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Merchant ves

other than a

SEC. 3. That the commander and crew of any merchant vessel of the United States, owned wholly, or in part, by a citizen thereof, may oppose sels may defend against aggresand defend against any aggression, search, restraint, depredation, or sion, &c. by any seizure, which shall be attempted upon such vessel, or upon any other armed vessel vessel owned as aforesaid by the commander or crew of any armed vessel public armed whatsoever, not being a public armed vessel of some nation in amity with vessel of a nation the United States; and may subdue and capture the same; and may also in amity. retake any vessel, owned as aforesaid, which may have been captured by the commander or crew of any such armed vessel, and send the same into any port of the United States.

when taken may

SEC. 4. That whenever any vessel or boat, from which any piratical Vessels from which piratical aggression, search, restraint, depredation or seizure shall have been first aggression, &c. attempted or made, shall be captured and brought into any port of the has been atUnited States, the same shall and may be adjudged and condemned to tempted or made, their use, and that of the captors, after due process and trial, in any court be condemned.. having admiralty jurisdiction, and which shall be holden for the district into which such captured vessel shall be brought; and the same court shall thereupon order a sale and distribution thereof accordingly, and at their discretion.*

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Sale and distribution.

Stat. at Large, Vol. III. p. 532. Act of March

3,

1819, ch. 77. Act of May

15, 1820, ch. 113.

The President

armed vessels

United States

Vessels unlaw

port, &c.

CHAP. CI. — An Act in Addition to the Acts prohibiting the Slave-Trade. Be it enacted, &c. That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized, whenever he shall deem it expedient, to cause any of the armed vessels of the United States, to be employed to cruise on any of the coasts of the United States, or Territories thereof, or of the coast of Africa, or elsewhere, where he may judge attempts may be made may employ the to carry on the slave-trade by citizens or residents of the United States, of the United in contravention of the acts of Congress prohibiting the same, and to in- States on the struct and direct the commanders of all armed vessels of the United coasts of the States, to seize, take, and bring into any port of the United States, all and of Africa, ships or vessels of the United States, wheresoever found, which may have &c. taken on board, or which may be intended for the purpose of taking on fully engaged in board, or of transporting, or may have transported, any negro, mulatto, or the transportaperson of color, in violation of any of the provisions of the act, entitled tion of negroes, &c. may be "An act in addition to an act to prohibit the importation of slaves into seized and any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States, from and brought into after the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight Act of April hundred and eight, and to repeal certain parts of the same," or of any 20, 1818, ch. 91. other act or acts prohibiting the traffic in slaves, to be proceeded against The proceeds of offending vesaccording to law: And the proceeds of all ships and vessels, their tackle, sels, &c. to be apparel, and furniture, and the goods and effects on-board of them, which divided between shall be so seized, prosecuted, and condemned, shall be divided equally States and the between the United States and the officers and men who shall seize, take captors, whether or bring, the same into port for condemnation, whether such seizure be armed vessels or made by an armed vessel of the United States or revenue cutter thereof: And the same shall be distributed in like manner as is provided by law To be distributed as prizes. for the distribution of prizes taken from an enemy. Provided, That the Officers and officers and men, to be entitled to one half of the proceeds aforesaid, shall men to keep safe keep every negro, mulatto, or person of color, found on board of every negro, &c. any ship or vessel so seized, taken, or brought into port, for condemnation, and shall deliver every such negro, mulatto or person of color, to the marshal of the district into which they are brought, if into a port of the United States, or, if elsewhere, to such person or persons as shall be lawfully appointed by the President of the United States, in the manner

the United

revenue cutters.

This act was originally limited to the "end of the next session of Congress," but the first four sections were extended by the act of 1820, ch. 113, and made perpetual by the act of 1823, ch. 7.

A descriptive list to be trans

mitted to the President. Proviso.

The President authorized to

moval out of the

hereinafter directed, transmitting to the President of the United States, as soon as may be after such delivery, a descriptive list of such negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, that he may give directions for the disposal of them. And provided further, That the commanders of such, commissioned vessels, do cause to be apprehended, and taken into custody every person found on board of such vessel, so seized and taken, being of the officers or crew thereof, and him or them convey, as soon as conveniently may be, to the civil authority of the United States, to be proceeded against, in due course of law, in some of the districts thereof.

