The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-08
ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, yANyARr 8, 1905
BILL coNcrsN1NG sgAmEN."

The reader has no doubt obferved in our ex-
trai9s from the Tournals of the Houfe of Dele
gates, the appointment OF Meifrs. TazcweIl,
Ker, Peake, Du-Val, Blake, Riddick, Edwards
& Sehrell, as fele6 committee to prepare and
bring in bill, 20 concerning feamen."
On Saturday Mr.. Tazcwel reported the bill
and accompanied it by the following explanSti-
ons:
He obferved that whenever feamen deferted
any American vcllels, the captain enjoyed all
the necefary means ofredrefs by an application
20 the magiftrate, he could obtain warrant to
zpprehend the delinquent, and he could thus
compel him TO comply with his Stipulated con
tratt. Bat ihould the captain OF foreign vef-
FL apply to the fame authority, he could not
enjoy the fame means of redreis. No magit-
trase had conceived himfeif authorized by the
acf Of allembly OF 1900 TO iffue his warrant for
the apprehenton of feaman, who had articled
himfelf to the captain OF a foreign vel1el.
What was the consequence! The feaman
hearing of the interpretation, which had been
put upon this att by the magistrates of Virginia,
would frequently defert their yeiiels upon COM
ing into port, although they had bound them
ftlves by mott idcred contract, and although
thew might have received part of their wages
III advance. Having thus violated their CON
tract, they would then make boat Of their
impunty, and laugh at the disappointment,
CAPTAIN. Being rehdent of the Target fea-
port town in Virginia, fuch fcenes had frequent
w neen the filbie6ts Of his obferVation and re-
greet He had fometimes feen in Norfolk, the
crews of or 10 veiels going at large IN the
hrrcts, becautr there was no competent authorl-
" " at leaf no authority according to the in
depreciation cftbe law, 70 compel them 40 obc-
dence. When fuch fcenes then were atted
with impunity, II was not d,ihcult to aicertan
their cOntequenCes upon the commerce of the
fate. The abundance and cheapuefs of our
land aecedarily limits the number of our own
vc,lcs: while the richnefs Of our foil fGppl:es
theft with an eXuberent produce for traufpor-
tattOG. We have not then among ouciclves
a fUfficieDt number of venels, TO carry
OF our commercial intercourse with o.
ther countries, ard we NUT princi-
paIiy depend upon the veffcls of other coun-
triSs, to maintain our commerce. But theft
veftis are deferred from coming into our ports
by the immediate deltrtion oftheir fcamen, and
the difficulty and eXpence OF emitting another
crew. This expence VII principally fail upon
the farmer. 1t is an additional colt ia the tranf
Uorfl.ion of the produce, and Ike the freight OF
tie yeiiei, viii fall principally upon the rToiu-
cer What then is the confeqnence! The New
.Eng!aad ve'iels which are protected from this
Inconvenience, can afford TO convey the pro-
dIce on better terms, and will run loh with e
very freight. But II the t7fne means OF Tediels
were extended TO the captains and owners OF
European vefIeIs, this monopoly would no long
ereSiG, and merchants would have to pay :
lower freight, becauf- the vclels would then
bio ag7init each other.
There was another confederation which Mr.
T. fad ought TO have comfortable influence
There wasnot mercialuatiouinwhicl
The f1me evil exited. There wa no European
port in which rcdreis couid not be- obtained
fof foa eparticularmethod had Away been defy
mated in the Coniular conventions, which our
government has formed with others. When
faman deicrts in a foreign port, the captain ap-
plies to the cOuiul, who iiJes bis warrant foi
experimenting the ieam1n IF The preient bill
wasrecommended by no other reaion, it certain.
ly ought be pafed on 4 principle Of hofptallty
on principle ofequal Juice. Thrfe obiersatt
ons might be carried itiil further. There is moi
fate III the union which had not adoptcC
this policy. In al the towns 10 the north o.
thu Potomac, aud 10 Charieaon the pTincipa
port to the fputh, deftrtng feamen may be re-
deemed. What Is the cuuieqvence Foreigr
veifsls prefer going to thefe ports. Aud VIC
though probsbl, hyperion to the oibef fates II
commercial advantages, are thus thrown behinC
them by our own laws.
Perhaps it may be objected to this law, tha
Il would be tyranncai in its operations, a