IX. TITLES AND ABSTRACTS OF THE PUBLIC LAWS,

PASSED AT THE SECOND SESSION OF THE 30TH CONGRESS.

Civil and Diplomatic Expenses, for the Year ending June 30, 1850. Congress, - pay of members,

66 for the current fiscal year,

incidental expenses,

Library of Congress, — purchase of books for,

$768,200.00

100,000.00

297,306.50

6,000.00

66

66

incidental expenses,

7,300.00

President and Vice-President of the United States,

30,000.00

Deficiencies in appropriations for the year ending June 30, 1849, 345,393.71

Indian Department,

Reparation for a Caddo boy killed by Texan volunteers, .

Payments to Mexico, under Art. 12 of the Treaty of Guada

.5,585,755.85

171,294.61

560,400.00

4,328,391.00

190,220.00

1,000,988.65

500.00

7,260,000.00

28,050.00

7,000.00

6,000.00

73,054.17

$35,429,041.61

No. 1. An Act to extend certain privileges to the town of Whitehall, in the State of New York. Jan. 10, 1849.

No. 2. An Act supplemental to the Act approved the sixth day of July, eighteen hundred and forty-two, entitled “An Act confirming certain land claims in Louisiana." Jan. 19, 1849.

No. 3. An Act to continue the office of the Commissioner of Pensions. The authority to continue this office given by the act of Jan. 14, 1846, is extended until further legislation by Congress. Jan. 19, 1849.

No. 4. An Act to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the fiscal year ending the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and forty-nine. See page 136. Jan. 26, 1849.

No. 5. An Act authorizing the payment of interest upon the advances made by the State of Alabama for the use of the United States government, in the suppression of the Creek Indian hostilities of eighteen hundred and thirty-six and eighteen hundred and thirty-seven, in Alabama. Jan. 26, 1849.

No. 6. An Act to authorize the issuing of a register or enrolment to the ship Annie Tift. Feb. 1, 1849.

No. 7. An Act for the relief of the forward officers of the late Exploring Expedition. Extra pay to the amount of $250 per annum, credited to the forward officers on the return of the Expedition by order of the commander, is allowed. Lieutenant Ringgold is allowed $1000 per annum for scientific duties. Feb. 1, 1849.

No. 8. An Act making appropriations for the support of the Military Academy for the year ending the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty. See page 136. Feb. 19, 1849.

No. 9. An Act making appropriations for the payment of Revolutionary and other pensions of the United States, for the year ending the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty. See page 136. Feb. 19, 1849.

No. 10. An Act to authorize the Secretary of War to make reparation for the killing of a Caddo boy by volunteer troops in Texas. $500 paid to Caddo Indians. Feb. 19, 1849. No. 11. An Act for authenticating certain records. For Sec. 1, see No. 23. The Solicitor of the Treasury shall provide a seal for his office, and copies of any public documents belonging to or on the files of the said office, under the signature of the Solicitor, or, when the office shall be vacant, under the signature of such officer as may be officiating for the time being, accompanied by an impress of the said seal, shall be competent evidence in all cases equally with the originals. Documents in the War, Navy, Treasury, and Post-Office Departments, and the Attorney-General's office, may be copied and certified under seal in the same manner as those in the State Department may now by law be, and the Attorney-General shall provide a seal for his office. Feb. 22, 1849.

No. 12. An Act granting five years' half-pay to certain widows and orphans of officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, both regulars and volunteers. The provisions of Sec. 2 of the act of July 21, 1848, shall be construed to include all widows and orphans of officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, whether regulars or volunteers, who have received an honorable discharge, or who died in service, or from wounds received ,or disease contracted, while in the line of their duty; subject to the provisions of Sec. 3 of the same act. Feb. 22, 1849.

No. 13. An Act to establish an additional land-office in the State of Missouri. Feb. 26, 1849.

No. 14. An Act to provide for carrying into execution, in part, the twelfth article of the treaty with Mexico, concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo. $3,720,000 are appropriated to pay the principal and interest due May 30, 1849; and $ 3,540,000 to pay principal and interest due May 30, 1850. Feb. 26, 1849.

No. 15. An Act to extend the provisions of an Act approved the third of March, eighteen hundred and forty-seven, for carrying into effect the existing compacts with the States of Alabama and Mississippi, with regard to the five per cent. fund and school reservations.

The provisions of the act of March 3, 1847, are extended so as to enable the State of Alabama to have three years from the passage of this act to make the selections of land authorized by the preceding acts. Feb. 26, 1849.

No. 16. An Act in addition to the Act entitled "An Act to incorporate the Washington, Alexandria, and Georgetown Steam-Packet Company." Feb. 26, 1849.

No. 17. An Act amendatory of an Act entitled "An Act amendatory of the Act entitled 'An Act to incorporate the Provident Association of Clerks in the Civil Departments of the Government of the United States, in the District of Columbia,'" approved 3d March, 1825. March 2, 1849.

No. 18. An Act making appropriations for the payment of navy pensions for the year ending the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty. See page 136. March 2, 1849.

