United States Statutes at Large/Volume 3/16th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 110
[Expired.]
Chap. CX.—An Act designating the ports within which only foreign armed vessels shall be permitted to enter.
After 1st July, 1820, foreign armed vessels to enter certain ports only, unless forced in by distress, dangers of the seas, or an enemy, &c.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, after the first day of July, one thousand eight hundred and twenty, it shall not be lawful for any foreign armed vessels to enter any harbour belonging to the United States, excepting only those of Portland, Boston, New London, New York, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Smithville, in North Carolina, Charleston, and Mobile; unless when such vessels shall be forced in by distress, by the dangers of he sea, or by being pursued by an enemy, and be unable to make any of the ports above mentioned; in which cases, the commanding officer shall immediately report his vessel to the collector of the district, stating the object or causes of his entering such harbour; shall take such position therein as shall be assigned him by such collector, and shall conform himself to such regulations as shall be signified to him by the said collector, under the authority and direction of the President of the United States.
The President may employ land and naval forces and militia, to enforce this act.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to employ such part of the land and naval forces of the United States, or the militia thereof, as he may deem necessary to enforce the provisions of the first section of this act; and the President shall also be authorized to employ such forces to prevent any foreign armed vessel from entering or remaining within any waters within the jurisdiction of the United States, except such as shall lie in her direct course in entering from sea, or leaving, or proceed to sea, either of the harbours above mentioned.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue in force This act in force until 1st July, 1822.until the first day of July, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two, and no longer.
Approved, May 15, 1820.