SEC. 2. That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, make regulations authorized to make such regulations and arrangements as he may deem for the safe-keep- expedient for the safe-keeping, support, and removal beyond the limits of ing, &c. and re- the United States, of all such negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, as United States of may be so delivered and brought within their jurisdiction. And to apnegroes, &c. and point a proper person or persons, residing upon the coast of Africa, as may appoint agent or agents for receiving the negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, agents on the coast of Africa, delivered from on board vessels, seized in the prosecution of the slaveto receive them, trade, by commanders of the United States armed vessels.

&c.

Bounty of

twenty-five dollars for every negro, &c.

Secretary, &c.

to cause bounty to be paid.

District attor

by information, in the case of

persons holding negroes, &c. unlawfully imported.

SEC. 3. That a bounty of twenty-five dollars be paid to the officers and crews of the commissioned vessels of the United States, or revenue cutters, for each and every negro, mulatto, or person of color, who shall have been, as hereinbefore provided, delivered to the marshal or agent duly appointed to receive them: And the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and required to pay or cause to be paid, to such officers and crews, or their agent, the aforesaid bounty, for each person delivered as aforesaid.

SEC. 4. That when any citizen, or other person, shall lodge information, ney to prosecute with the attorney for the district of any State or territory, as the case may be, that any negro, mulatto, or person of color, has been imported therein, contrary to the provisions of the acts in such case made and provided, it shall be the duty of the said attorney forthwith to commence a prosecution, by information; and process shall issue against the person charged with holding such negro, negroes, mulatto, mulattoes, person or persons of color, so alleged to be imported contrary to the provisions of the Upon the ver- acts aforesaid: And if, upon the return of the process executed, it shall dict of a jury, be ascertained, by the verdict of a jury, that such negro, negroes, mulatrect the marshal to, mulattoes, person or persons of color, have been brought in, contrary to take the ne- to the true intent and meaning of the acts in such cases made and progroes into custody, subject to vided, then the court shall direct the marshal of the said district to take the orders of the the said negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, into his custody, for safePresident. keeping, subject to the orders of the President of the United States; and tled to a bounty the informer or informers, who shall have lodged the information, shall be

the court to di

Informer enti

of 50 dollars.

The Secretary of the Treasury to cause the bounty to be paid.

Vessels captured to be sent into a port of the State or Territory where

they belong, if,

&c.

Repugnant acts, and parts

entitled to receive, over and above the portion of the penalties accruing to him or them by the provisions of the acts in such case made and provided, a bounty of fifty dollars, for each and every negro, mulatto, or persons of color, who shall have been delivered into the custody of the marshal; and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and required to pay, or cause to be paid, the aforesaid bounty, upon the certificate of the clerk of the court for the district where the prosecution may have been had, with the seal of office thereto annexed, stating the number of negroes, mulattoes, or persons of color, so delivered.

SEC. 5. That it shall be the duty of the commander of any armed vessel of the United States, whenever he shall make any capture under the provisions of this act, to bring the vessel and her cargo, for adjudication, into some of the ports of the State or territory to which such vessel, so captured, shall belong, if he can ascertain the same; if not, then to be sent into any convenient port of the United States.

SEC. 6. That all such acts, or parts of acts, as may be repugnant to of acts, repealed. the provisions of this act, shall be, and the same are hereby repealed.

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CHAP. XI. — An Act to provide for obtaining accurate Statement; of the Foreign Commerce of the United States.

Stat. at Large,

Vol. III. p. 541.

prepare statisti

68, § 29.

13.

Also

Be it enacted, &c. That the register of the treasury shall, under the The register of direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, annually prepare statistical the treasury to accounts of the commerce of the United States with foreign countries, for cal accounts. each preceding year; which accounts shall be laid before Congress, by See 1861, ch. the Secretary of the Treasury, on the first Monday in December in every 1866, ch. 298, year, or as soon after as possible. SEC. 2. That such accounts shall comprehend and state all goods, To be laid before Congress. wares, and merchandise, exported from the United States to other coun- of goods, &c. tries; all goods, wares, and merchandise, imported into the United States exported. from other countries; and all navigation employed in the foreign trade of the United States; which facts shall be stated according to the principles, and in the manner, hereby directed.

SEC. 3. That the kinds, quantities, and values, of all articles exported, and the kinds, quantities, and values, of all articles imported, shall be distinctly stated in such accounts; except in cases in which it may appear to the Secretary of the Treasury that separate statements of the species, quantities, or values, of any particular articles, would swell the annual statements without utility; and, in such cases, the kinds and total values of such articles shall be stated together, or in such classes as the Secretary of the Treasury may think fit.

