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1 35TH0 CNORWS, , [ToaccompanyBillS.( )108.]TheCommitteeofClaim8, ,report:Theclaimantsinthiscasearetheoffi cersandcrewoftheUnitedStatesschooner1"On -ka-hy-e."Onthe24tbofJanuary,1848,thethe "On-ka-hy-e"capturedthebarque"Lurens,'al legedtobethenengagedintheslavetrade,andb roughtherintotheportofNewYoA, 'foundonoardthe"Laurens"the'sumof$18,992 inspecie,whichwas:takenpossessionofbythe UnitedStatesmarshalinobediencetotheproce ssofthecourt,Aandwhichhewassubse-quently orderedtopayintotheregistryofthecourt, ,themoney,whichhadcomeintohi'shandsinhis offloialcapality:, ,actsofOonqrissandproceedingsinthecourts ,to'whichthey'refer,"thmoneyisinthetreas ury,""foritbasbeensoadjudged,-'andallpar tiesarecon-cludedwbthatjudgment."They,sa y:"ItseemshohavebeensUp-posedtbatthiswas antattempttochargetheUnitedStatesonaccou ntofthedefaloationofthemarshal; 'defaultoftheirofflceirandagentthemnarsh al,asadefencetotheclaim"'"Th6ejudgmentof thedistrictcourtsettlesthatthesuMof$20,6 6469is'ilthetreauryforthepurposeofdistri btion,"andthat"'itistheSeretaryoftheNavw ifoistodirectthedistributionofthemoney,a ndnotthedis-trictcourt.

2 "It;istherefore:adjudgedthattheclaimants areentitledbylawtorecoverthemoney.^:..Ju dgeBLiaFORD dissentA.'sHisopinionis,ithatthedecofthe districtcourtdoesriotsanctiontheopiniont hatthemoneywichwascoAvert4dbythemarshalt dhisownuse:ouhttobe0coi1sdere4tobeintthe treasuryoftheUnitedStatesfordistribution ; :orderthatthebalancerealizedfromthesaleo fthevessel,andactuallypaidintotheregistr yofthecourtshIouldbepaidintothetreasuryo ftheUnitedStatesfordistribution,andthatt hegovernmentisnotliablebforanypartofthem oneywhich,owingtothemarshal'sdefaleation ,neverreachedtheregistryofthecourtorthet reasuryoftheUnitedStates,Hesays:"Ifthego vern-mentisiliableforthat-:largegsum,Iem bezzledbythemarshal,ltisbe-causethereisa n-obligationonthepartofthegovernmenttosa veallpersons,harmlessagainsttheofficialm isconductofitsministerialofficers.

3 " "the$20,664-69isin"thetreasuryofthe[Unit edStates]forthepurposeofdistribution,"th entheactof1849(9 Stat.,378)providesthat"suchpartsthereofa smaybelongtotheofficersandcrewsofthevess elsofthenavy,shallbepaidtothemunderthedi rectionoftheSecretaryottheNavy,"andnofur therlegislationisnecessaryBut,inpointoff act,itisadmittedthatthemoneynevercamIein tothetreasury,andthereforethestateoffact s~hadnotarisenwhichem-poweredtheSecretar yoftheNavytodirectitspayment,orwhichenti tledtheclaimantstodemandit,underthelaw.: Theactdoesnotdeclarethatallvesselslibele dandadjudgedtobelawfulprize,orwhichare,i nfact,lawfulprizeunderthelaw,shallbepaid fortothecaptorsoutofthetreasuryuntilthey haveacquiredtherighttosuchpaymentbyfirst causingthemoneytobepaidintolhetreasury, ,toreceiveanddistributeSuchmoneySeas8hal l,bydueprocessoflaw,be'placedinitshandsf orthatspeicpu' ,anjditswholeaction,sof'arasthereceiptan ddistribu-tlonisconeerned,isagratuitous; serviceforthebenefitofthecaptors:Thewhol eproceedibgs:therefore,fromtheseizureoft bevesseluntilits:proceedsreachthetreasur y, :invokethepowerandtoemploythetribupalsan dO!

4 LcersoftheUnitedStatestosecurethelprivat erghtwhichtheymAyacquiretotheproperty,.b utthe' 'fail,afterthe'seizure,tobringtheprizesa felytoprtortheybmayfail,by'amistakenorer roneousde-ciion'ofthecourt,toobtain,a,de creeofcondemnation;ortheymayfail,by,some .,mistakieor:'lach~ ;:theclerk:ormarshal,orbyomenegligenceon theirown:part, ~ypaidintothetreasury,;;andimeitherevett hecasehasnotariseIwhichwouldauthorizethe Seretaryfth' ,orwhiche~nttlesthem' ,moneyycan;belawfllytpaionitofthr:.t~rea stury:withouta~nappropriationsmade;bacto fCongress,andXtbeXaetonlyanlthorizespaym ents^of'thischaracteroutof'theoneys,aris ingfrom' ' ,moneywrsneveraistallypaidntoethbtreasur y,andthatthereforetherewerenofundsiathet re-sntiatheopinionert,byrsBlapfiord, " ' :aretheofficersandcrewoftheschoonerOn-ka -hy'e,acommissionedvesseloftheUnitedStat esof'America,belongingtothe-navy-Thistsc hooner,inJanuary,1848,captured,onthebhIg hseas,thebarqueLawrence, ,1848,thesaidbarquewasbroughtintotheport ofNewYork,bythecaptors,foradjudication,s hehavingonboardeighteenthousandninehundr ed:andninety-twodollarsinspecieAfterward s,onthe15thof-aidmonthofMarch,alibelwasf iledinthedistrictcourtoftheUnitedStatesf orthesoutherndistrictofNewYorlk,by:thedi strictattorney, ,theusual.

