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

1hoSOeyer viii buy them: But, when we
do SO, we ought io.have cargoes not con-
trabaDd of war on board of them. lfthey
nave an innocent cargo, they have no oc-
caslun for arms, and may go unmoleSted
where they please. And was there any
thing in the act of 1917 10 prohibit such a
trade No; II prohibited only the fitting
out Ot vessels from our ports for the pur.
pose OF depredating on the commerce OF
nations with whom we are al peace.
What, Mr.. S. asked, was the nature of
our differences with SpainI Was our
claim OH her for territorial possessions =
No, lie said, we possess the territory We
| claim, and 1t is for Spain 10 negociste 10
| dispossess US. Oar claim against her is
| for spoliations committed on our COM
merce by French privateers whom she
permitted 10 fit out from her ports, and
bring in our vessels for sale. For this we
justly demand indemnity. And what, lie
asked, had Spain replied? That we have
a right 10 this indemnity, and she will
pay it when she shall be able. Now, If
| vessel, sailing out of our ports as 4 cru
ser, obtains Il commission we know not
| how, gives no bonds whatever, goes TO
sea and commences The capture Of Spanish
property, are we not ponslbe ia one
case vessel of that description sailed
| from oar ports, and, without having visi
ted ANY patriotic port, had captured an
| indiaman and sent her into Bueuos Ayres,
| " here size sold for a million of dollars.
That amount, Mr.. :. said, he had been m
formed, was already reclaimed from us.
And, should we ask them 10 pay us for
depredations on the property ofour mer-
chants, and refuse the same measure TO
them? Now, suppose that at that time
q
provision of the act of 1917 so strongly
objected 10, with good and sufficient Sc
curity, that vesse! would not have gone
out and involved the United States III
heavy responsibilities by her unlawful
acts
If, as had been said, up TO tie last
year, the act Of 1894 had been deemed
sufficient BY successive Congresses, why
had that of l707 been passed subsequent
ly ? And, after all the acts that could be
passed, il would be found, Mr.. s. said,
that some loop hole would still be left
tlro' which man may creep. In reply
To the Speakers demand. why such sym
patty with the Spanish government, &lr.
y. said, that our sympat.Iies were for our
selves, orr acts were Intended 10 keep
ourselves within the rules of conduct pre-.
scrlbGd by national law for neutral pow
ers: to maintain our own dignity, and
prevent our citizens from involving us
in war. OF a war with the present power
of Spain, he said, nobody would think
much; but a rule applied to Spain might
be applied by illegal cruizers from our
ports TO other powers, with whom con-
flict would not be so very convenient
The House had been told that such con-
duct was not cause of war: it might moi
perhaps create war at this moment
but, said he, whenever the power thus III
jured feels Itself strong enough to make
a war, you will find that il will be always
found a sufficient cause. If, Mr.. s. said,
the United States do permit vessels 10 be
owned and fitted out in our ports and
harbors, commanded and manned by A.
meTican citizens, and TO sally out and de-
pTedate'on the commerce of nation at
peace with us, without taking due means
| TO prevent II, If that nation be bile, she
will consider it cause of war. Suppose
we should thus be brought into war,
which is not impossible, and that Spain
should fiji out in tie ports of England and
OF France, pTlvatecTs which never have
gone, and never intend to go into Spanish
ports for commissions, but should COM
mence their depredatienS on our com
| mrTce the moment they leave the ports
we demonstrate with these powers, and
tell them that the practice is inconveni-
ent and injurious to- us, and they give TO
| us the answer which has been given on
| this floor-I want TO know, if, with the
| powers the Speaker can bring into action
on such subject, he would not rouse Tie
! feelings OF every man in this House TO re
sent The injury, considering il cause of
war. What! he would say, shall we stand
| BIZ and see our commerce plundered, and
| our merchants robbed at our very doors
| by people not at war with us We ought
| therefore, Mr.. :. said, by every provision
| tllat was necessary, To- prevent our cit-
zens from embarking III these expeditions
--lfihe patriots ever have commerce on
| the high seas, said lIr, on which depreda-
ton can be committed, we shall find our
CiizeDs fighting against one another
| commissions will be taken from the Spa
Dlsh monarch III the same manner as they
now are from the Patriots; and, money
being The only object of those who engage
in these expeditions, our citizens will be
found ~ arms against each other, az eli
ther service may Afford them the prospect
of gam, &c.
Mr.. CLAY again rose. He directed his
first observations TO what had fallen from
Mr. Tucker. II tie decision of the ia.
dlcial authorities had been, thai The case
of the Patriots did moi come within the
act OF 1894, there would be much force in
his argument for retaining The least OBJ
iectIonablc part Of the act Of 1917. II
such decision had been made by the
Supreme Court, Mr. e. said, he did no.
know but be would 20 aloug with tn,
gentleman but such a decision had no.
been made, aud he Thought lac had shewr
could not be expected.