The National Register.
London, England, 1812-06-07 00:00:00

UNITED STATES.

" A BILL FOIL THE PROTECTION, RECOVERY, AND INDEMr-
FICAT lON OF AMERICAN SEAM Ili.
.4 Whereas, by the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Negttiatict:r
made between his Britannic Majesty and the United State;, at Lordca..
on the 19th day of November, 1794, it is agreed, that there sirnll he s
firm, inviolable, and universal peace, and a true an:. sincere friendship
between his Britannic Majesty, his heirs, and successors, an 1 the :liteN
ed
States of America, and between their respective countries, territori
cities, towns, and people of every degree, without ex Leption of peio!:s
or places. And, whereas, his Britannic Majesty has caused to he im-
pressed out of the ships of the United States, sailir..t on the high sets,
under the American flag, divers liege Citizens of said States, and com-
pelled them to serve on board ' sc ships of war of Great Bri!ain, anZ to
fight against the United States; and numbers of them yet detsined
contrary to the express provision of said Treaty, and in violation of their
natural liberty, and against the peace of the United States.
" Be it therefore enacted, by the Senate and I louse of RepresTntativJ
of th,! ITnited States of American Congress assembled, that fr:an and
after the 4th day of Jun" next, any person or persons who shall impresi
any native seaman of the United States from on boa ral any vesFel of the
United States, sailing on the high seas, or in any port, river, haven,
basin, or bay, under pretence or colour of a commission from any foreign
power, shall, for every such offence, be adjudged a pirate and felon, .7.7(''
on conviction, shalt suffer devil; and the trial in such case sln.ll be had
where the offender is apprehended, or may be first brought.
" St C. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for an!
person 07
seaman sailing under the flag of the United States, or ally
persons attempting to impress him by force or violence from on board
any vessel of the United States on the high seas, or in any port,
so river
at'
,
haven, basin, or bay, to repel force by force ; and if any person
tempting to impress said seaman, shall he killed, maimed, or
wounsital
it shall be lawful for such seaman on the general issue,
to give d'e
special matter in evidence, which is hereby declared a perfect justifica.
non.
" Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That on information being givcn
to the President of the United States, proving, satisfactorily to im:
that any Citizen of the United States shall have been impressed, all"
shall be yet detained, or shall hereafter be impressed, to cause the ino:t
rigorous retaliation on any of the subjects of saidiGovernnunt, t3l;e,t
ou the high seas, or within the British territories, whom he is beret):
authorised to cause to be taken and seized for that purpose, any
to the contrary notwithstanding. re ir
gi Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That any seaman herctofJ . .
hereafter impressed, shall be, and he is hereby authorised, to altac:' '3
the hands of any British subject, or in the hands of any debtor of..
frea,Y
British subject, a sum equal to thirty dollars per month, for the Woo.'

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