5 Processwasissuedcoimmand-ingtheOmarshal( ElyMoor)"toattachtheOsaidbarque,hertackl e,guns,goods,andeffects,foundon-boardthe reof,andspecie,andtodetainthesameinhiscu lstodyuntilthefurtherorderofthecourt,"& ,themarshal,:(Moore,)inobediencetosaidpr ocess,attachedsaidbarque,"hertackle?&c., andLthegood8andeffectsfou-ndon-boardther eof,thereindescribed."Onthe21stof"April, 1849,thecourtorderedthesaid:marshal(Moor e),tcpaysaidspecie,beingabouttwentythous anddollars,intotheregistryofthecourt,Ont he25thofthesamemonthofApril,thecourtorde redthatsaidmarshal(Moore)payintothecourt eighteenthousandninehun-dredandtninety-t wodollars,bei"gtheamountofsaidspeoie,ono rbeorethe1 , ::marshal,topaysaidmoneyintocourt, :May,1849,thesaidmoneynothavingbeenpaidi ntotheregistry;the'courtorderedanattachm enttoissueagainstsaidmarshal,(Moore,)ret urnableforthwith-and'onthenexttdayanat-t achinentwaualsoorderedagainstthesaiddepu tymarshal,arousanswerstothelibelwerefile d,andseveraldepositiobnThesaiddistrictoo urt,onithe8dofJuly,1849, 'decree:"Itisconsideredbythecourt,thatth esaidbarqueLawrenceatthetimeofherarrstat dcapture,assetforhin:thepleadings,`beiga vesselbelongingqttheUnitedstates, ,towit;fromthewesterncoastofAfricatoBraz il,withintheintentandmeaningoftheattofCo ngrosBap-provedMay10,1800, ,itisordered,adjudged,and'decreedbytheco urt,thatthesaidbarqueLawrence,hertackle, furniture,appurtenances,andthegoods,prop -erty0,~and::effects,foundladenonboard-h er,becondemnedandfor-feitedltotheuseofth eUnitedStates,thelibellantsinthiscause,p ur-suanttotlep)rovisionsofthe- ,esq.

6 ,proctorforthelibellants,itisorderedthat theclerkofthiscourtissueavenditioniexpon a8againstthesaidbarqueLawrence,hertackle ,apparel,and'furniture,andthegoods,prope rty,andeffects,foundladenonboard,andretu rnableonthefirstTuesdayofAugustnext."The followingreturnwasafterwardsmadetothesai dwrit:"Inobediencetotheaboveprecept,Ihav esoldtheabovenamedvesselandcargo,andsuch saleamountstofourthousandsevenhun-dredan dtwentydollarsandsevencents;whichsumIhav epaidtotheclerkofthiscourt,asIamabovecom manded."Datedthis8thdayofNovember, , ,"Petitionsofpart:ofthecrewofthecapturin gvesselhavingbeenfiled,thecourt,onthe8th ofJanuary,1851,madethefollowingorder:"Up onthefilingofthepetitionofinterventionof 'JohnH,Wil-kinsandothers,captorsofthebar queLawrence,&c.,(againstwhichafinaldecre eofcondemnationhasbeenmadehereiD,)prayin gforadecreeofdistributionofthecondemnedp ropertyanditsproceeds,accordingtolaw:Iti sorderedthattheusualmonitiondois6s;andit isfurtherorderedthatacommdiasiondoissueh erein,undertheealofthiscourt,directedtoS mithBarker,esq.

7 ,counselloratlaw,ofthecityofNewYork, :reasonablediligencetotake,thetestimonyh erein,conformablytotherulesofthis'ourt,' forthepurposeofascertainingthereamountsu bjecttodistribution,thepersonentitledasd istilbuteei,andtheseveralsumsto:whichthe yarerespectivelyentitled;andreturnthesam eintocourt,togetherwithhisreporttheron,o norbeforethereturndayofthemonition,':InM ay,1851,thefollowingreportofthesaidprize commissionerwasfiled:i;"0:ReportofSmithB arker,theprizecommissioner,appointedhere in.;"To$ ,4jgeofthedistrictcourtoftheUaid8tatesfo rthegsoutherndilti"ofNwYr"'^ ,priommissner,dulyapponedhereinbyorderof thecourt,respectfullyrepresents:" ,hehasproceededltotaketestimonyconcernin gthesubject,mattertohimreferredandthesai dtestimonyisdulyreturned!intocourt,accom panyingthisreportthereon."Afinaldecreeco ndemnationhavingbeenpronouncedhereinbyth ecourtagainstthrthequestionsremainingfor determinationae:'howshallthecapturedandc ondemnnepropertyoritsproceededivided?

