United States Statutes at Large/Volume 2/12th Congress/2nd Session/Chapter 14
[Obsolete.]
Chap. XIV.—An Act authorizing the admission, under certain circumstances, of vessels owned by citizens of the United States of America, with their cargoes, from British ports beyond the Cape of Good Hope.
Goods imported into the United States from British ports beyond the Cape of Good Hope exempt from fine.
See act of April 14, 1814, ch. 56.
1797, ch. 13.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all cases where goods, wares and merchandise, bona fide the property of a citizen or citizens of the United States, have been imported into the United States from British ports beyond the Cape of Good Hope, for the cargoes of which vessels’ bonds have been required, at the port or place of shipment from, and have been given by the owners, agents, consignees, or supercargoes of such vessels, that the cargoes thereof shall be delivered or landed at some port or place in the United States; and the person or persons interested in such goods, wares or merchandise, or concerned in the importation thereof, have incurred thereby any fine, penalty and forfeiture, or have delivered the same into the possession or custody of the United States, on such person petitioning for relief to any judge or court proper to hear the same, in pursuance of the provisions of the act, entitled “An act to provide for mitigating and remitting the fines, forfeitures and penalties, in certain cases therein mentioned;” and on the facts being shown, on inquiry had by said judge or court, stated and transmitted as by said act is required, to the Secretary of the Treasury;When to be released. in all such cases wherein it shall be proved, to his satisfaction, that said goods, wares and merchandise, at the time of their shipment, were bona fide owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States, and for the landing or delivery of which, at some port or place in the United States, bonds were required and given as aforesaid, the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed to remit all fines, penalties and forfeitures, which may have been incurred in consequence of such shipment, importation or importations, to deliver up possession of the said vessels, goods, wares and merchandise, to the owner or owners thereof, upon the costs and charges that have arisen or may arise being paid, and the duties payable on such goods, wares and merchandise, which would have been payable if they had been legally imported, being paid or secured to be paid according to law, as if the same had been imported and entered at the time of the release thereof; and also to direct the prosecution or prosecutions, if any shall have been instituted for the recovery of such fines, penalties, and forfeitures, to cease and be discontinued:Proviso. Provided, that nothing in this act contained shall extend or be construed to extend to a remission of or exemption from any fine, penalty or forfeiture which has been or may be incurred for a breach of any law or laws of the United States other than such as prohibit the admission into the United States of goods, wares and merchandise, imported as aforesaid.
Approved, January 27, 1813.