The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-15
Dfbate,
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
OF TIE UNITED STATES.
GIMJiay, Dee. Is.
Debate on TIE bill TO regulate the clearance Of
armed merchant 1,eHcls.

2bRrfAay, Dec. Is.
Dictate on the bill TO regulate TIE clearance of
armed '9rrchant 1sGsis.
(CoRtnueI.j
Mr.. drCrecyy. Mr.. Chairman.-Whatcve
maybethe fate ofthe bill now before YOU, Think il
my duty to fate 70 this committee fone cir
cumfances which induce I'VE to think, that The
Information given to the executive concerning
the conduct of our merchant vefTels has been
much exaggerated
an aware that the liberty OF trade granted
Us TO that ifland has been much ahuEed Ey come
of our citizens, ard it is my.wia that fIch laws
may pats as will etTettuay refrain AID punif,
fuch proceedings.
1t IS we'll known, fir, that we have had con-
hderah'c fhare Of The trade ofSt. DoT.,iu,r,, for
more than ten years paif, except fora certain
period OF the late administration when il ,vss
prohibited by our own government; that under
all the late Legitimate governments of that ic
iand' II was rot only permitted, but invited;
that ~ oontequence of this and Of contr-cts
made by the generals LIE Cierc and Rcchs,r-
beau, with foIne of our citizens for the f.nr,ly
OF prCvii,cas and other neceSIaries, there v.ss
American property TO an immenfe amount in
mat HAND when evacuated by the Ian mention
ca general, and, coniequently, a coaiiderahle
number of our citizens remained there. I'm.
ed that this property and thefe men were to t,e
abdndoned.-Th trade was therefore cart:.1l-
ed IN peaceabe manner, and would ifill have
been carried On 10, had ii not been intirrrpted
by Veueis nnIawtuliy armed in the ports CT Gu
ba. In theft ports many of our velTels ,rere
carried, their cargoes landed in the night. the
veileis TENT out of the harbours, icuttled and
Junk, to prevent detection, and the crews left
without any means of returning to their own
country. The queiton with our merchants
then vas whether they were to abandon this
trade altogether, and facriice their property r.
naInlng there (; or arm their veiels for defence.
The latter plan, and in my opinion the Wifi.
was adopted and I believe, not more than ore
'nitance has occurred where our vefIels, thus
armed, have reiifteda legitimate force. To
prove to the committee that the y-GeIe tt.,e -.
Poiiiis our trade were not authorized, ] rfouen
that the Clerk may be permitted to read the de-
cree not long iince ifned by general Ferrand, at
the port of Santo Domingo.
(The decree was here read by the Clerk as
follows y
Adecree for ye-eFa5H,@ing order in kbs Lczur,d
gzaHd5 far tie l2liHg end use efIefteyJ of
WE, L. FERRAND, general of brigade,
commanderin chief of the army of St. Domin
go, captain general pro. TEN.
Being informed that feveral owners and can
tains OF French Corfairs, who have obtained l..
mited letters Of rnarque, whole time is exn;red.
continue renew their cruifinp, rithcnt ha.
wing regard to any of the formalities reaaired
in fuch cafes.
That others have obtained of fone pretend.
Cd French agents, the term of their letters Of
marque to be prolonged.
That others are bearers of letters ofrraY1i,e.
whote transfer has been made By theic pretend.
ed agents over TO other ihip5, than thofe for
which thew had been deligerel.
That others have purchaled letters Of m aroue
OF theie pretended agents who, ahuiiug the con
tidence fthe captains general, of whom they
held their power, they have committed com
merce thus cuipahle, without even examin-
ing the morality ofthe men TO whom theie let
tiers Of nlarque have been fold.
That fonc navigate with letters of narouc
expedited by thofe generals, who not being
s-generaI, norexrrci6ng thofc funaionS'
have no right to deliver them. Informed like.
wife that under pretence Of being ignorant that
the tribunals of St. Domingo are alone CONNIE
tent TO decide on neutral prizes i'm relation with
the rebels of that land, without regard TO the
from which the letters of ruarorr.
with which the privateers are provided, i);ied,
ieveral oueers and captains of Corfairs have
neglected 20 obicrve the furmalities prefcfibcd
The principal Of which is 70 make known the n.
-Niai SSii'NHto VI luOiC ititCTS winch have been
given them.
ConiidsFng that to tolerate much LONGER TIE
irregular conduct ofthe privatesrs and Captains
Of Corlairs, which are found ,at the different ca
les mentioned there would iuconteai5lY refilt
lbuics which would caufs privateeiing TO de-
generate into piracy, and diihonor the French
lag.
DECREE.
Iriie'e 7. Prom the fri Of Vendemqire,
18th year, al The I,tt,rs cf nayquc delivered Nv
general s{ochsmbeau, thoic delivered by the re.
nerals formerly employed in the army Of q.
Domingo, hkew1i- thofe ifued by us until tbs
prgient day, tie sth 1hernidor, nall be nun
and without efc1. The only t.ere Of n.arops
delivered by " from the pref.nt datt, rfh
thermdcr, and watch iilah he declared Under
orr hand,th tey hall he valid unhl furh :.
pooh are not to re compdft IL tbs fci@al.
H. From she fme day, tie fra Y q frnlairs.
18Th year, al tie owners and Gao sins cr,rcifr
't,'f-F o. G''' q'e o. tie Frsnol captain RPM
al. other that th.f- Of &c