The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-03-08
Gonaress.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

alton, which goes to declare the non-impor
taton to be in force against Great Britain.
&c.
Mr. Minor spoke at considerable length
against its adoption, because it was predica.
ted on supposed fact, which he commended
did not exist, viz: the revocation BY France
OF her DEGREES. He went into an examine
ton OF documents and circumstances. to
prove that the French DEGREES had not been
revoked. Ii they had not been revoked as
promised, viz: on the LIST Nov. he contend
ed, that any contract which might have been
supposed to exist between the United States
and France, had become void by the failure
on the part of France to perform her share
OF It. They were about TO volunteer their
services to do an act which might be ap-
proved of by the Emperor of France: but
which. from his known Unsuitable dispositi
on, could not be expected to satisfy bim.-
He was opposed to the bill, too, because
the Presidents proclamation was made the
evidence OF the revocation of the edicts. &c.
Mr. M. was opposed to the bill, whe ,her as
growing out of the revocation of the French
DEGREES, or as separate substantive mea
sure enough he. said had already been
done at the present session, for depressing
our own citizens &c abiding to the re-
fusal to renew the charter of the hank
OF the U. States. If the bill were TO pass
into law, as it now stood, he was appre-
hensive 1t would create universal bankrupt
cy throughout the nation. He could not bring
himself 10 believe, that the United States
were pledged to France to pass this law.
why, then, should it be passed. Whv
were gentlemen dissatisfied with our pre
sent situation : Why lay the axe to the
root Of our commerce Mr.. NJ, spoke near
~ an hour
The amendment, proposed by Mr.. Mum
ford to Mr.. Eppes's amendment, was agreed
to, 63 rising in the affirmative
Mr.. Pitkin said. there was another class
OF our ciizens who would be materially af
fected by the law of Nav last, going into o.
peration, besides those whom this law pro
posed to relieve. He meant those who ira
ded to the Yves Indies. Ho took a view of
the details of this trade, stated its profitable
nature, and explained its operations, con-
Guiding with moving an amendment going to
exempt from the operation of the law. such
vessels as had left ports of the West-Indies
before information had arrived there of the
refusal of Great Britain to revoke her mr.
ders in council.
MIR. HaDcn supported the molten. He
took view of the course of our affairs since
the 1st. May last. The vessels which had
sailed from the United States 20 the West
Indies, and not yet returned, had violated no
law OF the United States, had committed an
offence. II the British orders had been re
voked, then their purpose had been meri
ferrous, and the proceeds their enterprise,
would have tended to repienish the treasu
w but If not. because they had relied to
much on the disposition of Great Britain t.
relax her orders, their voyage became I'm
lawful, and they were subjected to the se--
verest penalties. The high crime of viola
ting the law, was thus made to deDend nm
on contingency over which they had no
ccntr j. Under these circumstances, Mr.
II. thought, that Justice required the adop-
ton OFT the amendment.
Mr. EffeS agreed with the two gentle
men who preceded him, as to the relative
value OF the West-IDdia trade: but eould
not agree, that the traders to that quarter
should stand on the same footing, as to no.
tee, as those to the East-Indies IF the od
OF February was the time fixed for the one
ration of the law, as to Enropean ports, il
could not be considered as injustice to apply
the same period to Wesl-IndiaD ports This
proposition, however, VENT extend the ne =
Rod of notice for the West-Indian ports he.
yond the 2d Feb. the time allowed for E.u
ropean ports and would be an essential vio-
lation OF The compact with France.
Mr.. Pitkin replied at length If this pro-
posed amendment would be a breach of the
compact with France, if such compact
exists. the bill reported by the COMMITTEE
was equally so. The one departure from
the precise terms OF it, was as much breach
OF the compact as the other.
MIR. Pitk ms amendment was negatiyed-
sgt ~.
MIR IaHmadge moved to amend The ser
ton by striking cut the numbers DESIGNATING
the sections OF the nOn.intercourse law. foe
the purpose OF Inserting the sections hem
selves, in the same words in which thev
stand in the former law
Mr.. Effes opposed the motion on the
ground OF the loss of time which it wnuld
occasion aud the necessity there was Fur an
early passage of the law.
Mr.. 2aiimadge replied, that every law
ineligible, whatever time it would take to
make so.
His motion was lost--53 to 10.
Mr. Van Horn moved to substitute the
words, cleared OUT" for the word DE-
harfed," from the ports of Great Britain
before the I'd February, &c. Motion lost
~ to 46.
Mr. RheG of Tenn. moved to strike ont ALI
the section. after the enacting clause, con
ceivng the whole bill and amendments 10
involve breach of our compact with France
Motion lost--Ayes SO.
MIR. Rhea then moved to amend the
mendment proposed, by striking out from
The clause exempting certain vessels from
seizure, the words, " departing from any
British port prior to the I'd February" with
view to insert the words 90 from any nctt