The Kentucky Gazette

June 1

The bill for suspending the commercial intercourse between the United States and the French republic and the dependencies thereof, passed the house of Representatives this day—Yeas 55 Nays 25.

The blanks in the first and second sections were filled up, with "first day of July next."

Yesterday the house of representatives of the United States resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill to suspend the commercial intercourse between the United States and France, and the dependencies thereof. and after several amendments, to which the house agreed, the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
The following is the copy of the bill as amended.

A bill to suspend the commercial intercourse between the United States and France, and the dependencies thereof

1. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America, in congress assembled, that no ship or vessel, owned, hired or employed, wholly or in part, by any person resident within the United States, and which shall depart therefrom after the first day of July next, shall be allowed to proceed directly, or from any intermediate port or places, to any port or place within the territory of the French Republic or the dependencies thereof, or to the West Indies or elsewhere, under the acknowledged government of France, or shall be employed in any traffic or commerce with or for any person resident within the jurisdiction, or under the authority of the French Republic. And if any ship or vessel, in any voyage thereafter commencing, and before her return within the United States, shall be voluntarily carried, or suffered to proceed to any French port or place as aforesaid, or shall be employed as aforesaid, contrary to the intent hereof, every such ship or vessel, together with her cargo, shall be forfeited, and shall accrue, the one half to the use of the United States, and the other half to the use of the person or persons, citizens of the United States, who will inform and prosecute for the same, and shall be liable to be seized, prosecuted and condemned in any circuit or district court of the United States, which shall be holden within, or for the district where the seizure shall be made.

2. And be it further enacted, that after the first day of July next, no clearance for a foreign voyage shall be granted to any ship or vessel, owned, hired or employed wholly or in part, by any person resident within the United States, until a bond shall be given to the use of the United States, wherein the owner or employer, if usually resident, or present, where the clearance shall be required, and otherwise his agent or factor; and the master or captain of such ship or vessel for the intended voyage, shall be parties, and with sufficient surety or sureties, in a sum equal to double the value of the ship or vessel, and her cargo, with condition that the same shall not, during her intended voyage, or before her return within the United States, proceed or be carried, directly or indirectly, to any port or place within the territory of the French Republic, or the dependencies thereof, or any place in the West Indies, or elsewhere, under the acknowledged government of France, unless by distress of weather, or want of provisions, or by actual force and violence, to be fully proved and manifested before the acquittance of such bond: and that such vessel is not, and shall not be employed during her intended voyage, or before her return, as aforesaid, in any traffic or commerce, with or for any person resident within the territory of that Republic, or in any of the dependencies thereof.

3. And be it further enacted, That from and after no French ship or vessel, armed or unarmed, commissioned by or for, or under the authority of the French Republic, or owned, fitted, hired or employed, by any person resident within the territory of that republic, or any of the dependencies thereof, or sailing or coming therefrom excepting any vessel to which the President of the United States shall grant a passport, which he is hereby authorized to grant, in all cases where it shall be requisite for the purpose of any political or national intercourse, shall be allowed an entry, or to remain within the territory of the United States, unless driven there by distress of weather or in want of provisions. And if contrary to the intent hereof any such ship or vessel shall be found within the jurisdictional limits of the United States, not being liable to seizure for any other cause, the company having charge thereof, shall be required to depart and carry away the same, avoiding all unnecessary delay; and if they shall, notwithstanding, remain, it shall be the duty of the collector of the district wherein or nearest to which such ship or vessel shall be, to seize and detain the same, at the expense of the United States: provided That ships or vessels shall be bona fide the property of, or hired or employed by citizens of the United States now actually resident in France, or the dependencies thereof, shall be excepted from this prohibition until the day of next, and no longer; & provided that in the case of vessels hereby prohibited, which shall be driven by distress of weather, or the want of provisions into any port or place of the United States, they may be suffered to remain under the custody of the collector there, or nearest thereto, until suitable repairs or supplies can be obtained, and as soon as may be thereafter shall be required and suffered to depart; but no part of the lading of such vessel shall be taken out or disposed of unless by the special permission of such collector, to defray the unavoidable expense of such repairs or supplies.

4. And be it further enacted, that this act shall continue and be in force until the end of the next session of Congress, and no longer.

§ 5 Provided, and be it further enacted, that if, before the next session of congress, the government of France, and all persons acting by, or under their authority, shall clearly disavow, and shall be found to refrain from the aggressions, depredations and hostilities which have been, and are by them encouraged and maintained against the vessels and other property of the citizens of the United States, and against the national rights and sovereignty, in violation of the faith of treaties, and the law of nations, and shall thereby acknowledge the just claims of the United States, to be considered in all respects, neutral, and unconnected in the present European war, if the same shall be continued; then and thereupon it shall be lawful for the president of the United States, being well ascertained of the premisses, to remit and discontinue the prohibitions and restraints hereby enacted and declared; and he shall be, and is hereby authorized to make proclamation thereof accordingly.