The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-03-12


than 'wenty vessels Carrying not less than 6.
nor more than 80 guns was read third
time and passed.
BOUNTY ON PRISONERS.
The bill from the Senate to amend the act
tor giving an increased bounty On all prison
ers brought into Fort BY private armed ves-
sells. was read third time as amended in
this house. On the question, Shall the
bill pa 2
Hr. Post of n. Y. opposed the passage Of
the bill, which Came before the House, he
said. under unusual circumstances. There
was no particular statement from any quar-
ter laid before the House, exhibiting any
sort of necessity for passing bill of this des-
cription without which, he said, he should
suppose that gentlemen dispose d to be nflu-
enced by fair considerations would not sane
ton the bill by their votes. Although, du-
ring former session, on represent alton
that scope encourar em5nt was necessary to
revive Che dropping privateering system,
aduiuonal announcement tad been heis.
| OUT TO those who embark ed in it. he did nor
conceive iAHr any impression had h.pn made
on the commerce OF the eOemy pf1pcrtion-
ed TO the public exr. citation. or 10 the at
tention which government had bestowed on
u. Even admitting that the promises or
IeXpectations o. the privateersnteG should
I've realized IN respect to the capture of
prisoners, ne old not believe the object to be
suth Gently important in the prosecution of
the war, to testify Congress in euriching the
privateersucn out OF the Public Treasury.
Hut their views could NOT be realized and
cohceiving that no beneficial consequences
could result frCni the adoption Of this
measure, he hoped the bill would ro,
/ pass.
| Mr.. Ward of Mass. said unless there
| for or;,,
| ing away the public money as propose BY
TINS bill, he did not see why it should pass.
| 10 encourage manufacture, or anv undcrta
KING promising correspondent or greater adj
Vfntages TO the Communi v-governme
frequently gave premiums or peculiar pri-
Vheges. hut he could see no reason tor
giving bonr'y in the case now under con
s!deration.-lf the fruits OF the iabors of
those who adventure in these enterprise :
sa'nst the property of the enemy on the o..
lcean, are not such as to reward them, he
saw no reason why the money of the public
should be paid to make mp the deficiency,
and the people be taxed for their bene-
fit
Mr.. Burweil of Va. made a number of
'emarks in reply to Mr.. Post and Mr..
Ward. These priVateers, he said, were
htted out, not to take prisoners, but to take
property and it was mach easier and more
to their interest to set at liberty the prison
erS faey Captured than to bring them into
port. The principle OF this bill had been
already ecognizcd by law. in the allowance
of twenty dollars for every prisoner brought
10. But that allowance was by no means
sufficient to detray the expence Of maintain
ing the prisontrS whi!st at sea !; anf, the
OIL proposed bounty which it was supDos
ca would indemnify them for bringing i'm
the PRISONERS, 6 would afford cheaper
way OF obtaining prisoners than enT olher.
us policy had been heretofore adopted
ny other nations situated as we are, during
a period q war, and among others by the
Dutch and Spsniards. He did look upop
TINS Dill as presenting question of afiordins
bounty TO privsteers, bat he viewed it a
a hationai concern, and as step required
oy sound policy, to render more easy the
acquisition OF prisoners of war.
Mr.. NJ Kim Of Md said hat his object in
advocating this bill was 20 get as many pris
ohers Oh war AS We could 10 balance ac
counts with the sBemy, and enable us to
redeem cur fellow citizens from captiyit,. -
he 2foht of privateersmen arose from the
cargoes they capture! whilst the prisoners
they captured were of Little valne to them
"heh oronghtin into port but owing to the con
sumption OF provisions and stores they con
sumed. were rather detrimental t.6n bene
! N"N SoPlOIS. L1C Ulu not know tEdt
tnere was any Official account of the dis
proportion OF prisoners in possession of the
Two nations, but in conversation With the
Commissary General OK Prisoners he had
learnt that Great Britain had two thousand
more OF our prisoners than we had Of hers
ms balance according to the agreement of
'heZ nations respectively to support their own
people take0 prisoners, created a dead ex
pense to our government equal to the cost
OF supporting these 1000 men. To get rid
OF TINS expense, ard to relieve our citizens
many OF whom were suffering extreme
hardship, formed in his opinion a s,rorg in
ducemenI to bringing in as many prisoners
as possible.
Mr.. Ward Of Mass. Observed that from
the statement Of the case which had lust
been made, 1t appeared that we were in
very hopeful way in the prosecution Of this
war. What between the bounty Of 1914 dol,
laTs for enlistInents, and the bounty Of 100
dollars man for men Wherewith Co redeem
our people takeD prisoners, this would be
IN expensive concern Mr. W. said.that he
was as little Inclined to permit our citizens
10 remain in captivity as any one, and az
willing to vote any money which could be
proved to him to DC necessary to relieve
them.
Mr.. m'Kec Of Ky. on the ground that this
Su5ject was new to him, and required fur
'her confederation, moved that the bill lie
IN the table.
For the motion IS
Against it 81