The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-01-23

MONDAY, Jan 10.
Mr.. Mumfcrda and Mr.. Lyon appeared and took
AMERICAN NAVIGATION ACT
The House resumed the consideration of the
bill COZ. corning commercial intercourse with
Great Britain and France, and for other purpo
SEES.
The Speaker decided that the motion made
by MIR. Lvermore to strike out seven or eight
sections could not be received until the House
had decided on tire amendments reported to the
bill BY the committee Of the whole.
Some debate taking place on the point of or
der
Mr.. BurzyeN moved to postpone the further
consideration Of the bill till tomorrow. On re-
hecting on the situstion of the United States, he
sad, there were some propositions which APP
pe2red to him proper either To be Incorporated
IN this bill, or to form the subject of separate
bill On Friday last a message had been receiv-
ed from the President of the United States con.
tanning Information az TO our commercial reiati-
ons, which he had expected would have been
laid ON the tables of the members this morning.
andiirom which he SHOULD derive information ne
cessary to enable him to make up his mind as to
the course proper to be pursued but the mes
sage was net yet printed. Under present impress
sions, he said, he thought proper and consistent
with the honor of the country to mark out the
commercial rights for which we are prepared to
contend. From the reading of the message he
had Just alluded TO, it struck him that there was
n" obstacle existing to the trade to the north of
Europe. He thought this was an extensive trade
which could be enjoyed to our emc!ament with
out IN the least committing the honor ofthe natl
on Another thing 10 lie enquired into, was
whether, for the maintenance of acknowledged
rights, the naval force OF the United States was
to be used u, under solemn decision Of the
House, 1T was not TO be employed, it would be
time to give up every thing like naval preparation
-ior, unless to defend on. Just rights, for what
W. 4 tn iNf.ts aa1 =. ,,tl,.
might object to the course which lie proposed,
MS involving matters of great difficulty, aud as
tending 10 bring the United States INTO collision
wItl' foreign nations to the constructions ofthe
law OF nations. For himself be said, he was dis
posed to sdopt some equitable and fair standard.
by which to be guided He would define our.
rights IN relation to contraband, the right of
search, and the principles Of blockade, by law I;
and he would resort 10 the law Of natl MS, the
treaties between us and England. and the various
treaties ofmodern date SKIING the meaning Of nem
tralrights. But lac would ress, the claim 10 can
lure ana condemnation upon pretcXts novel and
frivolous Tho rights which state of war gives
to the beiligerents should bs scrupuiousiy res.
pscted, the fair exercise of them should never be
opposed II however the properly ofthe citizen
and the t. lie oFthe country should be attacked
by reviNng tie doctrine that certificates oforigin
&c were cause OF condemnation, we should be al
issue, and he trusted that upon grounds so hon
orable, so truly and exclusively American, we
should never recede. To consider this deepIv
interesting subject he wished further time to be
allowed, and therefore moved to postpone it till
tomorrow.
The motion was agreed IN.
FOREIGN LICENCES TO TRADE.
TIE House resolved itself into committee of
the whole, Mr.. Helms in the chair on the bill "to
deprive ~ certain cases vessels ttheir American
character, AVID TO prevent Under certain disable
ties any citizen of the United States skiing
ai'ceHse from any foreign power to navigate the
ocean OF tfsde with any other foreign or indepen
dent power"
The following is the bill
BE 1t enacted, &c That if any person. being 8
citizen OF the United States of America. shall so
hcit take, accept, or use, OF safer any person