Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-01-05
Tie II Csats .Sinsfs.J

aiding new section Iothc tTl, to exten,
tthe security against tbs commanSiepi IN K
ling also an improper use of the ANS IN
: trusted to him, or selling them 10 other;
in the West Indies. .fss es
4 ACQUISITION was however previously tsk-
en- on a motion 10 strike out wha. rssrrcl.
ed the forfeiture of the cargo in,he foui, IN
section, which the mover obnerssd, he
would not have made, but thal,ihe words
had been stricken out Of the second sc Sir
on; bis own private Judgment being that
the cargo as we'll as the vessel should bes
forfeited for an Improper use of their
| arms; but he moved i, for The sake Of con.
sistency. @s
On the question, there were 81 for s,rik-
ing Out, aud 40 in The negative
i MIR. Eppes thought the bill founded on
erroneous principles instead OF ne,u,t.
ting our merchantmen TO arm and ailer-
wards Furnishing them h the abuse of
those arms, he conceived 1t would BE- inii.
|nitely more prudent and polite to restrain
them altogether from arming.
Mr.. ). Randolph. fully impressed with
J he importance Oft ideas suggested by
Mr.. Eustis,in relation 10 selling their arms
'.and vessels in the West ladies, or ratl.er
to the people Of 81. Domingo. rfeuyht ie
would be better Tor the committee. &c the.
Whole TO rise, report the amen imen,s.
that the house might Incorporate IN, M
into the bill, and direct the whuis 10 be,
printed.
This course was accordingly PURSUED, Sc
the bill made the. order for We dnese '.
Thursday, D-ceni6ey is.
The consideration Of the bnl to t.eu.
Iaje The Gle rince OF armesi rnetchan. :.
seis, Was resumed. The bill us am. .,o..,j
was read a. follows:
q OH 10 regulate me clsoraalee Of Gr5sd
r7erehant vessess.
BE IL enacted. by the Senate and Hon.,
OF representatives OF the Unned Sasss
OF America, IN Congress assemb,ed. bnf
aliei, due no,jce oil this aci at The s,verst
| custom houses, no merchant sessei arm, u,
or provided With the means or penn. ~
ed AZ sea. shall receive d ciearanca. or t,,-
Psfmltted TO leave the port where she
may be so armed er provided, without
oone, with two susfcieDt sure,ies bein.-
give ny the owner or. owners, OF BY the
tnas'er or commanser, 10 the use OF :. /.
Ch''eo states, J. sum equal to double
tue value oil sad vessel. conditioned Nat
sueh vessel shall no make o cen init any
depreciation, outrage. unlawful assault, or
violence, nor make any he's ua.awful ,jse
oil her arms against the vessels, ci,izrns.
SUBJECTS, or territory OF any nation IN ami
~ with the United States Frouala.
That The regulations herein contained
shall not be construed 10 extend 10 yes.e,S
p"und TO any port or place ~ The ged;-
.erranean, or beyond the Cape OF Good
Hope.
Sec. 2. ind sef further enacfed Tb,.
u any armed merchant vessel clear;r, for
any port or place within the Msdi,trrs.
hean or beyond the Cape Of Good orr.
snail make or coDrnn any ,eore,Ia,,an
outrage, unlawful assault or vi / N =,
ioresaid, on her voyage to or FROM arr
place to which she may be bound ar elss.
where, or shall wiifuliy proceed 10 anv
port or place in the West Indies. s,ci,
vessel with her arms, tackle, and furn;.
lure OF the value thereof shall be Forfeit
ed TO the use Of the United States.
Dec. ). Ind be a. further enacted Thor
on satisfactory evidence or inlorma,,o-
being gwen to the collector OF anv nor,-
Sast any vessel within the same ia ar,a.1
OF arming, nr provided with tie means &c
beng armed at sea, for the purpose 81
committing any unlawful ael as berei, be-
tore expressed, or Of cafrYtr o. ON h, ,orr,.
oil arms, any unlawful commerce. i, shin
DC the duty OF such cole elyr 10 claim,
such vessel until the case be snhmiifettto
the President OF The United Stats, who g
hereby authorised 10 cause such vessel IN
be disarrn d, or to order . cIearancs 10 N.
granted, as lie shall judge proper.
Sec. =. .fad Be if /l4rfier enaeied 1bo,
II any armed vessel as aforesaid. sb,,i Nc
coed 20 sea without a clearance, or shall
leave the port, where her detention or d.
srmIng shall be required, contrary To- The
provision of his act, such vessel with her
arms, furniture, and tackle. or the value
Thereof, shall be forfeited 70 the use Of lie
United Ststes,
Mr., CrpwniDshield moved to s,-'te orr
We proyiso 10 the lst section, which de-
clsred that the regulators contained ),
'he bill shon'd NO, be co strued 10 ex4end
10 We 'seis b and 10 the Mediterranean %
beyond the Cape Of Good Hope.
Mr. Eppes observed there were rniv
two cases IN winch nations usually allow
Il