Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-30
CONGRESSIONAL.
SKETCH nFTHE DEBATE IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.,
ON FRIDAY LAST,

"e Ct'Sc"S W s'oyFctS y any JoFetSHp0U
en-" Sc.
The House in committee Of the whole, Mr.
JACKSON, of Va. in the Chair
MIR. FORSYTH of u eors:a the chairman OF
the committee who reported the bill, rose for
the purpose of explaining the views of the
committee on this subject. The attention of
the House had been called 10 this subject, Mr..
T. said, by the President of the United States,
who, by his message of the 10Th OF December.
had apprizcd both Houses chat the existing
laws did not enable him 10 preserve the peace
of the United States with foreign powers The
inject of that message having been referred
10 the committee OF Foreign Relations, they in
the ordinary mode, had applied 10 the Secre-
iary or State for information specially on the
SUBJECT. They enquired what Information had
been given 10 the Department ofState of Vie
Oations or intended violations of the neutral
obligations ofthe United States TO foreign now
ers, by the arming and equipment OF vessels
Ot war IN our ports what prosecutions had
been commenced under the existing laws to
prevent the commission Ofsuch offences what
persons prosecuted had been DISCHARGED in con-
sequence OF the defects of the laws now i'll
force and the particular provisions that had
been found insufficient, or for the want of
which, persons deserving punishment had es-
capped. On the 9th of January an answer had
neen received from the Secretary of State re-
torTing 10 certain verbacOmmuncationS 10 the
Chairman OF The committee, and stating what
were the defects in the laws As the chair
man OF the committee of foreign relations had
not thought himself at liberty To state, on his
own authority, the verbal communications re-
TERED TO by the Secretary, on the 10th of jan
the secretary OF State had addressed to the
committee anotherl letter, more particular as TO
the facts, Statnsthe prosecutions commenced,
now Tar they had been successful, and how far
they had failed.t The information collected by
the committee, Mr.. f. said, was defective in
some particulars, but it was no fault of the
committee.
1t did notappear, from the documents. from
what causes some OF the prosecutions had fail
ed. However, taking it for granted as il WAS
their duty TODD, that the information of the
President was correct, the committee had turn
ed attention to existing laws 10 ascertain the
provisions seeming 10 them necessary 10 rene
dy these defects.
1t was found that the act ofI79f, which the
circumstances then occurring had called for
forbade, under heavy penalties, citizens Of the
United States from accepting commissions from
foreign powers within the United States for
babe persons, in like manner, from enlisting or
causing others TO enliStin the service of foreign
powers from biting out armed vessels within
Tue United States to cruiZe, or issuing commits
llons therefor from au@mentng the force OF an
armed vessel within the United States belong
ing to beilIgerent inregard to whom the O.
hlted states were neutral from setting ON foot
military expeditions in The L. States against
friendly powers and further provided that the
lanu and naval force of the u. $. might be en-
ployed TO enforce the law. md also to compel
the departure from ports oithe u. S. of foreign
armed vessels which ought not to remain there
&c. The act of 1884, anne Rdatorv to that act
MI r. went on to explain, prohibited citizens
OF Tie u. =. without the limits thereof from fit
ting out arAled vessels 10 cruize against A
friendly power, sc. These laws were found
To give full view ofthi, question, the Editors sub-
join copy ofMr. Secretary Monroes Letter here e,r
led TO, which has not before been pubished:
DhrAETMENr OF sTArE,(
e,D January ., 1917. {
Having communicated to YOU, verbally the in
formation asked for by leei 0fthe isist except
50 i as relates 70 tne las enqiry contains have
the honor to state that the provisions necessary to make
me laws eecua AGAINST fitting ont armed vessels i'll
ports, for the purpose ofaOstile cruising seem To he
ISf Ihat trey sionEd be Tail inter b0Rd not ~ III
ot0te-tAe treafesef the Gniked Stafes, or ne o5-
legations Of me Onitsd suites Wuder the tl5rs Of
2iati0aS, iR eU caSes ,oAeye there is yc.tsea 10
suspect stc4 p0Pose on Joof i.ctaaiNg tie
cdScs Q ocSSeiS fafiag oa 6Oara arms ana NUM-
tl0's y i70r, apptic6bic 10 The eg1apmeHk and
Gr~ngeHt " such resets, Subsequent to their
%. 10 htvest tEecotecfoy or ofherrcgenne Officers
~Here kheTe ere no coiectOrS, 5eith p6irer 10
Sgtst an" deIaR RESETS 'o'5er circumstances in
Dyetch c'fhe iaio tie d5eAtiOa 10 fafe pfqce
nMtts re oTaIr gEAe crccnfice, on jaur
f@iacd. The SfafDte bo0f contains ouni0soDs
J'olreyS 10 this G5oge suggested. Sec yarficuIor.
