Mr. Seybert said, as his colleague's principal objection to the motion appeared to be a difficulty as to facts, he hoped to procure his vote for its adoption by stating at least one which had come to his knowledge. I, said Mr. S., had the honor to have a nephew on board the ship Wasp. He informed me this morning that after they had been carried into Bermuda, several of their crew were taken and confined in irons; that he saw them in that situation; and that their crime was, having fought the battles of our country. What may be my colleague's feelings on this occasion, I know not—I hope they are honorable to himself and the House—for myself I wish the subject investigated. Mr. S. concluded by expressing his hope that the resolution would pass.
Mr. Macon said he was anxious to obtain information on this subject, but doubted the propriety of the preamble. After the information was received, it would be time enough to express an opinion on the subject. He had no doubt that we must at last come to the determination to protect every man that is on board of a ship of the United States. It is what Great Britain herself does; and in this respect we ought to follow her example. If these people undertake to fight our battles, we ought to protect them. Mr. M. said he was opposed to the preamble, because he did not wish to give reasons to the departments of the Government for any call for information the House thought proper to make; it was enough that the House should ask for it, and the President should give or withhold it. The practice heretofore was against the course now pursued.
Mr. Bigelow said he had no objection to the call for information, divested of the preamble and the opinion expressed in it, except that it did not go far enough. He proposed to amend it by adding thereto the following words, "accompanied with all the evidence in his possession, which will tend to show whether such persons are American citizens or British subjects."
Mr. Bassett said he was indifferent as to the form, provided he obtained the substance; he, therefore, should submit to such modification as the gentleman from North Carolina should think proper to make. But, said Mr. B., as it has been said that there is no information before the House, I state that I understand, and it is my belief, that six men of the crew of the United States brig Nautilus were detained and sent to England for trial; and that Commodore Rodgers had detained as hostages for their safety twelve British subjects. I state also to the House that I understand and believe that six seamen of another armed vessel have been detained, and that General Pinckney had detained a like number of British subjects. I state that I have received information that the boatswain of the Wasp had been put in irons after she was taken. These violations of humanity and the law of nations I believe to require retaliation. When I voted against a bill on this subject (Mr. Wright's) it was not because I was opposed to retaliation. No, sir; retaliation in war is often mercy—it puts an end to those cruelties which would otherwise frequently disgrace parties at war, and is indispensable in the conduct of hostilities.
Mr. B. having withdrawn his motion, it was substituted by the following, offered by Mr. Macon:
"Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be laid before this House any information which may be in his possession touching the conduct of British officers towards persons taken in American armed ships."
Mr. Randolph said he trusted that the resolution now before the House would meet with no objection; although against the resolution as first proposed, he must have voted for it, notwithstanding all the odium which might have attached to such a vote. He hoped, he said, that rigorous retaliation would take place if our countrymen found in arms had been treated as criminals and not as prisoners of war. He hoped we should have ample atonement for every drop of American blood which should be spilt in such manner. Having taken occasion to pay a handsome compliment to the gallantry of our Navy, which was not heard with sufficient distinctness to be reported, Mr. R. concluded by hoping there would be no objection to the resolution.
Mr. Milnor said he thought it due to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bassett) to state that, owing to the noise which prevailed in the House, he had not before heard the statement which the gentleman had now been kind enough to make. He had heard of no such case as that alluded to by his colleague; but he trusted he had been sufficiently guarded not to commit himself, even to the most invidious construction, as opposed to a proper investigation of this subject. To the present motion he yielded his perfect acquiescence. Mr. M. said he trusted that in any thing that related to the honor of the country in the contest in which we are now engaged, whatever might have been his opinion of the propriety of entering into it, he should not be found more backward than other gentlemen in sustaining the just rights of the nation.
Mr. Sheffey said, if American citizens had been treated in the manner represented, he was clearly of opinion that severe retaliation ought to follow. But did gentlemen pretend that a British subject, running away from a British vessel, and found on board of one of ours, was to be considered as entitled to be treated as a prisoner of war? Could this doctrine be asserted by any gentleman? He presumed not. The resolution, as it now stood, would not elicit the facts material as to this point. He, therefore, moved to amend it, by inserting, after the word "persons," the words "other than British subjects."
Mr. Seybert said he was happy to hear the declaration last made by his colleague, (Mr. Milnor.) He hoped the amendment first offered would be rejected with disdain. [The Speaker declared that such language was not proper in debate, the expression being too strong, and such as sometimes led to a personal altercation, always to be avoided.] Mr. S. thanked the Speaker for his caution; he meant no personality; but he thought it did not become this House to debate whether the persons in question were British subjects or not, when they had been put in irons for fighting the battles of the country. Let the proof rest on the aggressor on national law and the violator of the rules of war. He hoped the House would without hesitation reject the amendment. I may go too far, said he, by stating too much; but I will say thus much without risk of contradiction: that the boatswain of the Wasp, a warrant officer of the United States, had been twelve years within the United States and has a wife and children here. These, I hope, are sufficient characteristics to insure him our support: I will give him mine, and have no doubt the House will do the same.