The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-03-01
IPUBLrC-No 24l
AN AoT to pro5hibit the . eoolie traaen br Amer.

AN ACT to prohibit the eoolie trade by Amer.
lean citizens in American vessels.
Be u enacted By the Senate and Hoass Of Representa.
tiges OF the URited States Of AnaericG Congress
seabEed, That no citizen citizens of the United
States or foreigner coming in to residing with
in the same, shall, for himself for any other
person whatsoever, either master, factor owner.
or otherwise, build, equip, load, otherwise pre-
pare, any ship or vessel, or any steamship or
steamvessel, registered, enrolled, or licensed, ia
the United StateJs or any port within the sames -
the purpose of procuring from China, or from any
port or place therein, from any other port
place tho inhabitants or subjects Of China, known
as g Coolies, to be transported 70 any foreign
country, port, place whatever 10 be disposed Of
or sold, or transferred, for any term Of years
for any time whatever servants or apprentices,
or to be held to service or labor And ii any sGip
or vessel, steam ship or steam vessel, belonging
in whole or ia part citizens Of the United States,
and registered enrolled, or otherwise licensed
aforesaid, shall be employed for the said purposes,
or in ths sscooIie trade 30 ca led, or shall be-
caused to procure carry from China eiss-
where, as aforesaid any subj ects Of the Govern-
ment of China for the purpose Of transporting or
dtsposing Of them aforesaid, every sa ch ship
vessel, steamship or steam vessel, her tackle, ap
parels furniture and other appurtenancs5t shall
be forfeited TO the United States aud shall be liza
bic 20 be seized, prosecuted, and condemned In any
OF the circuit courts district courts Of the United
States for the district whore the said ship vessel
steamship or steam-vessel, may be found, seized or
carried.
SEC. q AID be ID fsrther enacted, That every
person who shall 60 baid, TT out, equip load, or
otherwise prepare, or who shall seAd % ssss OF
navigate owner master, factor, rgent, ofher-
wise, any ship or vessel, steamship Horrnvesse,
belonging in whole or in part to citize1s ii the
United Stataa or registered, enrolled, iicersed
within tho same. or at any Fort fharsof, kaowing
true intent and meaning oi this act, or IN any
wise aiding abettipg therein, shall be ssveraly
liable to be indicted therefor, and, conviction
thereof shall be liable TO fiue not exceeding two
thousand dollars and be imprisoned not exceeding
one year.
Sec 3. And Be It further enacted, That if any
citizen or citizens of the United States shall con-
fn fba fr11ai meaning a this
take on board of vessel, or receive or transport
any such persoos as are above described in this act
for the purpose of dispoEing of them as aforesaid
he they shall be liable to be indicted therefor,
and, conviction thereof shall be liable to fine
not exceeding two thousand dollars aod be impris-
oDed not exceeding one year.
Sec. t. And be it further enacted, That nothing
in this act herenbefore contained shall be deemed
construed TO apply TO or affect any free aud vol
untary emigration Of any Chinese subject, or to
any vetsel carrying such person as passenger on
board the same: Prorided, however, That permit
or certificate shsn be prepared and % gned oy the
siding at the port from which such vessel may
take her departure, containing the name Of such
person, and setting forth the fact OF his voluntary
emigration from such port or place, which certin-
cate shall be given to the master Of such vessel
but the same shall not be given until sucb consul
consular agent shall be first personally satisfied
BY evidence produced OF the truth OF the facts
therein contained.
Sec. s. And Be st further enacted, That all the
provisions of the act of Congress approved Feb
ruary twenty second. eighteen hundred and forty
seven entitled An act to regulate the carriage Of
passengers in merchant vessels, :, and all the pro-
visions OF the act of Congress approved March
third, eighteen hundred and forty-niHes entitled
!" An act to extond the provisions OF ell laws now
in force relating 60 the carriage of passengers In
merchant vessels and the regulation thereof"
shall be extended and shall apply to all vessels
owned in whole in part by citizens Of the United
States and registered, enrolled, hcansed within
the nited States propelled by wind or by steam,
aud TO all masters thereof, carrying passengers
or intending to carry passengers from any foreign
DaCe without the United states to
other foreign port or place without the United
States and that all penalties aud forfsitures pro-
vided fer in said act shall apply to vessels aud
masters last aforesaid.
Sec @. And be It further eaacteds That the Presi-
dent of The United States shall be and he Is here
by authorized and empowered, in such way and at
such time as he shall judge proper TO the end that
the provisions of this act may be enforced accord
| ing to the true intent and meaning thereof, to
direct and order the vessels of the United States
and the masters and commanders thereof, TO exam
inc all vessels navigated owned in whole or IN
part by citizens of the United States and register
| ed, enrolled, licensed under the laws Of the
| United States, wherever they may be, whenever,
/ in the judgment of such master or commanding
officer hereof, reasonable shall exist to be-
leve that such vessel has board, in violation Of
the provisions of this act, any subjects OF China
known as coolies . for the purpose Of transporta
tion and upon sufficient proof that such vessel is
such vessel te be carried, with her officers
| and crew, into any port or district within the
/ United States, and delivered to the marshal of
such district to be held and disposed Of according
| to the provisions of this act.
Seer. And re it t4rther enacted, That this act
| shall take effect from and after six months from
| the day Of its passsge.
Approved, February l9, 1862.