Washington sentinel., 1854-06-29

utterly void, unless ii shall be executed in the
presence OF minister or consul OF the United
States there residing, and shall contain an express
condition hat such instrument, In the nature OF
bill OF sale, and the title of the purchaser claim
ing under it, shall not be valid if the said ship or
vessel shall make, or attempt 10 make voyage
10 the coast Of Africa before returning 10 the
United States for new register And If any citi-
zen of the United States, in any such port or
place, being the owner agent for The sale of an
American ship or vessel, shall sell such shin or
vessel, knowing that she is 10 be employed in The
African slave trade or that she is about 10 make
voyage 70 the coast of Africa before returning
TO the United States shall charter a vessel Of
winch ne may be the owner or The agent for a
voyage 10 the coast OF Africa, with the intent To
sell such ship or vessel on that coast every per
son SO Offending, on conviction thereof before the
circuit court OF the United States for any district
wherein ne may be brought or afterwards found
shaii forfeit and pay the sum of ten thousand
dollars, and shall be imprisoned for term not
exceeding three years, at the discretion of said
court. Every charter of American ship or
vessel al any such foreign port place, with the
intent that such ship or vessel shall be employed
IN the African slave trade, and every sale of an
American ship or vessel on the coast of Africa,
except snch ship or vessel shall be duly con.
demned as unseaworthy shall be illegal and void.
SEC 2. Anade u further enacted That when any
citizen or person shall lodse information with the
attorneyof the district Of any State or territory
az tue case may DC, dBdluSL any person lOr the
violation of this act by any sale charter or at
tempt TO sell or charter any such American ship
or vessel contrary TO the provision of this act il
shall be the duty of the said attorney forthwith 10
commence prosecution against the offender, and
upon conviction Of such offence, the informer or
informant who shall have lodged the information
as aforesaid shall be entitled TO receive one-half
the net sum recovered and paid into the hands of
the marshal of the district, exclusive of costs; and
every such ship or seliegaly sold chartered,
contrary 10 any OF the provisions of this act, SHALL
with all her tackle and furniture, be forfeited to
the United States, and after condemnation by any
court OF the United States in tho. district into
which she may be brought or found, such ship or
vessel, with her tackle and firnitnie, shall be
sold, and one-half the proceeds of sale shall be
paid over TO any citizen, or other person who shall
have lodged the necessary information before the
attorney OF the district for the condemnation of
such ship or vessel. VIZ, ~ saf @
SEC. g. And be 10 further enacted That every
owner or agent for the sale of an American ship
or vessel, who shall sell such ship or vessel in any
OF The ports aforesaid, and every purchaser of
such ship vessel shall at the time of the execu-
tion Of the instrument of writing in the nature Of
bill Of sale for the transfer Of such ship vessel
make oath or df conscientiously scrupulous of
taking an OATH an affirmation before minister
consul of the United States residing at such port
or place, that the said ship or vessel is not in
tended 10 be engaged in the African slave trade
which oath or affirmation shall be reduced to,
writing by the said minister or CONSUL and by him
duly certified and transmitted to the Department
State Of the United States, and such certificate,
or a copy thereof, under the hand and seal of the
Secretary of State, shall be evidence in any court
of the United States; and if any such owner,
agent, or purchaser, shah swear or affirm falsely
in the premises, he shall be deemed guilty Of per-
jury, and SHALL on conviction thereof suffer all
The pain and penalties imposed by the acts of
Congress for wilfil and corrupt perjury Each
party TO every charter executed in any such
foreign port shall make the same oath or affirma-
tion TO be taken, certified and transmitted in the
same manner, and copy thereof to be authenti-
Gated and proved in the same manner, and he shall
be punishable in The same way for swearing or
affirming falsely. No such instrument in the ma
ture Of u bill Of sale, and no such charter party
shall be held legal and valid unes the provisions
of this act shall have been complied with