Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1810-02-28

See. i.6ei It E,sbtr eaac,ed. That the Com.
mABderS and crew of any merchant yes
sci Of the United States, owned wholly by
a citizen or citizen. thereof, and mo- ear
rying contraband of war, bound to any part
or place not actually invested, with which
intercourse shall be prohibited by the de-
crees or orders of the British government,
may oppose aud defend against any search,
restraint or seizure which shall be attempt.
ed upon such vessel or upon any other YES.
sci az aforesaid by the commander Or. crew
OF any armed vessel sailing under British
%colors, and may repel by force any assault
or hostility which may be committed On
the part OF such British vessel pursuing
such attempt, and may subdue and capture
the same. ,Gg ~:
Sec. 2. and be it further enacted, That
the commander and crew of any merchant
vessel OF the u. S. owned wholly by a CT
tizen or citizens thereof, and not carrying
contraband OF war, bound to "ny port or
place not actually invested, with which in
rcou shall he prohibited by the DEGREES
or orders Of the French government, may
Oppose and defend against any search, re.
s,raint or seizure which shall be attempted
upon such vessel or upon any other vessel
owned as aforesaid, by the commander or
crew OF any armed vessel sailing under
French ~colors, and may repsl by force any
assault or hostility which may be connie
ted OF the part OF such French vessel pur-
suing such attempt, and may subdue the
same.
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That.
whenever the commander and crew Of any
merchant vessel, shall capture. and secure
any British or French armed vessel from
wnlch an assault or other hostility shall be
first made rs aforesaid, such armed vessel
with her tackle, appurtenances, ammuni.
ton and lading shall accrue the one half TO
the owner or owners Of such merchant yes.
sci of the Un!ted States, and the other half
to the cap,ors and being brought into any
port OF the United States, shall and may be
aGjudgcd and condemned to their use az
ter due process and rial, in any court OF
the United States having admiralty "juris.
d~iction, and which shall he holden for the
district into whichssuch captured vessel
shall be brousht-and the same court
shall t%hereupon order n sale and dls,ribu.
ton thereof accordingly, and at their dis
~crction, saving any agreement which shall
bt between the owner or owners, and the
commander and crew Of such merchant YES
Sci.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That
alter notice Of this act at the several Gus
tom houses, no merchant armed vessel
bound ds aforesaid to places not: actually
Invested, with which intercourse shah be
luterdlcted by the DEGREES or orders of the
government Of Grcat~Britain or France,
shall receive a clearance, unless the owner
or owners and the master and commander
of such vessel, for the intended voyage,
shall give bond TO the United States in a
sum equal to the value of such vessel and
cargo, with condition that su h vessel shall
no, maks or commit depreciation, outrage,
unlawful assault or unprOvUked violence,
on the high seas, and that the guns, arms
and ammunition of such vessel snail BE- re-
turned within the United States or o,her.
wise accounted for, and that such owncr or
owners and thS commander and crew Ut
such merchant vessel, will IN all things
conform to the provisions of this aet, and
10 such instructions rs the President OF the
United States, in pursuance thereof, shall
from time t. time establishes IL shall be
the duty OF the collector to see that no arm .
ed vessel, clearing out as aforesaid, shall
have OH board arms or other warlike stores,
except such as may constitute a part OF the
equipment Of the said vessel, and to attach
d certificate to that effect to N1ae clearance
granted to the vessel.
Sec. $. AndH be it further enacted, That
the president OF the y. s. shall be and he
is hereby authorised TO establish in con-
formity with tn. provisions of this aet,sult-
able instructions to aud tor the merchant
vessels authorised to arm for the better re.
s,raining the commanders and crews who
shall be employed therein. For preventing
any outrage or injury which they NAV be