Chap. ⅩⅩⅩⅧ.—An Act requiring an Oath of Allegiance and to support the Constitution of the United States be administered to Masters of American Vessel clearing for foreign or other Ports during the present Rebellion.
Oath of allegiance to be taken by certain masters of American vessels.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall be the duty of the several collectors of the customs at the ports of entry within the United States, during the continuance of the present rebellion, to cause to be administered to each and every master of any American ship or vessel, steamship or steam vessel, which shall be about to clear for any foreign port or place, or for any port or place within the United States, the oath of allegiance required by 1861, ch. 64.
Ante, p. 326.chapter sixty-four of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and sixty-one; which oath shall be duly taken by such masters before such vessels shall be permitted to clear as aforesaid.
Who to administer.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the oath or affirmation aforesaid may be taken before the collector of customs at the port from which such vessel is about to clear, or before any justice of the peace or notary public or other person who is legally authorized to administer an oath in the State or district where the same may be administered. And that any violation of such oath shall subject the offender Penalty for violation.to all the pains and penalties of willful and corrupt perjury, who shall be liable to be indicted and prosecuted to conviction for any such offence before any court having competent jurisdiction thereof.
Approved, March 6, 1862.
Chap. ⅩⅩⅩⅨ.—An Act to fulfil Treaty Stipulations with Hanover.
Appropriations to fulfil Treaty with Hanover.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums be, and the same are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to enable the President to fulfil the stipulations Post, p. 1188. contained in the third and fourth articles of the treaty between the United States and Hanover, of the sixth of November, eighteen hundred and sixty-one, viz: To carry out the stipulation contained in the third article of said treaty, forty-three thousand four hundred and fifty-four dollars and sixteen cents. To carry out the stipulation contained in the fourth article of said treaty, ten hundred and forty-two dollars and ninety cents, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the interest provided for in said article.
Approved, March 13, 1862.
Chap. ⅩⅬ.—An Act to make an additional Article of War.
Additional Article of War.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That hereafter the following shall be promulgated as an additional article of war for the government of the army of the United States, and shall be obeyed and observed as such:
Military or naval officers not to return escaped fugitives from service.Article —. All officers or persons in the military or naval service of the United States are prohibited from employing any of the forces under fugitives from their respective commands for the purpose of returning fugitives from service or labor, who may have escaped from any persons to whom such service or labor is claimed to be due, and any officer who shall be found Penalty.guilty by a court-martial of violating this article shall be dismissed from the service.
When Act to take effect.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this act shall take effect from and after its passage.
Approved, March 13, 1862.
