the United States by any of the parties at war with France of vessels fitted for merchandize of war, whether with or without commissions which are doubtful in their nature as being applicable either to commerce or war, are deemed lawful, except those which shall have made prizes.
5. Equipments of any of the vessels of France in the ports of the United States which are doubtful in their nature as being applicable to commerce or war, are deemed lawful.
6. Equipments of every kind in the ports of the United States of privateers of the powers at war with France are deemed unlawful.
7. Equipments of vessels in the ports of the United States, which are of a nature solely adapted to war are deemed unlawful; except those stranded or wrecked as mentioned in the eighteenth article of our treaty with France, the sixteenth of our treaty with the United Netherlands, the ninth of our treaty with Prussia; and except those mentioned in the nineteenth article of our treaty with France, the seventeenth of our treaty with the United Netherlands, the eighteenth of the treaty with Prussia.
8. Vessels of either of the parties not armed, or armed previous to their coming into the ports of the United States which shall not have infringed any of the foregoing rules may lawfully engage or enlist therein their own subjects or citizens, not being inhabitants of the United States; except privateers of the powers at war with France, and except those vessels which shall have made prizes.
The President has instructed me to request that your Excellency in your capacity as commander in chief of your militia, would in the earliest stage possible suppress all practices throughout the state of Delaware, which shall be a violation of those regulations, or the neutrality of the United States so essential to the happiness of our country.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your Excellencyâs obedient servant, Henry Knox, Secretary of War.
War Department
August 7th 1793
Sirs
Applications having been made by the Governors of several of the States for more precise rules to direct their conduct in pursuance of my letter of the 24th May last, the President of the United States has upon mature consideration thought proper to adopt the following regulations for the preservation of our neutrality as deductions from the general Laws of Nations, to wit,
1. The original arming and equipping of vessels in the ports of the United States by any of the belligerent parties for military service offensive or defensive is deemed unlawful.
2. Equipments of Merchant vessels by either of the belligerent parties in the ports of the United States purely for the accommodation of them as such is deemed lawful.
3. Equipments in the ports of the United States of vessels or war in the immediate service of the Government of any of the belligerent parties, which if done to other vessels would be of a doubtful nature, as being application either to commerce or war, are deemed lawful, except those which shall have made prize of the subjects people or property of France coming with their prizes into the ports of the United States pursuantly to the seventeenth article of our treaty of Amity & Commerce with
with France.
4. Equipments in the ports of the United States by any of the parties at war with France of vessels fitted for merchandize of war, whether with or without commission which are doubtful in their nature as being applicable either to commerce or war, are deemed lawful; except those which shall have made prize &c
5. Equipments of any of the vessels of France in the ports of the United States which are doubtful in their rating as being applicable to commerce or war, are deemed lawful
6. Equipments of every kind in the ports of the United States of privateers of the powers at war with France are deemed unlawful.
7. Equipments of vessels in the ports of the United States, which are of a nature solely adapted to war are deemed unlawful; except those stranded or wrecked as mentioned in the eighteenth article of our treaty with France the sixteenth of our treaty with the United Netherlands, the ninth of our treaty with Prussia; and except those mentioned in the nineteenth article of our treaty with France the seventeenth of our treaty with the United Netherlands the eighteenth of our treaty with Prussia.
8. Vessels of either of the parties not armed, or armed previous to their coming into the ports of the United States which
which shall not have infringed any of the foregoing rules may lawfully engage or inlist therein their own subjects or citizens, not being inhabitants of the United States; except privateers of the powers at war with France, and except those vessels which shall have made prize &c
The President has instructed me to request that your Excellency in your capacity as Commander in Chief of your militia, would in the earliest stage possible suppress all practices throughout the State of Delaware, which shall be a violation of these regulations, or the neutrality of the United States so essential to the happiness of our Country.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, Your Excellency's obedient servant,
H Knox
Secy of War
His Excellency The Governor of Delaware
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (4 pages) | RDB09 (4 pages) | Collection: RG 1300 Executive Papers | Reel 8, frame 302-303 |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Henry Knox | War Department | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Joshua Clayton | Governor of Delaware | [n/a] |