The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-03-13
NtoNEAr. hEarh S.

MoSBAr, hGagsh S. :
Mr. Sfcdn:an obtained leave Of absence
for the Remainder of the session and Mr. Pcj,
Dyke for week.
n communication was received from the
Executive Of tina state of Ohio. enclosing
Certain Resolutions of the legislature of the
state OF Ohio, approving the conduct OF the
general government.
CONVOY AND AIMING.
Mr.. Ehfcs. from the committee (com3
sed OF clesars. Eppes, Whi,ehili. Mont.,o-
merry, Mumford. Dana, Desha. Cuts. VIM
and w. Alston) to whom were referred the
amendments from the Senate to the bill con-
corning commercial intercourse, Sc and
Mr.. EPpes's amendments thereto. together
with the bill reported by NJ. Burwcllj con
cers'ng convoy, &c. reported in part the fol-
lowing bill:
A BILL
.futho'isigg tie President to en,Aiov the
fnohe armed vesseis ofthe United States,
IN Protecting by conVoy, merchant pes-
Sels osvned zvhoity By citizens ofthc Uni
ted States, in poyages TO forts or fiaees
Tv'h zvhteh intercourse is frohu5ited by
INC DEGREES or orders Of the governments
Of Great Byifaii, and France
Whereas, when two nations SO to war.
these that remain at peace retain their ma
turai right to pursue their agriculture, ma
nuiac'ures and comBerce /; to carry the
produce of their labor TO all places bellise-
rent or neutral, as usual; 20 so and come
freely without injury Oh molestation and in
short, that the war shall be to them as if it
did not exist with the exception only of
not furnishing to either party Implements of
war tor the annoyance Of the other; nor any
thing whatever to a place actually infested
by its enemy.) Ind svhereas, tie state of
war, NJ present existing between Great
britain and France, furnishes no legitimate
right to either To interrupt the agriculture of
the United States, or the peaceable exchange
OF its produce with all nations. ind zyhcre-
as, the governments of Great Britain and
France have, at various periods. issued de-
creeS and orders in violation Of the laws of
nations. which, if submitted to, must finally
terminate in the destruction of agriculture
and commerce, branches of industry, which
give food, clothing and comfort, to the great
mass OF the inhabitants of the United States.
ind TyheI'eaS, no nation can submit to have
Its peaceable industry suspended at the mere
will OF other nations. IND zvhereus, repeat
ed applications have been made to the go.
vernments of Great Britain and France, by
the government OF the U. S. for a withdrawal
OF their DEGREES and orders, violating the
lawful commerce and neutral rights of the
are still persisted in, to the great injury of
the United States ani in violation of their
rights:
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
Of REPRESENTATIVES, Of tie United States of
.7merica, in Congress .fSsembied That
merchant vessels OF the U. S. owned wholly
by Citizen or Citi2ens thereof, laden wholly
with articles of the growth, produce or ma
nutacrure of the u. S. owned wholly by
citizen on citizens thereof; navigatcd wholly
by citizens Of the U. S. not having OH board
implements OF war, and bound to any port
or place not actually invested, with Which
intercourse shall be prohibited by the DEGREES
OF orders of the governments OF G.. Britain
or France, shall be entitled TO protection by
convoy.
SEC. 2. Ind be ii fu; the" enacted, That
the President OF the u. States shall be, and
he is hereby authorised and required. on the
application of a citizen or citizens of the u ).
to employ the public armed vessels of the
U. States, i'll conveying and projecting mer-
chant vessels of the u. States, owned wholly
by citizen or citizens thereof laden wholly
with articles OF the growth, produce or ma
nutacture Of the U. States, owned wholly by
a citizen or citizens thereof !; navigated
wholly by citizens of the u. States not hay-
ing on board implements OF war, and bound
to any port or place not actually invested,
with which intercourse shall be prohibited
by the decrtes or orders of the governments
OF Great Britain or France.
SEC. 5. I1td 6eEt further enacted, That
the President of the United States is hereby
authorised to instruct the commanders of the
public armed vessels of the u. s. to oppose
and defend against any search, restraint or
selZsre, which shall be attempted upon yes
sells sailing under convoy, by the comman-
der OF crew of any armed vessel sailing un-.
der British or French cclors, and to repel
by force any assault or hostility which nav
be committed by such British o., French arm
ed vessel pursuing such atteHpt, and to sub
due and capture the same,
SEC. 4. .and be il further enacted, That
any British or French armed vessel, which
shall be captured in consequence of search,
restraint or seizure, which shall be attempt
ed upon vessels under convoy, shall be consi.
dered lawful prize, and may be condemned
III any court Of the u. States, having com
Petent jurisdiction and the proceeds ari-
sing from the sale Of such prize, shall be
distributed in conformity to the provisi ms of
the act for the better government Of the ma
Wy of the u. S.
SEC. 5. Ind be il further enacted, That
after notice OF this act at the several custom
houses, ii shall be the duty of the collectors
10 refuse clearance to any merchant yes
sells bound under convoy to any port or place
with which intercourse shall be prohibited by
the DEGREES or orders of the governments of
u. Britain or France unless satisfactory proof
shall be exhibited, that the cargo of such
vessels Consists wholly of articles Of the
growth. produce manufacturer nf tl,e