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3. That for this service, upon abstracted principles of equity and justice, according to the law of nations, and the acts of congress, the recaptors are entitled to a compensation for salvage.

1. Had Captain Talbot a right to seize the Amelia, and bring her into port for adjudication?

The acts of congress on this subject ought all to be considered together and in one view. This is the general rule of construction where several acts are made in pari materia. Plowd. 206. 1 Atk. 457, 458.

The first act authorizing captures of French vessels, is that of 28th May, 1798. (Laws of United States, vol. 4. p. 120.) The preamble recites, that "whereas armed vessels sailing under authority, or pretence of authority, from the republic of France, have committed depredations on the commerce of the United States," &c. therefore, it is enacted, that the president be authorized to instruct and direct the commanders of the armed vessels of the United States "to seize, take and bring into any port of the United States, to be proceeded against according to the laws of nations, any such armed vessel, which shall have committed, or which shall be found hovering on the coasts of the United States, for the purpose of committing depredations on the vessels belonging to citizens thereof; and also to retake any ship or vessel of any citizen or citizens of the United States, which may have been captured by any such armed vessel."

The Amelia was "an armed vessel sailing under authority from the republic of France," and if she had committed, or had been found hovering on the coast for the purpose of committing depredations on the vessels of the citizens of the United States, she would have been clearly liable to capture under this act of congress. This act is entitled "An act more effectually to protect the commerce and coasts of the United States;" and by it the objects of capture are limited to "armed vessels sailing under authority, or pretence of authority, from the republic of France, which shall have committed, or which shall be found hovering on the coasts of the United States, for the purpose of committing depredations," &c. It was soon perceived that a right of capture, so limited, would not afford, what the act contemplated, an effectual protection to the com

merce of the United States. Congress, therefore, on the 9th July, 1798, at the same session, passed the " act further to protect the commerce of the United States," (Laws United States, vol. 4. p. 163.) and thereby took off the restriction of the former act, which limited captures to vessels having actually committed depredation, or which were hovering on the coast for that purpose. This act authorizes the capture of any "armed French vessel on the high seas," and if the Amelia was such an armed French vessel as is contemplated by this act, she was liable to capture, and it was the duty of Captain Talbot to take her and bring her into port. Another act was passed at the same session, on the 25th June, 1798, (Laws United States, vol. 4. p. 148.) entitled "An act to authorize the defence of the merchant vessels of the United States against French depredations," which, as it constitutes a part of that system of defence and opposition which the legislature had in view, ought to be taken into consideration. It enacts, that merchant vessels of citizens of the United States may oppose and defend against any search, restraint or seizure which shall be attempted" by the commander or crew of any armed vessel sailing under French colours, or acting, or pretending to act, by, or under the authority of the French republic," and in case of attack may repel the same, and subdue and capture the vessel. The court, *in construing any one of these laws, will not confine themselves to the strict letter of that particular law, but will consider the spirit of the times, and the object and intention of the legislature. It is evident by the title of the act of July 9, 1798, and by the general complexion of all the acts of that session upon the subject, that it was not the intention of congress, by the act of July 9, to restrict the cases of capture contemplated by the act of 28th May, but to enlarge them. The spirit of the people was roused; they demanded a more vigorous and a more effectual opposition to the aggressions of France, and the spirit of congress rose with that of the people. It cannot be supposed that having in May used the expression," armed vessels sailing under authority, or pretence of authority, from the republic of France," and in June the expression, "any armed vessel sailing under French colours, or acting, or pretending to act, by, or under the authority of the French republic,"

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they meant to restrict the cases of capture, in July, when they used the words "any armed French vessel." On the contrary, the confidence in the national opinion was increased, and further measures of defence were adopted, intending not to recede from any thing done before, but to amplify the opposition. The act of July was in addition to, not in derogation from, the act of May. Congress evidently meant the same description of vessels, in each of those acts. "Armed vessels sailing under authority, or pretence of authority, of France," and "armed vessels sailing under French colours, or acting, or pretending to act, under the authority of the French republic," and "armed French vessels," must be understood to be the same.

