The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-03-06

states. Are VIC, then, TO toid our arms. to
| be driven from the ocean without q strug-
| gie-to strike our Has and surrender those
! rights, The people .avc entrusted to our pro-
tection' Ihis, I trust in God. is not the
spirit os Congress. II be. il is not the
spiris OF the people. lfthe present majority
are incapable Of protecting the fights of the
nation, ler them declare that ,lcy feel In
competent TO their duty, and let their pla
ces DC supplied y SUCCESSORS CT more firm
iness-Mr. T.. said he, for one, was not
disposed 10 abandon the ocean altoe-. thcr (;
! he believed that the nation had rights which
i: was essential to defend that the people
were disposed TO defend these rights; and
| that ii there was want ofenergY any where
it WAS Ill their government. Influenced by
, these considerations, he had risen 10 OF II
the following amendment: He said he had
drawn separate section as to each power,
| that the people might see who were disposed
TO defend the rights OF the nation against ei.
| Their France or Great Britain, and Tho a.
! gainst both. He was himself Of t.. latter
description and ai,hougi. he did not feel
| the pressure OF the French DEGREES, lie con
sidered them equally edious i'll principle. and
! tending to destroy those rights for which he
rcver should contend.
Mr.. T.. then offered an amendment, pro
vid;ng for conveying the trade and arn,ins
merchant vessels bound to the ports otbei-
ligeremss, &c. which being afterwards with
drawn ard substituted by another, essential
ly the same, Is not here inserted
MIR. Mumtcra re diced at the proposition of the
amendment, though he did not entirely agree in
the views OF the gentleman as TO permitting mer
chant vessels To arm. He had no objection to
the convoy system we had had tie best &C the
argument long enough, and he wanted something
stronger. He could not however consent that
merchant vessels should Garry single gun, be-
cause it would put the peace of ,he country in
teir power, & there were many raturiiised
merchants VINO might not he extremely scrupu.
lous to their conduct in that respect. Mr..
NJ. explained his iieas as to the convoy system.
PERSISTENCE TO the interruption OF lawful trade
brought on war, what would be the conse-
quence Would not the natioa support Con-
gress in it No doubt Of it for if they would
not defend the trade in the produce OF the land,
the agricultura!ist might as wei. stop his plough
anu shut up his barn.
Mr.. Dana was also very glad that the gentle
man from Virginia had brought forward this
proposition. Ike admitted that it was one object
of the establishment of the general government
to protect trade < that If it failed in This duty il
failed in The principal object of its institution. He
agreed also that If the directors of the public
Affairs would not attend TO the business of the
; national protection, it was proper for them to
J acknowledge that they were unable to guide the
reins of empire, and that they ought to surren.
them lie was glad the proposition had been
brought forward for, notwithstanding all tina,
had been SAID III or out OF the House of the idle
ness ofals attempts TO defend cur maritime rights
he did not subscribe To the doctrine, Nor 20 the
opinion dat we should now pArsue the course
. which had been adopted prior TO the declaration
of indepcndenae-S. he had therefore been op DO.
sed to the whole system of commercial RESTRICT
on. 1t WIS feeble colonial system. He differ
ed from Mr.. MumiorG as TO tic propIiety per
niii;.as merchants to arm fit was unfortunate
iy the that many aliens had been admittes TO
che rights and privileges of citizens, lie said he
. ! should really hope that they were not men who
could not be trusted rs tied To the country by the
privileges of citizenship. He could not admit
such was the case, especially US there were some
members Of this House perhaps of that descr ip-
ton. MIR D. admitted that the details OF a
system OF awning might involve difficulty but
lie deemed 1t his duty to treat any proposition
going to that object with respectful attention ;
and Was therefore pleased at the introduction oil
this motion.
, a motion was made to adjourn and carried,
65 to As
:. TUESDAY, Feb. 27. ,
!. The House having resumed the consdera-
ton of the amendments Of the Senate to the
bill concerning commercial intercourse.
! SIC
Mr.. Ehhes withdrew the amendment he
had yesterday offered, with view to sub
stitute another in its place. His idea was
that Great Britain and France having VIC
lated the principles of the law of nations, it
: was necessary for the u. States, SO far as
respects those particular ports blcckaded in
violation OF the law of nations, to deny to
: both these nations the right of searching our
vessels going to these ports. 1t was strict
ly defensive system it was not taking a
hostile attitude, but merely asserting q right
! which we derive from God and Nature, and
declaring that if opposed in the exercise OF
: that right we will defend our property a
gainst piracy---for the execution of those
I DEGREES was continued act of piracy which
il became duty to resist. They subjected
neutral property to capture under principles
unknown to the civilized woodland the
system which lie had in view appeared to
him to be the only practical system of resis
tance which could now be adopted
Mr.. Eppes then offered the following sec
5 tions as an amendment to the bill.
SEC. 1. ind be IT, further enacted, That
the commander and crew of any merchant
vessel of the u. s. owned wholly by a citizen
or citizens thereof, and no, carrying contra
band of war bound to any port OF place not
actually invested, with which intercourse
shall be prohibited by the DEGREES or orders
OF the British government, may oppose AID
defend against any se..rch, restraint or sci
cure which shall be attempted upoH such
, vessel or upon any other vessel Owned as
aforesaid by the commander or crew of any
armed vessel sailing under British coors, <
may repel by force any assault or hos;ilsty
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