The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-17

nihcant section of the community-that we
should enter INTO a CONDENSATION with France
or EaSsand FOR property in their subjects.
Mr.K' mere drew Il comparison [impcr-
'ectiy heard by the reporter) betwee the
practce OF harboring slaves IN some of our
northern cities, Philadelphia for instance.
ana the countenance given in this country
TO European emigrants. AS to these To-
relSners, Mr. L. said he owed them moth
ing. he was sorry they had ever found re-
ta8e here-he wished we had driven them
rom our shores--or have permitted them,
rs we nave done to the merchants, to go out
where they pleased, without attempting to
project them
Mr. Q"'ncy rose, he said simply to ex-
press his regret, that a debate in this form
ana manner should have arisen. The cues
1'nh Which mad been touched, was one which
required all the information and light which
could be shed on it. The principles CON
hccttd with 1t were numerous and criti
cal, that IT required all the reflection of
"nich gentlemen were capable, to enable
thei" to discuss and decide it in proper
manner. lie rose also to express his re-
gret thata motion for amendment sbould
De made, by p gentleman with whom he
frequently coincide, in opinion, W hich went
'oeNciude information of the manner in
whiCh otitish officers treated persons other
fhan HFtHst subjects. He could not vote
against re ceiFing information OF any kind
particularly on Il subject so nteresting.-
VIZ Quincy was proceeding in mis- remarks,
when
Mr.. ShcGey withdrew his motion.
Mr. EaSScf explained his ideas of ezra
.'iatioh. He would not protect the man
who had lett the country with an intention
not to return, &c. but he would protect the
man who went n 1rl,t l,.. IL oc,
country.
Mr. Ranaolhh rose for the purpose of
moving an amendment. He adverted to the
language OF the resolution. & drew q distlnc
'ioh between the character of privateers &
OF our public armed vessels. Was it COM
Petent, he asked, to the government to re-
celVe- as testimony the statement of the COM
hahder OF crew OF an American corsair /?
81 WAS well known ton, he remarked, that
The high wages which had been paid 10 the
crews ct the privaleerS WAS one of the rea-
SIMS why the American navy was in some
degree deserted. And was it not a differ
ent question, whether we should interpose
our authority between the subject of q TO
reish nation and ms government, when that
| 'uoJeCt Is ilShting your battles, bleeding on
the deck OF Your pubic ships at S12 a month,
and "nen he is dccoyed inro a corsair by
the temptation of eighty, Fifty or forty dol
lars month ? There liz a difference. sir
sa!d MT. X. l trust, said he, If we receive
the information we are about to ask. we
Shaii get 1t from pure & authorised source,
Sucn as no man can question. l mean the
commanders OF our public ships OF war
Mr.. Il. concluded by moving to s,rik- m,t
" American" and insert public,' so as to
read public armed ships.''
Mr' TEdgerv expressed his surpriZe at
the various expedients reSorted to to en-
oafrass TINS question (; & hoped this would
nave the same fate as the other. He said
he could tell the gentleman that many pri
Vateers had been manned without a cent
OF wages. But, suppose they had been man
neu III other ways, were not privateers as
usefui IN annoying the enemy as public
ShiPs! No man who knew any thing about
iharlt'me affairs would deny it. Wherever
our prlyateers had come across an arned
vessel of the enemy, ofany thing ike equal
force. they had done their duty like Ame.
rlcan tarS. We are at war, Mr.. w. said
ana ought to CHECK the enemy wherever we
come IN contact with them. He believed
the privateering carried on had been of
great advantage to us and injury to our en-
elmy as to the objection which had been
ohered 10 receiving the statements of their
commanders, what were gentlemen afraid
Oh NO disparagement to the commanders
OF the Navy Cor he respected them all) he
knew gentlemen comm landing privateers
whose opinions we're entitled to as great res
pect as that OF any other, and whose. words
could not be questioned. In relation to the Ca
sss referred to in the resolve, particularly
mat OF the boatsVain, Mr.. w. said we were
pound by every principle of the law of ma
ions 10 support HIN to the last cent of our
money, more especially as he had p war
rant under the seal of the U. S. rhe con-
uuct OF our enemy was the less justifiabe,
ds sue manned her own ships with people
of all nations.
Mr.. RandoLhh's proposed amendment
was n@gatived by large majority and
The resolution was agreed to without fur
Their debate or opposition.
Diyrj11;1 FerioI,t,,