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

into Tie United States, those S.,l Ia. UH-
| der them were liable to he pros, tt1,i rs
| pirates, this injustice should 20 iata,
Such was the object, he sans, ut t-c a-
| mendrent which he move9 ,o e, 80 iae
bill as Il new section, to tbs cil,t
That neither the persons nor ,,le ..4ouefty
otpevsons salhrg under the Uag, cd anS .sGt.
district or people, IN dmiiy with ;hy iifed
! States, should Bs sub.ct Ia tue peuait..s az,
! tached TO piracy in the courts OF ;he Ul,.ted
States, for or on account OF the Cove, .meni of
the UHited states having omitted to 81 A"ow
| ledge the Soycr-tsuty AMI Independence OF
such coomy, d,>lrc, or rcoiSt."
Ii being late IN The day, The committee
then rose AMI tie house adjourned.
THURSDAY, MARCH 10.
The House a;,iiii resolved itself into
u committee OF the Whole, on TIE hill in adj
dltion 10 the act 10 nuuish certain crimes
against The y. States, anGto repeal certain
| acts therein meHtioued-Mr. Glars moil-
on, pending at the adjournment, yes
tcr';ay, being still under consideration.
MIR. CLAY declined taking up the Time
OF the committee any further on Tins mo-
ti"D.-He would only say, that ms object
waS TO place the patriot Aas on precisely
The same footing IN Our ports, as that of
the opposite party. lie diSrlained any
intention, as he learned WAS presumed bv
some, of producing BY This motion an in
direct recognition OF South American In
dependence. Whenever he should bring
that question before the house, as he as
suredly meant do, II would be IN way
open, direct and unamhIguoGs.
MIR. FORSYTH oppOSodille motion, and
entered into various arguments to Shew
the improperly of placing upon this foot
ing The flags of govrruul uts purporiing
10 be organized and independent, which
might have no existence, and 80 whom
there could be no appeal for the miscon
duct OF those acting under commissions
from their pretended authority As an
example, he mentioned the Mexican pa
triot government, OF whose Congress we
had some time ago heard, and which, II
had been reported last year, had passed
vote Of thanks TO the honorable speak.
er ior liS nagnanlmouS eXertions in favor
OF their cause; but this Congress had
sunk into oblivion, and all sembancc of
an independent government become ex-
tlnet, since the tall OF the unfortunate
Nina also that of Venezuela, whose 90.
vernment existed only in the camp of
Bolivar. To these governments there
could be no resort, as they could not be
found, and therefore could not be consi-
dered responsible, though there were nu-
merous crulZcrs sailing under commissi-
ons issued BY them, which might commi,
ANY irregularlty, and even dcpredaie up
on American property, without our being
able To appeal 10 those granting the com
missions Tor redress.
Mr.. CLAY offered few more remarks
in favor Of on amendment whose objects
lie thought SO clear and proper. As 10
the vote OF thanks whic!a il was said he
had received from the Mexican Congress,
he had no knowledge of ii; but of such
distinction, It il were so, hc should
fee! proud. If, however, said Mr. G..
have deserved such All honor from the pa
trlOtS for nay eXeT,Ioa-, submit it to my
friend from Georgia whether lac does not
p0site party, for his eNertions on that
side!
Mr.. I, NJ. Nelson replied to Mr..
Forsyth, and disclaimcd any views in The
votes which he gave here, other than the
good of his country and mankind. lie
was unwilling 10 involve hIs country ia
war 10 benefit any people OF government,
bni he would not, from any apprehension
otwar, he deferred from doing equal JUS
ilce, and particularly when his feelings
as Il republican, philauihropist and a
christian, impelled him 10 wish success
to every struggle for liberty, such strug-
gle as, he believed, was BOW going on IN
South America. Mr.. n. said the amend
ment proposed would involve the United
States IN no quarrel; IL simply called for the
practice OF the impartial neutrality which
was proiessed. 1t would not have the
effect OF screening from punishment de-
precautions oil American property, as MIR.
Forsyth had appTehended; il would mere
~ not make the punishment depend on
l1n .a1Y al, -
persons and property coming into our
ports under the Spanish flag, we're not IL
able 10 punishment in our courts, and il |
was not impartial that those sailing under
the liag of South American patriots should
be, only because their independence re-
NAMED unacknoWlcdged by our govern
ment. The people OF this country, Mr..
y. believed, were not willing TO make so
fragrant a difference III favor of govern
mcnt alike intOierant 10 the claims of hu-
mainly towards It's colonies, and regard
less of the claims of Justice made OF ii
by llie u. States. lie hoped the amend
mcnt would be agreed 10.
Mr.. MIDDLETON spoke as TO The rcpu.
ted facts IN the trial of a case of capture
adiudicated in The district court of South
Carolina, referred to in lhc debate.
Mr.. SMITH of Maryland, spoke TO
ShcW tbdt Inc amendment was not ne
ceSsary TO the correct adjudication of cas-
Is coming before tlie courts under lie
law
Mr.. LowNDEs had no objection TO the
object of the amendment, but spoke some
time TO shew that il was not sufficiently
definite. 1t would be monsirous in
justice TO subject TO punishment indivi-
dnals making captures aud bringing thom
into our ports, under the flags OF govern
ments so well established as some Of tie