The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-15

Mr.. SkazH hoped he fhould always be careful how
he undertook TO freak matters be aid not under
tand He had L reforc remained Geut on the iii
70 far it had proceeded. He did not fully under
fland the commercial relations between ,h- United
States and other nations but he had full feeline ard
high elimination for the pre!ervaton of the peace and
Happiness OF this country, and this point he esnt
to express an idea which had occurred to him, He
ohierved that it but very few years fnce Irer-
chant veites were permitted in any other safe
than that OF actual and declared war. He fuppo(ed
then, and fill believed it dangerous experiment.
| He believed now that i; was equally dangerous Wbe
Their politically wife to purue the ST. Denim
go trade at uch an imraenle rac he would not fay;
as he had not yet learned to calculate commercial
profits when let again the peace and happiness of his
country he ihould decide for tho!e who under
ftoos this kind of political economy But to his mind
It reluted from the arguments he had heard that it
would be better to refrain arming altogether Yet
as majority Of the houie had decided the contrary
| he ihoud not oppofe their will but he hoped they
would endeavour 70 to fGcurc this power from abule
asto prevent to the utuon every poGble evil which
might oiherwe ariie to the unexapled properity Of
| the Union.
Mr. Cro7rnissisH faid, he regretted the neceritv Of
again troubling the committee on this fibea. The
bill under confederation highly il terenng TO the
merchants OF the United Sta,cs-He had repeatedly
ttated ms objections the bill as it was fri reported
and as 1t was iubequently amended and had moved
an amendment, %hiohhad been iraiyagreed to- This
was to trike the CARGO 20 that bonds fbond he
acted only for double the vauc of the veel without
reference to her loading, and he had the fasfa
to ind that majority had been found in favour of
the propoi. Without repeating what he had obierv-
ed formerly, when this fubiea was before the Houle
ne would call the attention of gentlemen to the great
value of iome of the cargoes ihpped from this coun-
try lie was convinced that the EAT India trade from,
the United States could not be carried on to advan-
tage, If the merchants compelled TO give bonds
III ium equal to the full amount of veei and cargo
- ms commerce was extremely valuable, and he
hoped no embarrafTment. would be thrown in ts VA,
II we whed to refrain the trade to particular r.
land IN armed vehes, for his part he thought it ncbt
be done without touching the whole commerce Of the
United States, but he iaw no reaion why that trade
was TO be wholly interdieaed. Il might be we'll to
oblge thoe who carried it to enter into bonds 20
double the value of the venel tackle and furniture
conditioned that aggrelTon hould be committed
on the vefie of friendly nation and he {hould not
oPpoie this regulation; but in doing this, ne could
lee no neceiIty OF extending thefe conditions 70 all
other vefels He fd that he was certain the bonds
were to be exaced for the argoes of the Faf India
veiels would fall extremely hard on the merchant.
OF the eaftern and middle ftate., who carried on
great and encreafing trade to India. Some carpoes
might amount to three, even four hundred thouf-
and dollars, and in iuch cafes bondnen could not be
procured. In general the cargoes were rot near 70
valuable; but we employed upwards of one hundred
and fifty vefiels in the India and China trade
| and he hoped reffraints would be inuofed
On that commerce. That hps enpayed in
voyages beyond the cape of Good Hope were oe-
Morally provided with arms merely TO defend
hemfeves againt pirates, who were ionietmes found
IN thoie ditant ieas and he knew of no inaDce where
they had committed an aggreiion. or where thew had
made any unlawful ufe of their arms, and he pref,-
med none would occur in future Why then fhou!d
we compel the of thele veels to give uch hea
Wy bonds Why embarrals commerce unoece(Iariiv ,
| Commerce will be always moi 1ouriilng when left
mott free to individual eRterprize. IN ome cafes hele
| bonds would operate the injury of our European
trade. 1t was well known that veGel of two hnn-
dred and Fifty three hundred tons, loaded with fl-
| gar and coffee would be worth nearly one hundred
| thouiaud dollars. Would any gentleman in thi,
1ouie be willing iign bonds for his neighbour for
| that amount They wond not, it might be prefu-
med. Isit probable then, that nerchantwi ffand
urety for another the cuftom-houe for thee enor
nous ums If the bill fhould unfortunately pats with
condition include the value of the cargo in the e
innate of the bonds he ventured to predict that ,he
revenue would be fenlby dimnhsd for thenext wear.
He would not be much urprized if fell fort nearly
million of dollars. 1t would he inpofIibe TO pro-
| cure the necefary bondfrnen in all cafes and the
merchants mutt give UP their voyages to the EAT
Indies in armed veels and if they difsrmed they ex-
rrofed .he:- Property anoff certain ic.: The
bill properly amended, Mr.. Crowninfhield faid
he believed be lhoud vote for IL tho he did not like
all its provifons; but he flppoied fomething mutt be
done, and he would willingly content to regulate the
particular commerce. 70 frequently alluded to but he
coHld not approve of the bill in its preient form
| ITO be continued.