The following messages were received from the President of the United States:
To the Senate of the United States:
In compliance with the desire of the Senate, expressed in their resolution of the 22d of November, on the impressment of seamen in the service of the United States, by the agents of foreign nations; I now lay before the Senate a letter from the Secretary of State, with a specification of the cases of which information has been received.
TH. JEFFERSON.
Dec. 5, 1803.
Tripolitan Aggression.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:
I have the satisfaction to inform you, that the act of hostility mentioned, in my message of the 4th of November, to have been committed by a cruiser of the Emperor of Morocco, on a vessel of the United States, has been disavowed by the Emperor. All differences in consequence thereof have been amicably adjusted, and the Treaty of 1796, between this country and that, has been recognized and confirmed by the Emperor, each party restoring to the other what had been detained or taken. I enclose the Emperor’s orders given on this occasion.
The conduct of our officers generally, who have had a part in these transactions, has merited entire approbation.
The temperate and correct course pursued by our Consul, Mr. Simpson, the promptitude and energy of Commodore Preble, the efficacious co-operation of Captains Rodgers and Campbell, of the returning squadron, the proper decision of Captain Bainbridge, that a vessel which had committed an open hostility, was of right to be detained for inquiry and consideration, and the general zeal of the other officers and men, are honorable facts, which I make known with pleasure. And to these I add, what was indeed transacted in another quarter, the gallant enterprise of Captain Rodgers, in destroying, on the coast of Tripoli, a corvette of that power, of 22 guns.