United States Statutes at Large/Volume 12/37th Congress/2nd Session/Chapter 38
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.