8 AndtowhomshallitbepaidaslawfuldistIbutee ?andinwhatproportions1?'"Andfirst,howsha llthecondemnedpropertyoritsproceedsbedis tributed?"Thetestimonyclearlyestablishes ;thefactofthelsuperiorityofthecapturingf orcebothinmenandarms;,and,therefore,were thisaprizeofwar,underthenavallawsoftheUn itedStates,thecapturenotresultingfromanv extraordinaryhazard,orfromteexerciseofan ygreatorunusualskillorbravery,therewould benodoubtthattheprize,oritsproceeds,woul dbesubjecttodivisionanddistribti-ition,i n-equalproportions, ,foundviolatingthelawsoftheUnited:States whichprohibittheslavetrade,andaveryserio usquestionhasarisenwhether,'undertheterm sof'thatlaw,thecaptorsarenotentitledtoth eentirepro-ceedsoftheprize."IiftheaAtofM ay10,1800,whichisentitled'Anactinadditio ntotheactentitledanacttoprohibitthecarry ingonthe:slavetradefromtheUnitedStates-t oanyforeignplaceorcountry,'weretheonlyla wrof'theUnitedStatesunderwhichthisforfei turehasbeenincurreditmightperhapsbediffi cult'toescape-theconclusionthatthecaptor swouldbeentitledtotheentireproceedsofthe capture;and&stillmoredifficultwoulditbet oavoidthirs:result,wereitnotnecessaryint heseproceedingsto,oresortto,andbegoverne d-by,theprovisionsofthegenerallawofApril 23,1800,entitledAnactforthebettergovern- mentofithenavyoftheUnitedStates.

9 '"Bythefourthsectionoftheactof'May10,180 0,itiisprovided!,'thatitshallandmaybelaw fulforanyofthecommissionedvesselsoftheUn itedStatestvseieandtakeanyvesselemployed incarryingontradebusineso,ortraffic, ,andiOuohvesseltogetherwithhertackle,iap parel,andguns,andthegoodandeffectsothert hanslaves)whichshallbe'oundonboard,shall beforfeited,andmaybeproceededagainstinia yofbthedistrictorcircuitcourtseAndshallb eoodemnedforthMeuseoftheWojersanroeu-oth eveelmakithe$eizWre,'qhandbedividedinthe proportiondiretedldinthecaseofprie,'aNow ,itfmay-eryfrlybecontended,that'thedivio herespokenofisadivisionamongthe'officers andcrewofthevesselmakingtheseoizure,' ,butratheritisstrengtheied,by'the'provis ionofthe:eethactionoftheact,which/readsa sfollos:'Thattheforfeit;"whichhall;herea ftrbeincurrediinderitisact,orthJsaidaott i"which'thiisisSnaddition,:notothesedo,s hallaccrueandEbe,oneino;etytheretftotheu seofthei1'ormee,adthe5 " :oftheUnitedStates,exceptwherethe-prose- cutioshallbefirstinstitutedonLbehalfofth eUnitedSttes,eiwhichcasethewholeshallFbe to6theiruse.

10 'Nowthelst,2d,and3dsec-tions'0oftheactpr ovidefordistinctcasesofpenaltiesandforfe itures,tobincurredbycitizenshavinganinte restinvesselseMployedintheslave:trade,by citizensservingonboardanyvesseloftheUnit e~dStatesfeml)Ioyedinthealavetrade, 'tointheseventhtsectioras'nototherwisedi sposedof:'first,becausefortheirrecoveryt hemediationofaninformerissupposed;andsec ond,becauseinthesectionsimposingtheforfe ituresthere:arenoprlovisionsfortheirdisp osition."Theforfitureimposedbythefourths ection,'underwhichtheprizein:thiscasewas takenandtheDcondemnationhad,cannotbeallu dedtoirntheeseventhsection:first,because itisnotsuchaforfeitureasisestablishedbyt he-:aidof:aninformer;andsecondbecause:th edispositionofthatforfeitureisotherwuean despeciallyprovidedl'rinthesectionmiposi ngit,viz:theproperty'shallbecon(Jernnedf ortheiueot:theofmfcersandcrewmakingthese izuree'"Itisthereforeapparentthatifthepr ovisionsofthisactaloneweretobeconsulted0 onthequestionofdistribution, ,itisnecessarytoresorttotheprovisionsoft he'generalact'forthebettergovernmentofth enavyof'theUnitedStates,'passedApril23,0 1800;andherewefindinthefifthsectionoftha t-actthefollowingsweeming:provision::'Th atthe,proceedsof.