The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-11
Dehatr,
IN THE HOUSE OF RFSFNyATFvFS
OF THE UNITED STATES.
ThnrEIrr Mnn 90

Tbnyfday Wov. 90.
ne Of" 10 regulate TIE clearance Of armed n.cr--
chant SG9fls evnJ taken up IN COMMITTEE Of t5e
tgboIs, Gen. Naymma in tie Claii.
The bill era5 reaI as toiiozvs:
BE it ena3eG, by the Senate and Ho,fe Of
Representatives OF the United States of Ane-i-
ca in Ccngreis afIenbled, That after due notice
of this act at the feveraI Cuftom Houfrs, no
merchant yeiiel, armed or provided with the
means OF beng armed at fea iha,l receive a
Clearance, or be permitted to leave the nor,
where fhc may be 70 armed or provided, with
out bond, With two fuffcent flireties being OIL
ven by the owner or owners, or bv the ,naffer
or commander, to the ufe of the United States
III ium equal &c double the value of M y.G.t
conditioned that fuch veifcl fhalI NOT n,al,e or
commit any depreciation, outrage, unlawf,,l AZ.
lault or violence againft the velfels, cit;z-pr.
luc]ec's or territory of any nation in anlitv with
the United States (; provided, that the REGULATE
ons herein contained ihall not be conarned 70
extend to veiteis bound TO any port or place in
the Mediterranean or beyond the Cape of Good
Hope.
Sec. 2. 1fa4 be it further enoi7ed, That il
any armed merchant veTe clearing for apv
port or place within the Mediterranean or he.
yond the Cape of Good Hope, fhall make or
commit any depreciation, outrage, or unl7v,ei,I
aiiauit, or violence as aforetaid, on her vovsor
TO or from or at any place TO which (br yosy
be bound, iuch veliel with her arms and cargo.
or the value thereof ihalI be forfeited 20 the
uie OF the United States.
Sec. 3. lind belt further enaFrG, Tia. on
satisfactory evidence or information being eiven
10 inc collector of any port that any yeGel with
IN the tame IS armed or arnng, or provided
with the means Of being armed az Eea 70, the
purPoie OF committing any unlawful acf "a
nerein before exPreficd, or of Carrying on by
force OK arms, any unlawful commerce, il mall
be the duty offuch collector to detain fl,ch VET
LEI uniil the cafe be fubmtted to the prefdeut
OF me United States, who is hereby authorized
to cauie inch vellei 10 be difarmed, or 10 order
clearance 10 be granted, as he (liall Judge pro-
per.
Mr.. Cro70nigl5ieLd moved to amerd the fri
lection OF tie bill in filch manner as to prevent
armed merchant veilels from clearing ont for
one pore and falling TO another; it would pre-
vent deviation from the true voyage.
mr.. J. Clag thought this alteration would
extend beyond what was the true obeGt of the
Dill; 1t might interrupt the European trade,
While IT was only intended 10 prevent the for-
ced trade to st. Domingo lie iiiscefed an
amendment the amendment, VIZ. 10 con6ne
the forfeiture Of armed veGes clearing for one
po't OF the Weit-Indies, and which fhall pro-
ceed to any other port or place than that of her
original defination.
! AIy. Croz0nigNicld moved then to H,il-e out
the Wh9le Oh the iecond lection, be thoyr-hf it
Unreasonable 70 forfeit the cargo as wei! 40 the
veGci, her arms, tackle and furniture.
! mr.. Roday diked whether the committee
would not ne put to greater inconvenience
I by friking out the fiction than by amending
! it.
On the 1uehiou to ftrike out, Il was lof, or
J ly 81 voting for the motion.
7 Mr. 7. Clay then moved to infert the amend
ment ne had iuggefed, adding thereto ualcss
compelled by ftrefs Of weather" The f,le oo-
Ject beingt to conhne the regulation ofthe clear
ance Of armed veilels TO thofc detained TO the
| Wef-Indics.
On dlviion, Mr.. J. Clay s motion wa D.
! greed tO-Ayes 60.
! MIR. Cr07oaighUeid then offered another a.
incndT~n', to extend the regulation of lie clear.
ance OF armed merchant veGcis TO Gle M. d.
tcrranean, and beyond the Cape of go,d ,t,r,~.
Mr. j. cLy did not fee the nccslIi.y Of t5; ,
amendment, as ve1eis bound to thoic 1;ac-sue-
yer touched n The Weh-tndies.
On the queftio1 only % members we're 20 s,-
) yo' OF the motiooi OF confcqucnce IL was u,t
carried.
: Mr.. Cro1eaigE5isId then moved 10 Rrik q
{ that pari which related TO the forfcfnre az ts,
cargo, , which he Was fuppSrtcd ~