[Crim]

“act for the Protection of Commerce and seamen of the United States against the Tripolitan cruisers” Passed February 6, 1802

The schooner USS Enterprise defeated the 14-gun Tripolitan corsair Tripoli after a fierce but one-sided battle on August 1, 1801.

Perhaps you can tell this ignorant soul which happend first?

Thanks.

[Cheburashka]

I refer you to Six Frigates, by Ian W. Toll, W. W. Norton & Company, New York, copyright 2006, pages 168-169, for a more complete explanation of what happened. My stenographic skills are modest. But the short version, in (partly) my words:

On May 15, 1801, the cabinet met and Jefferson put two questions to them.

1) Shall a squadron be sent to the Mediterranean?

2) What shall be the object of the cruise?

Answers:

1) Yes.

2) (The words following in quotation marks are in quotation marks in Toll.) The cabinet decided in favor of sending the frigates with orders “to superintend the safety of our commerce, and to exercise our seamen in nautical duties.” It would be characterized as a “squadron of observation”, with peaceful intentions. However, if it was discovered that Tripoli was waging war with the United States, the squadron would be authorized to retaliate against Tripolitanian ships and even to attack Tripoli itself.

Of course, as I said, when they arrived in the Med Tripoli was at war with the United States.

In those days Congress met only for a short part of the year and adjourned until the next year. Probably Congress was next in session around the beginning of February, 1802. But I must admit I do not know that for a fact.

I trust this makes the situation clear.

[Cheburashka]

Additional information:

The public statutes at large of the United States of America, Volume 1

http://books.google.com/books?id=KZU_AAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA12&lpg=RA1-PA12&dq=adjournment+1801&source=bl&ots=0P0BhF6Hhj&sig=SHrQewf5suaQ2HVxNHEnHCy8skw&hl=en&ei=EvOHTcj0DsaNrQHA-tmNDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CEIQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=adjournment%201801&f=false

Second session of the Sixth Congress - November 17, 1800 to March 3, 1801.

First session of the Seventh Congress - December 7, 1801 to May 3, 1802.