268 Perfons ob taining Certificates and taking certain Oaths to become free Citizens. Foreigners &c. to pay no ties &c. than Merchants &c. importing into faid Cities, &c. three Thoufand Pounds fterling in Goods &c. ney, exempt. ed from faculty Affeff ment, &c. Commerce. be entitled to, and receive the fame Protection of Law in their Persons and Properties, which the Citizens of this State are entitled to have and receive. Be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That all Perfons removing to and refiding in either of laid Cities for the Purposes of Commerce, on obtaining Certificates of the Select-men of faid Towns, by Law required for Admiffion of Freemen, and upon their taking the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity to this State, and the Oath by Law to be taken by Freemen, shail to ail Intents and Purpoíes become free Citizens of this State. Be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That Foreigners and Citizens of any of the United States, who thall come into or refide in either of faid Ports or Cities, fhall be holden to pay no other or greater Duties or Taxes, than the Citizens of this State refiding in faid Cities, hall by Law be holden to pay. Be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That any Merchants refiding in faid Cities, or either of them, or Company of Merchants (not confifting of more than three) who fhall establish and keep up merchantile Houses in faid Cities, or either of them, of which Company one at leaft to be a Refident in faid Cities, or one of them, and Foreigners and Subjects of any other the United States, who fhall remove to and refide in either of faid Cities for the Purposes or two Thou- of Commerce, and who shall import annually into faid Ports, or either of them, fand in Mo- from Europe, Afia or Africa, Goods, Wares and Merchandize, the Growth, Produce or Manufacture of faid Countries, to the Amount of Three Thoufand Pounds Sterling, or who fhall bring into faid Cities Two Thousand Pounds in Money, fhall, during the Term they shall fo import, or bring in to the Amount aforefaid, and within the faid Term of feven Years, be exempted from Affefsment for Faculty, for or on account of the Profits arifing on fuch Importation, fo far as the Revenue of this or the United States are interested therein; the The Value of Value of fuch Goods, Wares and Merchandize to be determined by the Entries &c. how af. at the refpective Naval Offices of faid New-London and New-Haven ; at which Office fhall be exhibited at the Time of Entry, the original Invoices of faid Goods, and fuch Invoices fhall be proved by an Examination under Oath of the Importer, or fome other Perfon who purchased the fame; which Oath the faid Naval Officer is hereby impowered to adminifter. And the Amount of the Money imported according to this Act, shall be determined to the Satisfaction of the Lifters of faid Towns respectively. fuch Goods certained. Lifters to be fatisfied as to Money imported. Ships &c. em. ployed in foreign com Be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all Ships and other Veffels within this State, which fhall be employed four Months in one Year in the European, Afiatic or African Commerce, fhall for those Years in which empted from they shall be fo employed, be exempted out of the Lifts, and freed from Taxes in each Year wherein they shall be so employed. merce ex Taxes. Provifo. Further Provifo. Provided nevertheless, That no Perfon who having adhered to the King of Great-Britain, in the Courfe of the late War, and under Pretext of fuch adherence, has been guilty of lawless and unauthorised plundering or Murder, or who has waged War aginft the United American States, contrary to the Laws and Ufages of civilized Nations, shall be entitled to the Privileges and Benefits of this A&. And it is further provided, That nothing in the foregoing A&t shall be conftrued to interfere with, or contradict any Regulations, Orders or Refolutions that have or may be come into by the United States in Con grefs affembled, confonant to the Powers that already are, or hereafter may be invested in them by the refpective States, for the Purpose of regulating Commerce. Provided alfo, That nothing herein fhall be understood to imply a Countenance to, or Allowance of the Slave Trade fo called, on the Afri can Coast or elsewhere. An Act to enable the United States in Congrefs affembled to levy certain Duties and Imp ofts on certain Goods and Merchandizes imported into this State, to be applied in Payment of the Debts of the United States, contracted for fupporting the late War, in Compliance with a Refolution of Congrefs of the Eighteenth of April, 1783. BE thorised to levy an Im poft. Articles enu E it enacted by the Governor, Council, and Representatives, in General Court affembled, and