Naval Offices in this Commonwealth, shall be repealed and made null and void. Provided nevertheless, That for any forfeiture incurred Proviso. by a violation of any of the said laws, before the first day of September next, a prosecution may be commenced or pursued, and judgment thereon given after that time; any thing in the foregoing act to the contrary notwithstanding. July 1, 1784. 1784.- Chapter 15. [May Session, ch. 15.] AN ACT VESTING CERTAIN POWERS IN CONGRESS. Chap. 15 Whereas the United States in Congress assembled, did, Preamble. by their resolutions of April the thirtieth, 1784, recommend to the Legislatures of the several States, to vest the said United States with certain powers for a time limited, for the purpose of restraining foreign commerce not founded on principles of equality." And whereas it appears greatly beneficial to the commerce of the said States, that the said recommendations be complied with: scribed. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the said United States in Congress as- Powers desembled, be, and they hereby are vested with full power for the term of fifteen years, to prohibit any goods, wares, or merchandize from being imported into, or exported from any of the said United States, in vessels belonging to, or navigated by the subjects of any power with whom the said States shall not have formed treaties of commerce. Be it further enacted, That the said United States be, Powers for proand hereby are vested with full power, for the said term subjects from of fifteen years, of prohibiting the subjects of any foreign goods, &c. State, Kingdom, or Empire, unless authorized by treaty, from importing into the said United States, any goods, wares, or merchandize which are not the produce or manufacture of the dominions of the Sovereign whose subjects they are. Provided, That to all acts of the said Proviso. United States in pursuance of the above powers the assent of nine States shall be necessary. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That this act shall not be in force until each and every of the United States shall have passed laws vesting Congress with the same powers. July 1, 1784. hibiting foreign importing Chap. Preamble. 16 AN ACT FOR OBTAINING A JUST AND ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF Assessors to transmit to the Secretary's of fice, an account of land &c in towns. Whereas the United States in Congress assembled, did, on the 17th day of February last past, resolve in the words following, that is to say, "That the Legislature of each State be, and they are hereby required, to take such measures as shall appear to them most effectual for obtaining a just and accurate account of the quantity of land in such State, granted to or surveyed for any person, the number of buildings thereon, distinguishing dwelling houses from other buildings, and the number of its inhabitants, distinguishing white from black;" which account by the said resolve is required to be transmitted and delivered to Congress: To carry which resolve into effect within this Commonwealth. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the Assessors of the several towns, districts and plantations in this Commonwealth, on or before the first day of November next, shall transmit to the office of their respective the Secretary of this Commonwealth, a just and accurate account of the quantity of land in their respective towns, districts and plantations, granted to or surveyed for any person, the number of buildings thereon, distinguishing dwelling houses from other buildings; and the number of inhabitants of all ages and sexes, distinguishing white from black, which were within the same on the first day of September, one thousand seven hundred and eighty three; and if there is not, or shall not be Assessors duly chosen or appointed, and sworn according to law, in any of the plantations within this Commonwealth, to perform the above business seasonably, then it shall be, and it is hereby made the duty of the Assessors of the senior adjacent or nearest town thereto, to perform the business in the said plantation or plantations, with respect to the number of buildings and the number of inhabitants, in the same manner and form as if they were in the town where the Assessors belong; and they shall transmit a separate list thereof, with the name of the plantation thereto affixed and signed by themselves, to the Secretary's office by the time aforesaid; and the Secretary is hereby directed to add to the said list, the number of acres contained in the grant of the said plantation; and the several Assessors Assessors pay. employed as aforesaid, shall be allowed and paid by their several towns, districts or plantations, the sum of four shillings by the day, for their services, except such as the Assessors of any town may in pursuance of this act, perform for any plantation; and for the services which the Assessors of any town may perform for any plantation as aforesaid, they shall be severally allowed and paid out of the treasury of this Commonwealth, at the rate of six shillings per day. sworn. