Whereas, the King of Great Britain by his order in Council, bearing date the second day of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, did prohibit the growth or produce of and of the United States from being carried to any of the West India Islands subject to his Crown, unless the same were carried by British subject in British built ships, owned by British Subjects; and navigated according to the Laws of Great Britain: which order manifestly tends to prejudice the Commerce, & suppress the maritime progress of the United States, and, if adhered to, must destroy those advantages which would otherwise result to both Countries from a liberal Commerce on reciprocal benefits;
Be it therefore enacted by the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, now met and sitting in General Assembly. That the United States in Congress assembled, may, and they are hereby empowered to prohibit all vessels in which any British subject or subjects is, or are, any part, or sole, owner or owners from entering into any American Port, and unlading any goods, wares or merchandise, being the growth or produce of the British West India Islands, and to effectuate such prohibition by imposing every regulation and restriction which shall appear to them to be just & necessary—Provided that this Act shall not be in force until all the States in the Union shall have vested the Congress with the similar powers.