by the Authority of the fame, That the United States in Congreis affembled be, and they are hereby fully authorised and impowered Congrefs auto levy for the Ufe of the United States aforefaid, the following Duties upon Goods imported into this State from any foreign Port, Iland or Plantation not within any of the United States; upon all Rum of Jamaica Proof per Gallon, four Ninetieths of a Dollar; upon all other fpirituous Liquors, three Ninetieths of a Dollar; upon Madeira Wine, twelve Ninetieths of a Dollar, merated with upon all other Wine fix Ninetieths of a Dollar; upon common Bohea Tea per their rates. Pound, fix Ninetieths of a Dollar; upon all other Teas, twenty-four Ninetieths of a Dollar: upon Pepper per pound, three Ninetieths of a Dollar; upon brown Sugar per Pound, one half Ninetieth of Dollar; upon Loaf Sugar, two Niaetieths of a Dollar, upon all other Sugars, one Ninetieth of a Dollar; upon Molaffes, one Ninetieth of a Dollar per Gallon; upon Cocoa and Coffee per Pound, one Ninetieth of a Dollar; and upon all other Goods a Duty of five per Cent. ad Valorem, at the Time and Place of Importation for and during the Term of twenty-five Years. Provided always, and be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the whole of faid Duties fhall be applied to the Discharge of the Intereft and Proviso. Principal of the Debts contracted on the Faith of the United States for fupporting the War, agreeable to the Refolution of the United States in Congrefs of the Sixteenth Day of December laft, in the following Manner, viz. Whenever the Duties aforefaid, with other Funds that may be provided for that Purpose, fhall exceed the Sum requifite for Payment of the annual Intereft of the National Debt contracted as aforefaid, then the Surplus fhall become a finking Fund and be inviolably Appropriated to the Payment of the Principal of the faid Debt, and fhall on no Account be diverted to any other Ule. Provided alfo, That the United States in Congrefs affembled, fhall as foon as the public Debt can be liquidated furnish the State annually with the Amount thereof and the Intereft thereon; and also the Proceeds and Difpofition of the Funds provided for the Redemption thereof, agreeable to the Refolution of Congrefs of the 16th of December 1782. Further pro- . vifo. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That all fuch Rules and Rules for Ordinances as fhall be made by the United States in Congrefs affembled, for collecting, to Levying and Collecting faid Duties not inconfiftent with the Conftitution and be duly obinternal Police of this State, fhall be duly obferved. ferved, 270 Provifo. When to be in Force. State Duties. Provided nevertheless, That the Collectors of faid Duties fhall from Time to Time, as there may be Occafion, be appointed by the General Affembly, or in their Recess, by the Governor and Council of this State; which ColJectors fhall be accountable and amenable to and removable by the United States in Congrefs affembled, who are alfo hereby authorised to appoint foch Collectors in Cafe this State do not appoint them within one Month after Notice received for that Purpose. This Act to commence and be in Force as foon as the United States in Congrefs fhall make and publish an Ordinance for collecting the aforesaid Duties, in confequence of fimilar Acts having been passed by all the other States in the Union.. An Act for levying and collecting a Duty on certain Articles of Goods, Wares and Merchandize imported into this State, by Land of Water. BE it enacted by the Governor, Council, and Reprefentatives, in Gentral Court affembled, and by the Authority of the jame, That from and after the State Duties. twenty third Day of June, One thousand feven hundred and eighty-four, there fhall be paid on the following Articles imported or brought into this State, by Land or Water, from any of the United States of America, the following Duties, viz. On all Wines per Gallon, one Shilling; Brandy per Gallon, eight Pence; Geneva per Gallon, eight Pence; Rum per Gallon, four Pence; Snuff per Pound, fix Pence: Bohea Tea per pound, four Pence; Articles enu- all other India Teas per Pound, two Shillings; Coffee per Pound, two Pence; merated, Chocolate per Pound, two Pence; Loaf Sugar per Pound, three Peuce; with their Brown Sugar per Pound, one Penny; all Malt Liquors not the Manufacture Rates. of the United States per Gallon, one Shilling; and on Writing and Printing Paper per Ream, two Shillings and fix Pence. All other goods, &c. 5 per Cont. Provifo. