R. S., 5371.

R. S., 5372.

R. S., 5373.

R. S., 5374.

R. S., 5383.

R. S., 5384.

Every person engaged in any piratical cruise or enterprise, or being of the crew of any piratical vessel, who lands from such vessel and on shore commits robbery, is a pirate, and shall suffer death.

Every person who commits upon the high seas, or in any river, harbor, basin, or bay, out of the jurisdiction of any particular State, murder or robbery, or any other offense which, if committed within the body of a county, would be punishable with death by the laws of the United States, is a pirate, and shall suffer death.

Every citizen who commits any murder or robbery, or any act of hostility against the United States, or against any citizen thereof, on the high seas, under color of any commission from any foreign prince, or state, or on pretense of authority from any person, is, notwithstanding the pretense of such authority, a pirate, and shall suffer death.

Every subject or citizen of any foreign state, who is found and taken on the sea making war upon the United States, or cruising against the vessels and property thereof, or of the citizens of the same, contrary to the provisions of any treaty existing between the United States and the state of which offender is a citizen or subject, when by such treaty such acts are declared to be piracy, is guilty of piracy, and shall suffer death.

Every captain, other officer, or mariner, of a vessel on the high seas, or on any other waters within the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction of the United States, who piratically or feloniously runs away with such vessel, or with any goods or merchandise thereof, to the value of fifty dollars, or who yields up such vessel voluntarily to any pirate, shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars, or imprisoned at hard labor not more than ten years, or both.

If any person attempts or endeavors to corrupt any commauder, master, officer, or mariner to yield up or to run away with any vessel, or any goods, wares, or merchandise, or to turn pirate, or to go over to or confederate with pirates, or in any wise to trade with any pirate, knowing him to be such, or furnishes such pirate with any ammuni tion, stores, or provisions of any kind, or fits out any vessel knowingly and with a design to trade with, supply, or correspond with any pirate or robber upon the seas; or if any person consults, combines, confederates, or corresponds with any pirate or robber upon the seas, knowing him to be guilty of any piracy or robbery; or if any seaman confines the master of any vessel, he shall be imprisoned not more than three years, and fined not more than one thousand dollars.

PART XLIII.-SLAVE TRADE.

365. Slave trade.

No person shall, for himself, or for another, as master, R. S., 5551. factor, or owner, build, fit, equip, load, or otherwise prepare any vessel, in any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, or cause any vessel to sail from any port or place within the jurisdiction of the same, for the purpose of procuring any negro, mulatto, or person of color, from any foreign kingdom, place, or country, to be transported to any port or place whatsoever, to be held, sold, or otherwise disposed of, as a slave, or to be held to service or labor; and every vessel so built, fitted out, equipped, laden, or otherwise prepared, with her tackle, apparel, furniture, and lading, shall be forfeited, one moiety to the use of the United States, and the other to the use of the person who sues for the forfeiture, and prosecutes the same to effect.

Every person so building, fitting out, equipping, loading, R. S., 5552. or otherwise preparing or sending away any vessel, knowing or intending that the same shall be employed in such trade or business, contrary to the provisions of the preceding section, or any ways aiding or abetting therein, shall, besides the forfeiture of the vessel, pay the sum of two thousand dollars; one moiety thereof to the use of the United States, and the other moiety thereof to the use of the person who sues for and prosecutes the same to effect.

Every vessel employed in carrying on the slave-trade, R. S., 5553. or on which is received or transported any negro, mulatto, or person of color, from any foreign kingdom or country, or from sea, for the purpose of holding, selling, or otherwise disposing of such person as a slave, or of holding such person to service or labor, shall, together with her tackle, apparel, furniture, and the goods and effects which may be found on board, or which may have been imported thereon in the same voyage, be forfeited; one moiety to the United States, and the other to the use of the person who sues for and prosecutes the forfeiture to effect.

If any citizen of the United States takes on board, receives, or transports any negro, mulatto, or person of color, for the purpose of selling such person as a slave, he shall, in addition to the forfeiture of the vessel, pay for each per

R. S., 5554.

R.S.. 5555.

R. S., 5556.

R. S.. 5557.

R. S., 5558.

R. S., 5559.

son, so received on board or transported, the sum of two hundred dollars, to be recovered in any court of the United States; the one moiety thereof to the use of the United States, and the other moiety to the use of the person who sues for and prosecutes the same to effect.

Every vessel which is found in any river, port, bay, or harbor, or on the high seas, within the jurisdictional limits of the United States, or hovering on the coasts thereof, and having on board any negro, mulatto, or person of color, with intent to sell such person as a slave, or with intent to land the same for that purpose, either in the United States or elsewhere, shall, together with her tackle, apparel, furniture, and the goods or effects on board of her, be forfeited to the United States.

It shall be unlawful for any citizen of the United States, or other person residing within them, directly or indirectly to hold or have any right or property in any vessel employed or made use of in the transportation or carrying of slaves from one foreign country or place to another, and any such right or property shall be forfeited, and may be libeled and condemned for the use of the person suing for the same; and every person transgressing the prohibition of this section shall also forfeit and pay a sum of money equal to double the value of his right or property in such vessel; and shall also forfeit a sum of money equal to double the value of the interest he had in the slaves, which at any time may be transported or carried in such vessel.

