The US Piracy Law of 1820

The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America from the Organization of the Government in 1789 to March 3, 1845, Vol. III. Richard Peters, Editor. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1861.

STATUTE I.

May 15, 1820.

CHAP. CXIII. --An Act to continue in force "An act to protect the commerce of the United States, and punish the crime of piracy," and also to make further provisions for punishing the crime or piracy.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Slates of America, in Congress assembled, That the first, second, third, and fourth, sections of an act, entitled "An act to protect the commerce of the United States and punish the crime of piracy," passed on the third day of March, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, be and the same are hereby, continued in force, from the passing of this act for the term of two years, and from thence to the end of the next session of Congress, and no longer. [First, 2d, 3d and 4th sections of act of 3d March, 1819, ch. 77, continued for two years, etc.]

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the fifth section of the said act be, and the same is hereby, continued in force, as to all crimes made punishable by the same, and heretofore committed in all respects as fully as if the duration of the said section had been without limitation. [Fifth section of the act of 3d March, 1819, continued as to crimes heretofore committed.]

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That, if any person shall, upon the high seas, or in any open roadstead, or in any haven, basin, or bay, or in any river where the sea ebbs and flows, commit the crime of robbery, in or upon any ship or vessel, or upon any of the ship's company of any ship or vessel, or the lading thereof, such person shall be adjudged a pirate: and, being thereof convicted before the circuit court of the United States for the district into which he shall be brought, or in which he shall be found, shall suffer death. And if any person engaged in any piratical cruise or enterprise, or being of the crew or ships company of any piratical ship or vessel, shall land from such ship or vessel, and, on shore, shall commit robbery, such person shall be adjudged a pirate: and on conviction thereof before the circuit court of the United States for the district into which he shall be brought, or in which he shall be found, shall suffer death: Provided, That nothing in this section contained shall be construed to deprive any particular state of its jurisdiction over such offences, when committed within the body of a county, or authorize the courts of the United States to try any such offenders, after conviction or acquittance, for the same offence, in a state court. [Persons committing robbery, on any ship or vessel, or ship's company, etc., or on the high seas, in a roadstead, etc. Conviction in circuit court where brought or found. Persons engaged in any piratical enterprise, etc., and committing robbery onshore, declared pirates, and to suffer death.]

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That if any citizen of the United States, being of the crew or ship's company of any foreign ship or vessel engaged in the slave trade, or any person whatever, being of the crew or ship's company of any ship or vessel, owned in the whole or part, or navigated for, or in behalf of, any citizen or citizens of the United States, shall land, from any such ship or vessel, and, on any foreign shore, seize any negro or mulatto, not held to service or labour by the laws of either of the states or territories of the United States, with intent to make such negro or mulatto a slave, or shall decoy, or forcibly bring or carry, or shall receive, such negro or mulatto on board any such ship or vessel, with intent as aforesaid, such citizen or person shall be adjudged a pirate; and, on conviction thereof before the circuit court of the United States for the district wherein he may be brought or found, shall suffer death. [Persons landing on a foreign shore, and seizing negroes or mulattoes, not held to service, etc., with intent to make them slaves, or decoying, forcibly bringing or carrying, etc., them on board, etc., declared pirates, and to suffer death.]

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That if any citizen of the United States, being of the crew or ship's company of any foreign ship or vessel engaged in the slave trade, or any person whatever, being of the crew or ship's company of any ship or vessel, owned wholly or in part, or navigated for, or in behalf of, any citizen or citizens of the United States, shall forcibly confine or detain, or aid and abet in forcibly confining or detaining, on board such ship or vessel, any negro or mulatto not held to service by the laws of either of the states or territories of the United States with intent to make such negro or mulatto a slave or shall on board any such ship or vessel, offer or attempt to sell, as a slave, any negro or mulatto not held to service as aforesaid, or shall, on the high seas, or any where on tide water, transfer or deliver over, to any other ship or vessel, any negro or mulatto not held to service as aforesaid, with intent to make such negro or mulatto a slave, or shall land, or deliver on shore, from on board any such ship or vessel, any such negro or mulatto, with intent to make sale of, or having previously sold, such negro or mulatto, as a slave, such citizen or person shall be adjudged a pirate; and, on conviction thereof before the circuit court of the United States for the district wherein he shall be brought or found, shall suffer death. [Persons forcibly confining, detaining, or aiding to confine or detain negroes, etc., on board vessels, etc. declared pirates, and to suffer death.]

APPROVED, May 15, 1820.

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