Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1811-03-05
Gonnre98.
HOUSE OF REPRESE MIA.
TIVES.
Thursday, Feb. 81.
INSTRUMENTATION.
On motion of Mr. Rnpes

On ion Of Mr. Rppes,
The House resumed the consideration of tho
bill supplementary 10 the act concerning COM
mercial intercourse &c
GThis act, it will be recollected, contains
but one section, eXemptng from seizure
sells with their cargoes which had left the ports
Of Great StiaTn previous 10 the I'd Feb.
Mr. Eppss moved to amend the bill by adj
ding 20 it the two following sections
:" See. 9. And be it further enacted, That in
case u Britain shall so revoke or modify her
ed,cts, RS that they shall cease to violate the
neutral commerce Of the United States, the
Pre- siden Of the United States shall declare
re sac; BY proclamation; and such proclama-
ton shall be admitted as evidence, and no o =
thor evidence shall be admitted of such revo-
cation on modification in any suit or prosecution
which may be instituted under the fourth Sec
tcn ofthe act 20 which this ao; is supplement-.
Ard he restrictions imposed or which may be
imposed by virtue Of the said act, shall, from
The date cfsGch proclamation, cease and be dis
continued.
Sec. 8 And be it further enacted, That un-
til the proclamation aforesaid shall have been
issued. the several provisions of the third,
fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth,
ten,h and eighteenth sections of the act, enti-
tied "An CT to interdicl the commercial in.
tercourse between the United States and Great
Brilan and France and their dependencies.
and for Other purposes" shall have full force
ana Le in mediately carried into effect against
Grra' Britain her colonies, dependencies, &c
Provided however, That any vessel OF mer-
ehnndize which may in pursuance thereof be
seized, prior to theSfact being ascertained,
whether Great Britsirk.siial, on or before the
second day of FebrefS, one thousand eight
hundred and eleven, have reTok ed or modified
her edic's IN the manner aboSenentoned. shall
nevertheless b. restored aIItiscation of the
pscties, on their Owing bond VIII approved
sureties to the UritssA States, in sum. equal
&c the vslue thereof, NsAbids The decision of
the prope court of ,lE. Nalted States thereon /;
and rry-such bond shali lie considered as sa :
listed if Great Britaiu shalt on or before the
second day Of j. bruary, one thousand eight
h'ndred and eleven, have revoked or modified
her edicis in The manner aforementioned
Ee said i w,old be seen that, in the present
state Of our laws. there was no provision that
tie nun-intercourse with Great Britain should
cease, If, after the third day Of March, she all
so should so revoke ro,ify her edicts az
that they should cease 10 violate our lawful
commerce One ofihe objects Of his amend
nsnt was TO provide for that contingency.
Another provision Of the amendment went 20
remove doubts which might exist in the minds
OF some as to the ope ation OF the law of NAV
last, and which might give rise to vexatisus
suits. he committee had thought it proper
thpt IN this case the Legislature should step
fr~ard and decidef tliat it was not consistent
W.tb the responsibility they ed t. the com
Hl;'nity TO turn over TO the judicial tribunals
TIE decision Of the quo stion whether the non.
Intercourse was " force not. These sect
Cre. Mr. Eppes remarked. together with the
Tioyision now before he House, were calculai-
Cd 10 preserve precisely The present attitude
Of I've United States, and TO wait for events to
~ t0rise change of it. II any such course
slWu'd be taken a. was proposed by repeal
Of he law of May last, in what situation, he
o.ked. should we stand both as respe cts Great
Britain and Ffsnce You have By law pro-
posed 70 both Pertain conditions and, before
the attiysl peghe period allowed 70 Great Bri
tain t,r the rcseal of her orders, you would
sweepirom In statute book all the provisi-
ors ciatiug ~ ~ subject. What would be
tie prersiion such step as to the otherna
ton A. Ii ~ when there is no doubt that
her decrees wiz be revoked, and that at pre-
sent hey cease to have their operation, YOU
revoke tho law on tho faith OF which the revo.
cation made The proposed measure will
preserve our present attitude and as it is freed
from The provisions objectionable to sorns) FOR
eni,rciug mOfe riFidy the non-intsrcourse
and - yet such course as will cOmport with
the honor and egnity of the nation; I hope
there VIII b. no objection to it. Having been
al Vays pyscii in favor Of the principle Of the
bHl, ! aIu prepared to vote for Il and for the
that She decisions should be At once made, as
v, sseis are daily arriving. The collectors ere
az present liable to suits TO an immense sum
ard 4 IS proper that the respons biiity should
iH sucb case rest on The principal rather than
tie egenB therefore hope he bill will be
psssed 80 tiiird reading this day.
MIR. Lyon soid he wa ono 81 those who
thought that the national faith bad not been
sonstituuprsIiy pledged that they were never
authorised, ~ component part Of the Legs
lbinre- 90 give such power 20 another branch /
Of the Legislature, = he Executive What
had been received from France TO make this I
law CONTACT? a declaration that her de. I
crees were revoked, and should not operate az. I
ter the first of Rovember. Was this true , !
We prosrmedit was not. The accounts from 1
Europe amounted to this that our vessels are
70 remain sequeNcred tll the 81 February,
GhS then 10 receive then Gnsl deem, Are we,
I'D