of the United States, in the county of Northampton, in the district of Pennsylvania, from confinement; upon a judgment obtained against him in favor of the United States: Provided, That he take fo much of an oath impofed upon perfons imprisoned for debt by the fecond fection of the act, entitled, "An act for the relief of perfons imprisoned for debt," as relates to his not having transferred his property with an intent to defraud the United States; and that he fhall affign and convey all the estate, real and perfonal, which he may now own, or be entitled to, to some perfon or persons for the ufe and benefit of the United States, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treafury: Provided, alfo, That the faid judgment fhall remain in full force against any estate, real or perfonal, which the faid Lawrence Erb may hereafter acquire, and that process, may, at any time, be thereupon iffsued against the fame. NATHANIEL MACON, Vice-Prefident of the United States, and Prefident of the Senate. APPROVED, FEB. 3, 1802. TH: JEFFERSON. Prefident fuch of the CHAPTER IV. AN ACT for the protection of the Commerce and Seamen of the United States, against the Tripolitan Cruifers. WH HEREAS the regency of Tripoli, on the coaft of Barbary, has commenced a predatory warfare against the United States: BE it enacted by the Senate and Houfe of Reprefentatives of the United States of America, in Congress affembled, That it fhall be lawful fully to equip, officer, man, and employ may employ fuch of the armed Veffels of the United armed veffels States as may be judged requifite by the Prefident of the United States, for protecting effectually the commerce and feamen thereof on the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean and adjoining feas. as he may judge requi fite. Acts of hoftility and precaution authorifed. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That it fhall be lawful for the Prefident of the United States to inftruct the commanders of the refpective public veffels aforefaid, to fubdue, feize and make prize of all veffels, goods and effects, belonging to the Bey of Tripoli, or to his fubjects, and to bring or fend the fame into port, to be proceeded againft, and diftributed according to law; and alfo to caufe to be done all fuch other acts of précaution or hoftility as the state of war will justify, and may, in his opinion, require. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That on the application of the owners of private armed veffels of the United States, the 1 Commisions private armed Prefident of the United States may grant them fpecial commiffions, in the form which he fhall direct, under the feal of the United against Tripoli States; and fuch private armed veffels, when to be iffaed to fo commiffioned, fhall have the like authority vetiels. for fubduing, feizing, taking, and bringing into port, any Tripolitan veffel, goods or effects, as the before mentioned public armed veffels may by law have; and shall therein be fubject to the inftructions which may be given by the Prefident of the United States for the regulation of their conduct; and their commiffions fhall be revocable at his pleasure: Provided, That before any commiffion fhall be granted, as aforefaid, the owner or owners of the veffel for which the fame may be requested, and the commander thereof, for the time being, fhall give bond to the United States, with at least two refponfible fureties, not interested in fuch veffel, in the penal fum of feven thousand dollars; or, if fuch veffel be provided with more than one hundred and fifty men, in the penal fum of fourteen thousand dollars, with condition for obferving the treaties and laws of the United States, and the inftructions which may be given, as aforefaid; and alfo, for fatisfying all damages and injuries which fhall be done, contrary to the tenor thereof, by fuch commiffioned veffel; and for delivering up the commiffion, when revoked by the Prefident of the United States. property Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That, Captured any Tripolitan veffel, goods or effects, which may be con fhall be fo captured and brought into port derned and B diftributed. by any private armed veffel of the United States, duly commiffioned, as aforefaid, may be adjudged good prize, and thereupon fhall accrue to the owners and officers, and men of the capturing veffel, and fhall be diftribu ted according to the agreement which shall have been made between them, or, in failure of fuch agreement, according to the difcretion of the court having cognizance of the capture. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, that the seamen may be engaged to ferve in the navy of the United States for a period not exceeding two years; but the Prefident may dif charge the fame fooner, if in his judgment, their fervices may be difpenfed with. NATHAL. MACON, Speaker of the House of Reprefentatives. Vice-Prefident of the United States, and Prefi- APPROVED, FEB. 6, 1802. TH: JEFFERSON. CHAPTER V. AN ACT extending the privelege of franking and receiving letters, free of Poftage, to any perfon admitted, or to be admitted to take a feat in Congress, as a delegate; and providing compensation for fuch delegate. BE E it enacted by the Senate and House of Reprefentatives of the United States of America, in Congrefs affembled, That any per fon admitted, or who may hereafter be admitted to take a feat in Congrefs, as a delegate, fhall enjoy the privilege of fending and receiving letters, free of postage, on the fame terms, and under the same restrictions, as are provided for the members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives of the United States, by the act, entitled, " An act to establifh the poft-office of the United States; ?? and that every fuch delegate fo admitted to a feat, be, and he is hereby authorised to receive, free of postage, under the faid restric tions, any letters directed to him, and which fhall have arrived at the feat of government prior to the paffage of this act : and that every fuch delegate fhall receive for his travelling expenses and attendance in Congress, the fame compenfation as is or may be allowed, by law, to the members of the Senate and Houfe of Reprefentatives of the United States, to be certified and paid in the fame manner. NATHAL. MACON, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice-President of the United States, and Prefident of the Senate. APPROVED, FEB. 18, 1802. TH: JEFFERSON. |