The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-30
From the Buffalo aoruinp Ervre.,.

A short time since Captain b. Trowbridge, OF
this city, addressed letter to the Hon. e. q. Spaul
ding. asking him to obtain from the Secretary OF
the Treasury certain information in relation 10
American vessels that had been sold TO British sub
jects. The following is the Secretary's reply:
Treasury DEPARTMENT,l
April 20, 1850.
Sin have to acknowledge the receipt of letter
from b. Trowbridge, esq, to yourself, under date
of the 18th instant, propounding certain inquiries
in relation TO our navigation and revenue laws, on
which information is desired
Ii is asked whether vessel built in the United
States, registered under our laws, and owned by a
citizen Of the United States, if sold to British
subject, registered in Canada, and purchased by an
American citizen, can afterwards be regarded
vessel of the United States under her register?
have to state, in reply, that an American vessel
thus sold to British subject cannot on being pur-
chased by American citizen, be registered as a
vessel of the United States, but must be regarded
as a foreign vessel, and liable to foreign tonnage
duties in our ports and not entitled to the Ameri
can flag. The provisions OF law on the subject will
be found in the act of Congress of the 9th Of june
1877, entitled "An act in addition TO an act con-
corning the registering and recording of ships and
vessels" In reference to the use by such a vessel
of the certificate of her original American registry,
after the purchase Of her from British subject by
citizen of the United States, will refer you to
the provisions of the 7th and 10th sections of the
Clustering and recording act of the 3lst December,
1892, from which you will perceive that sale TO
foreigner the american register IL required, un-
der heavy penalties, to be surrendered To the col
lector of the district.
To the question, whether foreign (British) ves-
sci, or a vessel once registered under our laws, but
which, having been sold to foreigner, has been
purchased and is now owned by a citizen of the
United States, can take on board cargo at one Of
our ports land the same in Canada, then relade it
on board and land it in the United States, free Of
dutyI have to state in reply, that if the vessel and
Cargo entered at the foreign port, and the cargo
landed, the voyage is regarded as terminated; and
if the same merchandise ia subsequently shipped on
board and imported into the United States, such
turn is regarded a neD importation, and the mer
chandise 80 re-impored, if of foreign growth, pro-
ducton, manufacture, will be liable to duty; but
if of the growth, production manufacture of the
United States, on which no drawback. bounty, or
allowance has been paid, and is identified as such
in the words prescribed in the 4Sth section of the
general collection law of ID March, 1899, it will be
admitted free of duty.
The foregoing is believed substantially to answer
the inquiries of your correspondent, as they are
derstood.
am, cir, very respectfully, your obedient SER
want, w. M. MEREDITH,
Secretary of the Treasury
Hon. E. G. SpAuLDINe, United States House Rep
resentatives.