Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-12-17

@h!lVNt tEuhlcbuiSc SlNl Al III NiiS country 70
i unncan uuirrants. AS TO these foreign
ors, Mr.. X. sa,d ne owed them nothing. He
Nsas sorry they lid ever found refuge here
he wished We hsd driven them from our
shoses--o, have permitted them, ~ sc have
dorc To- the merchants 10 go oct where they |
lN2sS'l, wi;ecut attempting to protect |
thcm.
Mr. Quincy rose, I've said simply express |
b regret, that Il debate in this iorm and
manner should have arisen. The question
which had been : uched, was orc which re-
CURED all the Information and light which
could be shed on it. The principles CON-
nected with it were so numerous and critical
that it required all lie reflection of which
gentlemen were capable, to enable them to
discuss and decide it in n proper manner.
lie rose also to express his regret that q mo-
ton for amendment should be made, by a
gentleman With whom he frequently c5incid
ed in opnion, which went to exclude infor-
nation of the manner in which British Off
GERS treated persons other than British sub
Jets. lie could not vote against receiving
intormaticn Of any INDEPENDENTLY on 4
SUSPECT SO interesting. Mr.. Quincy was pro-
cec,iing in his remarks, When.
Mr.. Sheiiey withdrew his motion.
MIR. Bassct explained his IDEAS Of expati'..-
alton. lie would not protect the man who
had left the country with an intention not TO
return, Exc. but he would protect the man
who went cut to Ugh, the battles of the coun-
try.
Mr.. Randolph rose for the purpose OF
moving aH amendment. He advcrted to the
language of the resolution, and drew 4 dis
tinctiun between TIC character of privateers
and Of GU public armed vessels. Was it
competent, he asked, Ito the government to
90 ~.
commander or crew Of an :, nerican corsair
1t was well known too, he remarked, that
the hgl, wages which had been paid to the
crews OF the privateers, was one of the rea-
Sons why the American navy was in some
degree unnamed. And, was ii not n differ
ent question, whether we should interpose
oar authority between the subject of 4 TO-
reign nation and his government, when that
subject is fighting Your battles, bleeding On
the deck of your public ships III Sl2 a month,
and when he decor cd into corsair By the
temptation OF eighty so or40 dollarsa month?
There is Il difference, sir, said Mr.. r. trust,
said lie, il we receive the information wa are
about TO ask, we shall get it from pure
and authorised source, such no nan can
question. | mean the commanders of our
public ships of war Nv. II. concluded by
moving to strike ont &" American and IN
sert public" so as to read public armed
ships
Mr.. Widgery expressed his surprise at the
various cKpedicnts resorted to, to embar-
rass this question and hcped this would
have the same fate as the other. He said
he could tell the gentleman that many
privateers had been manned without q cent
ofwages. But, suppose they had been man
ned in ether ways, were not priv2;ccrs rs
useful in annoying the enemy as public ships. |
No man who knew any thing about mari
time affairs would deny it. Wherever our
privateers had come across an armed YES
sci Of the enemy, or any thing like equal
force, they had done iheir duiy like Ameri-
can tars. We are at war, Mr.. w. said, &
we ought to check the enemy whenever we
come in contact with them. He believed
the privatecrng carried on had been of great
advantage to us ard injury 10 our enemy. |
AS to the objection which had been offered |
toreceiving the statements of their comman- !
ders. what were gentlemen afraid of? No
dispdragement to the commanders of the ma |
Wy (for he respected them alb he knew |
gentlemen commanding priyateers whose O.
pin:ons were entitled to as great respect as |
that OF any other, and whose word could |
not be questioned. In reixs;oR to the cases |
referred 10 i'll the resolve, particularly that |
of the boatswain, Mr.. w. said we were bound |
Wy every pitbNplS VI NilS INV Oh NATIONS 10 I
support him to the last cent of our money, |
more especially as he had warrant under |
the seal of the United States. The conduct |
OF our enemy was the least iustiGabic, as she |
manned her own ships with people Of all |
nations.
Mr.. Randolph's proposed amendment was
ncgaiiyed by large majority and
The resolution was agreed to without fur |
Their debate or opposition.
December TO-
Mr.. Burwell has taken ms seat.
On motion of Mr. Harper,
ReSotVed, That the committee on militia
ry Affairs be instructed to inquire into the
expcdency of adopting the elementary trea- |
tisc for the discipline OF the Army and Mi |
litia of the y. States.
The House again resolved itself into COM |
mittee of the whole on the report of the COM
mittec of Ways Means on the subject Of the !
Merchants Bonds.
Mr. Boyd, Mr.. Grundy, Mr.. Rhea s. CLAY |
spoke in opposition TO total remission of |
the bunds--eaCh however advocating a par |
tial remission of a certain description Of |
bonds.
When the committee rose, reported pro-
gress and obtained leave to sit again.
December il.
NJ. Poirdexter presented petitions of the !
Legislature Of the Mississippi territory pray
ing that further time may be granted to com
piete the payments for public lands that the
Indian title To certain lands in that terrific
~ may be distinguished; 0uA that division
OF that territory may not take place The |
first Was referred 70 a committee re the |