Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-02-16
sEA.LETTER VESSELS.

SEA.LETTER VESSELS.
The House resolved is-lf INFO com
mi,ie- of the whole. Mr. pi,kin in tho
char, on the bill 20 prevent the issu.
ing Of sea letters, except to certain YES
sells.
Som. desuito.y deba'e took place on
the bill, in which Messrs. Newton, Quincy,
Marion, Dana, R. Jackson, M'Kim, Liver.
more and Mumford partcok, Mr. Jackson
| alone appearing to be opposed to the OBJ.
lJsct Cf ~ which was stated 10 be, 10 pre-.
vent those vessels considered by our re
venue l2ws as foreign vessels, from CAIN
ing the protection of the Amer can flag on
the sea, and thus fayoring frauds by means
of forged papers.
The bill after being amended so as ex.
clude from the opeF alton of the law
vessels now owned by citizens of the
United States. was reported 10 the
House.
On the suggestion OF Mr. Dana il was
ordered 10 lie for consideration till to nor.
row.
The bill TO revive and make permanent
az ACT providing the mode OF taking evil.
dence in cases OF contested elections, and
to compel the attendance OF Witnesses in
such cases, went through q commiaee Of
the whole. Mr. Piikin in the chair, and
was reported 10 the House. But,
Before any order was taken on it, the
house adjourned.
February g..
CONVOY AND ARMING.
MI BurweIi, frsm the committee APP.
tol m eul>ierf ron oil q hill a,.
ihoris;ng the Prcs.dent OF the u States to
employ the public armed vessels and pers
mitting merchants 10 arm for the defence
OF the American commerce.
THE first section of this bill provides
that the Presldest of the u. States be au..
tf.orised and required to employ the pub
lie armed vessels of the u. States to con-
voy vessels owned by citizens ofthe United
States and laden with the produce OF the
United States the property of such citi.
zsns, provided such produce is not contra.
band of war, and the said vessels shall not
be bound 10 a blockaded port, or to any
nation having in force orders, edlcts or de-
crees against neutral rights in violation
Of the law Of nations,
The Cd. section enumerates articles
which shall be deemed contraband OF war.
The Sd. section provides that no port
shall be considered as blockaded, unless
actually Invested with sufficient force to
render the entrance to 1t dangerous.
The 18th section provides that the com.
manders Of the public armed vessels con-.
voying according to this law shall permit
the public armed vessels of any belligsrent
nation TO visit and search on the high seas
any private ship or vessel under their Gun.
ycy, for the purpose of examining whether
It be laden with encmy's property or arti.
cles by this law declared cuniraband of
war, or whether il be bound to port &C.
tualiy book dsd.
The Sta section provides that the sad
commanders shall not permit any priva
teer or other than a NATIONAL armed vessel
10 visist any vessel under their convoy.
The Oh section requires the eomnan-
ders to resist by force the capture OF any
vessel under their convoy for any other
cause than having enemies property or ar.
ticles of contraband of war on board or
being beand to port actually blockaded,
and 10 continue such resistance so long as
may be necessary for the protection of the
vessels under their convoy.
The 9TH section provides that vessels
under convoy, agreeaby TO the provisions
OF the act, may be armed that they shall
resist any search BY privateeTs, letters Of
marque, or private armed vessels.
The 9Th section provIoeS mat vessels
described in the preceding section shall
resist capture, &c. 10 the same manner
as the commanders of the vessels con
yoying them are by this ball authorised to
do.
The 9th section requires Of every mer.
chant vessel, armed as aforesaid, previous
10 obtainisg a clearance, bond, that its
guns and ammunition, SIC. shall not be used
for any unlawful PURPOSES. but merely for
resistance and defence in the cases autho.
rised and specified in this ~, mud that
such arms shall be returned within the u.
States
The 10Th section provides that vessels
thus convoy cd shall be SUBJECT 20 sac sig
nails OF the commander OF the or ned YES
sells conveying and to such rules and re-
golations as the President may, updsr the
provisions Of the act established fJr the
govt. Of the convoy.