From Thomas Jefferson to the Senate and the House of Representatives, 20 March 1804
To the Senate and
the House of Representatives
To the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United states.
I communicate to Congress a letter recieved from Capt. Bainbridge Commander of the Philadelphia frigate informing us of the wreck of that vessel on the coast of Tripoli and that himself, his officers and men had fallen into the hands of the Tripolitans. this accident renders it expedient to increase our force and enlarge our expences in the Mediterranean beyond what the last appropriation for the Naval service contemplated. I recommend therefore to the consideration of Congress such an addition to that appropriation as they may think the exigency requires.
Th: Jefferson
Mar. 20. 04
RC (DNA: RG 233, PM, 8th Cong., 1st sess.); endorsed by a House clerk. PoC (DNA: RG 46, LPPM, 8th Cong., 1st sess.); endorsed by a Senate clerk. FC (DLC); entirely in TJ’s hand. Notation in SJL: “Bainbridge’s lre.” Enclosures: (1) William Bainbridge to Robert Smith, dated Tripoli, 1 Nov. 1803, reporting the loss of the frigate Philadelphia; after an unsuccessful pursuit of a Tripolitan cruiser near Tripoli, the Philadelphia ran aground on an uncharted shoal; all efforts to refloat the ship failed and its guns could not be brought to bear against enemy gunboats; after withstanding gunboat fire for four hours, and with enemy reinforcements approaching from Tripoli, Bainbridge was left with no alternative “but the distressing one of hauling our Colours down and submitting to the Enemy whom chance had befriended”; the Tripolitans took possession of the Philadelphia shortly after sunset; Bainbridge, his officers, and part of his crew were taken into Tripoli and questioned by the bey; they then gave their parole and are being confined in the former residence of American consul James Leander Cathcart; Bainbridge is to provide for the officers “by such ways and means as I can best adopt,” while the crew will be supported by the Tripolitans; the Danish consul, Nicholas C. Nissen, has been very attentive to the American prisoners; Bainbridge suffers much “anxiety of mind” and wishes to learn the government’s opinion of his conduct (Trs in DNA: RG 233, PM, and DNA: RG 46, LPPM). (2) Undated statement signed by Lieutenant David Porter and 24 other officers of the Philadelphia, declaring their complete approbation of Bainbridge’s conduct regarding the unfortunate loss of the ship; charts and soundings justified the ship’s approach to the shore and every exertion was made to refloat and defend it, “which either Courage or Abilities could have dictated” (same). (3) “List of Officers & men quartered at the American Consular House at Tripoli,” undated, which includes 43 names; another “264 Men & Boys” are noted as being held at the bey’s palace (same).
Lewis Harvie presented TJ’s message and its accompanying papers to Congress on 20 Mch. The Senate ordered them to lie for consideration, while the House of Representatives referred them to the Committee of Ways and Means (, 3:386; , 4:666). They were subsequently published as Message from the President of the United States; Communicating to Congress, a Letter Received from Capt. Bainbridge, Commander of the Philadelphia Frigate … 20th March, 1804 (Washington, D.C., 1804).
increase our force: on 21 Mch., Robert Smith ordered Captain John Cassin at the Washington Navy Yard to prepare the frigates President and Congress for sea “with all practicable dispatch.” On the same day, Smith sent orders to navy officers in New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore “to use your most strenuous exertions” to recruit several hundred seamen for service on the President, the Congress, or the John Adams. “The occasion imperatively demands your every exertion,” added Smith. “Let not one moment be lost” (, 3:509-10).
enlarge our expences: on 21 Mch., the Committee of Ways and Means presented a bill “further to protect the commerce and seamen of the United States against the Barbary Powers,” which met unanimous approval in the House on 22 Mch. and passed the Senate on the 26th by a vote of 20 to 5. The new act established a distinct “Mediterranean Fund” to defray the cost of protecting American commerce and prosecuting “warlike operations” against Tripoli or other hostile states. The fund would be supported by an additional ad valorem duty of 2.5 percent on all foreign goods imported after 30 June 1804, with an extra 10 percent added on goods imported in foreign vessels. Collection of the duty would cease three months after the ratification of a peace treaty. The act also authorized the president to purchase or construct two vessels of war, not exceeding 16 guns each, and to hire or borrow gunboats in the Mediterranean. Finally, the act permitted the expenditure of up to $1 million in public funds not otherwise appropriated to defray the expenses incurred by the act during the present year, or the president could borrow the sum from the Bank of the United States or other sources (, 4:666-7, 674-6; , 3:389, 393, 395, 397-8; , 2:291-2).