The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-12-07
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
FRIDAY, Dec. /.
NAVIGATION LAWS.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE,
FRIDAY, Dec. /.
NAVIGATION LAWS.
MIR. Macon SAID he wished early to call
the attention of the House to two motions,
the subject OF which he deemed TO be very
Important. The first of them had been
formerly submitted to the House by gen
tleman from Georgia (Mr. Earl, but never
acted ON, and afterwards by a gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. ID. II Wiliams)
the other had been presented by Mr.. Macon
himself at the last session, but at so late
period that it had rot been acted on. 1t ap
peared to MIR. Macon that these motions,
combined with one submitted at different
times by gentleman from Connecticut
(Mr, Dana) would form something like
system. The object of the first motion he
was about TO submit was to prohibit any
foreign vessel from Coming from any port or
place to which the vessels of the United
States could not go Gentlemen would at
once observe that there were many places
whence vessels came to this Country, to
winch we cannot go, and would perceive
the extent oil the motion. The other motion
related to sea letter vessels only. MIR. Ma
con SAID he wished to put them out of the
nation, and to have no vessels belonging to
the United States which were not perfectly
American. He would have our vessels
wholly American, or they should not ar
ali partake OF the character of American
| ,esst'is
After declaring that he considered his
motions as calculated for permanent regula
tions, Mr.. Macon submitted the following
resolutions:
Resolved, That the Committee of Com
MERGE and Manufactures be instructed to
enquire into the expediency of prohibiting the
entry OF any vessel into the u States from
any port or place 10 which vessel of the U
States is not admitted by permanent regula.
ton OF the government owning such port or
place by treaty.
RESOLVED. That the Committee of Com.
MERGE and Manufactures be instructed TO
enquire into rhe expediency of authorising
the registering anew of vessels builI in the
United States, which are owned in whole bv
citizens OF the United States, any disability
incurred by such vessel to the Contrary not
outstanding, and also into the expediency
OF toroidding by law, sea letters or any Gus.
tom house document, being granted to YES
seis not regis cred or licensed accovding to
law or not owned bv citizens OF the II States
within limited time alter the passing of
such law.
Mr.. Ntzvton having seconded these mo
tons, MIR. Macon moved 10 refer them to
the Committee of Commerce and Manufac
lures.
Mr. Dana observed that these resolutions
lAd IN view merely m Inves, ;gation by the
committee OF Commerce and manufactures
into he subject OF them. On such a cues
tion 1t was bit necessary 20 nsk whether the
subject be of itself interesting, and whether
! or not the proposition bears on the face of it
so much of probability and proprety that
there could be no objection to it on the score
OF Its being utterly inadmissible. Unoss
therefore the propositions were utterly mad
mssible, If they related to "A subject inter
esting TO the nation in time of peace as well
as of war, if they had connection with one
great branch of national policy. there could
be ma objection to have them investigated
by committee. Without expressing any
opinion on the first proposition, which EN-
hraced a variety of important considera
tions, Mr. ID. SAID, that the motions were re
commended TO the House by tlieir being
rounded Oh permanent principles. to which
the nation could adhere i'm every alternative .
and IN addition To the atten ion due to then,
because they were of a permanent cllarac
ter ana not merely temporary expedients,
they might contribute to some Of those mea
sures OF temporary policy deemed proDer
ana without possibility of thwarting, might
perhaps AID any project the government
( might adept. rs to the second resolution.
that he considered important in another
point ct view. as tending TO encourage A
merican Mauufac uies. If there be any
manufacture which requires great %, ecision
| OF science and experimf ntal skill. any one
which embraces more of the profound and
elevated principles o. science and requires
more deXerity IN practical execution than
| any other, IT is the constructing OF ships -
With these ideas, which Mr.. Daaa said
were not applicable to the merits of the pro
position, but To the ques-i1n of reference
he shonId vote for referring hem. He wa.
extremely glad he II, tions hid been brought
ior"a q, aud particn arly that they had beer
introduced by a gentleman SO well QUALIFIED
to sustain them. b. MS character and talents
he motion for reierring Mr.. M4con's pro
| positions was carried
AMERICAN SbAMEN.
Mr Dana said IL would be recoIlec,et
that at the last session ne had proposed a re
! s0lEion tprth benefit of the seanen OF IN,
United states, which had been referred t,
q select committee, aud bill 10 that efJec
aaa bees reported. BIT as the time to which
Congress had thought proper to limit il
session did NJ admit of fuil discussion. h,
'hsd "ot thought proper tn press It's conside