Naval Authority Quotes
The treaty was ratified by the Senate on March 7, 1796. Much of the text was actually drafted by Joseph Donaldson, a junior diplomat appointed by Humphreys.
In the early days of the republic, states not only had their own militias but some had their own navy. Texas today still has the right to have its own navy.
At the time, the Muslim nations of the Barbary Coast commonly seized merchant ships anywhere in the Mediterranean and other oceans. They would sell the cargos, enslave the Christian crews and passengers and then demand ransom for the ships and the freedom of the slaves. However, if nations paid each of the rulers of three countries--Morocco, Algeria & Tunisia--enough annual tribute, ships of the paying nation would not be molested. The European Maritime powers paid the tribute rather than go to war. However, this became a political controversy in the U.S. John Adams and many others wanted to pay the tribute. Jefferson and still others, argued that such tribute should never be paid and war was preferable. This treaty, negotiated by Donaldson and the Algerian Ruler, was a great victory for Jefferson as no tribute would be paid by the U. S.—the only country so exempted. However, it took an invasion of Tripoli lead by U.S. Marines and a massive naval bombardment of Algiers to ‘persuade’ the ruler of Algeria to sign the treaty. Later, the Barbary pirates reneged, and the U. S. did pay a tribute rather than have another war. They did however, pay less than the European powers.
The flag analogy was naval slang for closing the base in Hebert’s district. Kennedy’s Defense Department had determined that it was a waste of money and was not needed for the military capability of the nation. Hebert, however was on the House Armed Services Committee. The next morning the Secretary of Defense called the congressman and the base closing was rescinded. Hebert was a general foe of any base closing whatsoever, but especially one in his district like this one.
China had then a very weak government. Ching Yih was the leader of a flotilla of over 1000 ships with entire crews and families numbering a force of over 70,000 people. They raided ships and towns on the coasts. Instead of single pirate ships, they would attack, even large, well armed, ships with a fleet. Some called them pirates; some thought of them as a floating nation. In 1807 the captains of all the ships met to select a new leader. One of the captains was the widow of Ching Yih, an admiral in her own right. The flotilla under Chin Yih had been divided into 4 fleets named for colors. The White fleet had been commanded by His Kai Ching—the only female captain. However, the White Fleet had been the most powerful and successful of the four. Ching surprised the men, who had expected to elect one of the 3 male admirals as the leader of the flotilla. After, her statement, they elected her. Of the females who have ever lead at sea, she commanded the largest armada and was the leader of a floating nation and an elected leader at that.
