# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 3/17th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 15

Chap. XV.—An Act concerning the commerce and navigation of Florida.
Vessels having Spanish registers on the 10th July, 1821, belonging wholly to resident citizens or to inhabitants on the 10th July, 1821, the master being a citizen or inhabitant, may be registered, &c. and then deemed a ship or vessel of the United States, &c. Proviso: as to collectors varying forms of oaths of registry, &c. Proviso: former register, &c. to be first surrendered, and oath of allegiance taken.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any ship or vessel possessed of, and sailing under, a Spanish register, on the tenth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, belonging, and continuing to belong, wholly to a citizen or citizens of the United States then residing within the territories ceded to the United States by the treaty of the twenty-second of February, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, between the United States and the King of Spain, the ratifications of which were exchanged on the twenty-second of February, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, or to any person or persons being, on the said tenth day of July, an inhabitant or inhabitants of the said ceded territory, and who continue to reside therein, and of which the master is a citizen of the United States, or an inhabitant as aforesaid, may be registered, enrolled, and licensed, in the manner prescribed by law; and being so registered, enrolled, and licensed, shall be denominated and deemed a ship or vessel of the United States, and entitled to the same privileges and benefits: Provided, That it shall be lawful for the collector to whom application shall be made for a certificate of registry, enrolment, or license, by any citizen of inhabitant as aforesaid, to make such variations in the forms of the oaths, certificates, and licenses, as shall render them applicable to the cases herein intended to be provided for: And provided also, That every such inhabitant, applying as aforesaid, shall, prior to his being entitled to receive such certificate of registry, enrolment, or license, deposit, with the collector, the register and other papers under which such ship or vessel had been navigated; and also take and subscribe, before the collector, (who is hereby authorized to administer the same,)Form of the oath. the following oath: “I, A B, do swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the United States of America, and that I do entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatever, and particularly to the King of Spain.”
Inhabitants on July 10, 1821, taking the oath, &c., entitled to own ships, &c.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of said ceded territory, who were residents thereof on the said tenth day of July, and who shall take the said oath, and who continue to reside therein, or citizens of the United States resident therein, shall be entitled to all the benefits and privileges of owning ships or vessels of the United States, to all intents and purposes, as if they were resident citizens of the United States.
For 12 years from 22d of May, 1821, Spanish vessels laden with Spanish productions, and from Spanish productions, and from Spanish ports, entitled to entry as American vessels under like circumstances.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That during the term of twelve years, to commence three months after the twenty-second day of February, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, being the day of the exchange of the ratifications of said treaty, Spanish ships or vessels, coming ​laden only with the productions of Spanish growth or manufacture, directly from the ports of Spain or her colonies, shall be admitted into the ports of Pensacola and St. Augustine, in the said ceded territory, in the same manner as ships and vessels of the United States, and without paying any other or higher duties on their cargoes than by law now are, or shall at the time be made payable by citizens of the United States, on similar articles imported into said Pensacola or St. Augustine, in ships and vessels of the United States, from any of the ports or places of Spain or her colonies, and without paying any higher tonnage duty than by law now is, or at the time shall be, laid on any ship or vessel of the United States, coming from any port or place of Spain or any of her colonies, to said ports of Pensacola or St. Augustine.
Approved, March 30, 1822.