The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-09-02

CpUBLisRED sY .iUTuoxiJxl



the authority of the governments Of Tie United
Kingdom OF Great Britain ana Ireland.
ID L az enacted 6y me Senate and House Of
D ReHrcsenfaHpes Of ihe United S..fes of
.dmerica IN Congress assembied, That aliy cit
izen OF inhabitant OF the United States, or lhe
territories thereof, who Shall obtain or use
either directly or indirectly, license, pass,
or other instrument granted by The govern
ment Of the United Kingdom of Great Brit
tain and ireland, or by aoy officer or agent
thereof, for the protection of any ship, vessel
or merchandise, on the high seas or else
where, or for the admission of any ship, vcs-
sci, or merchandise, into any port or place
whatever and any citizen or inhabitant as a.
forcsad, who shall be either directly or indi-
rectly concerned or assisting in obtaining, US
ing, granting, or selling any such license,
pass, or instrument, shall, upon conviction,
for every such offence, forfeit sum equal to
twice the value OF any such ship, vessel and
merchandise, and shall moreover be adiudg-
ed guilty OF misdemeanor, and shall be hO-
ed in sum not exceeding five thousand nor
less than one thousanG dollars /; aud any ship,
vessel, or merchandise, owned in whole or
in part by any citizen or inhabtant of the u
nled States, or of the territories thereof,
Of this act in the nearest port, be found IN the
waters or wl:hin the Jurisdiction OF the United
States, having or using license, pass, or
other instrument as aforesaid, shall be for
fciied, the one half TO the use of the United
States, and the other half 10 any person or
persuns who shall give Information thereof
and produce or procure evidence Of the Fact I;
the duties, if any. which may be payable on
the importation Of such merchandise, being
previously paid or deducted f,om the pro-
ceeds Of such forfeiture Provided however.
That the claim Of any such person per-
sons, as derived from this act, shalt no, be adj
mitted to bar, defeat, or affect any fol feiture
accrued to the United States, or 10 any other
person, which shall have been incurred by
reson Of an infraclion of any other law of the
United States.
Sec. 2. .4nd be IL further enacted, That
any ship or vessel Of the United States sail
ing under, or found on the high seas using
license, pass, or instrument, as described in
the preceding section Of ,his act, shall be con-
sidered and held as sailing under the flag of
the government Of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and lrelaAd and ii shall be
lawful for the commanders of the pubic and
private armed ships and vessels Of the Unit.
ed States and the territories thereof, to stop
and examine any ship or vessel OF the United
States or their territories, on the high seas or
elsewhere, which there may be reasonable
ground to suspect is sailing under the protcc-
ton of, or using any such lNenss, pass, or
other instrument as aforesaid, and if upon ex-
animation It shall appear that such ship or
vessel is sailing under the protection OF, or
using any such license, pass, or other instru-
mcnt, it shall be the duty OF any such COM
manders, and Of each Of them, to seize every.
such ship or vessel, and send the same to any
port in the United States or tho territories
thereof; and every such ship or vessel, so
found sailing under the protection of, or using
any such license, pass, or other instrument
az aforesaid, shall, upon due proof thercof,
before any court Of the United States or the
territories thereof, having competent jurisdic-
tion, be condemned, together with the cargo,
and be forfeited TO the sole use Of the officers
and crew OF such public or private armed ship
or vessel aud all forfeitures which shall ac-
cruc and be recovered in pursuance of this
section, shall be distributed according TO the
rules prescribed by the existing laws, in ca.
ses Of prizes made from The enemy: Prouid-
ei, That nothing contained IN this act, shall
be so construed as TO prevent the acceptance
or use Of passpor. or any other paper au-
thorized by the government Of the United
States, or the acceptance or use OF a passport
granted by the commander of any ship OF
war of the enemy 10 any ship or vessel OF the
United States, which may have teen cap;ur-
ed and given up for the purpose of carrying
persons captured by the enemy to the United
States.
Sec. 3. .1nd de h further enacted, Ths,
every ship or vessel belonging wholly, or in
part, to citizen or citizcns, inhabiiant or in
habitsnss Of the United States, which shall
depart or clear out from any port or place
within the jurisdiction Of the United States,
after the promulga,ion Of this act at such port
or place, shall be subject to the operation OF
the same and that every ship or vessel own
ed as aforesaid, il the same be in any part OF
Ruropc. Of the Mediterranean, or the We stern