Reprisals

The forcibly taking a thing by one nation which belonged to another, in return or satisfaction for an injury committed by the latter on the former. Vattel, bk.

2, c. 18, § 342; 1 Bl. Comm. c.

7. (1) General reprisals take place by virtue of commissions delivered to officers and citizens of the aggrieved state, directing them to take the persons and property belonging to the offending state wherever found. (2) Negative reprisals take place when a nation refuses to fulfill a perfect obligation which it has contracted, or to permit another state to enjoy a right which it justly claims. (3) Positive reprisals consist in seizing the persons and effects belonging to the other nation, in order to obtain satisfaction. (4) Special reprisals are such as are granted in times of peace to particular- individuals who have suffered an injury from the citizens or subjects of the other nation. Reprisals are used between nation and nation to do themselves justice, when they cannot otherwise obtain it. Congress has Reprisals are made in two ways, — either by embargo, in which case the act is that of the state, or by letters of marque and reprisal, in which case the act is that of the citizen, authorized by the government.

See 2 Brown, Civ. Law, 334.