Of goods, &c. of all navigaimported. tion employed in foreign trade. manner of stating the exports and imports.

SEC. 4. That the exports shall be so stated as to show the exports Exports, &c. to each foreign country, and their values; and that the imports shall be to and from each so stated, as to show the imports from each foreign country, and their values.

SEC. 5. That the exports shall be so stated, as to show, separately, the exports of articles of the production or manufacture of the United States, and their values; and the exports of articles of the production or manufacture of foreign countries, and their values.

country, and values, to be stated.

Country of the exported pro

duct or manufacture, and values, to be

Manner of stating the navi

SEC. 6. That the navigation, employed in the foreign trade of the stated. United States, shall be stated in such manner, as to show the amount of the tonnage of all vessels departing from the United States for foreign gation. countries; and, separately, the amount of such tonnage of vessels of the United States, and the amount of such tonnage of foreign vessels; and also the foreign nations to which such foreign tonnage belongs, and the amount of such tonnage belonging to each foreign nation; and in such manner as also to show the amount of the tonnage of all vessels departing for every particular foreign country, with which the United States have any considerable commerce; and, separately, the amount of such tonnage of vessels of the United States, and the amount of such tonnage of foreign vessels; and, in such manner as to show the amount of the tonnage of all vessels arriving in the United States from foreign countries; and, separately, the amount of such tonnage of vessels of the United States, and the amount of such tonnage of foreign vessels; and, also, the foreign nations to which such foreign tonnage belongs, and the amount of such tonnage belonging to each foreign nation; and, in such manner, as also to show the amount of the tonnage of all vessels arriving from every particular foreign country, with which the United States have any considerable commerce; and, separately, the amount of such tonnage of vessels of the United States, and the amount of such tonnage of foreign vessels.

Manner of

SEC. 7. That the kinds and quantities of all imported articles free from duty shall be ascertained by entry, made upon oath or affirmation, by the ascertaining the owner, or by the consignee or agent of the importer; or by actual exam- kinds and quanination, where the collector shall think such examination necessary: and ed articles free tities of importthat the values of all such articles shall be ascertained in the same man- from duty.

And their values.

Manner of

ascertaining the

values of articles subject to specific duties. Collectors to keep separate accounts.

Exports and imports, how valued.

See 1865, ch. 80, § 7.

Manifests to

verified on oath

or affirmation.

Manifests to specify kinds, quantities, and value.

Tenor of the oath or affirmation.

ner in which the values of imports subject to duties ad valorem are ascertained.

SEC. 8. That the values of all imported articles subject to specific duties, shall be ascertained in the manner in which the values of imports subject to duties ad valorem are ascertained.

SEC. 9. That the collectors shall keep separate accounts of the kinds, quantities, and values, of such parts of the imports subject to duties ad valorem, as may be directed by the Secretary of the Treasury.

SEC. 10. That all articles exported shall be valued at their actual cost, or the values which they may truly bear at the time of exportation, in the ports of the United States from which they are exported; and that all articles imported shall be valued at their actual cost, or the values which they may truly bear in the foreign ports from which they are exported for importation into the United States, at the time of such exportation.

SEC. 11. That before a clearance shall be granted for any vessel bound be delivered and to a foreign place, the owners, shippers, or consignors, of the cargo on board of such vessel, shall deliver to the collector manifests of the cargo, or the parts thereof shipped by them respectively, and shall verify the same by oath or affirmation; and such manifests shall specify the kinds and quantities of the articles shipped by them respectively, and the value of the total quantity of each kind of articles; and such oath or affirmation shall state that such manifest contains a full, just, and true, account of all articles laden on board of such vessel by the owners, shippers, or consignors, respectively, and that the values of such articles are truly stated, according to their actual cost, or the values which they truly bear at the go is to be land-port and time of exportation; and, before a clearance shall be granted for any such vessel, the master of every such vessel, and the owners, shippers, and consignors, of the cargo, shall state, upon oath or affirmation, to the collector, the foreign place or country in which such cargo is truly intended to be landed; and the said oaths or affirmation shall be taken and subscribed in writing.

Where the

ed to be stated

on oath or affir

mation.

