, 1870-07-31

built vesaels, have taken ont sca.letsera to satl
iLe vessels they own under the American daS,
and thus to becu1o, TO ceItx4n extent, eoe
protection Of the United States Government.
They arc doiug thus under IN old Law Of the
United States, which provides That whenever
fo1e,gn-built vessel has been purchased aud is
wholly owned by citizens ef tbs United States.
whether purchased Of be1iGereuta or neutFals
luE1ng war to which tho United States are
not party, or in peace, vessels 10 pntchas-
lie authorities and flag of tho United States
al the property Of American citizeus, although
nd register. enrolment, license, or other ma
rine DOCUMENTS prescribed BY tic lsws OF the
tinted States can be lawfully is=uea to such
veFsels. .-..a.-
SEX 70 circunstausta 70 protect their nghts, II
rneleetet OF 9ueationed, the Collector ct tbs
Customs, though foEtidden by 1sw to grant
any marine document or certlhcate Of oenes~
ship, may lawful1y make record Of the bill OF
es1e in bis Office, authenticate its validity IN
fo, n and enbetance, md deliver to tho owner
certlteate to that effect: certifying, also.
that the owner il l. citizen Of the United
| States.
t'Thess facts, thus authenticated it she
transfer 1as in good faith, eDtitlc the vessel
to protection as tie lawful property OF a csti-
| zen Of the Cnited States; and the authen:i..-
ton of the bill Of sale and Of citizenship vii
be primo F1e'e pruof ot such good faith:
/
Of she purchase Of foreign veesel By citizen
| Of the United States, with proof Of citizenship
and OF tie bona ttie character Of the purchase
shall be fasnished to Collector Of the Gus.
toms, ha will. it the proof be satisfactory aud
purchase bc deemed 1s,f, feepsa M se 1i ,' o1 sase
| innl, with certificate end0rsed thereon in tho
II, -, collsesor Of the Customs t9r The
m ,ns 81 sfsts ss4s ee sa IL eps
In It'll If sale, bearing dale Of - o. The =
(here describe the vessel. her tonnage, dcnomtua-
o.. II Id foru md substance yslld mud e.
tec1tye IN law. and has been duly zecort.e In ny
etss and tna. e :, ~. ,,' s,irs !nanns the
-, IN The year ot our Lord IS t. s.J"-
| These sea-letters have before been issued,
Ccst. Secretary OF tho Treasury, under date
Of June .. 1859. expressed the following
| views:
a to the character Of ot!cers anil crews oi
s1ate that tht1s Is 10 law wh.ch requires such YES
seIs t0 te commanded or havlGatGd tr cttlzeuS o1
III. Tinted states n whole o, in rard s To- sS
such vessels would 10 we'll TO assn1ate their yes
scls lar a. practicable, to registered vessels o.
frotn II, whilst It may have the effect Of giving
force to the to.su Fdc character OF the purchase
IN teIy to apcss,lons from collectors ',t e. be a. a.
tincaie that merchandise ahtpped 70 fo1etgn DTS
tnation belongs 10 citizens 0f the Tinted St1tes
have to state that such serttncafe not being Pre-
sc1t. Ell ~ any law Of the D2lted States or J.,
| treaty, the department has no power to d.
| rtct or authorize It's Issue. Shout
the title 10 the merchandise be called II
gutsi.u the owner mus1 rely Tor IT. ytnAicattot
J | utt,n the legal evideBces Of ownership in sucf
rfreHy. ie Of c0utke, is ut liberty t. send Will
his goods ANY documentary evidence OF little IN,
citizenship thst he may deem neces~afy to Jfotcc
his rights But this s EATER left hy law to TIT
| owurFa and shippers themselves, with which tn
+ govetn1nvnt cannot Interfere As to the protec
tion that Will I've anaEslsa ~ Unregistered vessels
. the tsnd fte property Of cttizenS OF the Enitet
J. States during The existing war {1Sao} In Europe,
Il | must necessarily depend upon the circumstance
. varied in character In cases OF this nature, II
u | opinion on that subject can be expected IN a.
q | vance,"
Tic vessels for which eea-lottcrs have thu
far been taken out arc all Of them By one Ge
10 man shipping firm, French, Eyde 4 Co., .
;, William street, aud are as follows.
le The ship Etla nlckmcts. ami tho f,arIs kals
d aE Ssrene+ These ships wcrr destined to sail I.
|e Hamburg and Bremen, hut ase kuT l0a.liny II
Antwerp.
r Tnere Is no doubt that other German hons;
(. Will IAke out these sea-lctefs and tonslterl''
u numlpr Ut fo.cIgn vessels will thus sail un,lcr o.
II | ing IN sr1te Of our laws 10 thr contrary.
j. There arc at present In our port no tes9 III
is ! twcnty-twH German rt&+ess, fnlly Of5!crrs1 al
r.. manned, and rcady 10 sail at she shurtess notice
y We Etye herewith their naMes, tonnage, al
III ! icsttnAieu: ........