Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-02-11
u. .. CONGRESS.
u ednesday, FEB. 9
~ SENATE.
SuppREssIoN OF PfRAoY,

SUPPRESSION OF PIRACY.
The Senate then again took up the hill ''for
the Suppression of Piracy.n The following
motion, made yesterday, by Mr.. VAN BUREN,
being still pending, viz
Resoiced, That the bill s'For the suppression
Of Piracy ia the West Indies" be recunnnitted
20 the Committee OH Foreign Relations, with
instructDns to report amendments thereto Civ
ing power to the President, on its being salts
factorily proved to him that any of the pirates
mentioned III the said act, find refuge in any of
the cities or ports ufthe SAID Island of Cuba, or
other Islands mentioned in the said bill and
that the local governments oI the said Islands,
on being requested SO to do, neglect or refuse
20 aid in the apprehension, prosecution, and
conviction OF such pirates, TO give authority TO
the crews of the armed vessels Of the United
States, under such instructions as may be given
them, to land on the said islands, III search of
pirates, and there 10 subdue, vanqnish, and cap
t,,rc them, and bring them To the United States
Tor trial and adl udlcation, as the said Instructions
of the President of the Uu,,ed States may pre-
scribe: and further, 10 authorize reprisals the
colnmere and property vi the Inhabitants of the
said islands.
Mr.. Barbour made a few remarks against
The principle proposed in the instructions, ard
also against recommittng the bill to the Com
mttce of Foreign Relations.
Mr.. VAN buren, replied to Mr. B. and had
no disposition to bnrthen the committee with a
duty which was not acceptable. AS there
were many propositions before the Senate tor
amending the bill, he wished it recom,n,tte,i
ior the purpose OF receiving such shape as woul,.
be generally agreeable to the senate; out he
would waive his motion until the sense of til.
Senate had been expressed on those amend
,nents; and he accordingly, for the present,
Withdrew il.
The question then required on the following
section W lich Mr.. HOLMES, of Maine, yester-
day offered viz.
"Sec. B. And be IL further enacted, That no
public armed vessel OF the United States. au-
thorized and employed for the suppression OF
piracy, shall be engaged or employed in the
transportation of specie, or any other article OF
freight, unless specially designated therefor by
the President of the United States.n
Mr. BARBOUR had no objection to the prin-
cple of this amendment, but thought it had bet
ter come in at the end of the bill, and not as the
Sd section.
Various amendments were then successfully
offered to this section, which as we'll as the
principle Of the section itself, gave rise to much
discussion, In the end, the section was re-
jected-ayes 10, noes 90; when
Mr.. SMITa poved the following amendment;
Ind be ii further enacted, That the Collec-
tors of the several ports of the United States be-
and they are hereby, authorized to pay To the
owner or owners of any merchant vessel of the
United States, which shall clear out for, and
bona file be bound to, any island in the West
Indies, north and west ofthe Island of St. Tho
mas, or any port in tho Gulf of Mexico, Dorth
of the State of Colombia, the sum of - dol
lars, for every gun of calibre not less than
four pounds, which may be mounted on board
such vessel: ProUided, That the owner or
owners shall have furnished for each gun, al
. least thirty rounds of ammunition, ten boarding
pixies, aud ten muskets, with at least thirty six
cartridges for each musket, and shall have fur
nished three men, a least, for each gun So
mounted .4ad procided, further, That such
payment shall only be made on the report OF the
Surveyor Of the Port being produced 10 the
said collector, that such armament is actually
On board such vessel, and such number of men
had ben engaged for the voyage.
. And be it further enacted, That the President
be, and he is hereby, authorized TO purchase a
Steam Boat, of the largest size, and arm and
man the same in such manner as he may deem
proper; and, also, TO cause to be built four
Barges or Launches, each 10 mount agun on the
bow, of a calibrc To carry a shot not less than
six pounds, and capable of carrying thirty men.
Mr.. SMITH moved to fill the blank with 22C
dollars, the premium to be allowed on eacl
gun; and, after some discussion on the subject
The motion to fill the blank with go dollars
was negatIved-ayes 9; and
The Senae adjourned.