Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-03-11
CORRECTION OF THE REVIEW UE.
Treasury Department., !
February 18th, 1915. s


made 1T the custolf houses, to facilitate the |
business cf the merchants, ard to guard az nsI
owe ny species OF fraud upon the revenue. For
the accomplishment, ST both objects, you may
rely u?on the ce,oRerstien osthis department |;
aud rs il is designed 80 exact from every pubic
officer the sricJest official responsibility, do
not hesitate 10 promise, with the appreciation
of the resident, that the officers OF the GUS
toms shall he supplied with all the means,
which al r qusite, for an efiiclent perform
ance OF their important duties.
The laws, witch existed before the war, fov
the imposition and collection Of duties on mer-
ehsn6i2e imported, remain in force, M IA such
additions and alterations, only, as have, from
time 10 time, been made known to you. The
duties and the powers OF the officers ofthe Gus
IONS are sufficiently described and defined in
shose laws. And it is only necessary, at this
period, TO recommend to your attention some
of The leading objects Of the trust. ~
I. A competent number Of vgiiant, intelli-
gent and discreetinspectors must be employed,
With view to the service o! the night, well
IS the day And such stations should be as
signed TO some of them, as will effeotually Sc
cure all tile revenues Tor an Illicit trade.
e. Whenever cutter and barges are neces-
ssry, the necessity must be represented, with
an estimate OF the probable expense. 1t is in
tended that the cutters and bargcs, throughout
tie United States, shall be uniform III their con-
struciion and equipment and, in that respect,
the sdvlce of the navy department will be OBJ
tanned. The officers and men must be recon-
me nded for their vigilance, activity, skill and
good condcet.
8 The commanders Of cutters and barges,
and the il spectors at fixed stations, should be
required to make up reports, 10 the collector,
u reasonable periods and any matter OF im.
portsnce contained in such reports should
be promptly communicated to this depart
rhent,
4 The striciest vigilance should be requir~
ed from an officers of the customs, visiting
vessels arriving on the coasts, or IN the waters
OF the United States. rhe reports required
by law, in such cases, must be punctuaiiy
made
6. The entries Of merchandise should be adj
m;tted, with every possible circumepectIon, III
the examination OF the invoices and OTHER do,
curnents and every detection oil an entry, upon
ahctitous invoice, should be prosecuted with
the utmost rigor of the law. II there be 6 dou6r
OF TIE good faith of the transaction, the power
OF inspection and apprsisement OF the goods,
with view 10 form an estimate of the duties,
should be freely executed.
g. The super;ptendance OF the unlsdine OF
osrgoes must DE strictly enforced; and great
attention will be necessary, to prevent any ali
vantage beng taken oil the inspectors curing
tile niehn
CT. Every act Of negligence, every wilful onis-
sion, as well as ever} SIMS er act violating The
law, by owners, eonsgners, factors, masters or
mariners, must b. prosecuted with all the riger
of Tie law.
8. Smuggling, in every form, must be prea
Vented, or punished. Ami if IL be not prevent
ed, the officers of the customs, according to
their respective duties and stations, win be
held answsrsbie to prove, that there was no
wgni ofvigilance On their part.
These instructions will manifest the solici-
tude of this department, that the business of
the customs should bs transacted with the
saIne purity upon the same footing Of good
faith, whcb formerly preveiled. The impro~
per coaduci that has recently appeared in some
OF the districts, will never be ascribed TO the
princpl, 5, or the habits Of the Am rican mer-
cram, whose pride and patriotism have hither-
60 Afforded better security or the public re-
venue than could he derive from Legal sane
tions Hut it - necessary, every where, in refer
ence u every description o trader, md BY eve~
Sy legitimate means, 10 eradicate the faint of
smugglhgs for the sake Of the honorable mer-
ehan,, as well as for the sake Of the pubic re-
venue
" ia proper 20 Observe, in relation to vessels
owned by the citizcns of the Unit States, that
there re severai descFiplic ms OF documents, or
shiPs papers, whicn may be employed and of
which YOU wal be FURNISHED upon reques;, with
competent Number.
1. He ceTftEcdfe ofTegfstrTs ms document
j. created by our ownhaws. and bel ngs cxciu-
vciy 20 vessels American built and owned -
oFsUch particular vessels as are expressly a.
dopted by the registering act. 1t is IN instru-
net which thu vessel must carry, in order to
enttle her to he privileges Of a vessel Of the
Unued states
2. Ihssez-iettey. This document is an in
strument Of the maritime law OF nations, and
Under the denominati ION Of passport, as well
IS o. ses-ietter, treaties sometimes require il
20 be carried by the mere hant vessels, belonging
70 TIE cootfsctrggarties. It's an instrument
which gives no privilege as TO duties Ofimport;
but, simply, declares ilie American ownership,
aud recommends the vessel TO the comfy Of
nations. Vessels are under no legal obligation
60 carry s-e-letlsr and indeed, It IS only
Necessary for neutral vessels, IN a time Of
war.
3 The MedifeYaseGs passport. This IN
strument, having baen sBcrIbed, under the
general denomination OF passport" in some
Of tie sets Of Congress has been occasionally
coniounded with de sea-letter, which has, al
So, been denom,na.eda passport The form
wss introduced soon after the treaty with al
giefs, which called Tor the instrument, and il
Is intended protection for American yess
sells against the bSrbary powers.
The certificate Of properly. This doeu.
meptis not prescribed by any law, and depends
entirely Tor its 4itecls and validity upon the