Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-02-12
LORD Lyons TO Mr.. BLACK.


WASHINGTON, Dec 81 1860
SrR-Her Majestys Consul at Charleston has sent
IN me a copv of an ordinance passed by a conven-
tion sitting in that city, by which it appears to be
declared in effect that the custom houses of the
limited States in South Carolina are Converted into
cnstonhouses of that State that the customs, Off
GERS of the Federal Government are to become ems
toms officers of South Carolina: that the revenue
and navigation laws of the United States are. with
one or two specified exceptions, adopted as law of
South Carolina lastly, that all duties and moneys
heretofore collected account Of the United States
are to be collected on account of South Carolina.
am, moreover informed that the provisions of
this ordinance have been carried into actual execu-
ton.
such being the case, Her Najesty's Consul has
fet It TO be his duty to call my attention to certain
pracucal dlfheultes connected with the entry and
clearance OF British vessels and to request me to
SEND MN instructions for his own guidance and for
that OF masters ond consignees of such vessels.
lose no time in submitting these difficulties to
you, being confident that the government of the
United states VIII be as anxious as am to prevent
any loss or injury or even any inconvenience, be-
ing sustained by foreign commerce, in consequence
OF the anomalous state of things which appears to
exist in South Carolina.
Her majestyis consel first mentions the points in
volved in the arrival of British vessel an event
which may occur at any moment. He observes
that by the law of the United States passed on the
Sd of March 1877, it is required that upon the
rival of foreign vessel the master shall (previous
to his being permitted to enter at the custom-house)
produce to the collector, within fortyeight hours of
ms arrival, certificate from the consul or vice
consul Of the nation to which the vessel belongs,
that he has deposited at the consulate the register
clearance, and other documents grated at the GUS
tom house at the port from whence he last sailed
The penalty upon the masters for noncompliance
with this enactment appears to be fine of five hun
dred to two thousand dollars.
With regard to the clearance of British vessels,
her AaJestys consul points out that the law just
quoted requires that before foreign consul shall
deliver to the master commander of a foreign
vessel, the register other papers deposited with
HIM, he shall require the production of Clearance
from the collector of the United States custom at
the port of the vessels entry 1t seems that if a
foreign consul violate the provision he is liable to
be tried by the Supreme Court, and on conviction,
to be lined from five hundred to two thousand dol
lars
Her Majesty's consul states further that it is ne
cessary TO consider the of an American non
British vessel bearing recognized flag which may
be DESTROYS of sailing to British port, having en-
board cargo tie whole part of which is the pro-
perty of British subject.
Lastly, the consul adverts to the question of the
payment of duties by British ship to the de facto
Collector of the State of South Carolina in the abb
sence of Collector of the United States and upon
the requirement of such Ge fdcte Collector.
] do not think it necessary to make any sugges-
tons of my own as to the measures required with
regard to these several points, take it for granted
that the Government of the United States will
exact penalties allow foreign vessels to be sub
ject to detention inconvenience, in consequence
of noncompliance with fermslties or onpayment
of duties in cases such those mentioned above in
which compliance or payment has become impossi-
ble limit myself to earnestly requesting the Gov
eminent to give me- without delay, such information
respecting its wishes and intentions may enable
me to give definite instructions to Her Najesty's
consul at Charleston, and to remove any apprehen-
sion which may exist that the abolition de fdeto of
the United States Custom House in South Carolina
will be allowed to subject British vessels British
commerce to loss, injury or inconvenience.
In the confidence that you will do me the honor
to answer this note at your earliest convenience,
remain, with the highest consideration, your most
obedient, humble servant, - LYONS.