Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-03-14

be prevented or punished. And lift
be not prevented, the officers Of the
customs, according to their respec.
tive duties and stations, will be held
answerable to prove. that there
was no want Of vigilance on their
part.
These Instructions will manifest
the solicitude of this department,
that the business of the customs
should be transacted with the same
purity,'upon the samcifooting of good
faith, which, formerly prevailed.
The improper conduct that has re-
Gently appeared in some Of the dis
tricts, will never be ascribed to the
principles or the habits Of the A.
merican merchants. whose pride and
patriotism have hitherto afforded a
better security for the public reve-
nue., than could be derived from le-
gal sanctions. But it is necessary
every where. in reference to every
description of traders, and by every
legitimate means. to eradicate the
faint of smuggling. for the sake of
the honorable merchant. as well as
for the sake of the public revenue.
Itis proper to observe, ia relation
to vessels owned by the citizens of
the United States, that there are
several descriptions Of documents. or
ships papers, which may be en-
ployed; and of which you will be
furnished, upon request, with a
competent number.
1. The Certificate Of Registry
This document is created by our
own laws, and belongs, exclusively,
TO vessels American built and owned
or such particular vessels as are
EXPRESSLY adopted by the registering
act. ltisan instrument which the
vessel must carry. in order to entitle
her to the privileges Of vessel Of
the u. States.
9, The Sea Letter. This document
is an instrument Of the maritime law
Of nations. and under the denomina-
ton Of a passport, as we'll as of
sea-Ietter, treaties sometimes re-
quire ii to be carried by the mer.
chant vessels belonging to the con
tracing parties. It's an instrument
which gives no privilege as to duties
of import; but SIMPLY declares the
American ownership, and recon-
meBds the vessel to the comfy of
nations. Vesselsare under no legal
obligation to carry a sea letter; and
indeed, it is only necessary for neu.
trail vessels. in time of war.
8 The Nediterranean Passport.
This instrument. having been de-
scribed under the general denomina-
ton Of +" passports" in some of the
acts of Congress, has been occasion:
aliy COMPOUNDED with the sea letter,
y hich has also been denomiDated
M sport. The form was introduced
sooH after the treaty with Algiers,
which called for the instrument
and it is intended as protection for
American vessels against the Barba-
ry powers.
4. The Certificate of Property
This document is not prescribed by
any law, and depends entirely for its
effects and validity upon the usage of
The custom house. 1t has been oc-
casionalIy substituted for sea let
ter; and sometimes the one instra-
ment has been mistaken for the o.
ther.
5. The Cre1o List.-This instru-
ment is required by the acts of con-
gress and sometimes by treaties.
ii is necessary for the protection Of
the crews Of every vessel, in the
course of the voyage, during war
abroad.
Under the direction of the com.
missioner of the revenue, immediate
measures will be taken, for restoring
the light houses. piers, buoys, and
beacons, within your district and ju-
TO the state in which they
were before the war; and It will be
proper to report their actual coadi-
ton, with estimates Of expense, to