Chapter LVIII. more effectually to preserve the neutral relations of the United States
971 words·~4 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-3/chapter-lviii-1639210·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Chap. LVIII.— An Act more effectually to preserve the neutral relations of the United States.March 3, 1817. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Repealed by act of April 20, 1818, ch. 88, sec. 12. Persons fitting out and arming, &c. vessels intended to be employed to commit hostilities against a friendly power, liable to fine and imprisonment, &c. States of America, in Congress assembled,* That if any person shall, within the limits of the United States, fit out and arm, or attempt to fit out and arm, or procure to be fitted out and armed, or shall knowingly be concerned in the furnishing, fitting out or arming, of any such ship or vessel, with intent that such ship or vessel shall be employed in the service of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district or people, to cruise or commit hostilities, or to aid or co-operate in any warlike measure whatever, against the subjects, citizens, or property, of any prince or state, or of any colony, district or people, with whom the United States are at peace, every such person so offending shall, upon conviction, be adjudged guilty of a high misdemeanor, and shall be fined and imprisoned at the discretion of the court in which the conviction shall be had, so as the fine to be imposed shall in no case be more than ten thousand dollars, and the term of imprisonment shall not exceed ten years: and every such ship or vessel, with her tackle, apparel, and furniture, Vessel, &c. forfeited. together with all materials, arms, ammunition, and stores, which may have been procured for the building and equipment thereof, shall be forfeited, one half to the use of any person who shall give information, Half to the informer. and the other half to the use of the United States. 371FOURTEENTH CONGRESS.
Sess. II. Ch. 59. 1817. Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted,* That the owners of all armed ships, Owners of armed vessels sailing from ports of the United States, the owners being wholly or in part citizens, to give bond, &c. sailing out of the ports of the United States, and owned wholly, or in part, by citizens thereof, shall enter into bond to the United States, with sufficient sureties, prior to clearing out the same, in double the amount of the value of the vessel and cargo on board, including her armament, that the said ship or vessel shall not be employed by such owners in cruising or committing hostilities, or in aiding, or co-operating, in any warlike measure against the subjects, citizens, or property, of any prince or state, or of any colony, district or people, with whom the United States are at peace.
Sec. 3. *And be it further enacted,* That the collectors of the customs be, The collectors of the customs authorized to detain vessels built for warlike purposes, the cargoes of which consist principally of arms, &c., when circumstances render it probable they are intended to commit hostilities against friendly powers, &c. and they are hereby, respectively, authorized and required to detain any vessel manifestly built for warlike purposes, and about to depart from the United States, of which the cargo shall principally consist of arms and munitions of war, when the number of men shipped on board, or other circumstances, shall render it probable that such vessel is intended to be employed by the owner, or owners, to cruise or commit hostilities upon the subjects, citizens, or property, of any prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people, with whom the United States are at peace, until the decision of the President be had thereupon, or until the owner enters into bond, and sureties, to the United States, prior to clearing out the same, in double the amount of the value of the vessel and cargo on board, including her armament, that the said ship or vessel shall not be employed by the owner, or owners, in cruising or committing hostilities, or in aiding, or co-operating, in any warlike measure against the subjects, citizens or property, of any prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people, with whom the United States are at peace.
Sec. 4. *And be it further enacted,* That if any person shall, within Persons increasing or augmenting the force of armed vessels in the service of a foreign power engaged in hostilities with a nation at peace with the United States, &c., subject to fine and imprisonment. the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, increase or augment, or procure to be increased or augmented, or shall be knowingly concerned in increasing, or augmenting, the force of any ship of war, cruiser, or other armed vessel, which, at the time of her arrival within the United States, was a ship of war, cruiser, or armed vessel, in the service of a foreign prince, or state, or any colony, district, or people, or belonging to the subjects, or citizens, of any such prince, state, colony, district, or people, the same being at war with any foreign prince, or state, with whom the United States are at peace, by adding to the number or size of the guns of such vessels prepared for use, or by the addition thereto of any equipment solely applicable to war, every such person, so offending, shall, upon conviction, be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined and imprisoned, at the discretion of the court in which the conviction shall be had, so as that such fines shall not exceed one thousand dollars, nor the term of imprisonment be more than one year.
Sec. 5. *And be it further enacted,* That this act shall continue in force for the term of two years. Approved, March 3, 1817.