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That from and after the twenty-third Day of June, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, there shall be paid a Duty of five per Cent. ad Valorem, at the Time and Place of Importation, upon all other Goods, Wares and Merchandize, not before enumerated in this Act, that are not the Growth, Produce or Manu. facture of the United States, that fhall be brought or imported into this State, by Land or Water, from any of the United States. Provided nevertheless, That if any Goods, Wares and Merchandize, by this Paragraph of this A&t liable to pay a Duty of five per Cent. the Property of any Citizen or Citizens of this State folely, and by fuch Citizen or Citizens imported into any other of the United States, from any foreign Port or Place, with a Defign and Intent to be imported into this State, fhall be imported from fuch State into this State; fuch Goods, Wares and Merchandize fhall be exempted from paying the Duty impofed by this Paragraph of this Act, provided the Owner or Owners of fuch Goods fhall make it appear, to the Satisfaction of the Judge of the County Court of that County in this State, into which they fhall be imported, that fuch Goods, Wares and Merchandize, come within the Provifo of this Paragraph of this Act, and fhall procure a Certificate from fuch Judge, that fuch Satisfaction hath been made, and fhall lodge the fame with the Naval-Officer of the Port, if imported by Water, or the Collector of the Town, if imported by Land, into which the faid Goods, Wares and Merchandize are imported, within forty-eight Hours after the fame Method of fhall have been thus imported. And for the more effectually collecting and collecting. fecuring the Duties impofed by this Act. Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That at the Time of entering every Masters of Ship or Veffel of the Burthen of thirty-five Tons or more, fhall be exhibited to fhips, &c. athe Naval Officer, at whofe Office fuch Ship or Veffel is entered, the original bove 35 tons, Invoices of all the Articles contained in the Manifeft, herein after directed to to exhibit inbe exhibited; which Invoices fhall then be by the Oath of the Mafter of fuch voice to the Ship or Veffel, or fome other Perfon, proved to be the original Invoices of fuch naval officer. Articles; and twenty-five per Cent. added to the Prices at which the Articles specified in fuch Invoices are fet, fhall be deemed and taken to be the Value of 25 per cent. fuch Articles at the Time and Place of Importation. And the Oath to be taken by the Perfon proving fuch Invoices, under Oath, fhall be as follows, to wit. You wear by the Name of the ever living God, that the Invoices by you made and exhibited to me are the true original Invoices of the Articles which are therein specified and enumerated; and that the Prices fet to the Articles therein enumerated, are the Prices at which those respective Articles were bona fide bought. So help you God. to be added. Form of the oath. land. &c. to administer oath. And the Master of every Vessel or Boat, under the Burthen of thirty-five Veffels, &c. Tons, or fome other Perfon, fhall at the Time of exhibiting the Manifest here- under in after directed to be exhibited of the Cargo imported in fuch Veffel or Boat, Invoice to be 35 tons. exhibit the original Invoice of the Articles contained in fuch Manifeft, and exhibited. prove the fame in the fame Manner as is before provided in the last preceeding Articles imParagraph. And every Perfon importing any Articles by Land into any Town ported by in this State, fhall in like Manner at the Time of rendering to the proper Collector herein after provided, an Account of the Articles by him thus imported, exhibit and prove by Oath the original Invoice of fuch Articles. And the refpective Naval Officers and Collectors are hereby impowered to Adminifter Naval officer faid Oath'; and if in any of the Cafes aforefaid, the original Invoices fhall not be exhibited and proved, or in Cafe the Naval Officer or Collector to whom exhibited, shall not be fatisfied with the Proof of fuch Invoice, fuch Naval Officer or Collector may at his discretion Nominate and Appoint two difcreet Perfons to determine and afcertain the Value at the Time and Place of Importa- officers to tion of the various Articles contained in the Manifeft, or Account exhibited, appoint apwhich Perfons fhall be by the Naval Officer or Collector appointing them, prifers. fworn well and truly, to apprife fuch Articles at their true and juft Value, at the Time and Place of Importation; and the Coft and Expence attending fuch Coft and exapprifal, fhall be paid by the Mafter or other Perfon exhibiting the Manifeft or pence paid Account herein after directed to be exhibited: And the Apprifers fhall each &c. have for fuch Service at the rate of ten Shillings per Day; and in any Cafe where fuch Apprifers fhall not spend a whole Day in fuch Service, the Naval Apprifers Officer or Collector, by whom they were appointed, fhall determine what pro- Fees. portion of a Day they fhall be paid for, and his Determination in fuch Cafe shall be final, No invoice &c. Naval by the matter fice. