ration of hostilities in the ports of the United
States. Its object was to enjoin on our citizens 'a friendly conduct
towards all the belligerent powers;' but a preparation of hostilities is
the reverse of this.

None of the engagements in our treaties stipulate this permission. The
XVIIth article of that of commerce, permits the armed vessels of either
party to enter the ports of the other, and to depart with their prizes
freely: but the entry of an armed vessel into a port, is one act; the
equipping a vessel in that port, arming her, and manning her, is a
different one, and not engaged by any article of the treaty.

You think, Sir, that this opinion is also contrary to the law of nature
and usage of nations. We are of opinion it is dictated by that law
and usage; and this had been very maturely inquired into before it was
adopted as a principle of conduct. But we will not assume the exclusive
right of saying what that law and usage is. Let us appeal to enlightened
and disinterested judges. None is more so than Vattel. He says, L. 3, 8,
104. '_Tant qu'im peuple neutre veut jouir surement de cet etat, il doit
montrer en toutes choses une exacte impartialite entre ceux qui se font
la guerre. Car s'il favorise l'un au prejudice de l'autre, il ne pourra
pas se plaindre, quand celui-ci le traitera comme adherent et associe
de son ennemi. Sa neutralite seroit une neutralite frauduleuse, dont
personne ne veut etre la dupe. Voyons done en quoi consiste cette
impartialite qu'un peuple neutre doit garder_.

'_Elle se rapport uniquement a la guerre, et comprend deux choses,
1 deg.. Ne point donner de secours quand on n'y est pas oblige; ne fournir
librement ni troupes, ni armes, ni munitions, ni rien de ce qui sert
directement a la guerre. Je dis ne point donner de secours, et non pas
en donner egalement; car il seroit absurde qu'un etat secourut en
meme tems deux ennemis. Et puis il seroit impossible de le faire avec
egalite; les memes choses, le merae nombre de troupes, la meme quantite
d'armes, de munitions, &c. fournies en des circonstances differentes,
ne forment plus des secours equivalents_,' &c. If the neutral power may
not, consistent with its neutrality, furnish men to either party,
for their aid in war, as little can either enrol them in the neutral
territory by the law of nations. Wolf, S. 1174, says, '_Puisque Je droit
de lever des soldats est un droit de majeste, qui ne peut etre viole par
une nation etrangere, il