Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-03-16

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iers of the governments OF Great Britain
and F,snce."
The bill having been read throu, bb T
sections without any attempt to amend
it,
MIR Burwell spoke in favor oEthe prin.
ciple of the bill. He was for defending
the strictly neutral commerce of the q.
States.
Mr. Eppes explained the reasons which
induced. him to be in favor of the bill -
He wished to see commerce resume is
natural channeE that our farmers anu
planters might send part of their pro
duce to Portugal Spain. Germany and
Holand-and ~ effect this objsa he was
[ willing TO protect by force the Carriage
ofproduce OF our own soil, the property OF
our own citizens, on board Of our own YES
sells.
Mr. Gold said, that having barely had
time 10 run over the bill, he was not able
to form an opinion as to all The provision.
IT contained The present was indeed =
time, of great difficulty, and he eho
coold get over it without involving the
lcountry in war would deserve well OF his
country. The gentleman from Virginia
(Mr Eppes)- himself had acknowledged
tina. the question OF the Iighl of search
by the beiligsrrais was one OF very del
icate nature: The gsntleman-had sugges
ted however that this bill had peculiarly
guarded against difficulty ii refu ing the
right of search, because 1t confined The car
go of the vessel h be armed or convoy
ed, to che products ofthe country, and,ex-
lei led. nj
Mr. G.. said, must see that this was a
question betweenswo parties, beIligerents
and neuIals. Would The belligeren,s &C.
cept any evidence from a custom house
that nothing was .tebe found on board an
armed or conveyed vessel contrary TO tn
law OF nations or 10 the provisions of this
lact3 he called the attention of gsnlls.
men to The law OF nations on this point
whether it contained any such principle
las that the belligerent was bound 10 res
ipece custom house evidence declaring the
property & vessel lobe neutral ! Ii tina,
had been the law OF nations, there never
would have been any difficulty - nothing
would have been more easy than for the
neural TO have adopted course which
would al once have GUIDED this right oil
sea,cn This difficulty, which had arisen
curing every war for many years past,
laid here that ia time of war the neutral
always suffered. Any gentleman who
would take paios to examine this subjece
would fad it throughout subjeSt OF
Eg,eat difficulty. In support of the gsner
al truth OF his assertion, AIR G. referred
tolMarshail on insurance, aud quoted these
passages:
4" lhas the right OF visiting and search.
ling me, chant ships upon the high seas,
Whatever be the ships, VIVA ever be tns
cas- goes. Whatever be the destination, Is
an incontsst bic tigh< Of he lawfully Cum.
mlssioned c.u.zsrs'ofa beiligent nation."
That the authority of The sovereign
lof The neu raj country being lnterposed
inany manner of nete force, canao. le.
Igaiiy vary the ugh.s of the beiligersnt
lcruizer."
{" That the penalty for the violent con.
prevention of this righi, is the con6scation
}ot the properly SO wl.hheld from visitation
ta,.d search"
In, support of his position, several wri.c
tiers were cited by Marshall Vattel, VINO
was not an English writer, Contained
the same position. Without searching
neutral ships al sea-" says the writer, the
4" commerce OF coatraband goods Cannot be
lprevented. There 10 tnen right OF search.
ing. Some powerful nations nave indeed,
Eat various times, refused TO submit to this
search. AT present, d neutral ship re.
iusing to,be searcheu would from that pro.
ceedIng alone be condemned az lawful
PRICE The course oi evidence at the
custom houses, guarding against the ad.
mission OF enea,es' properly, Mr. &. said
could noe be effectuh. When had a neu.
trail, for several years past, claimed right
openly TO carry ene'0y's property 1t was
always covered by neutra, names. Was
| it expected that the custom house officer,
a tribunal OF one party, was, OH exparte
Ievidence, TO deprive the other parry, toe
oelligerent, OF ma right Mr. Cold said
lie spoke OF things as they ara, and not as
they ought TO Oe. If Congress were a..
bout to frame code of laws for nations.
they might introduce whatever regulations
20 taent seensd equitable but, as It was,
| they must abide by the established law OF
nduons. There misht be tue utmost faitn
ia the officers OF tle CUSTOMS, anu yet en-
canes property might elude their vigi.
lance, or eVade the law
| Again-Wnat evidence would the Gus.
tom house officers nave wneLher 1t port
Is or was NO. actually invested wnen il
| sranted papers to a vessel Ii II were not
az tae time O,ockAded, now could they know
tuat At would NOT DC before the Vessei ar.
rived at IFS place OF destination! IL was