Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 1.djvu/694

transmit to the office of the department of state true copies of all such returns.

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, Circuit and District Courts to have jurisdiction.
Marshals, &c. to execute orders of the President. That the circuit and district courts of the United States, shall respectively have cognizance of all crimes and offences against this act. And all marshals and other officers of the United States are required to execute all precepts and orders of the President of the United States issued in pursuance or by virtue of this act.

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, Aliens ordered to be removed may dispose of their property. That it shall be lawful for any alien who may be ordered to be removed from the United States, by virtue of this act, to take with him such part of his goods, chattels, or other property, as he may find convenient; and all property left in the United States by any alien, who may be removed, as aforesaid, shall be, and remain subject to his order and disposal, in the same manner as if this act had not been passed.

Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, Limitation of the act. That this act shall continue and be in force for and during the term of two years from the passing thereof.

Approved, June 25, 1798.

Statute Ⅱ.

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June 25, 1798.

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[Expired.]

Chap. ⅬⅩ.—An Act to authorize the defence of the Merchant Vessels of the United States against French depredations.

Section 1.Merchant vessels may oppose searches, &c. attempted by the French.
Ante, p. 561, 565.
Post, p. 578. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the commander and crew of any merchant vessel of the United States, owned wholly by a citizen or citizens thereof, may oppose and defend against any search, restraint or seizure, which shall be attempted upon such vessel, or upon any other vessel, owned, as aforesaid, by the commander or crew of any armed vessel sailing under French colours, or acting, or pretending to act, by, or under the authority of the French republic; and may repel by force any assault or hostility which shall be made or committed, on the part of such French, or pretended French vessel, pursuing such attempt, and may subdue and capture the same;repel assaults, capture the aggressors, and make recaptures. and may also retake any vessel owned, as aforesaid, which may have been captured by any vessel sailing under French colours, or acting, or pretending to act, by our under authority from the French republic.

Sec. 2.Captured vessels may be condemned, sold and distributed. And be it further enacted, That whenever the commander and crew of any merchant vessel of the United States shall subdue and capture any French, or pretended French armed vessel, from which an assault or other hostility shall first be made, as aforesaid, such armed vessel with her tackle, appurtenances, ammunition and lading, shall accrue, the one half to the owner or owners of such merchant vessel of the United States, and the other half to the captors: And being brought into any port of the United States, shall and may be adjudged and condemned to their use, after due process and trial, in any court of the United States, having admiralty jurisdiction, and which shall be holden for the district into which such captured vessel shall be brought; and the same court shall thereupon order a sale and distribution thereof, accordingly, and at their discretion; saving any agreement, which shall be between the owner or owners, and the commander and crew of such merchant vessel. Recaptured American vessels to be restored on paying salvage.In all cases of recapture of vessels belonging to citizens of the United States, by any armed merchant vessel, aforesaid, the said vessels, with their cargoes, shall be adjudged to be restored, and shall, by decree of such courts as have jurisdiction, in the premises, be restored to the former owner or owners, he or they paying for salvage, not less than one eighth, nor more than one half of the true value of the said vessels and cargoes, at the discretion of the court; which payments shall be made without any deduction whatsoever.