Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-01
sree NavigatIen OF Iao mIssissippl-

Act OF the sonthern Congress.
A biir to be entitled an act 10 declare and e.
tablish The free navigation OF the Mlssis-
sippi river.
sEerIos /. The Congress ns the confede-
rate states Of America 10 enact, That &c
peaceful navigation Of the Mississippi river Il
/ hardly declared free to the citizens Of any Of
the States upon its borders, OF upon the borders
Of it's navigable tributaries and all ships,
boats. or RATS, or vessels, may navigate the
same under such regulations ss msy be estab-
lished BY authority Of law, or under such po-
lice regulations as may be established BY the
States within their several jurisdictions.
SEC. 2. Be Il further enacted, All ships,
boats or vessels which may enter the waters
Of the said river, within the limits Of this Com
fsdsracy, from any port or place beyond the
said limits, may eresly pass with their car
goes TO any other port or place beyond the
limits of this Confederacy, without any duty
or hindrance except light money, pilotage and
other Ike charges but It shall not be lawful
FOR any such ship, boat or vessel 10 sell, de-
liver, or IN any way dispose Of any part Of
her cargo, OF land any portion thereof, for The
purpose Of sale and delivery within the
limits Of this Confedersey +; and in case any
portion Of such cargo shall be sold or deliver
ed, or landed for that purposes 10 violation Of
the provisions Of this act, the same shall be
forfeited, and shall be seized and condemned
by a proceeding in admiralty, before the
court having jurisdiction OF the same in the
district in which the same may be found, aad
the ship, boat or vessel shall forfeit four times
the amount Of the value Of toe duties charge
able on the said goods, wares or merchandise,
so landed, sold OF disposed Of "a violation Of
the provisions Of this act, 10 be recovered by
a proper proceeding in admiralty before the
said court in the district where such ship,
boat or vessel may be found, One-haif for the
use Of the collector OF The district, who shall
institute and conduct such proceeding, and the
other half for the use Of the Government Of
the Confederate States; provided, that, Z any
such ship, boat or vessel shall be stranded, or
from any cause be unable to proceed on its
voyage, the cargo thereof may be landed, and
the same may be entered at the nearest port Of
entry, 10 the same manner as goods, Wsres and
merchandise regularly consigned to said port,
and the person so entering the same shall be
entitled TO the benefit Of drawback OF duties,
or Of warehouaing said goods, wares and mer-
ehandise, as provided by law in other cases.
SEC. 3. b il further enacted, II any per-
son having the charge Of or being concerned
in the transportation OF any goods, wares or
merchandise upon the said river, shall, with
intent to defraud the revenue, break open or
unpsek, within the limits Of the Confederate
States any part Of the merchandise entered
for transportation beyond the said limits, or
shall exchange or consume the same, or with
like intent shall break or defase any seal or
fastening placed thereon by any officer Of the
revenue; or il any person shall defaee, alter
or forge any certificate granted for the protsc-
ton Of merchandise transported as aforesaid,
each and every person so offending shall for
felt and pay FIVE hundred dollars, ard shall be
Imprisoned not less than one nor more than
six months, atthe discretion Of the court be-
fore which such person shall be convicted.
SEC. 4. Be il further. enacted, In case any
ship, boat or vessel shall enter the waters OF
the said river, within the limits Of the Confed-
crate States, having on board any goods, wares
and merchandise, subject to the payment Of
duties, and the master, consignee or owne
shall desire to land the same For sale or other
wise, It shall be lawful to enter TIE said goods,
wares and Merchandise at any port Of entry,
or to forward them under bond or seal, accord
ing 70 the regulations customary in such cases,
when consigned to any port or place beyond
the limits OF this COnfederacv, in the same
manner as goods, wares or merchandise regu-
larry consigned to the said port, and on pay
ment Of the duties on said goods 10 obtain a
license from the collector to laad the same at
any point on the river, and when goods, wares
OF merchandise shall be entered as aforesaid,
the owner, importer or consignee shall be en-
titled to the benefit Of drawback duties or
WdIeuOuslDE the sara ROOdS, wares ana mer-
ehandise az is provided by law, upon comply
ing with ali the laws and regulations which
apply to the~csses Of entry for drawback or
Warehousing respectively.
SIC. 5. Be 1t further enacted, When any
such ship, boat or vessel, having on board
goods, wares and merchandise subject to the
payment Of duties as set forth in the fourth
section, shall arrive at the first port Of her
entry Of the Confederate States, the master
OF person in command Of such ship, boat or
vessel shall, before he pass the said port, and
Immediately after his arrival, deposit with the
collector a manifest Of the cargo on board
SUBJECT to the payment Of duties, and the said
collector shall, after registering The same,
transmit it, duly certified 20 have been deposit
ted, to the officer with whom the entries are
to be made; and the said collector NAV, IL he
judge it necessary for the security Of the rev.
enue, put an inspector OF the customs on
board any such ship, boat or vessel, to accom-
pany the same until her arrival at the first
port Of entry to which her cargo may be con-
signed, and it the master or person in com
mand shall omit to deposit a manifest, as
aforesaid, or refuse to receive such inspector
on board, be shall forfeit and pay $500, with
costs Of suit, one-half to the use Of the officer
with whom the manifest should have been De-
posted, and the other half to the use Of the
collector Of the district to which the vessel
was bound provided, however, that untfl
ports Of entry shall be established above The
the penalties Of this act shall not extend TO
delivery Of goods above that port by vessels or
boats descending that river.