Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-07-06
IN SENATE
SECRET PRoCEEDINGs.
Friday, June II.


& That the President of the United States
be requested to cause to be laid before the Sc
nate, conhdentially, or otherwise, as he may
deem expedicnt, all the information In the de-
partment of state, not heretofore communicate
ed. having relation to the conduct OF Great
Britain and France towards the =. States.
Ordered, That it lie for consideration.
MIR. Anderson, from the committee to whom
was re-committed the bill entitled 6 An Act
declaring war between Great Britain and her
dependencies, and the United States and their
territories" with instructions TO modify and
amend the same In such manner that the
President shall have power to authorize the
public armed ships and vessels OF the United
States to make reprlsals upon the public and
private ships and vessels, goods and merchan-
DIE belonging 10 tie crown of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and TO
the subjects thereof; and also to grant letters
of marqac and reprisai und ar suitable regula-
tons to be provided 10 the DILL, to private ships
and vessels to maze reprsals, agrecably to
said instructions, reported rs fellows:
after the word THAT " - the third line
Of the bill, strike out the residue OF the bill,
and insert the following amend'ntIt:
The President of tbs United States shall
be and he is ne eby authorised, from and after
the dav of next ensuing,
to cause repris@ls 70 be made upon the public
and private armed ships and vessels, goods
ana mcrcHaajsc belonging to the crown OF
thesUnited Kingdom Of Great Britain and Ire
LAID, or u tae subjects thereof, which may be
found on the high seas or elsewhere, after the
SAID day OF next, excepting
such SHIPS, vessels or property as now are, or
may before the said day of
next, be within the ports and harbors, or I'M
der the control of the United States and all
SHIPS, vessels or property within the lurlsdlc,
ton of any power with whom the y States
are not engaged in war: aud for the purposes
aforesaid, TO instruct the commanders OF the
public armed vessels which are or which shall
be employed in the service of the y. States,
to subdue, seize and take any armed or other
British vessel, belonging to the United King
don or Great Britain and Ireland or to the
subjects thereof, which shall be found within
the jurisdictional !;rnits of the United States,
o. elsewhere on the high seas as aforesaid
Aaa such captured vessel, with her apparel
guns and appurtenances, and the goods or et-
let's WHICH shall be found on board the same,
being British property, shall be brought with
In some port of the United States, and shall
be duly proceeded against and condemned as
forfeited, and shall accrue and be distributed
as 81 law is or shall be provided, respecting
the captures which shall be made by the pub
lie armed vessels of the U States
Sec. Q ind BE- IL further enlcfsd, That the
President of the United States shall be, and
he is hereby authorised to grant to the own
ers of private armed ships and vessels OF the
8 United States, who shall make application
therefor, commissions in the forms which he
Snail direct and nndor the seal of the United
States, and such private armed vessels whe1
duly commissioned as aforesaid, shall have ne
same Hence and authority for the suodulng,
Sc zlDg and capturing any armed or other Bril-
tsh vessel belonging 10 the crown OF the
United Knglom oiGreat Bl3tlin and Ireland,
OF 10 the subjects thereof, and for the recap.
turing OF The vessels, goods and eff cts OF the
people OF the UulUed States as the public
armed vessels Of the United States by law
have; and shili be in the like manner subject
to such instructions as SHALL lie ordered by the
psesiueRt Of The United States in conformity
with the established law of nations, and the
treaties aud laws of ire Unlted States, for the
regulation OF their conduct ); and the commls-
sons which shall be granted as aforesaid, shall
be revocable at the pleasure of the President
of the u. States.
DEC .. ma o. r. tHFfher eRdcFe1i hsl
every person, intending to set forth and en-
ploy an armed vessel, and apPl,lng tor the
commission aforesaid, Shall produce in writing
the name and suitable description OF the ton
mage, and force of the vessel and the name
and place of residence of each owner con
cerned therein the number of the crew, anc
the name of the commander, and the two Off
GERS next in rank appointed for such vessel
which writing shall be signed by the person
or persons making such application, and hlec
with the secretary Of state, or shall be deliver
ed 10 any Other officer person who shall be
e,nnlnyed TO deliyer out snch commissions, t