6769. PORTER (David), Complaint against.—
Mr. Madison * * * suggests
the expediency of immediately taking up the
case of Captain Porter, against whom Mr. Erskine
[British minister] lodged a very serious
complaint, for an act of violence committed
on a British seaman in the Mediterranean.
While Mr. Erskine was reminded of the mass
of complaints we had against his government
for similar violences, he was assured that contending
against such irregularities ourselves,
and requiring satisfaction for them, we did not
mean to follow the example, and that on Captain
Porter's return, it should be properly inquired
into. The sooner this is done the better;
because if Great Britain settles with us
satisfactorily all our subsisting differences, and
should require in return (to have an appearance
of reciprocity of wrong as well as redress), a
marked condemnation of Captain Porter, it
would be embarrassing were that the only obstacle
to a peaceable settlement, and the more
so as we cannot but disavow his act. On the
contrary, if we immediately look into it, we
shall be more at liberty to be moderate in the
censure of it, on the very ground of British
example; and the case being once passed upon,
we can more easily avoid the passing on it a
second time, as against a settled principle. It
is, therefore, to put it in our power to let Captain
Porter off as easily as possible, as a valuable
officer whom we all wish to favor, that I
suggest to you the earliest attention to the inquiry,
and the promptest settlement of it.—
To Robert Smith. Washington ed. v, 192.
Ford ed., ix, 138.
(M.
Sep. 1807)
