Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-12-29
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A BILL

Respecting the commercial intercourse be 4.
| tween the United S ates and Great Britain
and France-and for other purposes
Read the first and second time, and com.
mited to a committee OF the whole house on
| Friday next This day.
I ~ z 1t enacted by the Senate and House of
| - Representatives Of the United States OF
| America, in Congress assembled, That from
and atter the passage Of this act, the entrance
| of the harbprs and waters Of the United
Sta'es and of the TERRITORIES thereof be. and
the same is hereby interdicted to all public
! ships or vessels belonging 20 Great Britain or
France-excepting vessels only which NAV be
| forced in By distress or which are charged
with dispatches, or business fro n The govern.
ment TO which they belong, and also packets
having no cargo nor merchandise on board
And If any pubic ship or vessel as uforesa
not being included in the exemption above
mentioned, shall enter any harbor or waters
within the jurisdiction of the United States.
or of the territories thereof it shall be lawful
for he president Of the United States. or such
other person as he shall have empowered for
that purpose, to employ such part of the land
and naval forces OF Of the militia Of the United
States OF the territories thereof rs he shall
deem necessary to compel such ship or vessel
to depart
Sec. 3. And be It further enacted, Tha it
shall not be lawful for any citizen or citizeng
LOT The United States or the territories thereof.
nor t - any person OF persons residing or be.
ing in he same u have any intercourse wit, or
afford any AID or supplies to any public shin mr.
vessel as aforesaid, which shall contrary 10 the
provisions Ofthis act. have entered any harbor
sr waters within the jurisdiction of the Uni.
ted states or the territories thereof-and IL
any person shall, contrary to tie provisions OF
THIS act, have any intercourse with such slim
or vessel, OF shall Afford any aid TO such ship
or vessel, either in repairing the said vessel
or ~ Furnishing her, hero. IS or crew, with
supplies Of any kind, or in any manner what
cver--or ii any pilot or other person shall as
sist ~ navigating or plotting such skip or YES
SCI, un'es~ It be for the purpose Of carrying
her beyo ID the limits and Jurisdiction Of the
Dmtcd states, every person so oIcnding shall
f)ricit and pay a sum Il 3, than one hupdscd
dollars, nor excccdms len thousand dollars
and shall also be imprisoned Tor a term not te.s
than owe month nor more than ono year.
sec. 3, and b. II further en,cted That
th- entrance Of the harbJrs and waters oftDr
Unitei states anil Tie territories thereof b..
and thc same b. hereby interlicted TO Oh shi,
or vessels SAILING under the Aag Of t. Bri ain
or FrsnCe, or owHcd IN whole or m part, b..
any citizen or subject Of clthcr--yessels hired.
chartered, or employed by the government o.
etthcr county. 70 the sole purpose ofct.ry n,-
lcttcfs or dispatches, and also vessels forced
in by distress or the dangers If che sea, onlg
excepted. And % any snip or vessel Saline
under tho hIg Of 6. Britain, Of France, or
owned IN Whole or in part by any citizen or
subject Of either. aud not excepted as af,rc.
sad, shat hereafter arrive either with or
tout cargo, within the linaits Of the Uni
ted states, or territories thereof, such sniS or
vessel together with the cargo if any. which
may 9e ioun4 on 1os-d, abl'i Be foriete and