Office of the Historian

Neutrality act of March 3, 1817.—(3 U. S. Stat at Large, p. 370.)

[March 3, 1817.]

Chapter LVIII.—AN ACT more effectually to preserve the neutral relations of the United States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That if any person shall, within the limits of the United States, fit out and arm, or attempt to fit out and arm, or procure to be fitted out and armed, or shall knowingly be concerned in the furnishing, fitting out, or arming of any such ship or vessel, with intent that such ship or vessel shall be employed in the service of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people, to cruise or commit hostilities, or to aid or co-operate in any warlike measure whatever, against the subjects, citizens, or property of any prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States are at peace, every such person so offending shall, upon conviction, be adjudged guilty of a high misdemeanor, and shall be fined and imprisoned at the discretion of the court in which the conviction shall be had, so as the fine to be imposed shall in no case be more than ten thousand dollars, and the term of imprisonment shall not exceed ten years; and every such ship or vessel, with her tackle, apparel, and furniture, together with all materials, arms,*ammunition and stores, which may have been procured for the building and equipment thereof, shall be forfeited, one-half to the use of any person who shall give information, and the other half to the use of the United States. [57]

  • Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the owners of all armed ships sailing out of the ports of the United States, and owned wholly or in part by citizens thereof, shall enter into bond to the United States, with sufficient sureties, prior to clearing out the same, in double the amount of the value of the vessel and cargo on board, including her armament, that the said ship or vessel shall not be employed by such owners in cruising or committing hostilities, or in aiding or co-operating in any warlike measure, against the subjects, citizens, or property of any prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States are at peace.
  • Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the collectors of the customs be, and they are hereby, respectively authorized and required to detain any vessel manifestly built for warlike purposes, and about to depart from the United States, of which the cargo shall principally consist of arms and munitions of war, when the number of men shipped on board [Page 469] or other circumstances shall render it probable that such vessel is intended to be employed by the owner or owners to cruise or commit hostilities upon the subjects, citizens, or property of any prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States are at peace, until the decision of the President be had thereupon, or until the owner enters into bond and sureties to the United States, prior to clearing out the same, *in double the amount of the value of the vessel and cargo on board, including her armament, that the said ship or vessel shall not be employed by the owner or owners in cruising or committing hostilities, or in aiding or co-operating in any warlike measure against the subjects, citizens, or property of any prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people with whom the United States are at peace. [58]
  • Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That if any person shall, within the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, increase or augment, or procure to be increased or augmented, or shall be knowingly concerned in increasing or augmenting the force of any ship of war, cruiser, or other armed vessel, which at the time of her arrival within the United States was a ship of war, cruiser, or armed vessel in the service of a foreign prince or state, or any colony, district, or people, or belonging to the subjects or citizens of any such prince, state, colony, district, or people, the same being at war with any foreign prince or state, with whom the United States are at peace, by adding to the number or size of the guns of such vessels prepared for use or by the addition thereto of any equipment solely applicable to war, every such person so offending shall, upon conviction, be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be lined and imprisoned, at the discretion of the court in which the conviction shall be had, so as that such fines shall not exceed one thousand dollars nor the term of imprisonment be more than one year.
  • Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue *in force for the term of two years. [59]

Approved March 3, 1817.