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![handle is hein.slavery/ssactsfl0238 and id is 1 raw text is: LAWS OF FLORIDA.
1803.
CAiPTe 1,414--[No. 31.]
AN ACT to assist the fithful nod necessary Iforcement of the Impressment
Act of Congress, and to protect and defend the citizens of this State from
oppression and unlawfulacts of persons violating the said att or claimlng to
act uvder the authority of the Confcderate Government.
WHirenAs, The manner in which Impressinents are being made'
'by persons claiming to act under the authority of the impress-
mnet act of the Confederate States has become a serious evil, Prcamble.
unauthorized by the law, or by the Confederate authority, op-
pressive in its results, and destructive of the rights of the citi-
zen and the Governments, State and Confederate; and where
as, it is right and proper that the wants of the army should be
fully siipplied, hut lawfully done and not in a manner subver-
sive of the rights of tile citizens of this State, and that the mode
of making impressients should be clearly defined and the
rights both of' the officer taking the impressment and of the
citizen whose property should or shall be impressed should be
plainly made known--Therefore,
Sicriox 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and Jouse of Repre-
sentatives (I' the StaIte of .Flo'ida in Genercd Assembly convened, Unlawil
Trhat any person or persons who shall in this State unlawtiilly prsanent.
impress or gcize, under color of military authority, any goods,
provisions, or other productions, or any property whatever, shall
b guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be
imprisoned for a period of not less than one year, nor more'thau Penalty.
five years, at the discretion of the Court.
Slic. 2. Be it farther enacted, That any person or persons who
shall be aggrieved by any impressing officer in this Staite, or any Penalty ofper-
agent of said officer, or any person claiming to have authority to Pols aggrioved
act as suwl, hy any unlawfiul inpressment, shall have a renliedy bnesaimnt.
against such JImlon or pero,is by petition, filed 1, himself or his'
agent or attorney (le fitet before any Circuit 0ourt J.udge, at
Chambers or in open Court, and, immediately upon tile filing of
said petition with the Judge, he shall issue an order direcing
the defendant to appeal- before said Judge, at such time and pla-
ces he may designate therein, and then and there to defend said
suit, or judgment will be entered and rendered against hiil on
default thereof, and said order shall be returnablo instanter; and
upon the appearatice of the defendant, is in said order directed,
or upon default thereof if the order is returned, the Judge shall
proceed to try said cause, and shall cause the Sheriff to sunnon
a jury of twelve citizens of the county to try said cause, and the
udge shall proceed with this cause and try tile same 'forthwith
and rendler such judgment as the law and facts demand and tle
jury find, and cause execution to issue instanter against the
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