Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-02-25
[PuBLlc-NO. "a.
IN ACT 70 prohiblt lLe "coOlle trale,, b,

l
American citizens in American vessels
Be IL enacted Jy The Senate and House Of Rtpre-
seHtutipes of the Uied STATES IF 4pieIica IN Con-
grtss assembled That no citizen or citizens of the
United States, or foreigner coming into or resid.
ing within the same, shall, for himself or for
any other person whatsoever either MS master.
factor, owner, or otherwise, build, equip, load
| or otherwise prepare, any ship or vessel, or Any
steamship or steam vessel, registered, enrolled,
or licensed, in the United States, or any DO, t
within be same, for the purpose Of procuring from
China, or from any port or place therein, or
from any other port Or place the Inhabitants or
subjects Of China, known as " coolies" to be
transported to any foreign country, port, or
place whatever, to be disposed Of or sold. or
! transferred, for any term of years or for any
time whatever, as servants or apprentices, or 10
be held to service or labor And if any shin or
vessel, steamship, or stean-vessel, belonging In
whole or part to citizens of the United States.
and registered, enrolled, OF otherwise licensed
as aforesaid, shall be employed for the said pur-
4 poses, or in the coolie trade" so called or
shall he caused to procure or carry from China
elsewhere, as aforesaid, any subjects of the
Government Of China for the purpose Of traus-
porting or dlsposing of them as aforesaid, every
such ship or vessel, steamship or steam vessel
her tackldS apparel, furniture, and other appur-
4 tenances, shall be forfeited to the United Saies
and shall be liable to be seized. prosecuted, and
condemned in any of the circuit courts or district
courts of the United States for the district where
the said ship or vessel, steamship or steam vessel
may be found, seized or carried.
See 2. 4Ha be Il further enacted, That every
person who shall so build fit out, equip, load,
or otherwise prepare, OF who shall send to sea-
or navigate, MS owner, master, factor, agent, or
other @ise, any ship or vessel steam ship or
steaul-yessel, belonging n whole or in part to
the citizens Of the United States, or registered,
enrolled, or licensed within the same, or ut apy
port thereof, knowing or intending that the
same shall be employed in that trade or business
aforesaid, contrary TO the true intent and mean
ing of this act, or in anywise aiding or abetiing
therein, shall be severaly rnble to be indicted
therefor, and on conviction thereof, shall be
liable to fine not exceeding two thousand
dollars and be imprisoned not exceeding one
year.
Sec 3. Ind be Il furiher enacted, That if anv
citizen or citizens of the United States sbali
contrary to the true intent and meaning of this
act, take on board Of any vessel, or receive or
transport any such persons hs are above deseri
bed in this act, for the purpose of disposiug Of
them as aloreeaid, he or they shall be liable 10
be inflicted therefor, aud, on conviction thereof
shall he liable to n fine not exceeding two thou
sand dollars aud be imprisoned not exceeding
one year.
Sec 4 And bet FURTHER enacted, That nothing
in this net, hereiubefore contained shall he
deemed or construed to apply to or affect nnv
Tree and voluntary emigration of any Cbinasa
subject or to any vessel carrying such person as
passenger on board the same PrOpiied howtper
That permit or certificate shall be prepared
and signed by the consul or consular agent of
the United States residing at tho port from
which such vessel may take her departure. con
thing the name of such person, and setting forth
the lact of his voluntary emigration from such
port or place, which certificate shall be given ia
The naster Of such vessel; but the sane shnn |
not be given until such consul or consular /
agent shall be first personally satisfied by eyi I
dence produced Of the truth OF the facts therein
contained.
Sec o. And be Il further snacted, That all the
provisions Of the net Of Congress approved Feb
ruaIy tweuty-second eighteen hundred and
torty-seyen. entitled "Au act to regulate The
carriage Of passengers in merchant vessels and
all the provisions OF the act Of Congress approyed
March third, eighteen hundred aud forty-nine
entitled " An act to extend the provisions Of nil
laws now in force relating TO the carriage of
passengers in merchant vessels anu the regula-
ilon thereof" shall be extended nnd shall apply
to all vessels owned in whole or in part BY citi
zens Of the United States. and registered, enrol
led, or licensed within the United States, pro-
PEELED by wind or by steam, and to all masters ]
ihere0f, carrying passengers or Intending Ia
larry passengers from any foreign port or place
without the United States to any other port or
place without the United States and that ali
penalties and forfeitures provided for in said act
shall apply to vessels and masters last a(ore.
aid. =
Sec. c. And be il FURTHER enacted Tint tbe
resident of the United States shall be and he il
hereby authorized and empowered, n such way
md at such time as he shall judge proper to The
nc thal the provisions Of this act may be anfor.
led according to the true intent and meaning !
hereof, to direct and order the vessels of tbe
United States, and the masters and commanders j
hereof to examine oil vessels navigated or owned
u whole or in part by citizens of the United
iates, and registered, enrolled, or licensed
nder tue laws Of the United States, wherever
hey may be, whenever, in the judgment of such |
laster or commanding officer thereof, reason.
Bile cause shall exist to believe that such vessel
as on board, in violation of the provisions Of
his act, any subjects of China known as "coo.
es, for the transportation and upon sufficient :.
roof that such vessel is employed IN VIC alton of
le provisions of this act, to cause such vessel to
carried, with her officers aud crew, into any :,
oit or district within the United States and de. Il
vered to the marshal of such district tu be held h
nd disposed of according to the provisions Of "a
lis act ii
Sec Z. And be il further enacted, Tint this nat IN
lall take effect from and after six months from
e day Of its passage. pt
Approved, February 10. 1862, o
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