Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-10-24

offence but The acts Of Congress hav-
mo no where defined robbery, we are
indebted 70 the common law for a
knowledge of these circumstances
which constitute theotfence and there
wa find that it consists in q felonious
taking Of property from the person of
another, or from his possession, actual
or constructive. either by force or by
putting him 10 fear.
Perjury committed in any suit or
controversy depending in any OF the
Courts Of the United States, or in any
deposition taken pursuant to the laws
OF. the United States, is also an offence
against the laws of the United States,
but is not defined by those laws.-Up-
on reference to the common law, we
find that it consists in taking wilful
false oath by one, who, being lawfully
called upon to depose the truth in any
judicial proceeding, swears absolutely
In matter material to the point in
question. A false affirmation would,
conceive, under the various laws of
tho United States, equally amount to
the crime Of perjury, There are va
riety of cases in false oaths or aflirina-
tions, taken on other occasions than
such as occur in judicial proceedings.
are made punishable as in cases of per-
jury.
With respect to the crime of piracy,
we are referred not only to the com.
mon law in the instances of robbery
and murder committed on the highsea,
before alluded to, but to the law Of ma
tions, which defines this offence consist
in any sct Of robbery or depreciation
committed on the high seas, without.
authority from some sovereign power
Under this law, then, it is unimportant
whether the particular act of depredae
tion be one which, if committed within
the body of a county, would Or would
rot be punishable with death by the
laws of the United States. Neither is
it necessary that Il should amount to q
robbery according to the acquisitions
Of the common. law; it insufficient If it
be unauthorized plumber committed by
foreigners or citizens of the United
States on board of any vessel, whether
foreign or belonging to citizens of the
United States
Besides there acts of piracy, the de-
6nitions of which are derived from the
common law or from. the law Of nations,
there are many others specially descri-
bed in v arious laws of the United
States, and which are sufficiently de-
scribed by those laws. without the me-
csssity of referring to any other codes:
such as practically and feloniously run
ming away with any vessel or merchan.
dice Of the value of fifty dollars.
Yielding up such vessel voluntarily
to a pirate by the captain. OF by any
mariner of such vessel .at%
Laying violent hands by a seaman
on his commanding officer. thereby to
prevent him from fighting in defence of
his vessel, or the goods committed to
his trust. ea
Making revolt in tina ship.
Robbery committed on shore by any
person engaged in any piratical enter
prize, or being of the crew of any pi-
ratio i vessel. s.s
There are other species of piracy pc.
culiarto the laws of the United States,
which, on account of their frequent oc-
currence, and the adherence in which
they are Justly held By every correct
and generous mind, deserve to be sta
ted more at large.
These laws declare, that if any citi-
gen of the United States, being one of
the crew or ships company ola foreign
vessel, engaged in the slave trade; or
any person whatever belonging to yes {.
sci owned in whole, or IN part, or nayi-,
gated in behalf OF citizens ofthe United
States, shall land from such vessel, and
on any foreign shore seize any negro
or mulatto, not held to service by the
laws Of the states or territories of the
United States, with intent to make
slaves of such persons, or shall decoy
or forcibly bring or receive such per-
sons on board with such intent; or
shall forcibly contine or detain, or as.
sist in forcibly combining or OBTAINING
on board, any such persons not held to
labor, as aforesaid, with intent TO make
slaves of them; or shall, on board OF a.
ny such vessel, offer to sell, as slaves
any such persons not held TO service as.
aforesaid or shall on the highsseas, or
any where on tide water, transfer or de-
Iliver over TO any other vessel, any such