Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-12-30
CONGRESS-.
RoUsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FOREIGN LICENCES.
TuuRspAY, Dec. %.


Mr.. Newton also reported bill "to de-
pTive in certain Cases vessels OF their a
merican character and to prevent under
certain disabilities any citizen Of the Unit
ed States taking a licence from any fore fgn
power TO navigate the, ocean or TO trade
with any other foreign and independent
power"
Thc first section of this bill provides
that every ship or vessel wh'ch s9ied Tor
foreign port or place on or before the
day or 100
shall, in case such ship or vessel shall not
rctuca tosom@ port or place on or before
the day of 1909,
forfeit nd lose al the benefits and priviIe
ges appertaining to a ship or vessel of the
United States, sc Provided, such vessel
be not detained by capture or by AN en-
barge, and whca SO detained shall return
50 soon as relea ed.
The second section provides that is any
citizen Of the United States, shall solicit,
take, accept or use or suffer any person
acting under his or her authority to solicit,
take, accept or use a lcence or permission
procured from any foreign power whatsoe-
YER for his or her vessel 10 pass TO or trade
with any other foreign and independent
power, such person shall be considered as
having committed a high ofencc-for the
coaT:n ission of which he or snc shall forfeit
the RICH. and privilege of owning or navi-
eating ever afterwards any vessel pursu.
ant to the laws ofghe United States. FMS
section TO commence and be in operation
from and after the day of 1909 !
THIS bin was twice read and referred to
a committee of the whole
ENFORCING THE EMBARGO.
a Dill from the Senate for enforcing and
making eifectual, the embargo laws, was
read the first time.
Il was then read the second time-Ayes
79-and referred to committee of the
whole.
On the question for what day ir should
be the order, Monday the most distant day,
was negatiye--55 TO A.
To morrow and Saturday were then ma
med The question must by the rules of
the House be taken on the most distant
day. MIR. Quincy called for the Yeas and
Nays on the question whether it should be
postponed till Saturday.
On this motion a snort but warm discu,-
sion arose, in which Messrs, Smile EpDes
and Bacon opposed the postpouement, as
u would serve no purpose bur 70 DELAY en-
forcing the measure and Mcssrs. Gar
denier, I'll OF, Quincy, Livermore, Sloan,
Lyon, Macon, and Dana, supported the
Postponement I'LL Saturday, in order 20 give
time for iuli consideration and examination
Of the bill. Messrs. GARDENER, Elliot,
Quincy, Livermore, Lyon, and Sloan. de-
nounced the principles Of the bill itself.
Ii was made the order OF the day Tor ST.
turday in preference to Monday-6i 70 So
SEAMEN AND MARINES.
On motion of Mr.. Nelson, the House re-
solved itself into a committee Of the whole,
Mr.. PIrKtN IN the Chair, on the bill au-
thorising the President Of the United
States to employ an additional NUMBER ol
seamen and marines. 10 the same coh-
mittee WAS referred the bill from the Sc.
nate to iit ont all the frigates, sc.
0lr. WeisOH SEATED that the Presiden,
had already authority to iit out the vessels
Of the United States, bat was authorised
u employ but ,425 seamen. X was nov
proposed to ft Oug III gun.boats, and ten
small vessels OF war. for which purpose
1900 seamen and marines, and proportion
ate mIdshiPmen and coTporals were wan
ted.