MONROE ISSUES INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRIVATEERS DURING THE WAR OF 1812. MONROE, JAMES. 1758-1831. Prin...

MONROE ISSUES INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRIVATEERS DURING THE WAR OF 1812. MONROE, JAMES. 1758-1831. Printed Document Signed ('Jas Monroe') as Secretary of State, being 'Instructions for the Private Armed Vessels of the United States, 3 pp recto and verso, folio (conjoining leaves), H: 12 5/9 in (322 mm); w: 7 11/16 (196 mm); Washington, June 26, 1812, pages toned and creased, dampstaining at horizontal fold, professional repairs to creases. After territorial expansion, trade wars and unlawful impressment of U.S. sailors by British forces caused tensions to boil over, the United States declared war against Great Britain on June 18, 1812. Neither side, it turned out, was prepared for war: Britain was heavily involved in the Napoleonic Wars on the continent, and the United States had nowhere near enough military forces to engage with England. The U.S. could not hope to match the numbers of the British navy, and so implemented a strategy to rely on privateers, or private ships working on behalf of the U.S. government to capture enemy merchant ships and disrupt British trade. Just 8 days after declaring war, Congress passed legislation authorizing the use of 'private armed vessels' on behalf of the United States and outlining the rules of engagement for privateers. The present document was created by the State Department as a message from Secretary of State James Monroe to privateers acting on behalf of the United States government (this example has not been issued to an individual captain). The document includes 'Instructions for the Private Armed Vessels of the United States' from Monroe to privateers ordering them to, among other things, pay attention to the rights of neutral powers while treating enemy vessels and their crews like enemy combatants. The original legislation, attached as a second leaf, announces that the President is allowed to issue (and recall) letters of marque, that those who receive such a letter are able to capture enemy vessels and retain the contents as prizes, to be distributed how they see fit. The law also demands that captured vessels are not destroyed, if possible, but returned to the US. Also, the commander of each vessel is required to keep a journal of daily activities, and if he does not, or if he makes fraudulent entries, his letter of marque and reprisal will be revoked and he will owe $1000. The legislation is signed in type by Madison, Henry Clay and Wm. H. Crawford. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing