The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• The Significance of the Pacificus-helvidius Debates: Toward the Completion of the American Founding
• Addendum
• Note On the Text
• The Pacificus-helvidius Debates of 1793-1794
• Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation, April 22, 1793 *
• Defense of the President’s Neutrality Proclamation *
• Pacificus Number I *
• Pacificus Number Ii *
• Pacificus Number Iii *
• Pacificus Number Iv *
• Pacificus Number V *
• Pacificus Number Vi *
• Pacificus Number Vii *
• Thomas Jefferson to James Madison *
• Helvidius Number I *
• Helvidius Number Ii *
• Helvidius Number Iii *
• Helvidius Number Iv *
• Helvidius Number V *
• Americanus Number I *
• Americanus Number Ii *

Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation, April 22, 1793*

By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation

Whereas it appears that a state of war exists between Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, Great Britain, and the United Netherlands, of the one part, and France on the other; and the duty and interest of the United States require, that they should with sincerity and good faith adopt and pursue a conduct friendly and impartial towards the belligerent Powers:

I have therefore thought fit by these presents to declare the disposition of the United States to observe the conduct aforesaid towards those Powers respectively; and to exhort and warn the citizens of the United States carefully to avoid all acts and proceedings whatsoever, which may in any manner tend to contravene such disposition.

And I hereby also make known, that whosoever of the citizens of the United States shall render himself liable to punishment or forfeiture under the law of nations, by committing, aiding, or abetting hostilities against any of the said Powers, or by carrying to any of them those articles which are deemed contraband by the modern usage of nations, will not receive the protection of the United States, against such punishment or forfeiture; and further, that I have given instructions to those officers, to whom it belongs, to cause prosecutions to be instituted against all persons, who shall, within the cognizance of the courts of the United States, violate the law of nations, with respect to the Powers at war, or any of them.

[* ]Reprinted with permission from The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, ed. Harold Syrett et al., vol. 14 (New York: Columbia University Press, 1969), 308-9.