The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-11-15
CONGRESS-.
ROUSE OF REPRESENT A-TvEs.

1vesQrr; .N6Uepther s.
Mr, W Tin II Nd. pre- sented the Isemori-
al OF snndry ship-ownc and nerciiante OF
Baltimore, representing that in consequences
OF the strict bio. ado Of our bays and rivers.
the private armed service is mach tiiscuufa-
geo, &c. and Submitting to Ccpgress the exre-
d;ency Of authorisine bounty tn be given Tor
the destruction OF the eneruy's vesseis1--'They
state their opinion Of the high eFec. Of tins
sort III warfare On the enesly's cou1ulerce,
and say that they are ready to give the best
pledge Of their sincerity in this belief. ,ifenrnt,
rageInent be afforded, by emf er;ng largely NJ
to the enterprises against the commerce or
the enemy.-The Memorial was read and
referred.
On motion of Mr. Chiffon Of Yirr 2
Committee was ordered to be apbo;ntst,
to wait on the President of the United
States with the joint resolution requesting
hiin to appoint day Of Fasting and Prayer.
SMALL ARMED VESSELS.
The House resolved itself into a committee
of the whole, Mr. Stanford in the chair. on
the bill to authorize the President of the
United States to cause to be built or purcha-
sed the vessels therein described VIZ not more
than 20 vessels, to Carry not less than s nor
more than II guns.
6 The bill having been read through
Mr.. PieaSatits Of Va. (the chairman g IN.
naval committee1 said the object of TIE biz
As to its e>tpediency, the experience of tic.
present war had amply demonstrated the u
tiiity OF this species of force. He called W
on the committee for a moment TO turn its at
tention to the CIuizes OF those vessels and
compare their effects with those OF the c:liz=s
OF tho larger vessels. The ccncuests achieved
by Cur trigates, &c. would never be forgotten
they were great & Important; bat their depre-
dations ON the commerce OF the enemy d,,4
icuc~ l,oj 49,
unimportaRt. On reference to tbs cea;Ses
OF private armed vessels, of the class con-
tenplated by this bill, a very different resyi.
appeared. The effects Of their enterprises a.
gainst the commerce of the enemy had bee,
great and important ;. such indeed as to give
US every reason to believe that class OF
smatl swift sailing vessels of this description
would IN all probability conduce TO put spec
dy end to the war, By the impression it would
make on the eneny's commerce. He very
much doubted whether the government couI.
eKpend small sum of money in any way Sd
efficiently as if appropriated to the particular
purposes OF this bill. He knew some Of the
best and most enlightened friends Of the Ma
Wy were opposed to the bill /; but ne did not
believe, taxing into consideration ali the cir
cuTnstances of the present situation ss the
country, that they could assign sufficient OBJ
jections to it. Our Navy had acquired p
greater stock OF glory, credit and reputatYi
to themselves, and reflected it upon the conn
try, than ever had been acquired i'm the sane
pace of time by a4.y military equipment. either
by land or sea, in any country. &c haf' Ds,i
some little attention TO the histcrr Of tic 5,ja
fish Navy and he believed the iistorv O our
navy would staN comparison with an 9TH
er the world affords. But in regart a. ,ieprs~
dation On the commerce of the enea-- Ia. he
lleved their efficiency could not be COMPARED
to that OF vessels Of a smaller cl4ss
Mr. ". Fed Of Mass. rose to oppose thc
bill as II now stood. il he corld persuade
himself that the effects autici3afsd bv "a.
honorable chairman ofthe naval committee
could ever be realized in tire common course
OF events he should be tie last man IN ID.
House TO oppose the passage Of the bill fn,. 3
moment. He thought he could make II az
pear tIet the ground assumed b7 the gen
tieman from Virginia was wholly unt3ra-
big. by the force proposed in th;s fi J.,
nr X SAID II was not expected that 3
ny bStt'es were 60 be fought with tire RS
val force of the enemy OF the ocean = we az.
on tue contrary torclY n what is done, anil
retreat from toe Contest Would The
don'e, ne asked, create force which wculi
conPci those o.ice,s Of oUr navy who have
direadY won SO much giory TO the;r conn
CIV, T. resort to this species of vessel -
WGuid they oblge a Terry, a Macdonopth
ana o'her oihcers % command that g1ec;eyo f
force which oblges them 20 take jight the mo
ment they cosr~.. in sight Of me e-eFny -
re doubted indeed, whether, put into eein
boats, the most contemplate Of ali force, t5ey
would retreat from an enemy without frs,
trying their strength With him, it was ac-
grading not oDlyto the character of tile men
bht ottile nation to submit such men f, se1v.i,,
TINS sort OF WHsgidfo feet. Howe er he n el,f
nave been opposed TO the war from Us c9,r
mencemcnt, and nothing had occurred in it4
progress which changed his opirijh Of It, he
yet entertained those feelings Nl5ish act,, +
him ~ IT'S commencement, G. sndesvo- ,r,
make i subservlent, so far as re could -.
correct principles. This would Re &c r A..
cowpiisfed BY the establishments Of Ma. sa
by any thing they could do He was war1ap-
tcd by cts IN Saying, that rs force would 5e
nan as ett.cicnt az pr, y )rcon 70 It's ezycnce.
none would he Of 50 much service to The com
tfygtoae certainly would touch the epe,nv
halt as mtcb naval force Of a t,r,.,or
character. What are We shout 20 crpsfc ~
this bin, ssse1 Eir. r A SPECIES q forea
winch, Ike the cowardiy and 'ravenois rs.,gI.
pounces Oh rs prey, bit, va 10. sec,.smV Il,