The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-29

marchais, which has been frequently re-
ferred heretofore, WAS again referred 10 the
committee of claims.
Mr.. Oarcson presented the petition of
VIM. Gamble, stating that he has invented
machine for the protection of ports and
harbors, which he conceivcs to promise
great utility praying an enquiry by Con-
gress into it's merits. Referred to the Ma
val committee.
Nh, Bnsset reporteda bill relating to cap
lures and Il bill regulating pensions to per-
sons on board Of private armed vessels !;
which were read twice aed committed.
Mr.. Cheves, from the committee ofWays
and Means, to whom was referred the bill
from the Senate, directing the Secretary of
the Treasury to remit certain fines. penal
ties and forfetures, reported the same with
amendments, the principal one of which is
to strike out the words " and the dshende1-
cieS thereof" so as to exclude from the ope-
ration of the bill cases of goods brought
in from Canada, &c. The bill was refer
red TO a committee OF the whole.
Mr.. Cheves also introduced the following
report ::
The Committee of Ways & Means, to whom were
referred so much OF the petition of the owners &
agents OF s'ndry private armed vessels fitted out
OF the port ut N York, prays n reduction OF
the duties on prizes goods, and the petitions of
sunLry owners ct private armed vessels fitted out
ct the port OF Boston, and of sundry owners OF
like vessels fitted out of the port Of Norfolk and
Portsmouth, Virginia, also praying a reduction o
the duties OH prize goods,
REPORT: ..
That letter from John Ferguson and John L.
Laurence, agents for the petitioners from New
York, anil letter from the Secretary OF the Irea-
sury, both addressed to the Chairman ofthe Com
mittee, and which accompany this Report contain
all the facts and views which will proba by be found
material in the examination and consideration
OF this subject and that this Committee hav-
ing maturely considered them, areI OF opinion that
a reduction of the duties prize goods without EN-
braen,g at the same time, al mportations made in
the prosecution OF the ordinary commerce OF the
country, cannot consistently with sound policy and
rational legislation be made and that general re-
duction would diminish a'reyenue, where it docs not
distress the consumer, and would not produce anv
material increase oil gain to the captors. The Com.
mttec therefore recommend the following resolve ::
Resoioed, 7 hat it is inexpedient to grant the
prayer OF the pctitirncrs
/ he report was referred TO committee
OF the whole House.
The Speaker laid before the House com
municaSon from the Governor of New
Hampshire, enclosing the ratification hy the
Legislature OF that state of the proposed a.
mendment to the constitution, diSfranchisins.
such citizens of the ". States as accent I'll
ties of nobility, &c. from any foreign power.
NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT.
On motion OF Mr.. Basset, the House re-
solved Itself into committee of the whole,
IN
crease the Navy of the u. States.
The motion for amendment of the Hill
pending when the House last had the sub
Ject under consideration, was lost.
"A motion was made by Mr. HarDer to
reconsider the motion for striking out the
seventy tours. He made this motion because
he was n friend to an increase of the navy.
and would agree to build seventy tours ifhe
could not obtain other descriptions of vessels
he Nf1n RI u ..I,x~
greed TO, 81 to 81.
mir. Bacon spoke against this notion
Though in favor of an increase of the navy
he was opposed to seventy TOURS
Mr.. Basset spoke in reply, at considera-
bic length.
Mr.. Gholson spoke generally in favor of
an increase OF the navy, and in favor of the
bill from the Senate.
mr.. StoU followed in support of seventy
fours.
MIR. IroWh also spoke in favor of seventy
four gun ships, which he warmly advocated.
as well as general increase of the navy.
ar. III. Gay explained the reasons whv.
though decidedly in favor of all increase Of
the navy, he was opposed to seventy four gun
ships.
lHr. IVidgery again spoke on the same
side of the question.
Mr.. Calhoun spoke at some length in IA
w. % 80 i'N' ~ VI t"e navy on genera!
principles, and Of even larger force than
was proposed now to be added by the bill
Mr.. Roberts spoke in favor of the post.
ponement of this subject, with Il view to oh
tanning further information on the suffice,
of the probable cost of the proposed increase
&c.
Mr.. Plca8aSt& spoke decidedly in favour
OF an increase of the navy, and of the force
now proposed to be erased from the bill.
The question was then taken on striking
out me serenity tours, and negatived.
For the amendment 50
Against it So
Mr.. II. CtGy proposed then to amend the
bill by striking out the word forthwith" (,
substituting the following clause q" as soon
as suitable materials can be provided there.
tor ;" so that, il the materials were on hand
these vessels might be built and. if NOT
that the materials should be first procured
This, he said. would remove A great obiec.
ton in his mind to the bill. arising from the
doubt, whether suitable materials were on
ha"d forth with to build these vessels.
The motion was agreed to by large ma.
jmiiy.
The committee then rose and reportcd
the bill with the amendment, which af.r,
somc objections to it as unnecessary from
Afr. Reed, WAS agreed to.
03r. Robcrfs then moved to POSTPONE m,
farther consideration of the report to thf
first Monday in January, with view IN CIV.
tanning al chcial report on the subject nj
The timber ana the probable cost whi5h vii,
Ia