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said Assessors before they proceed to the per- Assessors to be formance of the duty hereby enjoined on them, shall before some Justice of the Peace in the counties to which they respectively belong, take the following oath, to wit. You A. B. do solemnly swear, that you will faithfully Oath. and impartially perform and execute the duties enjoined on you, by an act of the General Court, entitled, "An act for obtaining a just and accurate account of the quantity of land within this Commonwealth, granted to or surveyed for any person, the number of buildings thereon, and of its inhabitants, pursuant to a resolve of Congress, passed the seventeenth of February, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three." So help you GOD. liver certificate Assessors de shall transmit fice, with the And the Justices of the Peace respectively before whom Justices to desuch oath shall be taken, shall make certificate thereof, thereof to the which by them shall be delivered to the Assessors depos- posing, who ing, and they shall transmit the same to the Secretary's hame to the office, with the account aforesaid; and any Assessor who Secretary's of shall refuse or neglect to comply with the duties hereby account aforeenjoined, shall forfeit and pay the sum of thirty pounds, Assessors to be recovered by the Attorney General in any Court neglecting. proper to try the same, who is hereby empowered and directed to commence a prosecution for the same, as soon as he shall receive official information of such refusal or neglect; and the Secretary is hereby directed on the Secretary said. Penalty. directed. Assessors to warn the inhab. an account of land, &c. second day of November next, to transmit to the Attorney General a list of such towns; districts and plantations, from which no such account as is herein before required shall have been received; and the Treasurer is directed upon the application of the Attorney General, to furnish him so far as may be in the power of the Treasurer, with the names of such towns, districts and plantations, as he shall request. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Assessors of each town, district and plantation within itants to bring in this Commonwealth, in a convenient time before the said first day of November, shall give warning to the inhabitants in such town, district or plantation, in some public meeting, or in such other way as they shall judge expedient, to make and bring in to the Assessors at such time and place as they shall direct, a true account of the number of acres of land within the said town, district or plantation, also the number of buildings thereon, distinguishing dwelling houses from other buildings; together with the number of persons in their respective families which were within the said town, district or plantation, distinguishing white from black, on the said first day of September, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three; and if the Assessors shall suspect falsehood in any such account, then they shall require the person presenting the same, to make oath to the truth thereof, which oath may be administered by the Assessors, or any one of them; and if any inhabitant shall neglect to make return as aforesaid, the Assessors shall doom such inhabitant according to their best skill and judgment; and the Assessors are farther directed to add to the return of the land and buildings belonging to the inhabitants of their several towns, districts and plantations, the quantity of land, and number of buildings within the same, (distinguishing therein as aforesaid) belonging to persons who are not inhabitants. thereof. Persons neglecting, to be doomed. Secretary to make out an account of lands not within the Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Secretary be, and he is hereby directed, to make out a just and accurate account of all lands lying within this Commonwealth, granted to, or surveyed for any person, are appointed. and not being within the limits of any town, district or plantation where Assessors are appointed. limits of towns where assessors July 2, 1784. 1784.- Chapter 17. [May Session, ch. 17.] AN ACT GRANTING TO SIMON WILLARD, THE EXCLUSIVE Chap. 17 PRIVILEGE OF MAKING AND VENDING CLOCK JACKS FOR FIVE YEARS. Whereas it appears that it will be productive of great Preamble. national advantages that every reasonable encouragement should be given to arts, science, useful inventions, and improvements. And whereas Simon Willard of Roxbury, hath by study and application, invented a clock jack, with a compleat apparatus, which appears well calculated to answer the end designed, and hath petitioned this Court for an exclusive patent for making and vending the same: Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That there be granted unto the said Exclusive right. Simon Willard, the sole and exclusive right to make and sell his said clock jacks, within this Commonwealth for and during the term of five years next ensuing. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That no person shall, from and after the passing of this No person to act, and during the said term of five years, make, sell, or utter clock jacks in imitation of those invented by the said Willard, without his licence and approbation. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, sell clock jacks without licence. That if any person shall, from and after the passing Persons prethis act, and during the said term of five years, make, suming. sell, or utter clock jacks as aforesaid, he, she, or they so offending, shall, for every such offence, forfeit and Penalty. same. Provided always, and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said jacks, shall at no period during Price not to exthe said term of five years, be sold by the said Willard ceed £.3. for a greater sum than three pounds, and the said exclusive right granted in manner as aforesaid, shall cease and determine immediately upon the said jacks being raised by the said Willard to a greater sum. July 2, 1784. |