Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-11-26
From the n: Y. Evenng Post, Nov. ls.

From the n. Y. Evening Post, .Nov. lS.
By a passenger in the Maria Louisa, we
have been favored with number of French
papers, but they contain very little news The
following article, however, which we have
translated, we think may be of some imPor-
lance to that vigilant officer, the Surveyor OF
she Port of New-York, who in his zeal to
prevent importations from Great Britain and
her Colonies, seizes New-England Rum.
, HOW TO ENFORCE NON IMPORTATION ACT.
From L'Tndicateur de Bordeaux, Sent 10.
PROVOST COURT OF AGEN.
Jean Burgalat keeps an Inn in the COM
mune of Saint Beat, department OF the Up
per Garonne, on the extreme frontier, and
upon the line of the Custom-Houses.
The Custom-house officers having surpris-
ed woman who was coming out of Burga-
lat's stable, and carried under her petticoat
four kilogrammes (About nine pounds) of cof-
fee, made search In that stable : they found
hidden there, part in a pigeon house, and
part in an old basket under quantity of
feathers, some bags Of brown sugar, which
they seized.
Burgalat being cited first before the ordi-
nary tribunal of St Gaudens, and afterwards
before the court, at the hearing on the Sd OF
this month, maintained that he could not be
condemned to the penalties of the law, be-
cause those penalties were pronounced against
him ely who should be taken in the act of
introducing, or who should knowingly conceal
or secrete prohibited goods.
He observed that MS stable and barn were
separated from his house by the public road;
that 1t the time OF the seizure he had at his
house great number OF travellers and mu-
leteers, who had doubtless carried and hidden
in his stable the brown sugar that was seized;
that he knew nothing of it; that it was even
impossible Cor him to know it, because, during
the whole Of the night preceding the seizure,
he had been absent from home, In search OF
some oxen belonging to the state, that had
escaped from his stable. Lastly, he observed,
that it would be Just to punish him for not
having foreseen and prevented the depositing
of the sugar, when the custom-house officers
and the gendarmes who keep their herses in
his stables, had MT themselves perceived 1t.
These arguments, though urged with ear
nestncss and ability by Mr.. Chaudordy, Bur-
galat's counsel, could not succeed In opposl.
lion to the provisions Of the law and to the
decisions OF the Souft VI [SppCais, "iiIh dC-
clare guilty of contraband. and liable to pun
ishmens, every person who IS found having
in his house or Its appurenances, any prohl-
bited goods; unless he proves that they
were carried thither unknown to him, and
points out the person who so carried them.
The law is still more severe with respect to
Innkcepers, for it does not even permi, them
TO make such proof; and declares them gull
" upon the single fact OF possession.
Bargaiat was sentenced to fine Of three
times the value OF the goods seized, to i'm
prisonment in the house OF correction for
months; and to remain, during three years,
under the inspection of the government.
REaARKS-The above will probably be OF
use to our custonl-house officers, in giving
them notice of certain places OF conceainent
which they might not otherwise have sns-
pected. II may likewise be of service to our
National Legislature in forming their con-
temp!ated additional restrictions or commerce.
1t will remind them Of the necessity ofinsert-
ing clause in the neay forcing tGsr to prevent
ladies from l.. Icrtis.g frohiaised articles il
the r,larner above mentioned.