Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-09-06
JAMES MADISON.
AN ACT.

ANACT,
| To relinquish the claim of the United States
to certain goods, wares and merchandise,
captured by private armed vessels
BE it enacted 6y the Senate and House OF
Representatives. Of the United States of A7;.ericq
IN Congress assembled, That all right antf lain
which may have accrued 20 the United States
under an act, eutitled "An act to prohibit the
commercial intercourse between the United
States and Great Britain and France and their
/ dependencies and for other purposes" and an
act, entitled &c An act to prohibit the com
| merciai intercourse between the United States
| and Great Britain aud France and their depen-
denotes, and for other pursoses," and an act
supplementary 10 the last mentioned act, to
goods, wares and merchandise, being the pro.
| perty OF British subjects, and shipped from the
ports OF the united Kingdom OF Great Britain
and ireland, since the declaration of war BY
| the United States against that Kingdom, which
have been captured by private armed vessels
! OF the United States on the high and open sea,
! and without the territorial limits and iurlsdic
| ton OF the United States, and have been libel
| led and Claimed by o. IN behalf OF the owners
and other persons interested in the said private
armed vessels M some court of the United
States having competent jurisdiction thereof,
| be and the same are hereby rclinquished in all
| cases where such goods, wares and mcrchan
die, being the property of British subjects,
| and captured as aforesaid, shall have been or
| shaii be condemned rs prize of war, for the
| benefit OF the captors, by the final judgment OF
! any court OF the United States, having. iuris.
diction as aforesaid; all suits, libes or prose-
| cutions instituted or commenced III behalf of
Tie United States for the recovery of any for.
| TEXTURE or penalty, accrued by reason of an in.
traction OF amy OF the three acts first above men
| toned, Affecting any goods, wares or merchan-.
dlze The property OF British subjects and which
| nave pech captured as aforesaid, and libelled
| IN beisit OF the captors, shall be discontinued
! on payment OF the costs accrued on such suits
| or lIbe!s BY or on behalf of the said owner or
| owners. iSnt in all cases where goods, wares
and merchandise, thus libelled, shall not be con.
demned as aforesaid for the benefit of the cap
tors, the right and claim of the United States
to the forfeiture OF such goods, wares and
| merchandise, shall notwithstanding the discon-
tinuance OF 'he suits and libeis in bchalf of th,
SAID states remain uniInpaired, and such torfei
| lures may, alter tinai decision against the cap
! tors, be recovered or RENTED IN conformity
with the provisions oftbs several laws now in
Orce, III tbs ZANE manner If such suits or Ii
| DelS hsd not h-en discontinued PIovidek. That
nothing hsreln contained shall extend 20 or
| embrace any capture mad by such private
armed vesseis III violation OF the additional IN.
structlons of the President of the United States
to the public and private armed vessels, there
| OF, OF the twenLy-eighth day of August,:an the
year one thousand eight hundred aud JtRetye,
alter the captor shalt have been apprised ttsere
OF, or by any such private armed vessel which
was in any port of the United States subsequent
I" the said proclamation, and prior to such
capture.
Sec 2. drd be it further enacted, That no
decision which may hereafter be made by the
Secretary OF the Treasury, under the act enti-
ted g An act directing the Secretary of the
Treasury to remit fines, iorfeitures and penalties
IN certain cases." shall be held as affecting the
claim OF any person or persons claiming as cap
tors any gIO!s, wares or merchandise, the Inr-
fixture OF which 90 the United States, shall
have been permitted by such decision
Sec. 5 AAd be il further enacted, That all
goods, wares and merchandise, captured and
iibeiled as aforesaid, shall pay the same duties,
to be secured and collected in the same mar
ner as is provided by the act +" concerning let
tiers nj marqUc, prizes and prize goods" with
respect TO The like goods, wares and merehan
die, when captured from the enemy, and made
prize OF war.
II. CLAY,
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives
4. & ERRY,
Vice President of the United States, and
President of the Senate.
Jaly Is, 1913.