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MESSAGE of the President of The United States to Congress, relative to the return of certain Discriminating Duties levied upon British Vessels in American Ports.-3rd February, 1817.

TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE Government of Great Britain, induced by the posture of the relations with The United States, which succeeded the conclusion of the recent Commercial Convention,* issued an Order on the 17th day of August, 1815, discontinuing the Discriminating Duties, payable in British Ports, on American Vessels and their Cargoes. It was not until the 22d of December following, that a corresponding discontinuance of Discriminating Duties on British Vessels and their Cargoes, in American Ports, took effect, under the authority vested in the Executive, by the Act of March, 1816. During the period between these two dates, there was consequently a failure of reciprocity or equality in the existing regulations of the 2 Countries. I recom. mend to the consideration of Congress the expediency of paying to the British Government the amount of the Duties remitted, during the period in question, to the Citizens of The United States; subject to a deduction of the amount of whatever Discriminating Duties may have commenced in British Ports after the signature of that Convention, and been collected previous to the 17th August, 1815.

JAMES MADISON.

66 to authorize

ACT of Congress of The United States, the Secretary of the Treasury to cause repayments to be made of certain Alien Duties upon British Vessels."-3rd March, 1817.

Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, that the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, directed to cause to be repaid, or remitted, all Alien or Discriminating Duties, either upon tonnage or merchandise imported, in respect to all British Vessels which have been entered in Ports of The United States, at any time between the 17th of August, 1815, and the 22nd of December, in the same year, excepting only such Duties as may have been paid or secured on the tonnage of Ships, or upon the merchandise imported therein, which Ships have been entered in The United States from a Colony or

* London, 3d July, 1815, Commercial Treaties, Vol. 2. Page 386.

District, into or with which Vessels of The United States are not ordinarily permitted to enter and trade.

[Approved, 3rd March, 1817.]

ACTS of Congress of The United States, relative to the Tonnage Duties on Foreign Vessels.-January, March, 1817.

(1.)" An Act Supplementary to an Act to regulate the Duties on Imports and Tonnage."

Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, that the Tounage Duties to be paid by Ships or Vessels which shall be entered in The United States, excepting only such Foreign Ships or Vessels as shall be entered from any Foreign Port or Place to or with which Vessels of The United States are not ordinarily permitted to go and trade, shall be the same as are provided by the Act, entitled "An Act imposing Duties on the Tonnage of Ships or Vessels," passed on the 20th day of July, in the year of our Lord 1790: Provided always, that nothing in this Act contained shall be deemed in any wise to impair any rights and privileges which have been or may be acquired by any Foreign Nation, under the Laws and Treaties of The United States, relative to the Duty on Tonnage of Vessels.

SEC. II. And be it further enacted, that on all Foreign Ships or Vessels, which shall be entered in The United States, before the 30th day of June next, from any Foreign Port or Place, to and with which Vessels of The United States are not ordinarily permitted to go and trade, there shall be paid a Duty at the rate of 2 dollars per ton. And the Duties provided by this Act shall be levied and collected in the same manner and under the same regulations as are prescribed by Law in relation to the Duties upon Tonnage now in force.

[Approved, 14th January, 1817.]

(2.)—“An Act to continue in force the Second Section of the Act, entitled "An Act Supplementary to an Act to regulate the Duties on Imports and Tonnage."

BE it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, that on all Foreign Ships or Vessels which shall be entered in The United States, after the 30th day of June next, from any Foreign Port or Place, to and with which Vessels of The United States are not ordinarily permitted to enter and trade, there shall be paid a Duty at the rate of

2 dollars per ton, to be levied and collected in the same manner, and under the same regulations, as are prescribed by Law in relation to the Duties upon Tonnage now in force.

[Approved, 3rd March, 1817.]

ACT of Congress of The United States, "concerning the Navigation of The United States."—1st March, 1817.

Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, that after the 30th day of September next, no goods, wares, or merchandize, shall be imported into The United States, from any Foreign Port, or Place, except in Vessels of The United States, or in such Foreign Vessels as truly and wholly belong to the Citizens or Subjects of that Country of which the goods are the growth, production or manufacture; or from which such goods, wares, or merchandise, can only be or most usually are, first shipped for transportation: Provided, nevertheless, that this Regulation shall not extend to the Vessels of any Foreign Nation which has not adopted, and which shall not adopt a similar regulation.

II. And be it further enacted, that all goods, wares, or merchandise, imported into The United States, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Act, and the Ship or Vessel wherein the same shall be imported, together with her Cargo, tackle, apparel and furniture, shall be forfeited to The United States; and such goods, wares, or merchandise, Ship, or Vessel, and Cargo, shall be liable to be seized prosecuted and condemned, in like manner, and under the same regulations, restrictions, and provisions, as have been heretofore established for the recovery, collection, distribution, and remission, of forfeitures to The United States by the several Revenue Laws.