The President is authorized, when he deems it expedient, to man and employ any of the armed vessels of the United States to cruize wherever he may judge attempts are making to carry on the slave-trade, by citizens or residents of the United States, in contravention of laws prohibitory of the same; and, in such case, he shall instruct the commanders of such armed vessels to seize, take, and bring into any port of the United States, to be proceeded against according to law, all American vessels, wheresoever found, which may have on board, or which may be intended for the purpose of taking on board, or of transporting, or may have transported any negro, mulatto, or person of color, in violation of the provisions of any act of Congress prohibiting the traffic in slaves.

The proceeds of all vessels, their tackle, apparel, and furniture, and the goods and effects on board of them, which are so seized, prosecuted, and condemned, shall be divided equally between the United States and the officers and men who seize, take, or bring the same into port for condemnation, whether such seizure be made by an armed vessel of the United States or revenue cutter thereof; and the same shall be distributed as is provided by law for the distribution of prizes taken from an enemy.

The officers and men, to be entitled to one-half of the proceeds mentioned in the last section, shall safely keep every negro, mulatto, or person of color, found on board of any vessel so seized, taken, or brought into port, for con

demnation, and shall deliver every such negro, mulatto, or person of color, to the marshal of the district into which he may be brought, if into a port of the United States, or if elsewhere, to such person as may be lawfully appointed by the President, in the manner directed by law; transmitting to the President, as soon as may be after such delivery, a descriptive list of such negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, in order that he may give directions for the disposal of them.

The commanders of such commissioned vessels shall R. S., 5560. cause to be apprehended, and taken into custody, every person found on board of such offending vessel, so seized and taken, being of the officers or crew thereof, and him convey, as soon as conveniently may be, to the civil authority of the United States, to be proceeded against in due course of law.

The President is authorized to make such regulations and R. S., 5561. arrangements as he may deem expedient for the safe-keeping, support, and removal beyond the limits of the United States, of all such negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, as may be delivered and brought within their jurisdiction; and to appoint a proper person residing upon the coast of Africa as agent, for receiving the negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color delivered from on board vessels seized in the prosecution of the slave-trade, by commanders of United States armed vessels.

A bounty of twenty-five dollars shall be paid to the offi- R. S., 5562. cers and crews of the commissioned vessels of the United States, or revenue-cutters, for each negro, mulatto, or person of color, who may be, as hereinbefore provided, deliv ered to the marshal or agent duly appointed to receive such person; and the Secretary of the Treasury is required to pay, or cause to be paid, to such officers and crews, or their agent, such bounty for each person so delivered.

It shall be the duty of the commander of any armed R. S., 5563. vessel of the United States, whenever he makes any capture under the preceding provisions, to bring the vessel and her cargo, for adjudication, into some of the ports of the State or Territory to which such vessel so captured may belong, if he can ascertain the same; if not, then to be sent into any convenient port of the United States.

Every owner, master, or factor of any foreign vessel, R. S., 5564. clearing out for any of the coasts or kingdoms of Africa, or suspected to be intended for the slave-trade, and the suspicion being declared to the officer of the customs by any citizen, on oath, and such information being to the satisfaction of the officer, shall first give bond with sufficient sureties, to the Treasurer of the United States, that none of the natives of Africa, or any other foreign country or place, shall be taken on board such vessel, to be transported or sold as slaves, in any other foreign port or place whatever, within nine months thereafter.

The forfeitures which may hereafter be incurred under R. S., 5565. any of the preceding provisions, and which are not other

wise expressly disposed of, shall accrue and be one moiety

R. S., 5566.

R. S.. 5567.

R. S., 5568.

R. S., 5569.

thereof to the use of the informer and the other moiety to the use of the United States, except where the prosecution is first instituted on behalf of the United States in which case the whole shall be to their use.

It may be lawful for the President to enter into contract with any person, society, or body-corporate, for a term not exceeding five years, to receive from the United States, through their duly constituted agent upon the coast of Africa, all negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, delivered from on board vessels seized in the prosecution of the slavetrade, by commanders of the United States armed vessels, and to provide such negroes, mulattoes, and persons of color with comfortable clothing, shelter, and provisions, for a period not exceeding one year from the date of their being landed on the coast of Africa, at a price in no case to exceed one hundred dollars for each person so clothed, sheltered, and provided with food; and any contract so made may be renewed by the President from time to time as found necessary, for periods not to exceed five years on each renewal.

The President is authorized to issue instructions to the commanders of the armed vessels of the United States, directing them, whenever it is practicable, and under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, to proceed directly to the coast of Africa, and there hand over to the agent of the United States all negroes, mulattoes, and persons of color delivered from on board vessels seized in the prosecution of the slave-trade; and they shall afterward bring the captured vessels and persons engaged in prosecuting such trade to the United States for trial and adjudication.

It may be lawful for the President to enter into arrangement, by contract or otherwise, with one or more foreign governments having possessions in the West Indies or other tropical regions, or with their duly constituted agent, to receive from the United States, for a term not exceeding five years, at such place as may be agreed upon, all negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, delivered from on board vessels seized in the prosecution of the slave-trade, by commanders of United States armed vessels, and to provide them with suitable instruction, and with comfortable clothing and shelter, and to employ them, at wages under such regulations as may be agreed upon, for a period not exceed ing five years from the date of their being landed at the place agreed upon.

The President is authorized to issue instructions to the commanders of the armed vessels of the United States, directing them, whenever it is practicable, and under such regulations as he may prescribe, to proceed directly to such place as shall have been agreed upon with any foreign government, or its duly constituted agent, under the provisions of the preceding section, and there deliver to the duly constituted authorities or agents of such foreign government all negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, taken from on board vessels seized in the prosecution of the slave trade; and they shall afterward bring the vessel and persons