Whereas by an act of the Congress of the United States passed on the
27th day of February last, entitled "An act further to suspend the
commercial intercourse between the United States and France and the
dependencies thereof," it is enacted "that at any time after the passing
of the said act it shall be lawful for the President of the United
States, by his order, to remit and discontinue for the time being,
whenever he shall deem it expedient and for the interest of the United
States, all or any of the restraints and prohibitions imposed by the
said act in respect to the territories of the French Republic, or to any
island, port, or place belonging to the said Republic with which, in his
opinion, a commercial intercourse may be safely renewed, and to make
proclamation thereof accordingly;" and it is also thereby further
enacted that the whole of the island of Hispaniola shall, for the
purposes of the said act, be considered as a dependence of the French
Republic; and
Whereas the circumstances of the said islands are such that, in my
opinion, a commercial intercourse may safely be renewed with every part
thereof, under the limitations and restrictions hereinafter mentioned:
Therefore I, John Adams, President of the United States, by virtue of
the powers vested in me as aforesaid, do hereby remit and discontinue
the restraints and prohibitions imposed by the act aforesaid in respect
to every part of the said island, so that it shall be lawful for vessels
of the United States to trade at any of the ports and places thereof,
provided it be done with the consent of the Government of St. Domingo;
and for this purpose it is hereby required that such vessels first clear
for and enter the port of Cape Français or Port Republicain, in the said
island, and there obtain the passports of the said Government, which
shall also be signed by the consul-general of the United States, or
their consul residing at Cape Français, or their consul residing at Port
Republicain, permitting such vessels to go thence to the other ports and
places of the said island. Of all which the collectors of the customs
and all other officers and citizens of the United States are to take due
notice and govern themselves accordingly.
[SEAL.]
Given under my hand and the seal of the United States of America, at
the city of Washington, this 6th day of September, A.D. 1800, and of
the Independence of the said States the twenty-fifth.