Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-01-05
Congressional. Register.
HOUSE OF REPRE- ~ENrArivEs.


merchanf vesseis svas fakensls IN comniI
RI zee effde waoie. Gen. Ydvnsps III he ehdss
: The oiV seas read as foliosys: - ~
, BE enacted, by the Senate and fIous.
!; oil Representatives of the United States o
1 America IN Congress assembled, That aC
ter due notice of this act at the seyern
! Custom Houses, no msrchan, vessel arm
ed or provided with the meaas OF beint
armed ut sea, shall receive clearance, o
4 nc permitted TO leave the port where sh,
: may be SO armed or provided. wi,hou
y bond, with two suffice nt surctics bcin,
lBtyen by the owner or owners, or by IN,
master or commander, " the use of III
Onitrd 'Sia,es IN sum equal TO 'doubi
Tue value Of said vessel, Conditioned tina
: siich vessel shall not make or commit an,
: depreciation, outrage, unlawful sssault o.
violence against the vessels, citizens, sub
tJerts or territory of any nation in amt,
I With the United States :; provided, tha,
the regulations herein Contained shall no,
; be construed to extead to vessels bound
) 20 any port or place in the Mediterranean,
Tor beyond the Cape of Good Hope.
I Sec. q. Ind BE- il further eaAcfed, That
! If any armed merchant .es.el clearing for
! any port or place within the Metiilerra.
mean or beyond the Cape ofGaod Hope,
shall r'akc or comgiit any depreciation,
i, outrage, or unlawf, assault, or violence
as Aforesaid, on her voy .ge 20 or from, TOR
; Al aay place to which she NAV be bound,
such. vessel with her arms and cargo, or
! the value thereof shall be forfeited 10 the
use of the United States.
I SEC. Q. Md he if further enacied, That
On satisfactory evidence or Information
i being given TO tie collector OF any port.
that any -ssel within the saune IS armed
; or artnihg or provided with the means of
being armed at sea, for the purpose OF
committing any unis.cf.l ael as herein
hetote expressed OF Of Carrying OH by
6 force OF arms, any unlawful Commerce
u shall De the duty OF such collector "a
( dctain such vessel until the case be sub
: Fnlttcd to the President of the Cni,ce
States, who is hereby authorised to cans,
I such vessel TO be disarmed. or 10 r,rde
: clearance to be granted, as he shall
a judge proper.
MIR. Crowniashield moved { amend tn
J, hrst section OF the bill in such msnner a
: 10 prevent armed merchant yessels from
clearing out for one port aud sailiag 10 a
{ mother; IL would prevent deviation from
4 the true voyage.
Mr.. ]. Clay thought this alteration
would extend beyond what was the true
object of the bill; II nigbt interrupt the
1 European trade. while il was oaIy intend.
= ed to prevent the forced trade 20 St. Do
t'uinso. He suggested an amendment to
fthe amendment, viz. 10 confine the for
TEXTURE oil armed vessels clearing for one
port OF the West-Indies, and which shall
4 proceed. to any other por, or place than
4 thae OF her original destination.
/ Mr.. Crowninshield moved then TO
strike out the whole of the second sec
ton, he thoughsi il unreasonable to forfeit
1.-THE cargo aswell as the vessel, her arms,
tackle, and furniture.
r MIR. Rodney asked whether the COM
mittee would net te put To- greater inron
venieace by striking out the sectioa than
| 5y amending il.
) Tn the question tn strike nut, IL was
lost, only 80 voting for the motion.
Mr.. j. Clay then moved tn insert the
, amendment he had suggested, adding
. thereto, " unless compelled by stre., d
geaiher." The sole obiea being to con.
ihS tbS EcbuialiOn o. tne clearance Of arm
ed vessels to those destined 10 the West
indies.
On division, Mr.. J. CLAWS motion
was agreed to--Ayes 50.
e Nj. Crowninshield theD offered snnthsl
; amendment, to extend the regulation o
. the clearance of armed merchant vessels
TO the Mediterranean, and beyond the
Il Cape OF Good Hope.
MIR. ]. CLAW dill not see the necessity ol
u his amendment, as vessels bound 10 those
? lacea never touched at the West-Indies.
III On the question, only % members we've
= in favor Of the motion; Of consequence il
III was not carried.
]. Mr.. CrowDinshield then moved 70 strike
out that part which related to the iorfei.
!. ture Of the cargo, IN which he was sup
ported by
Mr., Egshs who represented j, IS AN e
normous hardship upon the owner To pu,
n at risk . or 100000 dollars, ray Which he
!, vas 20 give suresies; and which might be
{ The value IF The cargo.
n On the question the wosd cargo wa,
: struck ont, ~ being IA the affirmative.
On rao,ion of Mr.. r..,,. att.. a..