III. And be it further enacted, that after the 30th day of September next, the bounties and allowances now granted by Law to the Owners of Boats or Vessels engaged in the Fisheries, shall be paid only on Boats or Vessels, the Officers, and at least 3-4ths of the Crews of which shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Collector of the District, where such Boat or Vessel shall belong, to be Citizens of The United States, or Persons not the Subjects of any Foreign Prince or State.

IV. And be it further enacted, that no goods, wares, or merchandise, shall be imported, under penalty of forfeiture thereof, from one Port of The United States to another Port of The United States, in a Vessel belonging wholly or in part to a Subject of any Foreign Power; but this Clause shall not be construed to prohibit the sailing of

any Foreign Vessel, from one to another Port of The United States, provided no goods, wares, or merchandize, other than those imported in such Vessel, from some Foreign Port, and which shall not have been unladen, shall be carried from one Port or Place to another in The United States.

V. And be it further enacted, that after the 30th day of September next, there shall be paid a duty of 50 cents per ton, upon every Ship or Vessel of The United States which shall be entered in a District in one State from a District in another State, except it be an adjoining State on the Sea Coast, or on a navigable River or Lake, and except also it be a Coasting Vessel, going from Long Island in the State of New York, to the State of Rhode Island, or from the State of Rhode Island to the said Long Island, having on board, goods, wares, and merchandise, taken in one State, to be delivered in another State: Provided, that it shall not be paid on any Ship or Vessel having a License to trade between the different Districts of The United States, or to carry on the Bank or Whale Fisheries more than once a year: And provided also, that if the Owner of any such Vessel, or his Agent, shall prove, to the satisfaction of the Collector, that 3-4ths at least of the Crew thereof, are American Citizens, or Persons not the Subjects of any Foreign Prince or State, the duty to be paid in such case shall be only at the rate of 6 cents per ton; but nothing in this Section shall be construed to repeal or affect any exemption from Tonnage duty given. by the VIIIth Section of the Act, entitled "An Act to provide for the establishment of certain Districts, and therein to amend an Act, entitled "An Act to regulate the collection of Duties on Imports and Tonnage, and for other purposes."

VI. And be it further enacted, that after the 30th day of September next, there shall be paid upon every Ship or Vessel of The United States, which shall be entered in The United States, from any Foreign Port or Place, unless the Officers and at least 2.3rds of theCrew thereof, shall be proved Citizens of The United States, or Persons not the Subjects of any Foreign Prince or State, to the satisfaction of the Collector, 50 cents per ton: And provided also that this Section shall not extend to Ships or Vessels of The United States which are now on Foreign Voyages, or which may depart from The United States prior to the 1st day of May next, until after their return to some Port of The United States.

VII. And be it further enacted, that the several bounties and remissions, or abatements of duty, allowed by this Act, in the case of Vessels having a certain proportion of Seamen who are American Citizens, or Persons not the Subjects of any Foreign Power, shall be allowed only in the case of Vessels having such proportion of American Seamen during their whole voyage, unless in case of sickness, death,

or desertion, or where the whole or part of the Crew shall have been taken Prisoners in the voyage.

[Approved, 1st March, 1817.]

ACT of Congress of The United States, " to regulate the Trade in Plaster of Paris," in American and Foreign Vessels.-3rd March, 1817.

Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, that from and after the 4th day of July next, no Plaster of Paris, the production of any Country, or its Dependencies, from which the Vessels of The United States are not permitted to bring the same article, shall be imported into The United States, in any Foreign Vessel. And all Plaster of Paris imported or attempted to be imported, into The United States, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Act, and the Vessel in which the same may be imported or attempted to be imported, together with the Cargo, tackle, apparel, and furniture, shall be forfeited to The United States; and such Plaster of Paris, Vessel and Cargo, shall be liable to be seized, prosecuted, and condemned, in like manner, and under the same regulations, restrictions and provisions, as have been heretofore established for the recovery, collection, and distribution, and remission, of forfeitures to The United States by the several Revenue Laws.

II. And be it further enacted, that this Act shall continue and be in force 5 years, from the 31st day of January, 1817: Provided nevertheless, that if any Foreign Nation, or its Dependencies, which have now in force regulations on the subject of the trade in Plaster of Paris, prohibiting the exportation thereof to certain Ports of The United States, shall discontinue such regulations, the President of The United States, is hereby authorized to declare that fact by his Proclamation, and the restrictions imposed by this Act shall, from the date of such Proclamation, cease and be discontinued in relation to the Nation, or its Dependencies, discontinuing such regulations.

[Approved, 3rd March, 1817.]

ACT of Congress of The United States, "authorizing the deposite of the Papers of Foreign Vessels, with the Consul of their respective Nations," in The United States.-3rd March, 1817.

BE it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, that the Register

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