It was so, if judged by the ordinary rules of national conduct.
Great Britain was the mistress of the seas.
On the roll of her navy were over a thousand ships, and eighty-five of the largest were actually in American ports.
President Madison and his Cabinet did not, however, intend that the war should be waged on the high seas.
The American ships-of-war were to remain in the harbors as so many floating batteries for defensive purposes.
In New York Harbor was a small squadron under the command of Commodore Rodgers.
He heard the rumor that he was not to go out to sea, and dispatched Captains Bainbridge and Stewart to Washington to confer with the Secretary of the Navy.
Secretary Paul Hamilton listened attentively to the two captains, and they thought they had won their case; but with great courtesy he thanked them, and said that the President had, with the consent of his Cabinet, decided to order the ships to remain in the harbors.
Captain Stewart stamped his foot, and with almost anger, exclaimed:
"Sir, you are going to ruin the country; I'll have you impeached!"