Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-03-13
OFFICIAL.
TpuBIlc--NO. 241

PuBLIc-No. "a
AN ACT to prohibit the " coolie trade
by American citizens in American
vessels.
BE 1t enacted Jy the Senate and Hous
Of Representatives. of the United State
of Amerioa IN Congress assembled, Tha
no citizen or citizens of the United
States, or foreigner coming into or re
siding within the same, shall, for him
self or for any other person whatsoev
er, either as master, factor, owner, Of
otherwise, build, equip, load, or other
wise prepare, any ship or vessel, OF
any steamship or steamvessel, regis
tered, enrolled or licensed, in the Uni
ted States, or any port within the
same, for the purpose of procuring
from China, or ftom any port or place
therein, or from any other port o,
place the inhabitants or subjects OF
China, known as coolies" to be
transported to any foreign country
port, or place whatever, to he disposed
of, or sold, or transferred, for any
term of years or for any time whatev'
or, as servants or apprentices, or to
be held to service or labor. And il
any ship or vessel, steamship or steam.
vessel, belonging in whole or in part
to citizens of the United States, and
registered, enrolled, or otherwise H.
censed as aforesaid, shall be employed
for the said purposes. or in the "coolie
trade" so called, or shall be caused to
procure or carry from China or else
where, as aforesaid, any subjects of
the government of China for the pur-
pose of transporting or disposing of
them as aforesaid. every such ship or
vessel, steamship or steam-vessel, her
tackle, apparel, furniture. and other
appurtenances, shall be forfeited to the
United States. 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-vcssel, may be
found, seized, or carried.
SEC. 2. And be IL further enacted, That
every person who shall so build, fit
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, steam
ship or steam-vessel, belonging in
whole or in part to citizens of the
United States, or registered, 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, con-
trary to the true intent and meaning
Of this act, or in anywise aiding or
abetting therein, shall be severally Ii
able to be indicted therefor, and, on
conviction thereof, shall be liable to
a fine not exceeding two thousand dol
lars and be imprisoned not exceeding
one year.
SEC. 3. And be 1t further enacted. That
il any citizen or citizens of the United
States shall, contrary to the true in
tent and meaning Of this act, take on
board Of any vessel, or receive or
transport any such persons as are
above described 10 this act, for the
purpose of disposing of them as afore-
said. he or they shall be liable 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. 4. And be IL further enacted, That
nothing in this act hereinbefore con-
tanned shall he deemed or construed
to apply to or affect any free and vol.
untary emigration of any Chinese sub.
ject, or to any vessel carrying such per.
son as passenger on board the same
Pyoridsd. hO,oerer. That a permit OF
certificate shall be prepared and sign.
ed by the consul or consular agent OF
the United States residing 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 certificate shall
be given to the master of such vessel
but the same shall not be given until
such consul or consular agent shall be
first personally satisfied by evidence
produced Of the truth of the facts
therein contained.
SEC. 5. And be II further enacted, That
all the provisions Of the act of Con
gress approved February twenty-sec
ond. eighteen hundred and forty-seyen
entitled "An act to regulate the carri
age Of passengers in merchant YES
sels," and all the provisions of the act
of Congress approved March third
eighteen hundred and forty-nine, enti
tied IAN act to extend the provision
of all laws now in force relating t6
the carriage Of passengers in mer
chant vessels and the regulation there
Of" shall be extended and shall appl,
to all vessels owned in whole or il
part by citizens Of the United States
and registered, enrolled, or licensed
within the United States. propelled by
wind or by steam, aud to all masters
thereof, carrying passengers or inten
ding to carry passengers from any
foreign port or place without the Uni
ted States to any other foreign port o
place without the United States; an,
that all penalties and forfeitures pro
vided for in said act shall apply I,
vessels and masters last aforesaid.
Sec. 6. And be 1t further enacted, Tha
the President of the United State
shall be aud he is hereby authorize,
and empowered. in such way and a
such time as he shall judge proper I
the end that the provisions of this &C
may be enforced according to the tru
intent and meaning thereof. to direc
aud order the vessels of the Unite
States, andthe masters and commaI
ders thereof, to examine all vessel
8 navigated or owned in whole or j
part by citizens Of the United State,