Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 2.djvu/218



. And be it further enacted, That from and after the passing of this act, no duty shall be demanded or collected on merchandise of the growth, produce or manufacture of the United States, or of any foreign country, transported coastwise between the Atlantic ports of the United States, and the districts of the United States on the river Mississippi, or any of its branches, although landed at the port of New Orleans, on its passage; provided the same would not be subject to duty, or liable to seizure, if transported from one district of the United States, on the sea-coast, to another: And provided likewise, that no debenture for a drawback shall have been issued upon the export of such merchandise from the Atlantic ports of the United States to any foreign port or place; and to the end as well that frauds on the revenue may be prevented, as that the coasting vessels of the United States may be permitted to participate in the said trade, the Secretary of the Treasury, with the approbation of the President, is hereby authorized to prescribe and establish such forms and regulations, and the same from time to time, with like approbation, to alter and amend, for the government of the officers of the customs in this respect, as he may think proper and necessary; on the observance of which, merchandise thus transported shall be exempted from duty; and it shall be lawful for the coasting vessels of the United States to be employed in the said trade, and not otherwise.

. And whereas, it is provided by the hundred and fourth section of the, that merchandise belonging to British subjects may be brought (without regard to the character of the vessel importing the same) into the ports of the United States on the northern and northwestern frontiers, subject to no higher or other duties than are or shall be payable by the citizens of the United States, on the importation of the same in American vessels into the Atlantic ports of the United States, and it being just and reasonable that the same privilege should be extended to vessels and merchandise belonging to persons residing at New Orleans, and other ports of Louisiana and Florida, on the Mississippi, or any of its branches: Be it further enacted, that from and after the last day of June next, all goods and merchandise, the importation of which into the United States shall not be wholly prohibited, shall and may freely, for the purposes of commerce, be brought into the ports of the United States on the Mississippi, or any of its branches, in vessels belonging to New Orleans, or any other port of Louisiana or Florida, on the Mississippi; and such goods or merchandise shall be subject to no higher or other duties than are, or shall be payable by the citizens of the United States, on the importation of the same in American vessels into the Atlantic ports of the United States.

. And be it further enacted, That from and after the last day of June next, no duty on the tonnage of any boat, flat, raft, or other vessel, shall be demanded, or collected on the arrival or entry of such boat, flat, or raft, or other vessel, in any district which is or may be established on the Mississippi, or any of its branches, and on the northern and northwestern boundaries of the United States: Provided nevertheless, that this exemption shall not be construed to extend to any vessel above fifty tons burthen, and which shall not be wholly employed in carrying on inland trade between the ports of the United States on the Mississippi, and its branches, and the ports of Louisiana and Florida, on the same, including New Orleans, and between the ports of the northern and northwestern boundaries of the United States and the British provinces of Upper and Lower Canada.

. And be it further enacted, That all that part of the act, intituled “,” passed on the second day of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, that directs that the collector of the district of Georgetown shall reside at Georgetown, be, and is hereby repealed.

, May 1, 1802.