United States Statutes at Large/Volume 1/5th Congress/3rd Session/Chapter 45
[Obsolete.]
Chap. XLV.—An Act vesting the power of retaliation, in certain cases, in the President of the United States.
Act of March 3, 1813, chap. 61.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That on information being given to the President of the United States, proving satisfactorily to him that any citizen of the United States, who shall have been or may be found on board any vessel of war of either of the powers at war with the French Republic, and who shall have been impressed or forced by violence or threats to enter on board such vessel, hath suffered death, or hath received other corporal punishment, or shall be imprisoned with unusual severity by order of the Executive Directory of the French Republic, or of any officer or agent acting under their authority in pursuance of any decree of the said Directory, or law of the French Republic; it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, and he is hereby empowered and required to cause the most rigorous retaliation to be executed on any such citizens of the French Republic, as have been or hereafter may be captured in pursuance of any of the laws of the United States.
Approved, March 3, 1799.