8593. TRIPOLI, War with.—
Tripoli
* * * had come forward with demands unfounded
either in right or in compact, and had
permitted itself to denounce war, on our failure
to comply before a given day. The style of the
demand admitted but one answer. I sent a
small squadron of frigates into the Mediterranean
with assurances to that power of our
sincere desire to remain in peace, but with orders
to protect our commerce against the threatened
attack. The measure was seasonable and
salutary. The Bey had already declared war
in form. His cruisers were out. Two had arrived
at Gibraltar. Our commerce in the Mediterranean
was blockaded, and that of the Atlantic
in peril. The arrival of our squadron
dispelled the danger. One of the Tripolitan
cruisers * * * engaged the small schooner Enterprise,
commanded by Lieutenant Sterret,
* * * was captured after a heavy slaughter of
her men, without the loss of a single one on our
part. * * * Unauthorized by the Constitution,
without the sanction of Congress, to go beyond
the line of defence, the vessel being disabled
from committing further hostilities, was liberated
with its crew.—
First Annual Message. Washington ed. viii, 7.
Ford ed., viii, 116.
(Dec. 1801)
