The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-23
Vol. e~---vNo. 90.

M'.H. Cay SHeatNr spoke in oppos;-
zion o0tii 10 tae principles and details OF the
phi. i&c wa, disposed ~ believe the Dri,-
| ciple unprecedented in any o,her Country !:
but even If it were not, he Thought it ought
not TO exist III this. couutrY. lc would have
the eh,ct TO make 1t ths interest fthe Cap
tor. unless the vessel shoul te iinme Gi;, tely
on the Cnact, OF IN the very nlouth Of or
rivers, t0 destroy thG Captured vessels On
conEuitiry the underwriters, gentlemen
~"uid hHd thc i,rcniidm required on bring
iig ~ vessel @. any DESCRIPTION from any
c"as,ue:@bie distance, wouli Ge USHgai to one
haii mgr value and as proof If IL, MIR. Clay
iHHtdNcttl lte i'g'i Insurance oten trpu
charleston and New Orleans, sluus our Own
coast. 70 northern port. Ire strongest
possible temptation would there fore be o.ser-
ed by giving half the value OF the DESTROYED
vessel to the captors in case of her des,ruc-
tion. q; Mr.. Clay moved to strike out the
hrSt sc ction Of the bill.
ar. 8assctt replied to Mr.. Clay, and de-
Tended the bill, on the ground of expedi-
cncy and at precedent. In the British ma
tion. lie said, rewards were ALWAYS liberal
ly bestowed on skill and valor, and they must
always be by every country that wishes to
encourage these qualities in its citizens
The principle did exist in the British SER
vice, not by statutory, but by admiralty re-
gulations and in all such cases rewards
had been literally dispensed.
-'H. Oac0H opposed The bill. as inexpedi-
ent and unprc cedented 10 show that il
went beyond he British legal proyi.io ions in
that respect, he quo eG a statute OF that ua-
ton which allows 20 the captors OF vessclsso
destroyed IS the ball contem plates, Il bouu-
ty OF five pou ds for every man { und alive
on board said Captured vessel, The aggre-.
gate to be equally distributed among the
ere" of the ctptors. Farther, he believed,
that government had not gone.
Mr.. CheUes OH this remarked, that every
encouragement was afforded to British ma
val "fhcers, by their gCvernment,as well by
promotions to higher office and to no.llitv,
&c. which we're not known in this country.
"a BY pecuDiary rewards and pensions, not
IN All cases by statutory, but by executive
sanctions. He was disposed to Be liberal to
our othcers to foster our rs,ns navy. Bus
thous', friendly to the principle, lie objec-
ted tn the particular details Of the bill,
which he Thought susceptible of nlodificati-
nns which woUld be better made in select
com'ni,.ee, than IN rhc House. He there
fore moved that the committee rise.
Mr.. Quincy objected 10 the principle os
the bill, which he thought Fundamentally
questionable. He was for providing speci-;
ally by statute for each case az er rs occur,
renee, where the circumstances Of tho case
required an exercise Of libera.ity Nv Con
gress, and to !egisate generally for future,
occurrences.
nc |",'in'i'tee tl!eE rose, reported pro-
gress, and were refused leave to sit again :.
| and
On motion Of Mr.. Chevea, the bill wssre-
committed to the naval Committee.
| \ Eili relating to certain claims to lands
i'll the district as Fincennes. went THROUGH ..
committee of the whole. and was ordered to
be engrossed for Sd reading
The House then resolved itself into 8 COM
mittec OF the whole. Mir Lacock in the
chair. on the b.ll giving tine right oF mr.,
emPtion in the puIchaae Of puSiic lands RI
certain settlers IN the Illinois TERRITORY -
After considerable discussion, nega,iving T.
motion of mr.. Bib TO strike out the frsr
section, and rejecting an amendment pro-
posed by Nh .fohnSlou, the committee ross,
and reported the bill.
And the House adjourned.