Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-26
OFFICIAL.
TO THE COLLECTORS AND OTHER OFFICERS
OF THE CUsTOMS.-fNEw s.nIrs No. 66l
TnrAsUnr DrrAnrmrsr, july is, 1851

| TREASURY DEPARrNEHT, july l6, 1851.
The existing revenue laws Of the United States provide
that the value Of al foreign merchandise imported into the
United States shall be verified by the oath Of the owner there
Of Where the goods are owned by parties residing in the
United Ses this oath taken before the Collector at the time
entry and where they wholly bssng person persons
residing the time in the United States the invoice is re-
qued be verified by the oath of the owner to be admins
tered by Consul Commercial Agent Of the United States
by public officer duly authorized administer oahs
in the county where the goods purchased in the latter
the certificate Of the public officer who administered the
oath be authenticated by Consul Commercial Agent
Of the United States in the port from which the goods are i'm
ported there be Consul Commercial Agent of the
United States in the country from whence the goods may be
imported the auhentcaon Of the invoices may be executed
by Consul of nation at the time in amy with the United
States there be any such residing there. II there be no
such Consul then the authorization may be made by two
respectable merchants residing the port from whence the
goods are imported
In addition to the fact that great number Of the in
voices Of goods shipped to the United States by for
Of nonresident merchants traders and manufacture
forward the needul consular
fcaes required by law, the Department has positive inor-
nation which leads to the belief that this is regular system
with many Of the foreign owners, with view the better to
enable them to have their goods entered and the duties
sesse undevalued invoice, which is by their
agents in the United States who really ignorant Of the
cost. The parties thus also avoid the sk which would
follow from allowing the reduced value at which the goods
be nvoced to be known the Consul at the port of
shipment who, in most cases. would at the fraud
and whose duty would be put his guard the Collector
at the port Of destination.
Heretofore all the cases where the consular certificate has
been accidentally desgnedy omitted with the invoices for
foreign account have been referred to the Department. which
has matter of course admitted them to entry upon giving
the usual bond for the production of said certificate within
certain limited PERIOD according to the distance Of the port of
Shipment The Department has ascertaned that in Of
the principal ports of entry these bonds have been considered
much form and, except where the parties have
voluntarily produced the certificates at those por demand
has been made upon them and the bonds remain file
cancelled This has, Of course induced those foreign
who have habitualy forward their goods without
the needu certificates continue the practice until the
evil has become general and extensive render il
cesary adopt vigorous check and destroy it.
In the circular from this Department Of 7th April, 1851,
to American Consus and Commercial Agents, which has
been generally published in the public journals Of the United
States and which the Consus abroad instructed
make public the places their respective residences notice
given Of the intended change of action by the Depart
this subject after reasonable delay The time for
this change the Department thinks, has arrived and the
Collectors therefore requested and instructed to observe
and enforce the following rules on the subject:
In all future imporaons Of merchandise for account Of
resident owners where the invoices accompanied by
the consular certificates required by law the goods must be
the public stores there remain at the expense and
risk Of the owners until the certificate shall be produced and
no bonds will be taen heretofore for the production of
such certificates.
When, however, any such goods Of perishsbe
ure, or what called fancy seasonable" goods
where the sale would be materially injured by delay the De-
parmen unless there obvious evidence Of intended fraud
report Of the facts by the importer, certified to by the
Collector will admit them to entry such terms the facts
circumstances Of each respectively may render
cessary and proper.
Some Of the foreign shippers and manufacturers in the
habit of sending consular certificate attached to general
invoice Of goods part of which only in the vessel with
the certificate the balance being intended for future ship
by subsequent vessel vessels and in many in.
stances as the Department is advised such goods
manufactured the time the invoice is dated and the
certificate granted. In future such certificate to be
spected except for the goods which actually accompany
and any other portion Of the invoice which may other
subsequent vessels will be treated being without conuar
certificates unless there be distinct and separate for the
! goods by each vessel.
In all where bonds heretofore given for the production
Of consular certificates remain uncanceed and the time for
producing them has EXPIRED the parties TO be notified in
writing pay the amount of such uncanceed bonds and
failure do within thirty days after such notice, they
will be Immediately put into suit.
Should there be any Of these where the Collector
thinks from peculiar circumstances further time should be
granted for the production Of the certificate the Department.
on presentation Of the Of the case will take such
into consideration and, if the circumstances will warrant it.
will grant the additional time required under such terms and
conditions as may think advisable and just to exact.
You will every diligence to prevent the entry Of
chandse the property Of residents where may be for for
eign account and whenever you may detect deception
fraud in entering goods without the oath Of the real owners
you will enforce the penalty Of the law against the Of
tending parties.
The ConsuIs and Commercial Agents will be requested
hereafter either to make their certificate upon the invoice it.
self give such details, where il is attached separate
document the Of the shippers consignees,
se and captains the of the merchandise, and the
total amount will fully identify the invoice annexed in
stead Of giving heretofore, their certificates in such gen.
ea admit Of the deception which the Department
informed has been pracsed Of substituting another invoice
in place the for which the certificate originally
issued
By the habit which has generally prevailed, Of virtually
dispensing with the oath Of the nonresident Of for
gn merchandise these latter have possessed undue ad
vantage the resident importers Of the United States
just regard for the rights and interests Of the latter as well as
for the faithful collection Of the revenue has governed