The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-12-10


1. Resulted, That it is expedient to in
crease the military establishment of the U. S.
by raising regiments of infantry to
consit OF men each; regiments of
artillerists OF men each; re-
giments of rihemen of men each, and
regiments of cavalry of men
each.
2. Resolved. That it is expedient to in
crease the marine corps by raising addi-
tional number of men.
5. Resofued, That provision ought to be
tnade by law for the speedy equipment of all
the Higates and other vessels of war belong
ing to the United States. To render the es-
Establishment more efiectual that ships of
guns each be built.
This report was referred to committee of
the whole on Monday next
Mr.. !. Montgomery, offered the following
resolution:
Resolved, That committee be appointed
10 enquire whether any and if any what "a
menoments are necessary to the laws for the
punishment CT certain crimes against the
Snitcu states, and 10 report by bill or other
wise.
Mr.. M. said ne was induced to bring for
ward TINS resolution from an occurrence which
nao taken place i'll the state of MARYLAND.
ne slip Otilclio OF the port Of Baltimore, had
been attacked and captured by a pirate, who
ter which she arrived in safety in port. The
circumstance occasioncd considerable irrita-
tauon IN the city OF Baltimore, and q number
Oh gentlemen went out from Baltimore equip
pea Tor the purpose and took the privateer
i he case was examined before the district
Judge OF Maryland, and Mr.. III. had in his
possession the opinion On the case, which had
Deen transmitted to the executive of Mary
rand by the district Judge, which stated that
the courts of the L. S. had not cognizance of
this crime. Tie judge informed the execu-
ave OF the state that they were renandcd 10
calvert county for trial and the state os Ma
tytand had gone so far as to enou.te OF rcr-
ueman OF the law Of considerable eminence in
the state OF Maryland, as to the proper tri-
bunai, who declared that neither the courts
OF the - .. or OF Mary land had cogni zancc CT
TIC tiifshce. in consequence, the court Of Ca
vert county, W hen the case was brought be-
tore 1t, as it had no cognizance DISCHARGED the.
prisoners, whowere now at large. This was
an onence which Ought TO be- punished some
Where, and asno Court had cognizance iu,-;s-
Gictlon ought to be extended for the purpose.
= ms was the intention of the resolution.
L nc House would perceive that this was a
case OF great importance to the commercial
interests OF the city CT Balti.nCre as the law
az present stood, man who committed rob-
Dery on the high seas could be punished fer.
the offence, but a man who committed piracv
IN pickaroon in Chesapeake bay, was not
amenable to the law ~
Nir. d. handoLIh said he should certainly
nave no objection to any amendment of the
penal laws within the coanisance of Com
Sress but from what he could collect of the
meaning OF the gentleman at such a distance
IL was contemplated to legislate over the wa
eers OF Chesageake bay, which were not with
In the jurisdiction of Congress. SupDose If
were proved to the House that from some de-
AGENCY In the municipal law of a state, or the
administration of the law, that a FOREIGNER
was gong at large after having been arraien-
ca, or was set at liberty for a want of iuris-
aiction, would that justify the House in let's
at'ngfor district within the botiv of a state
Ahd surely the gentleman was sufficiently ac-
Iuai4,ed with the laws of the country to know
eet virginia and Maryland had concurrent
jurIsMction over the waters of ChcsaDeake
pay and that no other power on earth but
'Hose states could legislate on that subject
MI. y. bIontSomcry certainly did moi ex
Hect any objection would have been made "A
ms resolution. He had not submitted y r,-
solution to declare that there was n defect in
tle iaWS' out to enquire whether there was
any - ne gentleman misunderstood him in
surprising that be had invited Congress to le
slSidte over chesapeake bay; his object was
to obtain revisal of the criminal code and
aremedy ofits defects if it should apDear tbat
there was no court which had cognizance Of
this offence. Vi
Mr. RGndoLhh was still of opinion that mi.
no!icn had not been made in the propcr p,acn
winch was the legislature of MARYLAND md
not the legislature Of the L. S. The pert,e-
man had pTet&ced his resolution by s1v;ng
ahat the offence had been committed on ti,e
waters OF chesapeake bay, and that tbere
existed no legal mode of redress. Srpnoee
thc gentleman had said that the c{fcrre had
occn committed in the town of BaltjmCrc
wcuid 1t not have been asked, what the II :
had to do with the town Of baltimore Tbn
u. states had as mach jurisdiction in the ore
as IN the other, and none in either, excent in
special cases. ~ ."
MIR. Quincy hoped this resolution would he
passed: The ideas of the gentleman from
virginia did not appear to him to be altope-
tner correct. The extent of the powers of ,Sis
House, as specified by the constitution was
'to define and punish piracies and fclonics
Committed on the high seas, and offences a.
Galnst the laws of nations.'' UnouestionabIv
the piracy committed in Chesapeake Raw
would not come Under the 1st clause of this
sentence; but if an offence would come With
IN the second clause, being an offence against
ttRe law of nations, it was proper that the
House should enquire into It. The House
would readily sec the propriety OF this power
IA TIL