The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-18
Modification OF Revenue Laws.
TO THE HONORABLE THE SENATE AND HOUSE o.
REPRESENTATIVES, o. THE UNITED sTATEG. Z


TO THE HONORABLE THE SENATE AND HOUSE or
REPRESENTATIVES, 81 THE UNITED STATES. n
CONGRgSs AssIMBLHD:
The memorial Of tbs Chamber Of Conmsros Of the city
Of New York respectfully rsprsssnh -
That upon the arrival within the bounds Of any oose-
ton district In the Uaitsd States OF all vessels from
the Customs, Whose provisoe It u to take custody Il
al cutabs property board and retain II I'll the
PER se. Of the sassoms o. Of orders 10 place !. s.
sovernmset store houses AL parts Of cargo not "p.
In addition to this protssoa against frauds upoa IL
revenue which the governnsnt very properly -
itself through its ofosrs the rsvssus hws from q
ecsd ships forfeiture vhspsvsr goods are sndsd ro
them without permit Of the value OF than fouI
nand "a dollars whether the shipcvssr b .srteipass
In the fraud cot whether he have Any knowscgo q
sOcs the sn.stnsnt Of the law referred TO, the modes
shps we're for the most part psrhAps the q ~
oargces also, and disposed them under the manage.
of intended wrorg towards the revenue laws VAS nuk
within their reach At rate they properly
liable for the acts their authorised agents. Nov, ~
shiPowrer 10 almost sholy . " oommoa CARRIER" anA
cannot BY possbly actually kno~ the contents Of ths
packages which his ship ansports WITH what ju,Hos
deeds Of the shippsrsi He cannot detect th,m hs
not protect bi self against tasm he derives proAt
rs 1nsn s On a. Ds.r ns
seems % your memortalists to DO in plain violation a
every principle Of equity Ne fully believe that the ship
general rule act honestly and faithfully towards thS
customs" Of their country II thsrs are sxcspsonss
cent may not suffer with thu guilty.
In the vastly extended Of the UAitsd SAtsa
with Other nations and the simple facilities required and
individuals ESPECIALLY among those who deal In goods a
sna bulk but Of great vAius constantly crossing The
shout their In their luggage valuable articles
TO considerable amounts With intent dsfraud the
Bat this sought 70 b made q ssss-
tual asaisst the the ship - asAn
the government suspicion arise, the government
ss.mns INTO me matter WIN in panty MOI % vita ne
husnee OF strong suspicion, 10 modest the person ug
sgs Of passenger. he would be liable for tsspsss ssd
The property u he innocent He therefore eaa
or, prstscs aimss 81 his PERIL peril that pruisns
placed between two 6rss he mad An szAmaatioa, h
nay be mulcted In damages II he cid not, he may -
Obliged T. pay hsavy pnsliss Your msmoriAlist 30
,rsPsct u, bat smPhAu'ay' to put the simple aass's.
II should BE- borne In mind In ths esnnsotien that IL
luggage Of passenger Ia not idsred cargo; bls a
lsdDs are not usually taken fer IT, nor {. Il usual .
place 1t upon ship mADif.su IL IA therefore, In
degree free nom the control Of the ships ofssrs
Always passed specially BY the Inspector Il Castoms b.
As the government retains tbs power BY il saass
latter - in luggage e.gc befsr leaves he shi
Il power or right not legally vested In any ofcef OF
su.ss dy Of II: .hS in tn. had. q il Sn Inspectors =
tbs exercise Of that poser SEEMS TO ~ but eommoa
justice that the aEd officers OF ships should -
held Abe for frauds they have md In are not prvy
", and have NO legal poser 70 ps vent
Besides Tire nanfes injustice Of the 10 planned o.
10 calculated TO produoe much noonvsnercs and
b&rra nent to mail shps undef stpuations TO 70 port
1T p%cineo time also fiegntipg ships Transports
DER positive implied conrso and TO shp interests
generally. seizure and dstHston necessarily Involve
great injury and sspen,s, and there are many satp
o~nrs Who cannot ccnvsnisnt the heavy booa
o. qns0ty required for The ressss of ahip whoa sssso
nnder the existing revenue laws
The lav II stands In rsQusnt cssse I'm pcses
hs Secretary cf the Treasury the duty q tne
I. upon which vessels forfeited fer no nut misooa-
duct OF the owners or ofhcsfs may ~ Recessed IN the
exercise OF his ciscrstion in this respect SUB "a as II.
e. NAV oftss bs Done and great hardships indicted
Il IN II, very nature OF the without OF oour~ the
~ s,sst on the part ofths Secretary subject
N q ,hipovpSr 10 unaeesssary burdeaa Bonds may -
r oaired and imposed out OF all proportion 70 thA
efanns-an o6erss, lei II be renembsrsd, where
N IL lawfully pprished for the act OF an othsr psrorra
q without his privtty. rhis responsibility, Jour
yialsts osnao - IL which all Seer etArtsa
~ he Treasury would b gladly relieved
Your memoria'ists thsrvSofe, respectfully ask that
e. seress vii rtteal mach OF tins law Ia question
nces vesse liable 10 and foretare and thsiY
dams ges for violations Of II lava
q In vhe.e the either participate IN q
Ais priv to the frard.
By ordsr RI Chfmbsr OF Commerce.,
EDwDD O poGrsI Secretary, p PERT, PresidenA
New York Fsh l6, 1854