The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-06-05 00:00:00

INDEMNIFICATION OF AMERICAN SEAMEN.

" Whereas, by the Treaty of Amity, Commerce,
and Negociation, made between his BRITANNIC MA.
JESTY and the United States, at London, en the
19th day of November, 1791, it is agreed, that
there shall be a firm, inviolable, and universal peace,
and a true and sincere friendship between his Bat-
TANNIC MAJESTY, his heirs, and successors, and the
United States of America, and between their respec-
tive countries, territories, cities, towns, and peo-
ple of every degree, without exception of persons or
places. And, whereas, his BRITANNIC MAJESTY
has caused to be impressed out of the ships of the
United States, sailing QII the high seas, under the
American flag, divers liege Citizens of said States,
and compelled them to serve on board the ships of
war of Great Britain, and to fight against the
United States ; and numbers of them yet detains
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
House of Representatives• of the United States of
America id Congresss assembled, that from and after
the 4th day of June next, any person or persons
who shall impress any native seaman of the United
States from on board any vessel of the United States,
sailing on the high seas, or in any port, river, haven,
basin, or -flay, under pretence or colour of a com-
mission from any foreign power, shall, for' every
such offence, be adjudged a pirate and felon, and,
en conviction, shall suffer death ; and the trial in
such case shall be had where the offender is appre-
hended, or may be first brought.
►r Ssc. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall
be lawful for any seaman sailing under the dig of the
United States, on any person or personsattempting to
impress him by force or violence from on board any ►es-
sel of the United States on the high seas, or in any port,
river, haven, basin, or bay, to repel force by
force ; and if any person so attempting to impress
said seaman, shall be killed, maimed, or wounded, it
shall be lawful for such seaman on the general I,sue,
to give the special matter in evidence, which is hereby
declared a perfect justification.
" SEc. 3. And be it further enacted, That on in-
formation being given to the President of the UNITE°
STATES, proving, satisfactorily to him, that any ci-
tizen of the United States shall have been impressed,
and shall be yet detained, or shall hereafter be im-
pressed, to cause the most rigorous retaliation on
any of the subjects of said Government, taken on
the high seas, or within the British territories, whom
he is hereby authorised to cause to be taken and sties&
for that purpose, any Treaty to the contrary notwith-
standing.

46 SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That any
seaman heretofore or hereafter impressed, shall be,
and he is hereby authorised, to attach, in the hands
of any British subject, or in the hands of any debtor
of any British subject, a sum equal to thirty dollars
per month, for the whole time he shall hare been de-
tained on hoard any British vessel or vessels. And
that any sum of money, so attached out of the
hands of any debtor, shall be a payment of so ON&
of said debt to said creditor; and. en plea of pay.
ment, or set off, the same may be given in evidences
and allowed in any suit for the recovery of said debt,
any Treaty to the contrary notwithstandingt •
" SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the
President of the UNITED STATES is hereby autho.
rised to capture, by way of resprisal, any British
subjects on the high seas, or within the British terri-
tories, as may be equal to the impressed American
seamen in the possession of Great Britain, and by a
cartel to exchange the same.
" Sac; 6. And be it further .vaacted, That the
PRESIDENT be, and be is hereby authorised, when-
ever sufficient tastimeny shall be pioduced that the
Commander of ant public armed Alps or oar

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