United States Statutes at Large/Volume 2/12th Congress/2nd Session/Chapter 61
Chap. LXI.—An Act vesting in the President of the United States the power of retaliation.
The President may cause retaliation to be made.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all and every case, wherein, during the present war between the United States of America and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, any violations of the laws and usages of war, among civilized nations, shall be or have been done and perpetrated by those acting under authority of the British government, on any of the citizens of the United States or persons in the land or naval service of the United States, the President of the United States is hereby authorized to cause full and ample retaliation to be made, according to the laws and usages of war among civilized nations, for all and every such violation as aforesaid.
President may retaliate upon the British for injuries done by the Indians.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That in all cases where any outrage or act of cruelty or barbarity shall be or has been practised by any Indian or Indians, in alliance with the British government, or in connexion with those acting under the authority of the said government, on citizens of the United States or those under its protection, the President of the United States is hereby authorized to cause full and ample retaliation to be done and executed on such British subjects, soldiers, seamen or marines, or Indians, in alliance or connexion with Great Britain, being prisoners of war, as if the same outrage or act of cruelty or barbarity had been done under the authority of the British government.
Approved, March 3, 1805.