Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-03-31

day tie lsth, on tie bill to amend Tie
acts for more efectraiiy preserving the
neutral relations IF the u. States.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Mr.. CLAWS proposition SOTO amend the bill
as to repeal all acts relating TO The subject, eX.
cept that of 1894, being yet under considera
tO!I....
Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, was opposed
to this motion, though he bad made up
his mind 10 give silent vote on il, but
for The remarks offhe gentleman who had
just spoken, (Mr. Tucker.) lie had the
honor lie said, TO be a member of the
committee Of foreign relations al the last
session, By whom The bill now called the
act OF 1872, WAS reported aud, "a far as
his recollection served him, ifilie me ssage
of the President (Which had been referred
to) bal not been Submitted 10 HAT com
mitlce, they would have reported bill
nearly similar in its provisions 10 that
which had passed. That letter, MIR. 5.
said, ought to be better understood. The
Minister OF the King of Portugal had re-
ceiyed information, which afterwards prov
ed To be correct, that Commodore Tay Tor
had issued orders 10 privateers from the
ports OF the United States to capture the
vessels OF Portugal and he apprizsd the
Department of State thatsuch expeditions
were fitting out. 'T'he fact was, Mr.. S.
said. that those vessels, going from ports
OF the United States, did actually take
such vessels, carry them into Baenos
Ayres, where the government decided
that there was no authority on the part
OF Commodore Taylor 10 issue any such
orders. The letter from the Portuguese
minister, MIR. 5. said further, vas couch
ed III respectful terms, such as appeared
proper and consistent with q correct view
OF his duties as a foreign minister. II bad
been animated that The President had
been induced TO address message ON
this subject 10 Congress, by The teasing of
foreign minister. Did gentlemen sup
pose the President man Of that chayac-
ter 10 yield 10 such opportunities No |;
he WIS, IN applying to Congress for more
rigid provisions, mindful oftiS own coun-
Try alone and no reflection could Justly
apply TO the President for his conduct OH
that occasion.
His friend from Virginia, Mr. S. said,
had an objection TO the act of 1917, bot
toned on the bonds required by that act
TO be given In certain cases. What were
those bonds That an armed vessel, 60
ing from the ports of the United States,
should not jeopardize the peace of The
country. This, 1t appeared, lad been re-
present d 20 size gentlemen from Virginia
as "A great neon enieUCe 10 persons en-
gagged IN the East India trade. | am my
self, tsald Mr.. So engaged i'll that trade,
and number of my constituents, and
the constituents of various gentlemen
here /; and There be any great inconven-
iencc to them, why have they moi remon-
straied 10 this house against IL 3? No such
remonstrance has been forwarded and
yet, sir the merchants are very mindful
OF their own convenience. One remon
STRANGE had been presented from that
class at The present session, representing
that tue fifteen days allowed by law was
too short a time Tor discliarging the cargo
OF ship, and that the per diem allowance
for all beyond that time ought TO be mo-
dihed or discontinued. This, MIR. S. said,
was trltling inconvenience, aud vet the
merchants demonstrated against n. AS
10 the inconvenience ofgiying bonds, Mr.
). SAID, he who has no wish 10 do an I'M
lawful act will have no obiet lion 10 give
bones, which give no OTHER trouble than
the signature OF his own Bame and that
of two suretles. In civil society, for the
benefit oithe whole, Individuals must sub
mil to such IncOnyeniences, and the mer-
Grants had always chccrfulv done it.
Why did we so -? asked Mr.. S. Because it
was our interest that those Who are dis
posed 10 do illegal acts may he detected
and arrested in their designs. We give
bond, SAID Mr.. ). for tlIe register of our
ship, aud ii we sell the vessel abroad, are
hound TO return the register We could
sell our vessels to great advantage abroad
IT we could sell the registers also : but tiie
G.If .,f fh,
give bond 10 return them. To such imcon-
veniences, like those of the act of 1917,
required by the general good, ] have never
known merchants TO refuse 10 subnlit-it
Is not their character. With regard 10 tlie
other section, which The gentleman hal
objeciedto, MIR S. did not concei, II We
ry important but It was INTENDED 10 pre-
vent We sells from being prepared IN our
poris fora cruize in every respect, except
That their armament was not ON deck. but
ready 10 be putin a situation 10 make war
immediately on leaving our ports. Such
vessel The collectors are authorized To
detain but from SO doing gained no adj
vantage, there being no forfeiture. &c
SO that they had no motive for pressing
the execution ol the strict lctieroi the law,
and the power was not therefore subject
to abuse, as had been supposedly That
section, he said, had perhaps arisen from
a circumstance which las cost the United
States negfls 200, 900 bcreferred to- the
| case Of the American Eagle, Of New York,
which vessel was supposed to be sold 10
one OF lie black emperOrs, and had about
her all the marks Of such a destination
but, under the laws of the United States
was not condemned. That vessel was
seized under direct order Of the Execu.
i've but the collector had been adude-
ed 10 pay 10 the owner for Tie seizure.
, 100000 aHd Inicrest-and Congress were
hnnnd 10 mnLr nnnd liz rnrrrr u IL