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

4
them alike, incompatible with Justice and
the rights OF the United States, as an indie
| pendent nation:
.Resotve9, That the President be request.
ca TO lay before this house the information
ne has received on that subject, and the
measures taken TO redress AN evil Which vi
o'l'eS the rights and interests, and out RACES
the feelings, of free and independent poo
ple''
Mr.. Minor said, he had no objection to
the call for information, but he excepted to
the form OF the resolution, for two reasons
1t was prefaced by a preamble. which was
not used IN such cases, which preamble
moreover assumed as fact circumstances, of
winch the House had no official or authentic
information. His other objection was, that
is expressed an opinion on a point Oh which
ne was not ready to express one. Mr.. w.
sad he knew not the extent of the evil of
winch the gentleman complained. If twas
merely that Great Britain laido lain 80 her
own subjects fighting our battles against her,
he would at least not say that this was an
act onthe part of Great Britain deserving all
those severe epithets which the gentleman
mad thought proper to attach to il. The re-
solution stated facts not before the House
ana expressed an opinion on an act. the de-
gree OF epormity of which depended or the
circumstances respecting which it was pro-
posed 10 ask for information. Mr.. NJ. wish
ed thas the honse should not lightly be com
peiled INTO discussion of this subject, and
especially as the gentleman had animated
ehe probability that 10 legislative act was to
grow out of the information called for.
ME- oeybert said, as his colleagues prin-
cipAi oojection to the motion appeared to be
aoiihcnity as 10 facts, he hoped to procure
us vote FORTS adoption by stating at least
one winch had come to his knowledge.
lsitid Mr.. 81 had the honor to have a ne
phew ON board the ship Wasp. He inform
ca me TINS morning, that after they had been
Carried into Bermuda, several of their crew
were taken and confined in iroue ; that he
sa" them i'll that situation and that their
CRIME was, having fought the battIeSof our
country. What may be my colleagues feel
inSs Oh this occasion, know mott hone
they are honorable to hims9If and the House
Tor myself wish the subject Investigated.
Nir' .. concluded by expressing his hope
that the resolution would pass.
Mr.. Macon said he was anxious to obtain
information OH this subject but doubted
the Propriety of the preamble. After the
incarnation was received, il would be time
enough to express an opinion on the sub
Ject. He had no doubt tha, we must at las,
come to the determination to protec [ every
man that Is ntoard of a ship Of tho Uni
ted States. tits what Great britain does
herself {: and in this respect we ought to fol-
low her example. If these people untler-
take To fiSht cur battles, we ought 20 pro-
tect them. MI NJ said he was opposed to
the preamble. because he did not wish to
give reasons to the departments of the GO
vernmcnt Tor any call for information the
House thought proper to make it was g
ncugh that the House should ask for it, and
the President should give or withhold it
The practice heretofore was against the
course now pursued.
Mr.. Bigelow said he had no objection to
the call for information, Invested of the pre-
an'ble Snd the opinion expressed in It, OK
ccpt taat 1t did not go far enough. lie pro.
posed to amend it by adding thereto the
following words" accompanied with all
the evidence in his possession, which will
tend to shew whether such persons are A.
merican citizens or British subjects"
MIR. Bassett said he was Indifferent as to
the form, providedhe obtained the substance.
he therefore should submitto such modifca-
ton as the gentleman from North Carolina
should think proper to make. But, said Mr..
Is. as it has been said that there is no infor-
nation before the House, state that un-
derstand and il is my belief, that six men
OF the crew of the y. States brig Nautilus,
were detained and sent to England for trial ;
| and that Com, Rodgers had detained as hos
tagcs for their safety twelve British subjects.
| st1te also to the House that understand,
| and believe that six seamen of another arm
ed vessel have been detained, and that gen.
Pinckney had detained a ike nun.ber OF
British subjects. ] state that have rccciv
ed information that the boatswaiH Of the
Wasp has been put in irons after she was
taken. These violations of humanity and
the law OF nations, Ibeieve to require fcta-
liat;on. When voted against bill on this
subject Mr. Wrjght's1 il was not because
/ was oppoSedto retaliation. No, SIR reta
liaticn in war is often mercy--itputs an end
to those crueltles which won;d otherwise
frequently disgrace parties At war, and il
indispensable in the conduct IF hostilites.
Mr.. Bassett having Withdrawn his motion
it was substituted by the following, offered
by MIR Macon
ResolUed, That the President Of the u.
States be requested To cause to be Laid be-
fore this House any information which may
be IN his possession touching the conduct OF
British officers towards persons taken in A.
mcrican armed ships"
Mr.. Randolph said he trusted that the re
solution now before the House would meet
with no objection although, against the re-
solution as first proposed, he must have vo-
ted notwithstanding all the Odium which
might have attached to such a vote. lie hn-
ped hc said, that vigorous retaliation would
take place if our countrymen found in arms
had been treated as criminals AID not as Dri-
soners Of war. lie hoped NO should have
ample atonement tor every drop Of AueYi-
can blood which should be split IN such man
ncr Having taken occasion To pay hand
some Commitment 10 the gajlantry nf our ma.