The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-17


repeal the law; it was their wish and the
wish OF the treasury department, that it
should not be clogged SO as to produce law
suits. 1t was sound principle of all govern
ments, to prevent litigation and if it was
made to appear that any law which they had
passed gave rise toit, it ought to be amended.
The letter stated a variety of cases which
arose under that law. To remedy these de-
fects was the object of the present motion.
The motion was agreed to; and, before the
House adjoured bill was introduced for the
purpose.
Mr.. DanG moved for the consideration Of
the resolution which he yesterday laid on The
table which being taken up,
Mr.. j.. said, the resolution contemplated a
prospective measure, which might be bene6-
ciai to the :untry and it might require
much consideration. He wished it to be re-
ferred to committee of hc whole House a
week or fortnight hence, when it might be
freely discussed.
Mr. Cro7vninshield wished the gentleman
from Connecticut wouid have been SO good as
to have stated the object he had in view in
moving this resolution. 1t appeared to Mr.
Z. that it would be very improper at the
present time to enter into a regulation of this
kind. Should they at this time authorize mer-
| chant vessels to arm, or now to refuse the right
| OF searching merchant vessels However
| that right had been violated, he did not feel
| prepared at this time totally to deny it. He
had no objection to the resolution lying on the
| table; but till war actually commenced, he
thought nothing should be done on this sub
| jcct he did not feel prepared at this mo-
ment to pass this resolution. 1t was not, he
! observed, a proposition to authorize COM
! mittee 60 investigate the subject, but direct
| proposition to the House to adopt an impor-
| tant measure. Notwithstanding tn abuses
Of the right of search which had taken place
he didno think it proper for them at this
Jmcture TO refuse the right OF searching mer-
chant vessels for contraband articles :; for such
ne presumed was the object of the gentleman
| from Connecticut the resolution appeared
to him TO bear that construction.
| Mr. Da3a said, that If the resolution was
intended TO have the effect supposed by the
! gentleman from Massachusetts at this time,
he should alsohave deemed it improper. The
| resolution embraced two objects to be provi-
! ded Tor when at any time they should be ex-
| pedient, but SAID nothing of the propriety of
our merchant vessels being armed at This
time. One object was, that when the execu-
/ tive authority OF the country gave consent to
! the arming Of merchant vessels, thev might
| sail in unison so as to render their purpose
| OF defence more eficctual. The other object
| was, to remedy any difficulty which might
occur, II merchants should disagree as to the
rates OF contribution to be paid by vessels ;
and it might be a question in the latter case
whether relief could be had bat by suits a.
| SainSt the owners. In their system OF gene
raj laws, they had one which regulated the
distribution of prize money, and one to regu-
late salvage on captures He wished some
thing Of this kind, general law, i'll regard TO
the present SUBJ under consideration. This
was his real object. He had presented it to
tbs House in the first instance, that the House,
i they should be generally satisfied that the
details were impracticable, might reject the
resolution; II they did not, they would refer
il 10 committee to make the experiment
Mr. Chandler could easily Conceive that
the time might come, perhaps it was not far
distant, when the measures contemplated by
this proposition might be necessary but he
could not precisely understand why i had
not in the first instance been referred to a Sc
lcct committee, rather than committee of
the whole as was proposed.
Mr.. Dana wished the subject to be discuss
ed In committee of the whole, that all diff
cuities might be at once presented ana iud-
Gcd OF. II they chose TO send it TO a select
committee, it was proper first TO give it a dis
cussion.
Mr.. Smile thought the course proposed by
the mover Of the resolution was the most cor
rect In committee OF the whole House they
lsAS'iI NiCClNC W uCIIlGF ii law OF I1IS kinl was
necessary. Indeed he could see no objection
to the adoption of the resolution it merely
went 30 discuss a subject which might be pro.
perly coInprized in a standing law of the
country.
The resolution was then referred to com
mittee of the whole on Monday.
On motion OF Mr.. BErveit, the House went
into committee of the whole on the bill from
the Senate for building gun boats, and the
b. for terrifying our ports, as reported by
the committee of aggressions; Mr.. BAssEr
in the chair.
The bill from the Senatc being still under
consideration,
Mr.. ALt1o7' said, when he was on the floor
yesterday, and interrupted by the message
from the President, it was his intention to
have moved an amendment. The Dill pro-
ylded for building 1913 gun boats he moved
to strike cut the words ''and eighty-eight,"
so as to reduce the numberto 100. He thought
IN hundred gun boats in addition to those
thcy already had, would be fully sufficient, if
they also adopted other modes Of defence
He had yesterday stated that he did not be-
lieye the building additional Notifications and
an additional number Of Gun boats, would ef-
feet the object which appeared to be CON
temp.ated by the committee. He confessed
he did not place as much reliance in gun
boats Is some gentlemen did. While he
Thought they might be usefni in aid Of land
batteries or friratcs it was also his opinion