No. 19. An Act declaratory of the Act for the admission of the State of Iowa into the Union. It is declared that by said act the United States assented to the application for the support of common schools, (as made in Sec. 2, Art. 10, of the constitution of the State,) of the 5 per cent. of the net proceeds of the sales of public lands within the State, and of the 500,000 acres granted to the State by the act of Sept. 4, 1841; said land to be selected in legal subdivisions of not less than 320 acres. March 2, 1849.

No. 20. An Act to allow subsistence to certain Arkansas and other volunteers, who have been prisoners of war in Mexico. Forty cents per diem is allowed to every volunteer who has been prisoner of war in Mexico, or to his legal representatives; and the same evidence of imprisonment is required, as now of ordinary service. March 2, 1849.

No. 21. An Act concerning the pay department of the army. The pay department of the army shall consist of a paymaster-general, with the rank of colonel, with the present pay and allowances, and the same tenure of office as the heads of other disbursing departments of the army, two deputy paymasters-general, and twenty-five paymasters. All disbursing officers of the pay department must renew their bonds, or give additional security, at least once in four years, and oftener if the President direct. The officers of the pay department herein constituted shall consist of the paymaster-general and the two deputies now in .commission, the fifteen paymasters who were in service under acts in force at the commencement of the Mexican war; the thirteen paymasters authorized by acts of June 17, 1846, and March 3, 1847; and ten paymasters to be selected from the additional paymasters now in service. March 2, 1849.

No. 22. An Act to continue the light at Sand's Point, on Long Island. March 2, 1849. No. 23. An Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act for authenticating certain records," approved February twenty-second, eighteen hundred and forty-nine. The first section is amended to the following effect. It may be lawful for the keeper or persons having the custody of laws, judgments, orders, decrees, journals, correspondence, or other public documents of any foreign government, or its agents, relating to the title to lands claimed by or under the United States, on the application of the head of one of the departments, the Solicitor of the Treasury, or the Commissioner of the General Land-Office, to authenticate the same, under his hand and seal, and certify the same to be correct and true copies of such laws, &c.; and when the same shall be certified by an American minister or consul, under his hand and seal of office, or by a judge of one of the United States courts, under his hand and seal, to be true copies of the originals, the same shall be sealed up by him and returned to the Solicitor of the Treasury, who shall file the same in his office, and cause it to be recorded in a book to be kept for that purpose. A copy of said laws, &c., so filed, or of the same so recorded in said book, may be read in evidence in all courts where the title to land claimed by or under the United States may come into question, equally with the originals thereof. March 2, 1849.

No. 24. An Act to provide for an increase of the medical staff, and for an additional number of chaplains of the army of the United States. So much of Sec. 3 of the act of July 19, 1848, as prevents the filling of vacancies in the medical department of the army is repealed. Ten assistant surgeons are to be appointed, and the provisions of the act of 1839 are extended, so as to authorize the employment of ten additional chaplains for military

posts. The President and Senate are authorized to appoint a judge advocate of the army, to be taken from the captains, and to have the brevet rank and pay of a major of cavalry; and so much of the proviso to Sec. 3 of the act of July 19, 1848, as relates to the officers of the Adjutant-General's department is repealed. March 2, 1849.

No. 25. An Act for changing the location of the land-office in the Chippewa land district, and establishing an additional land district in the State of Wisconsin. The Chippewa land-office, on and after June 30, 1849, is removed from the Falls of St. Croix to Stillwater. March 2, 1849.

No. 26. An Act granting a half-section of land for the use of schools within fractional township nineteen south of range eighteen west, county of Lowndes, State of Mississippi. March 2, 1849.

No. 27. An Act in relation to the Fox and Wisconsin River reservation, in the State of Wisconsin. All land entries made in the Green Bay land district, in Wisconsin, upon the odd-numbered sections of the Fox and Wisconsin River reservation, subsequent to the passage of "An Act to grant a certain quantity of land, to aid in the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers, and connect the same by canal, in the Territory of Wisconsin," (Aug. 8, 1846,) are declared to be good and valid as though said act had not been passed: Provided, nevertheless, That the Governor of said State is authorized to select the same quantity of other lands in lieu thereof, subject to the approval of the President of the United States. All similar entries made upon the even-numbered section of said reservations are declared to be good and valid as though said reservation had not been made. March 2, 1849.

No. 28. An Act to aid the State of Louisiana in draining the swamp lands therein. All swamp and overflowed lands, unfit for cultivation, are granted to the State. The Surveyor-General (as soon as the Secretary of the Treasury shall be advised by the Governor of Louisiana that the State is prepared to pay the cost) shall cause all such lands to be surveyed, and a list returned to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall approve the same, so far as the lands are not claimed or held by individuals; and on that approval, the fee-simple in such lands shall vest in the State, subject to the disposal of the legislature, to be applied exclusively, as far as necessary, to the construction of levees and drains. The "whole legal subdivision" of land of which the greater part is swamp, &c., shall be included in the list. The provisions of this act do not apply to "lands fronting on rivers, creeks, bayous, watercourses, &c., which have been surveyed into lots or tracts," under the acts of March 3, 1811, and May 24, 1824. The United States shall be at no expense for the selection, lists, or surveys of the lands. March 2, 1849.

