Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-03-27

ss2 s'sSls = Kill - $3.50
did-and commissioners have been sent
there, II not viii credentials, so hear and
make representations. Tie iutlciary
then would say, ihai ,bc act of Izgf does
inclnde Tie case, aud HE act of loi7
would be supertluuuS and unnecessary.
hut tor tile further PROVISIONS contained
~ thai act. Gentlemen had coniendeu,
that these farther provisions we're neCss-
SAry, because II was proper 10 recu.e
bond and security from vessels departing
from our ports, that they Will not violate
Gur NEUTRAL obligations without The ter
r!OTy of the United States. This posiii-
ON, Mr.. <. could not reconcile uitk tie
admission lie understood gentlemen 10
maze, that acts committed 0ut OF our iu-
fsd.ctlon are acts of which foreign pow
erS Liust take care for themselves. Tie
bonds required by ihe restrictive systems.
winch had been referred 10, were ,nt
analogous 10 The present case they stood
on peculiar ground, the measures they
we're necessary 10 enforce having been
required by our own policy, i'll defeuc.
OF our own rights and interests, and were
not AN act OF Legislation for the benefit
OF foreign power, for whom We are un-
der no obligation 10 legis!ste. IKE dit
terence m The two cases Was precisely
the difference between legislaimg for our
selves and leyiSIa,iug for others. But,
II had been said. lhai bopds are required
even from orr priv atcers in war. HAT
Is because they have commissions, SAID
Nlr. C.-and acting under our au,iiorit;,
constitute particular part Of the force
OF The community, and the bond is ie-
CURED iOr oui own ,akes. Whilst on HIS
for all ibis anxiety ON the pari o! seT:.
ilemen. lest the patriots should get iold
OF vessel repaired for war. Were rTFV
not aware that The whole marine OF the
island OF Cuba, CONSISTS Of vessels pUr-
chased from this country? Ships are an
object OF commerce, condemned by no
authority. II was particularly fitting,
under present circumstances, that We
should give every facility Ia the sale OF
our ships. Dc not know, SAID he, that
owing. 10 the coIftsiiiOn OF the world, our
merchant vessels are cut out CT employ
ment; and tllai, unless we can sell them,
they will rel al our wharves? Mr.. {.
laid 1t down as Il principle, inCCntrover-
tIble, that 4 ship, armed or not armed,
WAS AN object OF commerce. GeHtlesaen
would not deny, that the materials OF az
mameul might be separately sold, &, alter
wards combined. Butt honorable gen
lleman from Souih Carolina had made
one admission, Mliicl gives up the ques-
ton, when he conceded, that al armed
slip might be fitted out, completely G.
quipped, 90 10 igreigu port, and alter
wards engage in war with any belhgercnt
| whatever, Without a violation o! our neu-
! trality. And yet such q course, admit
ted by the gentleman TO be lawful, was
expressly forbidden by the act OF 1917.
Mr.. LoWHdeS briefly explained; not adj
hitting the principle Mr.. e. considered
him as ceding, in the latitude as given 10
ii by the Speakerl Mr.. e. said he had
conceived the principle TO be fairly infer
red from The course Of the genteman's
| argument and he did not yet under
stand iilm as denying that, after Z yes
SCI gets into foreign port, and departs
! thence, our responsibility Tor lis conduct
ceases. And the gentleman lad lie other
day admitted, in debate on another sub
! lect, tie right of eXpatriaiIon. Suppose,
then, THAT any number OF citizens OF the
| United States should fit outan armed yes-
sci 70 90 10 any port in Spanish America,
| aad there eXpatrIate themselves by be-
coming Ciuzcns of another country:
might they moi engage IN war under the
| flag of ihelr country Gentlemen would
! nor deny it; and yet they would be for
| hidden 10 do so by the act of 1917.
Mr.. G. stated further objections to this
! act. For example, the collector of pert
might detaln any vessel, when tie num-
| Der OF men, the nature Of The cargo, o.
| any OtheT' circumstance, induce him TO sup
| pose the vessel Is intended for CruiziHg
| with belligereut purpose. MIR. c. said
! he was opposed to-vesiing such dIScreti-
onaTN pow ia auyl collector. Tire yoy-
! age may be intended TO Lima, 10 China,
or any distant port, and the voyage mag
| DC totally defeated, and heavy loss incur
red, by mere caprice Of the collector
! Mr.. &. wished his honorable friend, (MT.
! Johuson) 10 read Il letter he had received
| from ST. Bartholomew, stating that three
vessels had arrived there from British
ports, not only with skeletons OF regi-
meuts, but with nearly all the men, on
tlien way TO join the patriots. Had these
men, Mr.. c. asked, been subjected 10 ANY
bond and secuTity--tO any such onerous
| provisions as are contained in this bill
| no, said he we alone, IT seems, are to
stretch our power 10 It's limit 10 prevent
oar citizens from aiding IN any manner
the efforts Of those who are struggling
for liberty n the SOutIi--whllst Great Brio
tain, IN this respect. puTsucs a pOlicy
which we might wOTihily initiate. While
at peace, he admitted, we ought TO per
form our obligations of neutrality but
they did not require the passage of bills
With neutral titles, but with provisions ia
VOTable To- one only of the beiligCTcnts.
What. on The other hand, had Great Bril-
tain done She had issued a prOclama-
ton, which almost recognizes The lnde-
pCndence Of the provinces, calling the
contest a war between America and Spain
and forbidding her citizens TO engage in
lt-bui requiring no bond and security
! from them. No, said Mr.. G. she has
gone step further thaDsbe has ever be-