The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-03-10
(BY AUTHORITY
LAWs or THE UNITED STATES.
AN ACT

AN ACT
ITO interdict the commercial intercourse between the
United States and Great Britain and France.
and their dependencies and for other PURPOSES.
DE it enacted By the Senate and House eff Retire
- @entarivcs ct the UHited States of Anierica.
in Congress assembled, That from and after In.
passing of this act, the entrance of the harbors
and waters of the United States and of the terri
torres thereof, be, and the same is hereby inter
dicted to all public ships and vessels belonging to
Great-Britain CIR France, excepting vessels only
which may be forced in by distress, or which are
charged with dispatches or business from the 60,
vernment to which they belong, and also packets
having no cargo or merchandise on board. And
If any public ship or vessel, as aforesaid, not be-
ing included IN the exception above mentioned.
sAa!! enter any iiar50T III waters within the iuris-
dicton of the United States, or ofthe territories
thereof, 1t shall be lawful for the President of
the United States, or such other person us he
shall have empowered for that purpose, to en-.
pioy such part of the land and naval forces, or of
the militia OF the United States, or the territories
thereof, as he shall deem necessary, to comnel
such ship or vessel to depart.
SEC. ,. And6 it fU tAer enacted, That If shall
not be lawful for any citizen or citizens of the II,
States or the territories thereaE!, no:r FOR af,v n,r-
son or persons residing or being in the same. to
have any intercourse with or to afford any aid or
supplies to any public ship or vessel as aforesaid.
which shall, contrary to the provisions ofthis act
have entered any harbor or waters within the i,.
risdichon of the United States or the territories
thereof; and IT any person shall, contrary to the
provisions OF this act, have any intercourse with
such ship or vessel, or shall afford any aid to such
ship or vessel, eitherm repairing the said vessel
or IN furnishing her, her officers or crew with
supplies of any kind or in any manner whatever :.
or IT any pilot or other person shall assist in nayi.
eating or plotting such ship or vessel, unless If be
Tor the purpose ofcarTying her beyond the jim;ts
and jurisdiction of the United States, every per.
son so offending, shall forfeit and pay a sum not
less than one hundred dollars, nor exceeding fen
thousand dollars and shall also be imprisoned
for a term not less than one month, nor more than
one year.
Sec. 3. ind be it further enacted. That from
and after the twentieth dag of May next, the en-
trance of the harbors and waters of the United
States, and the territories thereof, be, and the
same is hereby interdicted to all ships or vessels
sailing underline flag of Great. Britain or France
or owned in whole OF in part by any citizen or
subject of either vessels hired, chartered or
employed 10y the government of either Country,
for the sole purpose OF carrying letters or disnot,
ches, and also vessels forced in by distress or bv
the dangers of the sea, only excepted. And if ~.
ly ship or vessels sailing under the flag of Great
Britain on France, or owned in whole or in n,rt
By any citizen or subject of either, and not cx.
copied rs aforesaid, shall, after the said tyenti-
eth day of May next, arrive either with or viii.
81 'Nih N"L tihiilo vi IN AI4fPc
or OF the territories thereof, such slip or yes.
sci. together with the cargo, if any, which NAV
be found on board, shall be forfeited, and NAV ne
seized and condemned i'll any court ofthe limited
States or the territories thereof, having CONNIE
tent Jurisdiction and all and every act and acts
heretofore passed, which shall be within the mr.
view OF this act, shall be and the same are here.
by repealed.
SEC. 4. AHd be it further enacted, That from
and after the twentieth day OF MAY next, il shall
not be lawful to import into the United States or
the territories thereof, any goods, wares or mer-
chandiZe whatever, from any port or pace stu
ated iii Creat-Britain or Ireland, or in any of the
colonies or dependencies of Great. Britain. NOR
from any port or piece situated in France. or in
any OF her colonies or dependencies, nor from a..
ny port or place III the actual possession of either
lireat-Britain or France. Nor shall il be law.
fui TO import into the United States or the terri.
torres thereof, from any foreign port or place
whatever, any goods, wares or merchandise
Whatever, being of the growth, produce or ma
nuiacture OF France, or of any of her colonies or
dependencies or belng the growth, produce or
manufacture OF Great. Britain or Ireland. or of a.
ny OF the colonies or dependencies of Great. Bri
tam, or being OF the growth, produce or manu-.
'acVure OF any place or country in the actual pos
session OF either France or Great Britain. Fra.
vidcz, That nothing herein contained shall be
construed TO affect the cargoes of ships or yes.
sells wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the
Uhitcd States, which had cleared for anv mort
beyond the Cape of Good Hope, prior TO The
twsnty-second day OF December, one thousand
eiSht hundred and seveu, or whichhad departed
tof such portby permission of tho President, TN
DER the acts supplementary to the act laying an
embargo on all ships and vessels in the ports and
harbors Of the u. States
SEC. s. AHdbsu f0aey eaqctrl, That when.
ever any article or articles, the importation Of
which is prohibited BY this act, shall after the
twentieth OF May be imported into the United
States or the territories thereof, contrary TO the
true intent and meaning ofthis act, or shall. after
me s.nd twentieth OF May, be put OH board Of a.
ny ship or vessel, boat, raft or carriage. viii IN.
%tention OF importing the same into the United
otntes, or the territories thereof, all such ar.,cies
as wen as all other articles on hard the same
Snip or vessel. boat, raft Or carriage, belonging
QUO ov1'er 81 such prohibited articles, shall be
forfeited and the owner thereof shall moreorer
forfeit and pay 'rsble the value of such articles.