No. 29. An Act for the settlement of the claims of New Hampshire against the United States. The account of the State of New Hampshire against the United States, "for sundry military expenses incurred by the State in repelling invasion and suppressing insurrection at Indian Stream, in the county of Coos, in said State," is to be adjusted upon the same principles as if the militia therein referred to had been called out by the President of the United States; but the amount paid shall not exceed the sum of $7,000. March 2, 1849. No. 30. An Act to define the period of disability imposed upon certain bidders for mail contracts. The disability to contract with the Post-Office Department, now imposed by law on any person or persons for entering into combinations against said department, in relation to contracts therewith, shall in all cases, existing or to exist, cease after the expiration of five years from the time incurred: Provided, That any person incurring said disability a second time shall never be released therefrom. March 2, 1849.

No. 31. An Act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of government, for the year ending the thirtieth of June, cighteen hundred and fifty, and for other purposes. The clerks of the several Circuit Courts of the United States are authorized to retain, of the fees and emoluments of their office, a sum equal that allowed to the clerks of the District Courts of the United States, by the "Act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of the government for the year 1842," approved May 18, 1842: Provided, That the proviso in the first section of an act entitled "An Act making appro priations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of the government for the year ending June 30, 1849, and for other purposes," limiting the fees for taking and certifying the depositions

of witnesses in civil causes, is hereby declared to apply to every civil cause between any parties whatsoever, and to all admiralty proceedings: Provided, however, That where the actual taking of any such deposition shall necessarily require a longer time than three hours, the judge of the court in which said deposition is to be used is hereby authorized to certify an amount not exceeding eight dollars as a proper charge for taking such deposition, and the same shall thereupon be taxable as a part of the costs of the suit in proceeding. For the amount of the appropriation, see page 136. March 3, 1849.

No. 32. An Act making appropriations for the support of the army for the year ending the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty. See page 136. March 3, 1846. No. 33. An Act making appropriations for certain fortifications of the United States, for the year ending the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty. See page 136. March 3, 1849.

34. An Act making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty. A competent officer of the navy, not lower than lieutenant, is charged with the publication of the Nautical Almanac; and the Secretary of the Navy may cause any nautical works published by the Hydrographical Office to be sold at cost. The President may substitute marines for landsmen, so far as he deems it expedient. Officers of the marine corps, affected by Sec. 4 of the act of March 2, 1847, shall be provided for in the same manner that the officers of the old army, who received appointments in the additional regiments, were provided for by Sec. 4 of the act of July 19, 1848. The Secretary of the Navy is directed to detail three vessels in "testing new routes, and perfecting the discoveries made by Lieutenant Maury"; and to cause the vessels of the navy to cooperate in procuring materials for such investigations. The Secretary of War is authorized to transfer to the Navy Department such vessels now belonging to the War Department as will promote the public interest. A purser on duty at the naval station of California is to receive the same pay as if attached to a frigate in commission for sea service; but not more than one purser shall be attached to the station. The retention of $1 per month from the pay of musicians and privates in the marine corps (act of March 2, 1833) is extended to the whole term of their enlistment. The pay of engineers in the navy is fixed as follows: Chief Engineer, on duty, first five years, $1,500; ditto, after five years, $2,000; ditto on leave, first five years, $1,200; ditto after five years, $1,400. First Assistant Engineers, on duty, $ 1,000; ditto on leave, $850. Second Assistant ditto, on duty, $ 800; ditto on leave, $600. Third Assistant ditto, on duty, $ 600; ditto on leave, $ 400. The mail service, which was to be performed by E. K. Collins and others, according to the act of March 3, 1847, may be deferred by the Secretary of the Navy until after June 1, 1850. After the passage of this act, all prizemoney arising from captures of vessels by the navy shall, within sixty days after the sale of the vessel, be deposited in the treasury; and all money now in the hands of prize agents shall be so deposited; —such part as belongs to officers and crews of the navy is to be paid out under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy. The law authorizing the appointment of prize agents is repealed. For the appropriations, see page 136. March 3, 1849.

No. 35. An Act making appropriations for the service of the Post-Office Department, for the year ending the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty. See page 136. March 3, 1849.

No. 36. An Act making appropriations for light-houses, light-boats, buoys, &c., and providing for the erection and establishment of the same, and for other purposes. Vessels, steamboats, and propellers, navigating the Northern and Western lakes, shall, from and after the 30th day of April next, comply with the following regulations, for the security of life and property, to wit: during the night, vessels on the starboard tack shall show a red light, vessels on the larboard tack a green light, and vessels going off large, or before the wind, or at anchor, a white light; steamboats and propellers shall carry on the stem, or as far forward as possible, a triangular light, at an angle of about sixty degrees with the horizon, and on the starboard side a light shaded green, and on the larboard side, red: said lights shall be furnished with reflectors, &c., complete, and of a size to insure a good and sufficient light; and if loss or damage shall occur, the owner or owners of the vessel, steamboat, or propeller, neglecting to comply with these regulations, shall be liable to the injured party for all loss