The

If there is a difference no reason can be given for it. A vessel, in the circumstances of the Amelia, was as capable of annoying our commerce as if she had been owned by Frenchmen. Her force was at the command of France, and there can be no doubt but she would have captured any unarmed American that might have fallen in her way. She was, therefore, one of the objects of that hostility which congress had authorized. Congress have the power of declaring war. They may declare a general war, or a partial war. So it may be a general maritime war, or a partial maritime war. *This court, in the case of Bass and Tingey, have decided that the situation of this country with regard to France, was that of a partial and limited war. substantial question here is, whether the case of the Amelia is a casus belli; whether she was an object of that limited war. The kind of war which existed was a war against all French force found upon the ocean, to seize it and bring it in, that it might not injure our commerce. It is precisely as if congress had authorized the capture of all French vessels, excepting those unarmed. If such had been the expressions, there could be no doubt of the right to capture. The object of the war being to destroy French armed force, and not French property, it made no difference in whom the absolute property of the vessel was, if her force was under the command of France. Suppose the Amelia had captured an American, by what nation would the capture be made? by Hamburgh, or by France? There can be no doubt but the injury would be attributed to

France. She was under French colours, armed, and to every intent an object of the partial war which existed; and, if so, her case is governed by the rights of war, and by the law of nations, as they exist in a state of general war.

Perhaps it may be said that this proves too much, and that, if true, the Amelia must be condemned as prize. This would be true if the rights of a third party did not interfere. Having accomplished the object of the war, as it relates to this case, in wresting from France the armed force, we must now respect the rights of a neutral nation, and restore the property to its lawful owner. But this is a subsequent consideration. It is only necessary now to show that the capture was so far a lawful act as to be capable of supporting a claim of salvage. At first view she certainly presented the appearance of such an armed French ship as the libellant was bound in duty to seize and bring in, at least for further examination. He had probable cause, at least, which is sufficient to justify the seizure and detention. But if she was liable to be condemned by France, being in the hands and possession of the French, she was within the scope of the war which existed between the United States and France; she was within the meaning of the act of congress. (a)

*The act of July gives no new authority to recapture American vessels; it only gives to private armed vessels the same right which the act of May gives to the public armed vessels, to make captures and recaptures. But the act of May only authorizes the recapture of American vessels, "which may have been captured by any such armed vessel," i. e. by armed vessels sailing under authority from the republic of France, and which shall have committed, or be found hovering on the coasts for the purpose of committing, depredations on our commerce." Yet the instructions from the president were to recapture all American vessels. These instructions show the opinion of the executive upon the

(a) Bayard. What authority is there for American armed vessels to recapture Britishi vessels taken by the French?

CHASE, J. "Is there any case where it has been decided in our courts that such a recapture was lawful?"

"It has been so decided in the English courts.”

The counsel on both sides admitted that no such case had occurred in this country.

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construction of the acts of congress, and for that purpose they were offered to be read.

The counsel for the claimant objected to their being read, because they were not in the record.

The counsel for the libellant contended they had a right to read them as matter of opinion, but did not offer them as matter of fact.(a) The court refused to hear them.

2. The second point is, that a service was rendered to the owners of the Amelia, by the recapture, inasmuch *as she was thereby saved from condemnation in a French court of admiralty.

To support this position, the counsel for the libellant relied on the general system of violation of neutral rights adopted by France.

In general cases, when belligerents respect the law of nations, no salvage can be claimed for the recapture of a neutral vessel, because no service is rendered; but rather a disservice, because the captured would, in the courts of the captors, recover damages and costs for the illegal capture and detention.

The principle upon which the circuit court decided is not denied; but it is contended that a service was rendered by the recapture. To show this, the counsel for the libellant offered to read the message from the president to both houses of congress, of 4th May, 1798, containing the communications from our envoys extraordinary at Paris to the department of state, and sundry arrêts and decrees of the government of France, in violation of neutral rights, and of the law of nations ;

(a) CHASE, J. I am against reading the instructions, because I am against bringing the executive into court on any occasion. It has been decided, as I think, in this court, that instructions should not be read.

I think it was in a case of instructions to the collectors. It was opposed by judge Iredell, and the opposition acquiesced in by the court.

PATERSON, J. The instructions can only be evidence of the opinion of the executive, which is not binding upon us.

MARSHALL, Ch. J. I have no objection to hearing them, but they will have no influence on my opinion.

MOORE, J. Mr. Bayard can state all they contain, and they may 1 considered as part of his argument.

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Bayard. May I be permitted to read them as a part of my speech? THE COURT. We are willing to hear them as the opinion of Mr. Bayard, but not as the opinion of the executive.

Bayard. 1 acquiesce in the opinion of the court. My reasons for wishing to read them were, because the opinion of learned men, and men of science, will always have some weight with other learned men. And the court would consider well the opinion of the executive before they would decide contrary to it.