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Mafter of Ships &c. 35 every Ship or Veffel, of the Burthen of thirty-five Tons or more, that tons or more fhall after the twenty-third Day of June next, arrive at or come into any to enter at Port, Harbour, River or Creek in this State, fhall within twenty-four the naval ofHours after his thus arriving, duly enter his Ship or Veffel, at the Naval Office of the Port in which he arrives, and fhall under Oath exhibit to fuch Naval Officer, a true and perfect Manifeft in Writing, fubfcribed Exhibit a maby him, of every Article of Goods, Wares and Merchandize, import- oath. nifeft under ed or brought into this State on board fuch Ship or Veffel, as well of the Cargo and Lading of fuch Ship and Veffel as the Baggage of Paffengers. And the Form of the Oath to be taken by such Mafter relative to fuch Manifeft, fhall be as follows: You fear by the Name of the ever-living God, that the Manifeft by you now Form of the exhibited, contains a true and perfect Account of all the Goods, Wares and Oath. Merchandize taken on board your Ship or Keffel, and imported by you in ber from the Ports or Port from whence your Ship or Vessel came; and that the Bulk of your Veel hath not been broken, nor any Article whatever been unloaded therefrom, according to your best Knowledge and Belief. So help you Veffels un to exhibit Manifeft. God. And be it further euated by the Authority aforefaid, That the Mafter of every Veffel or Boat, under the Burthen of thirty-five Tons, coming into any Port, Harbour, River or Creek in this State, from any Place out of the State, der 35 Tons, fhall within twenty-four Hours after arriving in any fuch Port, Harbour, River or Creek, make and under Oath exhibit a true and perfect Manifest of every Article of Goods, Wares and Merchandize, imported or brought into this State on board fuch Veffel or Boat, as well of the Cargo and Lading of fuch Veifel or Boat, as of the Baggage of Paffengers, to the Naval Officer or Duties how Collector refident in the Town in which fuch Veffel or Boat arrives, the Form and by whom of which Oath shall be the fame, mutatis mutandis, as the Oath herein before paid. in the next preceeding Paragraph provided; and the Naval Officers and Collectors are hereby refpectively impowered to adminifter fuch Oath; and the Malter of every Ship or Veffel of the Burthen of thirty-five Tons and upwards, and the Mafter of every Ship, Veffel or Boat, or fome other Perfon in their behalf shall at the Time of exhibiting the Manifeft, by this Act required, pay to the Naval Officer or Collector to whom fuch Manifeft is exhibited, the Duties by this A&t payable on the Articles contained in fuch Manifeft, or in Cafe the whole Amount of fuch Duties exceeds the Sum of four Pounds lawful Money, give Bonds with two fufficient Sureties to fuch Naval Officers or Collector, in double the Sum of fuch Duties, that the faid Duties, with the Intereft thereof, fhall be paid within one Month from the Date of fuch Bond. And every Ship, Veffel or Boat, in which any article of Goods, Wares and Merchandize fhall be imported into this State, and of which a due and proper Entry fhall not be made at a proper Naval Office, according to the Requirements of this Act, or of the Cargo of which a true and perfect Manifest shall not be exhibited, according to the Requirements and Provifions of this Act, and the Duties due on fuch Articles be paid or fecured to be paid, as is herein before directed, or out of which shall be unladen or taken by any Person whatever, any Article of Goods, Wares and Merchandize, before the Meafures and Procedure directed by this A&t have been perfectly complied with, fhall with its Tackle, Apparel, Furniture and Cargo, whether on board or unladen, be forfeited as lawful Prize, and be liable to be feized, libelled and condemned, by and to any Perfon whatever, in manner hereinafter directed; the one Moiety whereof after deducting the Cost of Prosecution, shall be to the use of the Perfon feizing, libelling, and profecuting the fame to final condemnation, if a private Perfon, and the other Moiety to the Treasurer of this State, to and for the ufe of this State; but if the Perfon feizing, libelling and profecuting, be a Naval Officer of this State, or a Collector appointed according to this Act, or an informing Officer, one fifth part thereof fhall, after deducting the Coft of Profecution, be to the use of the Naval Officer, Collector, or Informing Officer, fo feizing, libelling and profecuting and four fifths thereof to the Treafurer of this State, to and for the use of this State. And all Naval Officers, Ships, &c. not entered, Manifeft not exhibited, &c. to be forfeited. Forfeitures ed of. |