Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-03-23
by AUTHORITY.
AN.ACr

provide for the return ito their own dis
tricts Of vessels detained by the embargo.
in districts other thanthose where they are.
respectively owned or belong.
Bet enacted BY the Senate and Hoxse of
Representatives. cffhe United Sfates Of n
mericG IN Congress assembled, That it shall
be lawful for the President of the United
States to authorize the collectors Of the GUS
toms to grant permission to ships or vessels
OF the United Steses, which. at the time when
the masters thereof received notice of the act
passed on the seventeenth day OF December
last, laying an embargo on all ships and
vessels in tile ports and harbors of the United
States" were in district other than that
where the said ships or Vessels were owned
or belonged, to return to the district where
the owneror owners of such ships or vessels
reside, in ballast or with the cargoes other
than provisions, naval and military stores,
which we're on board the same whenr the mas<
tiers received notice of the fact as aforesaid ::
Provided, That no such permission shall be
granted until the owner or master Of such
ship or vessel, together with one or more
sufficient sureties, shall have given bond in
four times the value of such vessel and of the
cargo it any there be on board, conditioned
that the said ship or vessels shall not pro-
ceed to any other port or place than that
mentionedi in her clearance, nor put any ar
ticie on board Of any other vessel or boat du
ring the voyage And if such ship or vessel
shall proceed to any foreign port or place,
or pnt any article on board of any other yes
sci or boat during the voyage, or be guilty Of
any other act contrary to the provisions of
the act before mentioned '"laying an embar-
go on all ships and vessels in the ports and
karbn-s 9, the United States,'' or contrary
to the psosisoirs OF this act, the said ship or
vessel, her tackle and apparel, shall be for.
feited, and the master shall moreover forfeit
and pay a sum net. exceeding twenty thou
sand dallars, and shall be imprisoned for
term not less than six months nor exceeding
one year.
Sec. 9. ind be it further enacted, That
the master of every vessel receiving per-
mission under this act shall, before the de-
parture of the same from port, make out un>
der oath, and deliver to the collector of the. 1
district, a list of the seamen on board the
same, the whole of which shall BIS landed at
the port or place to which the vessel is per-
mitted to proceed, under penalty of five hun
dred dollars, to be recovered of the master
OF such vessel before any court of the United
States having competent Jurisdiction, for e.
very seaman which shall not be thus land.
ed, except death or unavoidable casualty shall
prevent the same. And no vessel receiving
such permission shall takeSon board NUM-
Der of seamcn more than sufficient to navi-
gate the same. of the sufficiency of which
number the collector shall be the Judge, and
shall be authorized to refuse clearance
and permission to depart, if the number of
seamen on board shall exceed that which
may in his opinion be necessary. No passens
gers shall be transported in such vessel o.
Their than the owner, supercargo or agent for
the same, or for the cargo. if any there be
on board.
Sec. 5. Ind BE il further enacted, That
no ship or vessel shall be entitled to the be-
nett of this act, unless the permission here.
by authorized to he granted shall be applied
Tor within three months after the passing
thereof.
Sec. a. And be il further enacted, That
the President of the United States may in-
struct the collectors Of the customs under
such restrictions and limitations, as he may
deem proper, 10 clear ont for any district
within the United States or the territories
thereof, any :esseis wholly employed in the
transportation of military or naval stores,
provisions or other articles on public ac-
count, and if any such vessel after the deli.
very of such public property at any port or
place within the United States or>the terri
tories thereof. shall cease to be employed in
the transportation of public property as "a
forcsaid. such vessel may be permitted to re-
turn to the port or place of lading, or pro-
coed in ballast only to the district to which
such vessel may belong, any thing in the
g act laying an embargo on all ships and
vessels in the ports and harbors of the Gni.
ted States, :, passed during-the present sessi-
on of Congress. to the contrary notwitha
standing.
LANGDON CHEVES,
Speaker of the House of Representative.
4. GERRY,
Vice,Prcsdent of the United States, and
preeidont nc the Senate