Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-01-19
Congressional Register.
uOUsEoF REPRESENTATIVES..
-r=
71ursd1v, Oecess5er IS.


i 11ursd5y, Deceps5er 8.
Debate On fhc 6,N 10 regulate me clearance o.
! armed merchant vesseis.
i (Consinued.J
Mr.. Clarke voted for the FIRST section I'M.
der an impression that it would be prop CT
10 permit merchant vessels in some cases
< Ia defend themselves. He was therefore
willing that they should have arms on
board for the purpose OF self-defence; but
while he Wa wiling 10 provide for ti,ei,
security, he conceived himself bound n
restrain them from the commission ol
Icrimes; and this amerdmenl goes no
further. Ii does no, deprive them of the
lrigh, of seIf-dcf-nce, and the privilege 81
rcpelling force by force. They are au.
thorised TO beat another vessel Of when
attacked. lint they are restrained from be-
coming The aggressors. The amendment
does not go 10 deprive sailcr ~ single
privilege AT sea, which he possesses on
shore, ard surely ii will moi be contended
thai because man lisa sailor he is enti-
tiedto exclusive privileges. A mariner
has no right To attack arcther man or
shore, neither ought he 10 be privileged
to attack another at sea; bpt his rights,
be they wiiaithey may. ere the same both
~ land End yea. II This we're a prcpo-i.
ton TO put arms in the hands Of > mar
setting out on his 'raveis, would any one
obiea to punish hin, sor every unjust and
criminal abusS Of such arsrls. There is
mt member on THIS Aoor, but whose
mind would revolt at the IDEA ofrrofEct;ar
such q man, moe th,a if ne I,ati remain.
e6 al home. Why thcn do gcntlesncr
advocate Distinction between the man
travelling By land, and sno;her iraversipg
the ocean; IN each case the proteslrg
arm ot his country is extended to preserve
TO him his legal and constitutional righ,sI
lin each case then aiso,shouid the sword
lof ius,ice prrfprn is Office without dis
dntsioa or favor. This regulation Inc was
convinced wnHid have beneficial elFe9
upon foreign Nations, as al the same time
| II would sh-v them that we win pro;cSl
], our iawfci commerce, that our citizens are
not authorised to offend any other people
and thet if they do they viii be punished
( by Iheir government in manner proper
,iioned 10 the ofF-nce.. On these two
! grounds he was in favor of the motto for
amendment. first, II would 30 TO prevenf
an offence by fear OF the punishment
and second. it would have good cffe9
upon the beIligsrent nations of Europe
with whom we are q; peace, TO psrsergc
our commerce from wanton spoIistion.
Mr.. Smile had also agreed to ,he first
seclion Of the bill. because he thought IL
useful that our merchant vessels trading
to the West Indies during its present IN
settled state, should be permitted to ar,l
IN their owl, defence but at the same
time there was another circumstance c.
qually important to be attended 10, that
was 10 reserve peace between the IIni. |
ted States and other nations unfortunate
~ engaged in war; He was of opinionl
tina. stree merchant vessels were permit !
ted to arm, every precaution ought Ia be !
taken against the improper use of their
arms. The gentleman from Massachu-l
sets (Mr. Crowninshicld) has represents
ed the American merchants as set oil
pesceable and harmless men. lie did
not carry his idea Of the vir,uous and for
bearing disposition fthis class of citizens
iqrIte so far; but he honestly believed
they were as Tirtuous ard honorable as a.
nv other set &C merchants on the face OF
the globe. But he believed that they had
All the in6rmides TO which mankind were
liable, as wellas other persons constitute
ing the other classes Of the community,
to ssy nothing Of the nature OF their call
ing which many writer's supposed to be
bottcmcd on principles Of avarice. BE
that however as it might, he did not think
II impossible hat seamen's condna az
SEQ nigh, a. times be as irregular and as
Improper as a laudman's on shore. He
could not think the crew Of q ship at sea
would be more orderly than our own CHI.
zens residing in our own territory. Yet
we have here such crimes as ielonies and
misdemtsnors, for the commission o.
which the law has furnished correspon.
dent remedies. and Why rot make SIM
lar provision FOR similar offences commit
ted OF sea. lie did not know bu, the
temptation at sea was stronger than or
shore, a weaker vessel nigh, easily be-
come the prey Of the stronger, and III,
impunity arising from concesinent nigh
: induce men 70 risk something more in one
case than in the other. In a moral poio'
OF view a murder committed at sea wa,
l a. f..ft