University of Virginia Library

MARGINAL JURISDICTION ON THE HIGH SEAS.

There could surely be no pretext for allowing less than a
marine league from the shore; that being the narrowest allowance
found in any authorities on the law of nations. If
any nation can fairly claim a greater extent, the United
States have pleas which cannot be rejected; and if any nation
is more particularly bound by its own example not to contest
our claim, Great Britain must be so by the extent of her own
claims to jurisdiction on the seas which surround her. It
is hoped at least that within the extent of one league you will
be able to obtain an effectual prohibition of British ships of
War, from repeating the irregularities which have so much
vexed our commerce and provoked the public resentment;
and against which an Article in your instructions emphatically

provides. It cannot be too earnestly pressed on the British
Government, that in applying the remedy copied from
regulations heretofore enforced against a violation of the
neutral rights of British harbours and Coasts, nothing will
be done than what is essential to the preservation of harmony
between the two Nations. In no case is the temptation or
the facility greater to ships of War, for annoying our commerce
than in their hovering on our coasts, and about our harbours;
nor is the natural sensibility in any case more justly or more
highly excited than by such insults. The communications
lately made to Mr. Monroe, with respect to the conduct of
British Commanders even within our own waters, will
strengthen the claim for such an arrangement on this subject,
and for such new orders, from the British Government,
as will be satisfactory security against future causes of
complaint.