-, 1893 - -f'''
The existing laws do go to Ibis extent Tley do
Not authorize the demand OF security in auy shape or
ny nierpositon, on the part ofthe Iagstracy as orc
VehatWe, where there is reason 10 suspect intention
~ toiliHt oHeiiCt. IHcy rest
ing 81 Furnishing The offence merely where II there be full
tNden OF tie actual peTpetriOn the crime The mar
y Is banded over aiieT trial the penalty deDounred
nave tNe honor to he, very respectfully, sir yonr
mos; Cbedcnt servant,
No., JAMES MONROE.
CIlairaUJt cjfhe Committee
~ Foreign -i9d's.
mi, letter is also deemed proper hy the Editors her.
TO publish, because not before published
DErA ;rMTNr or STarEP
on JANUARY TO- 1917
IN addition to the letter which wrote to Won ON
thc 9th, n reply TO tc ore which won wrote 20 me OH The
lst INST have the honor to state dist information has
hec received &C this Department VARIOUS sources
thai vessels have been armed aud equipped in oar mons
i0g the pnrpose OF cr1izhg against e cDucrce Of ma
IONS IN dnity with tie United States and no doubt en-
ttitdneo mat ils information iu instances
correct heownefsOi these vessels have, however qe
neraliy taken care so to cal afnacus aud
equipments, ana the object OF the to render il cx
tfenelf dihcnlt uudef existing tn prr
represented,
lst. I'4at RESETS JcIoVgiag 10 cri.eus oC N, H.
Uifed M0feS, or foreigners. hace bcc,f ay0ueJ s |
eq"'Pped IN o"T Po'fs, aqd haSs citGred ont |
IRON 0NT cHsfORhONSfS, rs WfrchaHf gcsgoks |
anf. inter foWchiie at Ofisg poyfs hqgc 6oisfcd !
me HaRot seg3e ~ fte 6sXigfrcDfs. aHd cyAi.fd |
W"d,r p. against fhf commerce CgNali0uS Inasii. |
tHu,fh the b5itcd SfafeS.
II. nat III 0fAfyisfnnc,s efhe ges,eIg orged yy6
eqHiPBed H Onr g0yfs, hqfe hoistea slch Rges ~, 4
Tar ctearinC OW G0d getting Ia Sea u1d hare ia /
tihc Wdl7eT, crNiscf ag0iRt lie cnmfqeyce az |
nNffons ~ unity 'rlftthe bNiied Sfutrs e4tfI |
dit'g their a,FrCiofioHs, in Il fsip ruses 10 fte |
Yit2PcrfV ~ tifi.e4s 81 fhe LJ'ifcf Sf1ffS.
3d 8t9f fR O'hrr instances. GVCisH fcstcke hire m
fer6a the parts eftls irNef S,ffCy. nra anil |
f8g McWfCtfcs nfftn prirlicQcg 0ffYtff by oyg /
fqtcs hQp in ia,ials iaidfs aArufgl,F mir |
09muHf"tg. icith prffs.ufcf cOmMfrrful rie.rg
hres f6fcN ~ bonyd ctiz.De Of the JNaed |