Nebraska advertiser., 1862-04-10
OFFICIAL.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Passed at the Second Session Of the Zaiyty-
Seventh Congress.
TPUBbrc No. 24.1

PUBLIC NO. "a.
AN ACT to prohibit the ''coolie trade" by
American citizens in American vessels.
Be it enacted BIZ the Senate and House of Rep
reseatatives of the United States Of Anper'ca ia
Congress assembled, That no citizen or citizens
of the United States, or foreigner coming into
or residing within the same, shall, for himself
or for any other person whatsoeveE, either as
master, factor, owner, or otherwise, build,
equip, load, or otherwise prepare, any ship or
vessel, or any steamship or steamvessel, reg
istered, enrolled, or licensed, in the United
States, or any port within the 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 transfer red, for any
term of years or for any time whatever, as
servants or apprentices, or to be held to SER
vice or labor. And if any ship or vessel,
steamship or steam-vessel, belonging in wbcle
or in part to citizens of the United States, and
registered, enrolled, or otherwise licensed as
aforesaid, shall be employed for the said pur
poses, or in the ''coolie trade, E" so called, or
shall be caused to procure or carry from China
or elsewhere, as aforesaid, any subjects Of the
Government of China for the purpose of trans
porting or ~disposing of them as aforesaid
every such ship or vessel, steamship OF steam-
vessel, her tackle, apparel, furniture, and other
appurtenances, shall be forfeited to the United
States, and shall be liable to be seized, pros :
ecuted, aud 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 steamyessel, may be found,
seized, or carried.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted. That
every person who shall so build, TT out, equip
load or otherwise prepare, or who shall send
to sea, or navigate, as owner, master, factor,
agent or otherwise, any ship or vessel, ateam-
ship or steam-vessel, belonging In whole or in
part to citizens Of the United States, or regis
tered, enrolled, or licensed within the same
or at any port thereof, knowing or intending
that the same shall be employed in that trade
or business aforesaid, contrary to the true in
tent and meaning of this act, or in anvwise
aiding or abetting therein, shall be s~everallv
liable to be indicted therefor, and, Oh convic-
ton thereof, shall be liable to a fine net ex-
ceeding two thousand dollars and be imprison-
ed not exceeding one year.
See. 3. And be it further enacted, That ii
any citizen or citizens of the United States
shall, contrary to the true intent and meaning
Of this act, take on board of any vessel, O
receive or transport any such persons as arr
above described in this act, for the purpose O
disposing of them as aforesaid, lie or they
shall be liable TO be indicted Thereon, and. OF
conviction thereof. shall be liable to a fine no
exceeding two thousand dollars and be i'm,
prisoned not exceeding one year.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, Tha
nothing in this act ~here.nbofore contained shall
be deemed or construed to apply 70 or sfec