Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-01-24
+ = s Il S G. RIP T.

'aew Inc temper OF somc OF the members
Of Congress.
have good reason to believe, that
'he government of Great Britain 10 de-.
'eem'ned 10 use every means in IT'S power.
20 emoarrass, and if possible, to crush tho
Commerce of the United Sta,ss.''
In SENATE cfthe UNITED STATES,
JANUARY 80, 1906.
Agreeably 20 netice given on the I6,b
inst. Mr.. Wright asked and ob,sin-d
rcsvs TO bring in the following bill,
winch was read and passed 10 second
reading.
Il oiH jor fie protection and Standardization
Of american Sesmen.
whereas, by the treaty Of amity. conn
merce ard navigation, made between his
britannia majesly,se the u. States a, Lon.
don, on the 18Th day OF November, one
Thousand seven hundred and ninety four.
oy the first afticls of said treaty, it is a.
greed" That there shall be firm. inv,o.
iasie and universal peace, and true and
sincere friendship between bis Bri,annie
majesty, his heifs and SUCCESSORS, and the
United States Of America and between
their respective countries, ,crri,orie,. cir,
les, towns, and people of every deg se.
without exception Of per ,cns or places.
And whereas, in direGt violation of saiJ
treaty. h's Britannia majesty has caused
10 be Impressed out of the sh ps f the
United States, sailing on the high seas.
divers citizens Of sa'd United States: and
as comprils& thtm to serve on board the
'mPa OF sar This said Britannic n-i..stv.
n violation OF their liberty, and al the hs-
Eard o'their lives; and in despite of the
circumstances ofihc gs,errmen, of said
United States, continues said uri us, prac,
tee {; and The seamer If the United s a,es
Impressed, by to- &C. retains in has Aer-
vice. And whereas, the United States
are solemnly bpund 10 protect all those
who are bound in aIlegisncs TO said Uni.
lad States. Therefore,
he ii enacted, by the Sen.to and II,us.
o. Representative, of he United S,a,esof
America, in Congress Assembled, That
from and alter the d.y Of
next any person or persons, who
shall impress any seamen on board anv
weasel bearing the flag Of the United
States, upon the high SEES, or in any ri.
yer, haven, bsson or bag under prete xt or
color OF a commission from any foreign
power, ,n-li for every such efTeacs lie ad.
Judged pirate and felon; and on con.
vietion shall suffer death. Ard ,La trial
in any such case nnyy be had where the
offender is apprehended or may be h.st
brought.
SEC ., .fndbeh further enacted, Thas
1t shall be lawful for any American sea.
man, smiling under the Gag or the United
States, On spy person or person. ateniot.
ing To impress him by force from on b,arI
any yesselo of the United States, upo, tbs
nigh seas CT IN any river, haven, bason,
or Gays TO repe, such force by shooting,
or otherwise killing and destroying the
person or persons 50 attempting to i'm.
press him, and shail, as an encourages.
mens TO resist, be emitted to a bounty
OF two hundred dollars, to be paid to
him or his order, or legal represe n at;yes.
out OF any money in the treasury, not
otherwise appropriated.
Sec. 8. Ind De it further Enacted. Thar
on information being gIven TO the Pres;.
dent OF the United States, proving salts.
'actofiiy TO nm, That any ci,izen of The
United States, who shall have been i'm
pressed or forced By violsnce or threats.
TO enter on board any foreign vessel, shall
seiier death. or any othsr corporal pun.
ishment By The authority OF such FOREIGN
power it shall be iSw ful for the presi.
dent ofthe United S'stes, TO cause tb,.
most rigorous and exa!l retaiia,ion on NJ
ny subjects OF that government, whom he.
ia hereby authorised to seize and take Tor
that purpose.
Sec. 8. Ind be IT further enacted, That
every American seaman, heretofore or
hereafter Impressed and compelled to
serve on board any foreign ship or vessel.
shall be entitled TO receive as an indem.
MITIGATION Tor his slavery and hardshins -,
beard the ship IN which he ba, been, orr
sheH be compelled tn SO va, from the dsy
OF ms impressment, the sum &C siz;y dol
lars per months for every month ne has.
or shall serve, On 5oard said ship or ships
and that the said seaman. his heirs, exc.
cutoFs, administrators, or assigns, shall
be entitled 10 recover ths same IN tho dis
tnet court OF the state in which the p,,e
lies, from which the vessel cleared. or
the voyage in which he was taken, BY A..
laehment OF any priva'e debt, due frr,
any citizen of the United States, to any
sublect of that government, BY wbo,e
'uoJsets ne had been impressed and mat