The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-11-22

the gentleman from Georgia had stated a
case IN which the Judges had determined o.
therwise. This shews, ct least, that the law
wants revision, not only witfrespect to cri-
minal, but civil matters He had drawn the
Resolution in the NEST general terms.
Mr.. BOO could not conceive how the Judg-
es OF the Federal Court, in the case he had
cited, could have decided as they did with
the law which had been referred to before
them. Perhaps it might have arisen from
clause Of the constitution which directs that
jurors shall be drawn from the district where
the offence is committed.
: The resolution was laid on the table.
Mr.. A1orroTp reported n bill extending the
time for opening the several land Offices in
the Territory Of Orlc ans.--Twicc read and
committed. Wl III
DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES. rs
Mr.. RheG called up for consideration the
resolution which he laid upon the table yes
terday proposing AN additional duty ON coarse
hemp and flax.
The resolution was considered, &, on no
ton, the words &c and cotton, were added to
it, by consent Of .he mover.
MIR. Grnndu observed, that several dctach-
ed resolutions for the encouragement of Do
mestic Manufactures had been offered to the
House. He wished the adoption of a propo-
sition which should include all the manufac-
lures CT the country. He hoped the present
motion might lie on the table for few days
until such a proposition could be prepared.
It's, said he, an object of great magnitude,
when we consider the vast sums of money
which have lately been vested in establish
ments of this kind; and the present is fa-
vorable moment for adopting some measures
to give our manufactures countenancc and
support.
| Mr.. Rhca could not agree to the proposed
tpostponement He should never obtain his
object. if he were to agree to one postpone
ment after another His colleague could, at
any time, submit his proposition, without him
dering the progress of the one he had intro
duced. M
| After some conversation as to the propri-
ETY. of discussing this proposition in the House,
The Speaker decided, that though there is
a rule of the House which says that all pro-
Ipositions for laying n tax shall be discussed
in committee of the whole, this resolution, in
his opinion, did rot come within that rule, as
lit was merely an instruction to a committee
to enquire into the expediency of laying an
additional tax.
The motion for laying the proposition on
the table was carried, 81 to ~.
i A bill was reported to authorize public
road from of a point in the north line estab-
lished by the treaty of Greenville where the
United States road from Vincennes meets
the said line, to the north bend in the state of
Ohio, which was twice read and committed.
| The bill for altering the time of holding one
of the terms of the Omitted States courts in
the district of Maine, was read the third time
and passed.
AMERICAN SEAMEN.
| MIR. Minor rose, and observed there was
no topic more important than the protection
of American seamen, and yet he believed it
would be acknowledged by all who have Civ
en- consideration to the subject, that our laws
on this subject are materially detective
The object OF these laws ought to be twofold
in the first place, for the protection of bona
lfde American citizens, and secondly, for the
prevention of the abuse of those projections
by citizens OF other countries not entitled to
them 1t will be recollected, that the act for
relief of American seamen makes it the duty
OF the collectors to furnish certificates of CT
tizenship in the manner therein directed
but, owing to an error of Congress, no man
ner is prescribed and of course, the Collec-
tors have been left to accept of such proof as
they deemed sufficient, or to act under the
directions of the Secretary of the Treasury,
which, in most instances, is an unsafe way Of
proceeding. The penal laws of the U. S.
provide no punishment for the crime of per-
Jury in these cases. A recent instance, Mr..
M. said, had occurred in the district which
he represented. An Italian, not twenty days
in the country, appeared before Notary
Public, claiming the rights If an American
seaman. He made the necessary oath, and
jproduCed a sponsor who sworc that he was
born in Baltimore. The tongue of the man
detected the falsehood. The Collector, with
that attention to his duty for which he is so
remark able, had both seamen and sponsor
Iapprehended. The attorney for the district
locked into the case, and found the crime
of perjury to be, the falsely taking an oath
according to the laws of the u. S. !; but as
the law was defective, as above stated, the
offence was not perjury.-The Attorney
General confirmed this opinon-The
offenders, therefore, escaped punishment
HE believed other amendments might
be uscfuny made to the law on this
subject. He concluded By Offering the follow
ing Resolution for adoption, which was "a
greed to:
Resoipcd, That committee be appoin-
ted to enquire and report whether any, and
l what amendments are necessary to the laws
OF the u. .. relating to the protection of A.
mcrican Scamen, and that the committee
have leave to report by bill or otherwise
The House adjournedti till Monday.
MONDAY, Dec. 10.
On motion of Mr.. MorrosU, it was resolved
|" That the Committee appointed on the
18th instant, on so much of the petit ON Of
the inhabhants OF the state of Ohio, as re-
iatcs TO the opening OF certain road to
Vincenncs, be instructed to report on the
lcXpediency OF making provision by law, for
Laying out two roads, agreeab.y to a treaty