The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-01-18

murder committed iea was as hciiious an offence
as murder perpetrated ihore and if committed OH
the body OF foreigner the crime was as great in the
eye OF heaven rs if committed on a fellow citizen
But he would as gentlemen of what they were afraid
hey mult allow that the Of veiels may conn
niJ theie crimes. Do they wifi to refcue them from,
condgn puniihment9 Surely not But if ftip's crew
make no uolawful ufe of their arms, they are not OBJ
noxious to any ptniihrnent He hoped the amend
7'ent would be agreed to, for the honor of Congress
and the fecurty of the peace Of the nation He had
good reSou to believe that the agents of certain ma
ton had a,ade loud complaints to our administration
with reipe6t the conduit of fevera American vefes
trading to the Wet Indies IF this fetaon is added to
the bill it will evuce the diipoton of the govern
ment of the United States prelerve peace and do
Juitice to all the nations of the world.
On the quetion to infert the fiction propofed
by Mr. EPpes there So in its favor and SC apaizh
The Committee then ro!e, & reported the bill
with the amendments agreed TO.
The Houfe having agreed TO confder the amend
ment.
On motion of Mr. ]. CLAY an amendment was
made tnbftituting for the words citizen or citizens
&c the words pr,on persr, reians zoff5in tie o.
"ited Stat:S or Territories bereeE
M, K. G'j7eoN thought tia, giving bond for dou-
bic the value of the veel her tackle appa rand fur
n'ture, was uticent, without adding the cargo if O.
refuie their aent to 70 much OF the amendment The
gentleman (NIr J. Clay be ure, had faid that the
bond taken iii the cafe of Eaa- Indiamer was merely
formal He did not think Cnugrels ought to lerlate
on this prlnciple-When iecurties are demanded thew
ihoud be for an efficient purpoe, and rot merely no
ninal. Why ihould veie! falling with arms to In
dIa be compelled to give fecurity on her cargo of
100000 dollars for million of dolars Is there more
rk OF an improper uie of her arms than in the cafe of
Welt inlflillal wit IF L.
gives ecurity only for 10000 dollars or is murder
or felony committed by one vefel lefs murder or
felony committed by another and yet fronlthe diff
parity OF the bonds would be led TO fufpea that
that iuch was the idea. Viewing this additional in
combrance on commerce fhaciSle that would fub
jeS inall traders to real Inconvenience while it would
facilitate the enterpr of merchants of LARGE capta
ana long etabiiihed credit, ne to call the yeas
and nays on the queaion of agreeing to this part of
the report OF the committee of the whole.
Mr.. 7. Gay iaid it true thai he had faid that
bonds given at the cuitom hou!e for EAT India films
were merely formal it is not however becaule they
are unneceary improper, but becaule the comn,an
ders OF fuch vefiels of flch confederation
and prudence that they would not fubiea ,hemfelves
20 the forfeiture, and 70 far he was willing TO admir-
that the amendment would ALTO be reere formal re-
guatioi, to the clearance of armed Ear Indiamen
But as to vefels bound the Welt Indies, it was no.
torious fac that the value Of the yee and her equip
ment formed no proportion to the profits made on the
cargo, they have fortunate run, and it was asan
the Illicit commerce of fuch that ne wihed to be fe
cure. He was unwilling unneceHar;ly to fhackle CON-
msTae es any gentleman; -. m. regulation was not
an unneceliary ihackle it ore abfoueiyr
by exiting circumstances, and will no, work hard
hip on any merchant engaged in lawful commerce
One thing, however, he acknowledged It would effect
1t will proven; in future that fpeciss or trade which
to fay the ieaft of it, approaches very near to lci,
trade at the pieient moment. A merchant, Willing
to rua the Tiik of iuch voyage as he had alluded to
would prefer to make it unarmed rather than armed
becaufe he know. the conequences and the probabil
ty of tranfqreffng fore of the provions of this
irsd been iuggeifed r,sr bonds would be rcGuT
ed; he did not believe they would as it was not The
practice under the law of 1898, which was expreled
IN the fame terms the amendment before the Hour.
IF the Houfe ihould however conlidcr this re9aIa
ton as bearing hard the EAT India trade, thew
might remedy by refuiing TO with the com
mttee OF the whole in itrikng ont the proyifo.
Mr.. EXfi5 didnot conlider the capacitvofcor,
mittinga crime as enlarged in proportion tothe
value of the cargo, perhaps it was the reverfs.
But he would obferve that if captain with A
very valuable cargo on board was to commit e.
ven trif1ing mif!emeanor aganh this aa, the
owner would loie his all, both vcf4el and cargo:
under iuch imprefiions he imagined it would be
extremely difficult to obtain the requirite fecu-
r1ty. Where is the man that can find fecuritv
TO the amount of A million of dollars, that the
captain of hs fhip, his officers or crew, lbau
not commit fome fnall degree of violence even
upon friends, for enemies may often afIume the
garb of friends and thereby render even friends
iulpected. The law of 1898 required bonds TO
the amount Of the value of the vefTel, tackle 3,
apparel. and did not even extend to the number
of guns The might carry.
Mr. K. Gri(zV0Id again declared that CONNER
ciai enterprife would be greatly diminiihed if
a bond was required for both venel and cargo.
The cnntequence would be that thofe merchants
only who poGefs large capitals and ndepen-
dent fortunes could give bond. And while the
young and frall traders would be incapable of
Tending Jingle hip to fea, the large fpeculatif
would be enriching himfelf of the total profits
Of a very advantageous commerce.
Mr. =. CLAY faid the obfervations of the
two gentlemen who proceeded him applied 4.
gainft triking out the provifo. But he did not
fee that the petition Of the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. r. Grifwold) was of fuch
great weight as he leemed tn affirm 10 IL. For
his part he did not Zee The III conleouence of re.
sulations which might prevent ran, fpeculati.
ons on the part Of young traders upon fnali ca
Pitais N engaging in voyages that might over
Train their cr=dit, and prove their ruin. AS il |
re'peffed The trade to the Wet Indies, he no.
ped the houfc you'd agree to the amendment
ft PlB.t. and A..