The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-01-14
S,at o. Gotsr,,,nrns.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MONDAY, January 6.

The Speaker laid before the HouG. A letter
received By him from David Rumfey, repre-
ientlng that his fon, though pofia5itd of a pro-
tection, had been imprefed Ivy the Britilh &
that, notwithstanding his mo,t ftrenuous exert-
ons, he is unable to Obtain his reeale. The
letter is couched in unietterrc, but pathetic
terms, and concludes in the following manner !:
" loft an eitate by lending money to carry on
the revolutionary war, {. fufiered every thing
bur death, by being ptifoner among them (,be
Bnn.h) III Canada. ] lay fifteen months in
ciofe confinement, whea bore the rank of a
full! captain; and if this is all the liberty have
gained, TO be hereaved of my children in that
form, and they made ilaves, i had rather be
without 1t. hope that Cvnsrefs will take fone
| ipeedy methods to relieve our poor treiled
children from under their wretched hands,
whole tenderet mercy is cruelty"
Referred.
Mr.. Varnum from the committee on that part
of the Presdent's Mrilage which relates TO the
organization of the militia, the augmentation of
the land forces, &c. made a further report in
part, (n6'nhfing bin, authorizing n detachment
Of the militia Ct tie United States which was
referred to committee of the whole to.mor-
row.
The bill authorizes the PEcfidcnt Of the Unit
ed States 10 require the Esecstivss of tie rsfbec-
fiqs .;H"tcs to bold their qno.a Of one hundred
fboYand militia in rea4i1eJ5 TO march at u mo
'nenf's evarnins; authorizes the acceptance of
volunteer corps as part of the detachment, &
apProPnates dollars for the pur-
poles OF the act.
Mr.. Clinton prefented menoral from the
merchants of the city of Hew-Yoik.
The memorial commences with exprefIing
the deepeft anxiety and alarm at the recent con-
duSt of Great-Britain, as invalive of neutral
rights, and destructive of the juf, aud hereto
fore authorized trade of the United States. The
memorialifs declare their mott decided protect
againft the doctrine recently fct UP by Britiih
Tribunals, which they pronounce TO be 10 direct
violation of an inconteftihle right. They repel
with Indignation the iniinuation of fraud or
ch'cane. They fay that, in the Brititb doctrine,
they perceive that the ancient land mark is re-
moved. but they cannot fee iu its room a beacon
to direct their courfe. They view that doctrine
as indicative of FIFTEEN devifed for the eatire
dehruetion Of the coloniRi trade, which forms
the motf important branch of foreign commerce.
From this unprecedented doctrine they appeal
to the ancient principles which regulate the in
tercourie Of nations. They declare that the
maintenance of fuch a principle as Britain AZ
ierts, mutt in the pretent unparalleled fituaton
Of affairs, be GlnruSive of the commerce of the
United States.
After theie and ether mprefIivc preliminary
remarks, the memorialiits proceed to detail OF
iome of the mott frriouG consequences that
could not fail TO refult from the abortion Of the
Britiih doctrine. Among thefe it is repreicrted
that it could not fail to difturb the whole nteri
or relations Of the citizens of the United States
of every defcripton--that it would deprive us
OF foreign articles that we want, and compel US
either 10 take articles that we do not want, or
to tutfer our iurplus produce to PERTH on our
hands-that it would probably lead to retaliat-
ing meaiures on the part of other nations than
GreatBritain, which would inevitably draw in
their traih the devatations of war that il would
turn capital into new channels; that it would
lead to the contribution that every eHentia ar
ticle Of fubfifance was contraband-and that
under the pretext of deftroying the trade of her
enemies Great-Britain is about to appropriate
to her own ufe that of her friends.
The memorialits reprefents the humiliating
and oppreiiive conduct of Britih fhips of war
before the ports and harbours of the u. States !;
repel the infAuation that the American flag is
the fraudulent cover of enemies property and
declare that the portion OF this commerce at
tached to the port of New ork is 70 trilling
as to be altogether unworthy of notice.
The memoriaIiits declare a firm reliance on
the juitice and energy of the government, and
confidence in their doing nothing which ihall
abandon the great rights Of commerce.
port, they express a hope that energetic inca
fUres will he purified for its defence.
They tate the opinion that IN the prefent
fate Of our naval force, il Is time TO ceaGe par
lying with the pirates of the Weil-Iides.
They conclude with representing the preftnt
criss as peculiarly ferrous and perilous, and as
requiring the cordial cooperation of every clals
of citizsns with the government Of the United
States.
The memorial is Gated to have been figned
by the unanimous order of the merchants az
fcmblcd on the goth of December.
On the motion Of MIR. Clinton, this memorial
was referred to = committee Of the whole on
the Aatc Of the snion and ordered to be print
cd.
The MEMORIAL, of which we have thus given
a very imperfect iketcb, 10 coucbed in terms OF
dignity, is animated by bold fpirit, aud is re-
! piete with important information and argu.
meut. We iiaIl, as foon as pofTible, offer it al
! full length.
! MIR. Findley, from the committee Of EleGfi.
ons, to whom was referred, the petition of Johr
Douglas, praying the IIoufe of Representative
OF the United States, to appoint a commiiIiqi
10 let ia Philadelphia, for the purpofe os iuyel