# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 2/8th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 46

Chap. XLVI.—An Act further to protect the commerce and seamen of the United States against the Barbary powers.
Act of April 21, 1806, ch. 38. Act of Feb. 27, 1813, ch. 40. 1807, ch. 30. 1808, ch. 11. An additional ad valorem duty of two and a half per cent. imposed for defraying expenses in relation to the Barbary States. Upon goods imported after the 30th June next. The first section of this act continued in force by acts of 1806 and 1813.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of defraying the expenses of equipping, officering, manning, and employing such of the armed vessels of the United States, as may be deemed requisite by the President of the United States, for protecting the commerce and seamen thereof, and for carrying on warlike operations against the regency of Tripoli, or any other of the Barbary powers, which may commit hostilities against the United States, and for the purpose also of defraying any other expenses incidental to the intercourse with the Barbary powers, or which are authorized by this act: a duty of two and an half per centum ad valorem, in addition to the duties now imposed by law, shall be laid, levied, and collected upon all goods, wares and merchandise, paying a duty ad valorem, which shall, after the thirtieth day of June next, be imported into the United States from any foreign port or place: and an addition of ten per centum shall be made to the said additional duty in respect to all goods, wares and merchandise imported in ships or vessels not of the United States: and the duties imposed by this act shall be levied and collected in the same manner, and under the same regulations and allowances as to drawbacks, mode of security and time of payment ​respectively, as are already prescribed by law in relation to the duties now in force on the articles on which the said additional duty is laid by this act.
Distinct account of the duties imposed by this act: proceeds to be called the “Mediterranean fund:” when the duties cease.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That a distinct account shall be kept of the duties imposed by this act, and the proceeds thereof shall constitute a fund, to be denominated “The Mediterranean Fund,” and shall be applied solely to the purposes designated by this act: and the said additional duty shall cease and be discontinued at the expiration of three months after the ratification by the President of the United States, of a treaty of peace with the regency of Tripoli; unless the United States should then be at war with any other of the Barbary powers, in which case the said additional duty shall cease and be discontinued at the expiration of three months after the ratificationProviso, that the additional duties shall be collected on all goods imported before the act ceases. by the President of the United States of a treaty of peace with such power: Provided however, that the said additional duty shall be collected on all such goods, wares, and merchandise, liable to pay the same, as shall have been imported previous to the day on which the said duty is to cease.
President authorized to employ a naval force in the Mediterranean. President may purchase or build two additional vessels of war. An additional sum appropriated, not to exceed one million of dollars. President authorized to borrow this sum. Bank of the U. States authorized to lend. See acts of 1809, ch. 7. 1810, ch. 5. 1813, ch. 40. Accounts to be laid before Congress.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States, if he shall deem it necessary, shall be, and he is hereby authorized to cause to be purchased or built, officered, manned and equipped, two vessels of war, to carry not more than sixteen guns each, and likewise to hire or accept on loan in the Mediterranean sea, as many gun boats as he may think proper.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That a sum not exceeding one million of dollars, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, shall be, and the same is hereby appropriated (in addition to the sum heretofore appropriated for the same objects) for the purpose of defraying any of the expenses authorized by this act, which may be incurred during the present year: or if necessary the President of the United States is hereby authorized to borrow the said sum, or such part thereof as he may think proper, at a rate of interest not exceeding six per centum per annum, from the Bank of the United States, which is hereby empowered to lend the same, or from any other body or bodies politic or corporate, or from any person or persons; and so much of the proceeds of the duties laid by this act, as may be necessary, shall be and is hereby pledged for replacing in the treasury, the said sum of one million of dollars, or so much thereof as shall have been thus expended, and for paying the principal and interest of the said sum, or so much thereof as may be borrowed, pursuant to the authority given in this section: and an account of the several expenditures made under this act, shall be laid before Congress during their next session.
Approved, March 26, 1804.