To James Madison from Louis-Marie Turreau, 25 November 1806
From Louis-Marie Turreau
A Washington le 25. Novembre 1806.
Monsieur,
Vous connaîtrez par la lettre ci-jointe de M. Le Maire de Norfolk au Consul français du lieu, Son refus formel de Seconder les agents français pour arrêter les déserteurs des équipages des Vaisseaux de Sa Majesté.1
La désertion, qui est presque toujours le résultat de l’embauchage, obtiendra l’impunité, si les Autorités Américaines peuvent Se dispenser de Seconder les efforts des Agents Français pour en arrêter les progrès & atteindre les coupables.
Je me repose, Monsieur, sur la loyauté du Gouvernement fédéral pour mettre un terme à ce déni de Secours & de justice de la part d’une autorité Subalterne dont l’exemple Serait peut-étre Suivi, si elle n’était pas avertie de ses devoirs. Agréez, Monsieur, une nouvelle assurance de ma haute Considération.
Turreau
CONDENSED TRANSLATION
JM will know by the enclosed letter of the mayor of Norfolk to the French consul of the place [the mayor’s] formal refusal to assist the French agents in arresting the deserters from the crews of His Majesty’s vessels.
Desertion, which is almost always the result of crimping, will gain impunity if American authorities can exempt themselves from assisting the efforts of French agents to stop its progress and catch the guilty parties.
Relies on the fairness of the federal government to put an end to this denial of assistance and justice on the part of a subordinate authority whose example might be followed if this authority were not reminded of its duties.
RC (DNA: RG 59, NFL, France, vol. 2–3). In a clerk’s hand, signed by Turreau; docketed by Wagner with his note: “Apprehension of deserters.” For enclosure, see n. 1.
1. Filed with this letter is a 25 November 1806 note in a clerk’s hand (1 p.; DNA: RG 59, NFL, France, vol. 2–3): “Genal. Turreau has the honor to enclose hereto the letter of the Mayor of Norfolk, which was omitted in his respecting the arrestation of the french sailors, who have deserted their ships.” Immediately after this note is a copy of Norfolk mayor Thomas H. Parker’s 11 November 1806 letter to Martin Oster, French vice-consul in Virginia (2 pp.; ibid.). Parker stated that he lacked authority to issue warrants for the arrest of French deserters from the frigate Cybèle since state laws made no provisions for such warrants for foreign nationals. He noted that he had also denied a similar British request.