TWENTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 98, 99. 1831.
487
Chap. XCVIII.— An Act to regulate the foreign and coasting trade on the northern,north-eastern, and north-western frontiers of the United States , and for otherpurposes, (a)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the UnitedStates of America, in Congress assembled, That, from, and after the firstday of April next, no custom-house fees shall be levied or collected onany raft, flat, boat, or vessel, of the United States , entering otherwisethan by sea, at any port of the United States on the rivers and lakes onour northern, north-eastern, and north-western frontiers.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the first day ofApril next, the same and no higher tonnage duties and custom-housecharges of any kind shall be levied and collected on any British colonialraft, flat, boat, or vessel, entering otherwise than by sea at any port of theUnited States on the rivers and lakes on our northern, north-eastern andnorth-western frontiers, than may be levied and collected on any raft, flat,boat, or vessel, entering otherwise than by sea at any of the ports of theBritish possessions on our northern, north-eastern and north-western fron-tiers : and that, from and after the first day of April next, no higher dis-criminating duty shall be levied or collected on merchandise importedinto the United States in the ports aforesaid, and otherwise than by sea,than may be levied and collected on merchandise when imported in likemanner otherwise than by sea, into the British possessions on ournorthern, north-eastern and north-western frontiers from the United States .
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the passage ofthis act, any boat, sloop, or other vessel, of the United States , navigatingthe waters on our northern, north-eastern and north-western frontiers,otherwise than by sea, shall be enrolled and licensed in such form asmay be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury; which enrolmentand license shall authorize any such boat, sloop, or other vessel, to beemployed either in the coasting or foreign trade; and no certificate ofregistry shall be required for vessels so employed on said frontiers; Pro-vided, That such boat, sloop, or vessel, shall be in every other respectliable to the rules, regulations, and penalties, now in force, relating toregistered vessels on our northern, north-eastern and north-western fron-tiers.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That in lieu of the fees, emolu-ments, salary, and commissions, now allowed by law to any collector orsurveyor of any district on our northern, north-eastern and north-westernlakes and rivers, each collector or surveyor, as aforesaid, shall receive,annually, in full compensation for these services, an amount equal to theentire compensation received by such officer during the past year.Approved, March 2, 1831.
Chap. XCIX .—An Act declaratory of the law concerning contempts of court. (V)
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the UnitedStates of America, in Congress assembled, That the power of the several
Proviso.
Compensationto collector.
(a) See notes of the acts relating to the coasting trade, vol. iii. p. 492.
(b) The decisions of the courts of the United States on the law applicable to contempts ofcourts are,
The courts of the United States have no common lawjurisdiction of crimes against the United States.But, independent of statutes, the courts of the United States have power to fine for contempts, and im-prison for contumacy, and to enforce obedience to their orders, &c. The United States v. Hudson etal., 7 Cranch, 32; 2 Cond. Hep. 405.
The Supreme Court will not grant a habeas corpus, to bring before it the body of a person confinedfor a contempt of a circuit court of the United States . Nor, in such a case, will the court inquire intothe cause of the commitment of such person. Ex parte Kearney, 7 Wheat. 38 ; 5 Cond. Rep. 225.
Where a court commits a person for a contempt, their adjudication is a conviction; and their com-mitment, in consequence, is execution. Ibid.