MUTINY. In Criminal Law. The unlawful resistance of' a superior officer, or the raising of commotions and disturbances on board of a ship against the authority of its commander, or in the army in opposition to the authority of tbe officers ; a sedition ; a revolt.
2. By the act for establishing rules and articles for the government of the armies of the United States, it is enacted as follows: Article 7. Any officer or soldier, who shall begin, excite, or cause, or join in, any mutiny or sedition in any troop or company in the service of the United States, or in any party, post, detachment, or guard, shall suffer death, or such other punishment as by a court-mar tial shall be inflicted. Article 8. Any officer, non-commissioned officer, or soldier who, being present at any mutiny or sedition, does not use his utmost endeavors to suppress the same, or, coming to the knowledge of any in-. tended mutiny, does not without delay give information thereof to his commandingofficer, shall be punished by the sentence of a court martial, with death, or otherwise, according te the nature of his offence.
3. And by the act for the better govern ment of the navy of the United States, it is enacted as follows : Article 13. If any per son in the navy shall make or attempt to xpake any mutinous assembly, he shall, on conviction thereof by a court-martial, suffer death ; and if any person as aforesaid shall utter any seditious or mutinous words, or shall conceal or connive at any mutinous or seditious practices, or shall treat with con tempt his superior, being in the execution of his office, or, being witness to any mutiny or sedition, shall not do his utmost to suppress it, he shall be punished at the discretion of a court-martial, See 2 Strange, 1264 ; 2 U. S. Stat. at Large, 359.
4. Mutiny, revolt, and the endeavor to make a revolt or mutiny, on board merchant vessels, are made criminal, and the punish ment provided for, by sec. 8, Act of 30 April, 1790, 1 U. S. Stat. at Large, 113, and the 1st & 2d sections of the Act of 3d March, 1835. 4 id. 775 ; 2 Curt. C. C. Rep. 225 ; 1 Woodb. & M. C. C. 306 ; 2 Sumn. C. C. 582.