Accounts of

SEC. 12. That every collector shall keep an accurate account of the national charac- national characters and tonnage of all vessels which depart from his disters and tonnage of vessels depart-trict for foreign countries, and of the foreign places or countries for which ing and arriving such vessels depart; and, also, an accurate account of the national charto be kept. acters and tonnage of all vessels which enter his district from foreign countries, and of the foreign places or countries from which such vessels arrive.

Quarterly returns to the register.

Secretary of the Treasury to give directions and prescribe rules and forms.

Secretary of Treasury to de

termine the forms of the statements.

Act in force from 30th Sept.

1820.

SEC. 13. That the several collectors shall make quarter yearly returns to the register of the treasury, of all the facts and matters which they are hereby required to ascertain.

SEC. 14. That the Secretary of the Treasury shall give such directions to the collectors, and prescribe such rules and forms to be observed by them, as may appear to him proper for attaining the objects of this act : Provided, That such directions or rules shall not be contrary to the provisions of any law of the United States.

SEC. 15. That the forms of the annual statements hereby required shall be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall prescribe such forms as may be proper to exhibit the facts hereby required to be stated in the clearest manner, and to show the actual state of commerce and navigation between the United States and foreign countries in each year.

SEC. 16. That this act shall be in force from the thirtieth day of September next.

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CHAP. LII.—An Act in Addition to the several Acts for the Establishment and Regulation of the Treasury, War, and Navy Departments.

Stat. at Large, Vol. III. p. 567.

No unauthorized contracts to

SEC. 6. That no contract shall hereafter be made by the Secretary of State, or of the Treasury, or of the Department of War, or of the Navy, be made. except under a law authorizing the same, or under an appropriation adequate to its fulfilment.*

SEC. 7. That no land shall be purchased on account of the United States, except under a law authorizing such purchase.

No unauthorized purchases of land to be made for U. S.

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CHAP. CII. — An Act to limit the Term of Office of certain Officers therein named, and for other Purposes.

Stat. at Large, Vol. III. p. 582. District attor

of customs, na

Be it enacted, &c. That from and after the passing of this act, all district attorneys, collectors of the customs, naval officers and surveyors of neys, collectors the customs, navy agents, receivers of public moneys for lands, registers val officers, &c. of the land offices, paymasters in the army, [the apothecary-general, the assist- to be appointed for four years, ant apothecaries-general, and the commissary-general of purchases,]† to be appoint- removable at ed under the laws of the United States, shall be appointed for the term of pleasure. four years, [but shall be removable from office at pleasure.]

time to time, to

in bonds required.

SEC. 3. That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, The President and he is hereby authorized, from time to time as in his opinion the inter- authorized, from est of the United States may require, to regulate and increase the sums regulate and infor which the bonds required, or which may be required by the laws of crease the sums the United States, to be given by the said officers, and by all other officers employed in the disbursement of the public moneys under the direction of the War or Navy Departments, shall be given; and all bonds given in conformity with such regulations shall be as valid and effectual, to all intents and purposes, as if given for the sums respectively mentioned in the laws requiring the same.

Commissions

SEC. 4. That the commissions of all officers employed in levying or collecting the public revenue shall be made out and recorded in the of officers employed in colTreasury Department, and the seal of the said department affixed there- fecting revenue to; any law to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided, That the said recorded at the seal shall not be affixed to any such commission before the same shall have Treasury Debeen signed by the President of the United States.

No. 123. MAY 15, 1820.

CHAP. CVII. — An Act providing for the better Organization of the Treasury Depart

ment.

partment.

Proviso.

Stat. at Large, Vol. III. p. 592.

An officer to

be designated by the President, as agent of the

Be it enacted, &c. That it shall be the duty of such officer of the Treasury Department as the President of the United States shall, from time to time, designate for that purpose, as the agent of the treasury, to direct and superintend all orders, suits, or proceedings, in law or equity, treasury. 1830, ch. 153, for the recovery of money, chattels, lands, tenements, or hereditaments, in §§ 1, 2. the name, and for the use of the United States.

money before it

SEC. 2. That from and after the thirtieth day of September next, if Officers reany collector of the revenue, receiver of public money, or other officer ceiving public who shall have received the public money before it is paid into the treas- is paid into the ury of the United States, shall fail to render his account, or pay over the treasury, failing same in the manner, or within the time required by law, it shall be to accountthe duty of the first comptroller of the treasury to cause to be stated the troller to state account of such collector, receiver of public money, or other officer, ex

The 1st comp

See 4 Opin. 490, 600.

†These offices have been abolished.

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