The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-01

a. aforesaid, any Of the persons contained
in the said list who may be discharged
in foreign country with the consent Of the
consul, vice consul, commercial agent, or
vice commercial agent there residing, signiAed
in writing, under his hand and official seal, to
be produced to the collector. with the other
persons comprising the crew, as aforesaid; nor
on account of any such person dying or abb
econding of being forcibly impressed into other
service, of which satisfactory proofshall be them
also exhibited to the collector.
Section second makes it the duty OF every
master or commander Of a ship or vessel belong.
ing to citizens of the United States, who shall
sail from any port of the United States after the
first day of May, Qso3), on his arrival at q.
foreign port, to deposit his register, sea letter,
and Mediterranean passport with the CONSUL,
vice consul, or commercial agent, Gf any
there be. at such port0 and in case of refusal
or neglect of the said master or commander to
deposit the said papers aforesaid, he shall for
felt and pay five hundred dollars, to be recover
ed by the said consul vice consul or CONNER
cial agent in his own name for the benefit Of
the United States, in any court of competent
jurisdiction; and it is also made the duty Of
such consular agents on their receiving from
the master or commander a clearance from the
proper officer of the port where his ship or YES
sci may be to deliver to the said master all of
his said papers, provided such master shall have
complied with the provisions contained in said
act, and those of the act to which this is q sup
plement
hird az xuho
discharged in foreign port, the master Of the
ship is to produce his list to the consul or COM
mercial agent, duly certified, and to pay over
to the said consul three months advance pay
for each discharged seaman on the list, two
thirds Of which is to be paid each discharged
seaman as soon as he goes on another Ameri-
can vessel bound for the United States; the
other third to be retained as fund for the pay
ment of the passages of seamen or mariners,
citizens of the United States who may desire
to return home, and for the aid of American
destitute seamen in said foreign port-the
sums thus retained to be accounted for every
six months to the Treasury of the United
States, by the consul receiving the same
Section fourth provides that consular agents
shall provide for the return Of destitute seamen
to the United States. and their maintenance,
under the direction Of the President by the Sc
cretary of State. All masters and commanders
of vessels belonging to the United States are
enjoined. under penalty of 500 fine in case
of refusal to take seamen or mariners on
board their ships for re-conveyance to the
United States at the request of the oon-
sui. and on such terms as may be agreed upon,
not exceeding ten dollars for each person-the
said mariner or seaman being bound to do duty
on such vessel as far as he is able. No mas
ter is compelled to receive more than two
such sailors to each one hundred tons of his
vessel.
The fifth section authorizes the Secretary of
State to reimburse consular and commercial
agents any reasonable sums which they may
have advanced for the relief of seamen, though
the same should not exceed the rate of twelve
cents man per diem.
Section sixth authorizes consular agents, &c.
o receive fifty cents for every certificate Of dis
charge of each seaman or mariner and allows
two and half per cent commission on paying
and receiving tire amount of wages of seamer
in foreign ports.
Section seventh provides that if any consula
agent &c. shall knowingly certify that proper
ty belonging to foreigners is property belong
ing to citizens of the United States, he shall
on conviction in any court having proper juris
diction pay fine not exceeding $4,000, an,
be imprisoned for a period not exceeding thre
years.
Section eighth provides that ifthe consul grant
a passport to an alien, or other paper certify
ing that such alien-knowing him or her to b
such--is citizen Of the United States. he sha
on conviction pay fine not exceeding one tho,
sand dollars.
To this act of 1908 there is annexed {. blanl
form for consular passport, with the necessar,
description Of the person to be inserted in tn
margin of the passport granted.
This supplementary act should have prope
ly been designated an act for the better Or,
lection and relief Of American seamen employ
ed in the American merchant service-the dr
ties prescribed to both commanders and col
suls being incident to that object 1t wa
passed during Mr.. Jefferson's administers
ton, in the year we acquired Louisiana, an,
during our war with the Barbary States. T.
augment the force and to maintain the elicienc,
OF the navy it was found necessary to protec
American seamen and mariners sailing unde
our flag, at every hazard on every sea. and il
every port. We wanted sailors for our infau
navy. which had commenced glorious cruiu
against the Barbary powers. The English
jealous of our rising navy, and them
selves involved in a tremendous struggle
against France and her allies also needed
all the sailors that could be found ani
induced to enter her service. She therefore put
forth the monstrous doctrine that "once Sub
ject, always subject" and claimed q right 10
search our vessels and to impress all sailors