United States Statutes at Large/Volume 4/21st Congress/2nd Session/Chapter 87
Chap. LXXXVII.—An Act allowing the duties on foreign merchandise imported into Pittsburg, Wheeling, Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis, Nashville, and Natchez, to be secured and paid at those places.
Proceedings at New Orleans.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the importer, or his agent, is hereby authorized to enter any merchandise, imported, as aforesaid, by the way of New Orleans, at that port, in the manner now prescribed by law; and the collector shall grant a permit for the landing thereof, and cause the duties to be ascertained as in other cases, the said goods remaining in the custody of the collector until re-shipped for the place of destination; and the collector shall certify to the surveyor at such place the amount of such duties, which the said surveyor shall enter on the margin of the bond, as aforesaid given to secure the same, which goods shall be delivered by the collector to the agent of the importer of consignee, duly authorized to receive the same, for shipment to the place of importation, and the master or commander of every steamboat, or other vessel, in which such merchandise shall be transported, shall, previously to her departure from New Orleans, deliver to the collector duplicate manifests of such merchandise, specifying the marks and numbers of every case, bag, box, chest, or package, containing the same, with the name and place of residence of every importer or consignee of such merchandise, and the quantity shipped to each, to be by him subscribed, and to the truth of which he shall swear or affirm, and that the said goods have been received on board his vessel; stating the name of the agent, who shipped the same; and the said collector shall certify the facts, as aforesaid, on the manifests, one of which he shall return to the master, with a permit thereto annexed, authorizing him to proceed to the place of his destination.
Infractions and penalties.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That, if any steamboat or other vessel, having merchandise on board, imported as aforesaid, shall depart from New Orleans without having complied with the provisions of this act, the master thereof shall forfeit five hundred dollars;Proceedings at second port. and the master of any such boat or vessel, arriving at either of the ports above named, on board of which merchandise, as aforesaid, shall have been shipped at New Orleans, shall, within eighteen hours next after the arrival, and previously to unloading any part of said merchandise, deliver to the surveyor of such port the manifest of the same, certified, as aforesaid, by the collector of New Orleans, and shall make oath or affirmation before the said surveyor that there was not, when he departed from New Orleans, any more or other goods on board such boat or vessel, imported as aforesaid, than is therein mentioned; whereupon the surveyor shall cause the said casks, bags, boxes, chests, or package, to be inspected, and compared with the manifests, and the same being identified, he shall grant a permit for unloading the same, or such part thereof as the master shall request, and, when a part only of such merchandise is intended to be landed, the surveyor shall make an endorsement on the back of the manifests, designating such part, specifying the articles to be landed, and shall return the manifests to the master, endorsing thereon his permission to such boat or vessel to proceed to the place of its destination; and, if the master of such steamboat or vessel shall neglect or refuse to deliver the manifests within the time herein directed, he shall forfeit one hundred dollars.
Condition of entry at New Orleans.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the collector of the port of New Orleans shall permit no entry to be made of goods, wares, or merchandise, where the duty on the same shall exceed the amount of the bond deposited with the surveyor, as aforesaid, nor shall the said surveyor receive the bond of any person not entitled to a credit at the custom-house, nor for a sum less than fifty dollars, and that, when the said bond shall have been completed, and the actual amount of duty ascertained and certified on the margin, as aforesaid, it shall be the duty of the surveyor of the port where the bond is taken, to deposit the same for collection in such bank as may be directed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
Surveyors to be appointed.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That where survevors are not already appointed in any of the places mentioned in the first section of this act, a suitable person shall be appointed for such places, and on all such surveyors, whether appointed or to be appointed, shall devolve the duties prescribed by this act, in addition to the customary duties performed by that officer in other places; and the surveyor at each of said places shall, before taking the oath of office, give security to the United States for the faithful performance of all his duties, in the sum of ten thousand dollars, and shall receive, in addition to his customary fees, an annual salary of three hundred and fifty dollars;Proviso. Provided, That no salary arising under this act, shall commence until its provisions shall take effect, and merchandise may be imported under its authority.
Suits, &c. for penalties.
Act of March 2, 1799, ch. 22.
1797, ch. 13.Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That all penalties and forfeitures incurred by force of this act shall be sued for, recovered, distributed and accounted for, in the manner prescribed by the act, entitled “An act to regulate the collection of duties on imports and tonnage,” passed on the second day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, and may be mitigated or remitted in the manner prescribed by the act, entitled “An act to provide for mitigating or remitting the forfeitures, penalties, and disabilities, accruing in certain cases therein mentioned,” passed on the third day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven.
Approved, March 2, 1831.