authorized by law. And the collectors aforesaid shall each receive two per centum on all monies by them respectively received; and shall also respectively, receive the allowance of one hundred dollars, annually, from and after the said last day of June next.
Approved, May 27, 1796.
Statute Ⅰ.
Chap. ⅩⅩⅩⅥ.—An Act for the relief and protection of American Seamen.
Act of March 2, 1799, ch. 36.
Two agents to be appointed.Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, be, and hereby is authorized to appoint two or more agents; the one of whom shall reside in the kingdom of Great Britain, and the others at such foreign ports, as the President of the United States shall direct. Their duties.That the duty of the said agents shall be, under the direction of the President of the United States, to inquire into the situation of such American citizens or others, sailing, conformably to the law of nations, under the protection of the American flag, as have been, or may hereafter be impressed or detained by any foreign power, to endeavour, by all legal means, to obtain the release of such American citizens or others, as aforesaid; and to render an account of all impressments and detentions whatever, from American vessels, to the executive of the United States.
Additional agents may be appointed during the recess of the Senate.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That if it should be expedient to employ an additional agent or agents, for the purposes authorized by this law, during the recess of the Senate, the President alone be, and hereby is, authorized to appoint such agent or agents.
Appropriation.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to draw, annually, out of the treasury of the United States, a sum not exceeding fifteen thousand dollars, not otherwise appropriated, to be applied by him in such proportions as he shall direct, to the payment of the compensation of the said agents, for their services, and the incidental expenses attending the performance of the duties imposed on them by this act.
Collectors to grant certificates of citizenship.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the collector of every district shall keep a book or books, in which, at the request of any seaman, being a citizen of the United States of America, and producing proof of his citizenship, authenticated in the manner hereinafter directed, he shall enter the name of such seaman, and shall deliver to him a certificate, in the following form, that is to say: “I, A. B., collector of the district of D., do hereby certify, That E. F., an American seaman, aged years, or thereabouts, of the height of feet inches, [describing the said seaman as particularly as may be] has, this day, produced to me proof in the manner directed in the act, intituled “An act for the relief and protection of American seamen;” and, pursuant to the said act, I do hereby certify, that the said E. F. is a citizen of the United States of America: In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of .” And it shall be the duty of the collectors aforesaid, to file and preserve the proofs of citizenship produced, as aforesaid: And for each certificate delivered, as aforesaid, the said collectors shall be entitled to receive from the seaman applying for the same, the sum of twenty-five cents.
In case of the impressment or detention of seamen, master of the ship to make a protest, &c.Master to make a protest in case of impressment of seamen.Sec. 5. And, in order that full and speedy information may be obtained of the seizure or detention, by any foreign power, of any seamen employed on board any ship or vessel of the United States, Be it further enacted, That it shall, and hereby is declared to be the duty of the master of every ship or vessel of the United States, any of the crew whereof shall have been impressed or detained by any foreign power, at
