# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 2/9th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 9

Chap. IX.—An Act to suspend the commercial intercourse between the United States, and certain parts of the island of St. Domingo.
Commercial intercourse with certain parts of St. Domingo interdicted. Penalties for violating the provision above stated.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all commercial intercourse between any person or persons resident within the United States, and any person or persons resident within any part of the island of St. Domingo, not in possession, and under the acknowledged government of France, shall be, and is hereby prohibited; and any ship or vessel, owned, hired or employed, wholly or in part, by any person or persons resident within the United States, and sailing from any port of the United States, after due notice of this act at custom-houses, respectively, which contrary to the intent hereof, shall be voluntarily carried; or shall be destined to proceed, whether directly, or from any intermediate port or place, to any port or place within the island of St. Domingo, and not in possession, and under the acknowledged government of France; and also any cargo which shall be found on board of such ship or vessel, when detected and interrupted in such unlawful purpose, or at her return from such voyage, to the United States, shall be wholly forfeited, and may be seized and condemned in any court of the United States having competent jurisdiction.
Clearances to be given to no vessel destined to any parts of St. Domingo but those in possession of France. Bonds to be given in cases of destinations to foreign ports, not to touch at such parts of the island of St. Domingo, &c. &c.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That after due notice of this act at the several custom-houses, no ship or vessel whatever shall receive a clearance for any port or place within the island of St. Domingo, and not in the actual possession of France: nor shall any clearance be granted for a foreign voyage to any ship or vessel, owned, hired, or employed, wholly or in part, by any person or persons, resident within the United States, until the owner or the employer for the voyage, or his factor or agent, with the master, shall give bond to the United States, in a sum equal to the value of the vessel and of her cargo, with condition that the ship or vessel, for which a clearance shall be required, is destined to some port or place without the limits of such part of the island of St. Domingo, as shall not be in the actual possession, and under the acknowledged government of France, and during the intended voyage shall not be voluntarily carried, or permitted to proceed, whether directly or from any intermediate port or place, to any port or place within such part of the island of St. Domingo, as shall not be in the actual possession, and under the acknowledged government of France; and in case of being forced by any casualty into any port or place hereby interdicted, shall not, at any such port or place, voluntarily sell, deliver, or unlade any part of such cargo, except so much as may be absolutely necessary to defray the expenses requisite to enable such vessel to proceed on her intended voyage; and generally, that such ship or vessel, whilst on such voyage, shall not be employed in any traffic or commerce, with or for any person resident within any part of the island of St. Domingo, not in the actual possession, and under the acknowledged government of France.
How the penalties and forfeitures, are to be accounted for. Act of March 2, 1799, ch. 22. Act of March 3, 1797, ch. 13.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That all penalties and forfeitures incurred by force of this act, and which may be recovered, shall be distributed and accounted for, in the manner prescribed by the act, intituled “An act to regulate the collection of duties on imports and tonnage,” passed the second day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, and may be mitigated or remitted in the manner prescribed by the act, intituled “An act to provide for mitigating or remitting the forfeitures, penalties and disabilities accruing in certain cases therein mentioned;” passed the third of March, one thousand seven hundred ​Act of Feb. 11, 1800, ch. 16.and ninety-seven, and made perpetual by an act passed the eleventh day of February, one thousand eight hundred.
Continuance of this act.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue and be in force for one year, and no longer.
President authorized to remit the disabilities, &c. &c.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That at any time after the passing of this act, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, if he shall deem it expedient and consistent with the interests of the United States, by his order, to remit and discontinue the restraints and prohibitions on the commerce aforesaid.
Approved, February 28, 1806.