The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-03-02

February oath, 1873.
a. For the Enclosures, see the 1st Page
OF this Paper.
Friday, Fee. 90.
Mr.. Clay (Speaker) laid before the house
the memorial of the seamcn of the frigate
Constitution, praying that an allowance
may be made them for the loss of the Bri-
fish frigates which they had assisted to cap
ture, and had destroyed in obedience to the
orders OF their commander-Read & order
ed to lie on the table.
On motion of Mr.. Calhoun, the committee
of foreign relations were discharged from
the consideration of so much of the Presi-
dents message of the oath as respects the
use of foreign licences on board vessels of
the v. S.
Mr.. Calhoun also reported the following
bill, from the same committee:
A BILL,
Prohibiting the expectation of certain arti-
cles therein specified in foreign ships or
vessels.
Be ii enacted. sc: That no foreign ship
or vessel shall be permitted to clear out or
depart from any port or place within the
u >. or the territories thereof, having on
board any slaves, lumber, horses, mules, as
ses, neat cattle, sheep, hogs, & every spe-
cies OF live stock and live provisions and
ever (sea stores only eXCepteG.)
Sec. 2. That if any foreign vessel shall,
during the continuance of this act, take
on board any of the articles above emu
merated other than provisions and sea-
stores necessary for the voyage, such ship
or vessel and the cargo on board shall be
wholly forfeited and may be seized and
condemned in any court of the u. S. having
competent Jurisdiction and every person
concerned III such unlawful shipment shall
forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding
coils. nor less than dolls. for every such
offence.
Sec. 8. Prescribes the mode of recovery
aud distribution OF the penalties.
Sec. q. Limits the duration of the bill to
the 1st of July next.
The bill was twice read & referred to a
committee OF the whole.
Mr.. Calhoun also reported amendments
to the bill from the Senate authorizing re-
taiiation in certain cases which was also
committed.
FOREIGN LICENSES.
The house resumed the consideration of
the report of the committee of the whole
on the bill to prohibit the use Of foreign Ii.
Censes.
After some conversation On the pro-
Priety of tbs bi!!'s lying for considerzti-
Oh
Mr.. Wffght moved to postpone the fur
Their consideration of the bill indefinite
ly.
Mr.. fright made very long speech in
support of his molten. He was entirely
opposed, he said, to a measure, which would
cut off our trade with Spain and Portugal,
our prolific and friendly markets. merely
because G.. Britain thought proper not to
prevent it.
Mr.. Potter spoke against the bill. The
effect of this and OF other bills before the
House, would be, to produce the evils of
embargo, without making the measure
effectual. If gentlemen came forward bold
iy and proposed an embargo, he declared
he would vote for such a measure to con.
time as long as the war.
Mr.. RheG spoke against the motion.
Mr.. MERTON spoke on the same side. It's
passage was more than ever necessary to
the establishment of pure and national
commerce.
Mr.. BiGcktedge also spoke against indie
finite postponement. He viewed the license
system new mode of levyiug tax on
our commerce, which 1t was degrading TO
pay.
dlr. Grosvenor spoke against the indef
mite posiponement. He could not see in
the acceptation of licenses either degrade
tion of national character or injury to our
interests. Mr.. G.. spoke at Considerable
length.
Mr.. Roberts replied to Mr.. Grosvenor
as also did Mr.. Calhoun, at considerable
length, and Mr.. Blackedge.
Mr.. fright again spoke against the bill.
Mr.. Peasants doubted the possibility of
reaching the evil iitCnded to be guarded a.
gainst By any statutory provision but it
was yet sucn a subject as to justify enquiry
and ne should therefore vote against indie
finite postponemeDt.
Mr.. 1liinor said few words against the
bill.
SIR. RGndokfh spoke against the bill
The cfF;ct of it, he said, would be, by our
own act, tocut of all that part of our trade |
which the enemy did not destroy. lie view |
ed 1t az a resuscitation Of that old spirit |
OF embargo, which he thought we had Cor !
ever laid when we commenced actual hos
tiliues.
Mr.. Calhoun was about to fise 20 reply, !
but declined speaking from the lateness of
the hour
The question was then taken on indefinite
po ,tponement, and lost
For the postponcment Al
Against it IS