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

SONS OF their families and of their country
and Carried into a cruel and affecting bon.
Gage.
IL is an evil which ought not, which can
nor be longer tolerated. Without dwelling
on the sutferings of the vic TINS, or ON that
WIDE scene OF distress which it spreads
among their relatives through the Country,
the practice is in itself in the highest degree
degrading to the u. S. as nation Ii is in
compatible with their sovercignty-it is sub
| versiNe OF the main pillars of their indepen
dence. The forbearance of the u. S. I'M
der it has been mistaken for pusillanimity
Inc British Pretension was maturing
fast into a right. Had resistance been LON
ger delayed, it might have become one.
Every administration demonstrated against
1t, IN tone which bespoke the growing
| Indignation of the Country Their rcmon.
strances produo ed no effect. 1t was worthy
! the Industrious leader of our armies, when
called by the voice OF his country to the
heau ar the government, to pause rather
thau TO recommend to his fellow citizens
a new war. before they had recovered from
the calamities of the late one.
1t was worthy his immediate successors to
follow his example. In peace our free
system of government would gain strength,
and our happy union become consolidated.
but at the last session, the period had arri-
yea when forbear@nce could be no longer
)ostihed. 1t was the duty of Congress to
take up this subject in connection with the
other great wrongs of which they acom
planned, TO seek redress in the only mode
which became the representatives of a free
people. They have done so by appealing to
arms, and that appeal will be supported by
their constituents.
= our committee are aware that an inter-
esting crisis has arrived in the US. but
they have no painful apprehension of its
consequences, The cource before them is
d!rect. 1t is pointed out equally by a re-
gard to the honor the rights and the inter-
ests OF the nation. IF we pursue it with
iirmness and, vigor relying on the aid of
Heaven, our success IS inevitable. Our re-
sources are abundant 1.-The people are brave
and virtuous and their, spirit unbroken.
The gallantry of our infant navy bespeaks
our growing greatness that element. &
that OF our troops when led to action inspires
full confidence of what may be expected
from them, when their organization is COM
plete.
Our Union is always most strong when
menaced 10y foreign dangers. The people
OF America are never so much one family as
when their liberties are invaded. u
The report concludes by recommencina.
the passage of a bill - for the regulation of
| seamen on board the public vessels and in
the merchant service ct the u. States.''
IL he object of this BILLS to prohibit af-
ter the conclusion of the present war, the
employment or any Seamen III vessels of
the United States, other than citizens, ma
tive or naturalized. provided this stipulati.
| on snail extend only to such nations as shall
have entered into similar stipulations not
to employ American seamen, apd NOT to
claim or exercise the pretended right to
impress from vessels of the United States.
This provision, however, is not TO preclude
the Executive of the u. States from stipu-
lating, by treaty with any foreign power,
for reciprocal employment of the seamen of
each nation by the other. The bill consists
OF several sections, and, not having room
Tor itnow, shall be given entire in our
ncXt.]
The bill was twice read ahd referred to
committee of the whole.
mr.. Grumpy moved that the bill be made
the order of the day for Monday.
Mr.. Sey6crt said, the time mentioned by
the gentleman from Tennessee. was too
short to allow mernbers who for the first
time, at this moment were allowed a know
ledge OF the provisions of the bill--the prin-
clple seemed one of too much Importance TO
De hastily acted on. 1t concerns, said he,
not only this nation, but all civilized man
kind The principles of the Report of
this day, were so much at war with those
! reported by the same committee at the
last session, that it was impossible for him
TO reconcile them-time was necessary tn
understand this subject. He continued.
this was the first report we have received
from the committee on Foreign Relations
during the present session. They probably
were maturing their schemes for more
than two months-is it fair to expect that
the members of this House could be pre-
pared to act on them definitively in the
Course of two days! He doubted the consti
nationality OF the measure to him it seem
ed the very error of the moon. He must
again and again consult his pillow, before
lie could be brought to vote in favor of the
passage OF the bill. Perhaps he might con-
slider it duty to offer some remarks, whe
Their or not. Wednesday was a short time
to ask of the House He moved to consider
it on that day.
Mr.. Grumpy said it was not his intention
at this time TO defend the bill, or to make
any observations in reply to the remarks
and destinations thrown out against the
| committee, of which he had the honor to
be one. When the subject should come
| before the House, he would put himself on
this House and the country for the Correct
! ness of that report and of the bill Whatr-
YER others might say, he would support n
measure which he believed essential to the
interests of the country. He wished the
gentleman had reflected a little before he
Ventured, without knowing any thing at all
OF the subject, to denounce the bill reported
by the committee. On this subject, Mr.
u SAID. he felt no disposition to accommo-