Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-06

NiuOS, auh tht p.utucE ti piracy Is pup
licly sold in the market Aprisaie arm
ed ship, even III time of war, was at best
but OF doubtful character-but one which
sails not in thcseryice of It's own country,
was To all mtents and purposes a pirate.
While, then, (said Mr.. H. we Insist on
other nations respecting orr own rights,
letus not set them a different example,
and add intamy TO the dangerous exam
pie. The plea OF weakness i'll the com
planning party was no argument, he said,
TO influence just and moral nation in lis
acts. III SPAN were as weak as IN infant,
and we as stron. as Hercules, il would
not Justify the slightest departure from
Justice, because, aside trou moral duty.
the time might come when the example
would rccoil upon ourselves
But we have been told, (said Mr.. H.
that the provisions this bill arc moi call
ell tor by The law of nations, that national
law does not require us 70 place our ciii-
zens uldcr bonds for their good conduct.
The law OF nations. said he, enoins us TO
keep oar citizens within strict meutrali-
,y-how TO DO il, is a question between
you and the citizen, in which the foreign
! nation does not interfere. II in 1894 this
duty was fulfilled by the law then passed,
| II was enougl-bui IL in 1916 the obser-
that bonds shall be given By the citizen.
II must be done-tlie whole community
must not be endangered by the acts of a
few citlzrnS-the community is bound TO
prevent 1t, and whatever means are ncces-
sary Tor the preservation of the whole,
must be sustained by ii part. I'm adopting
these means, (said Mr.. II.) if is ONLY ne
cesSary to enquire, whether they exceed
Tie legitimate exercise of the authority of
the government ?-If they donot, and are
necessary to the peace OF the country, it
Is sufficient Justification of them. Ii has
been said, that bonds were opp,;cssire. and
were not imposed in similar eases by 9TH
er nations. Mr.. III. affirmed, that thew
were not imposed by other nations, but
had been resorted to by our own, in eases
tar less important AT the period he re-
ferredto, the danger now urged, OF pla-
eng so much power i'll the hands of tie
oflcers OF The customs, was not objected
TO, though the power was then much more
dangerous and oppressive-Thatt time.
however, had gone by, Mr. y. said-had
been for9otten-and he meant not to re-
vlve unpleasant feelings, by bringing it
mo view. But, sand he, must you prey ent
the commission OF the offence, or wait
until The act be committed, when punish
otcommon life, he said-if a man is seen
pursuing his business, not in the ordinary
way, but In a manner to give ground of
suspicion that lie is about to commit an
Illegal act, is he not arrested, and meas
ures taken to prevent the mischief aDDre-
hended! Here, (said Mr.. H. in the ports
OF a country III profound peace-no enc
my known-a citizen Is preparing yes
sci OF war, and carrying ont a number Of
men, greatly beyond what are necessary
FOR tie purpose of nayigation--can il be
supposed sucIia citizen is pursuing law
ful trasic would not this be sufficient
to say TO him: Sir, circumstances warrant
me In the belief that you mean TO violate
the law-but, if an innocent man. the Sc
curlty youmust give will not injure YOU?
We know, that if q man Law before ma
glstrate Con oatlD just grounds to suspect
harm, personal or otherwise, the officer
is bound 70 require bond for the obser-
vance ofthe peace. The party accused
could not say, whom have Injured .
when inIure any one, il will then be time
enough to punish ne. Motifs the poll
cy OF every nation rather 10 endeayor TO
prevent than punish offences.
MIR. I'll. .reciied the provisions of the bill,
10 shew that therewas no hardship in the
pursuing a conduct which might lead the
nation INTO war. When an armed ship,
under present circumstances, sailed out.
he thought there was good reason TO pre-
sumo she was not sent TO seeka market.
but that she was barganed for, and had
the purchaser fully ascertained, and that
her destination is 10 embark in the war
indeed, (said MIR. H. she goes not out
with the intention merely to embark in it.
but fakes part i'll the quarrel from the
moment of her departure lie thought.
IT the sale of armed vessels was fair at
sea, ii was equally so in port-for, for
eIgner might comeinto port, purchase the
materials. and have such vessels built as
would suit the purposes ofwar. The ar
Btment, that the sail of armed vessels was
legal, would (Alr. II. said) carry lis adyo-
Gates further than they were aware. and
Justify foreigner in making warlike pre-
parations III our ports with impunitv. He
contended, that though citizen might
sell his lumber, &c. To whomsoever he
pleased, IT was fair TO enquire whether it
was for uniawful purposes, with know
ledge OF IT'S improper use-and whether. i'm
exercising this right of sale, he was not
in]uring others. think, said Mr.. H)
when vessels are seen going out enuipped
even to the powder-horn, tlev can onlv
be supposed going to engage in hostil
ties.
Mr.B. adverted to the argument of the
armament necessary to vessels in the In
dia trade, TO "lIlciI he replied, that il was
nOtnOw common, and was only necessa-
Ty tn defend them against the pirates of
the AsidtiC SpaS-Thp Iuhio ve~,oI. ,Ioso