Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-05-17
OFFICIAL.
CIRCULAR INSTRUCTIONS TO COLLECTORS
AND OTHER OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS.
TarAsunr DrrAarxrsr, MAY 10, 1851

p III I
TRxAsuRI DxPARrxEST, MAY 10, 1851.
The existing laws Of the United require that all
sells, wheher American foreign, coming from foreign
port and bound port Of the United Ss,es shall upon
arriving within four leagues Of the thereof within
the limits Of any collection district produce to the proper
officer Of the who may first board any such vessel
full manifest of the cargo board detailing all the items
thereof the port ports where the may have been
shipped the Of the consgnses thereof and the
different pors il than one, where the is
signed intended 10 be entered. The Department, how
ever has asceaned that the Of the ssutay pro-
vision Of the law this subject has in latter years. been
in many ports greatly relaxed entirely neglected and
that of vessels constantly permitted make out
and deliver their maness after they actually arrived
their port Of entry.
The obvious protection the which this provision
of law was intended to afford thus greatly essened and
in the Of vessels bound TO inland ports great facilities
thus afforded for illegally landing portions Of their
while passing up the great esuaes rivers Of the country,
which portion thus landed under the practice of max
ing their maness after reaching their port Of entry they
omit report, but which Otherwise would have to be
accounted for if the return Of had been included upon
manifest delivered ageeab to law their first entering
the waters of the United States
Independent however, of these circumstances and Of the
manifest necessity Of throwing around the collection Of the
all the guards against fraud which the law has
vided and enoined the Department cannot in faithful dis
charge of its duties, allow explicit provision Of the law
be relaxed and still less fall into disuse and the col
sctors Of the customs the commanders Of the vessels
and ell the boarding officers in the service, there
required carry the into effect in future The
commanders of the revenue instructed board
all vessels from foreign ports arriving within the limits before
referred to- and demand and retain copy Of their mani
fest forwarded the collector Of the port TO which said
vessels may respectively be bound, and to make provided
by law the needul endorsement another copy remain
on board the thus boarded and if the Of any
such vessels should not have their manests ready for delivery
the officer practicable, and not attended with great
delay and Inconvenience, should remain board until such
manifess be prepared and delivered him. In all
where the Of such vessels from foreign port have
maness of their cargo ready for delivery when thus boarded
who shall neglect refuse deliver them when demanded
by such boarding officer the latter instructed report the
the collector Of the port which such vessel may
bound and said collector will prior enforcing the penalty
prescribed by law, the Department accompanied
affidavit ofthe othe vessel setting forth the
for negectng comply with the law and regulations oge
Their with any extenuang facts circumstances involved in
the case the consideration and action Of the Department
The commanders Of the and the boarding officers are
further instructed transmit direct this Department.
monthly abstracts Of all vessels thus boarded and reported
the collectors.
Although the Department. precuded from suspendng or
emitting enforce the provisions of the law this subject
yet the before stated and until proper notification
Of these instructions be given, will in the exercise Of
the RENTING power vested in by law, extend such enency
and indulgence the peculiar circumstances Of the
respectively may admit Of without hazarng the interests Of
the public But whatever enency may thus
ercise in such in consequences Of e practice
which has existed for such length Of time in properly
enforcing the law this subject, the penalty will be ngdy
enforced in all where the Of vessels
Of the change in that respect and Of the existence Of the pre-
circular previous to their leaving foreign port for the
United States.
The consus and commercial agents Of the United States
abroad will be requested take proper to give pub
ciy TO these regulations for the government of and
owners Of foreign vessels bound to the United States
WIN. L. HODGE,
Acting Secretary ofthe Treasury.