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Tuesday in June next, throughout the several counties above mentioned, and shall be conducted in the same manner as is prescribed by the laws of said territory, regulating elections therein for members of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the members of the convention, thus duly elected, be, and they hereby are authorized to meet at the town of Washington, on the first Monday in July next: which convention, when met, shall first determine, by a majority of the whole number elected; whether it be or be not expedient, at that time, to form a constitution and state government for the people within the said territory; and if it be determined to be expedient, the convention shall be, and hereby are, authorized to form a constitution and state government: Provided, That the same, when formed, shall be republican, and not repugnant to the principles of the ordinance of the thirteenth of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, between the people and states of the territory north-west of the river Ohio, so far as the same has been extended to the said territory by the articles of agreement between the United States and the state of Georgia, or of the constitution of the United States: And provided also, That the said convention shall provide, by an ordinance irrevocable without the consent of the United States, that the people inhabiting the said territory do agree and declare that they for ever disclaim all right or title to the waste or unappropriated lands lying within the said territory, and that the same shall be and remain at the sole and entire disposition of the United States; and moreover, that each and every tract of land sold by Congress, shall be and remain exempt from any tax laid by the order, or under the authority, of the state, whether for state, county, township, parish or any other purpose whatever, for the term of five years, from and after the respective days of the sales thereof, and that the lands belonging to citizens of the United States, residing without the said state, shall never be taxed higher than the lands belonging to persons residing therein; and that no taxes shall be imposed on lands the property of the United States, and that the river Mississippi, and the navigable rivers and waters leading into the same, or into the Gulf of Mexico, shall be common highways, and for ever free, as well to the inhabitants of the said state, as to other citizens of the United States, without any tax, duty, impost, or toll, therefor, imposed by the said state. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That five per cent. of the net proceeds of the lands lying within the said territory, and which shall be sold by Congress from and after the first day of December next, after deducting all expenses incident to the same, shall be reserved for making public roads and canals; of which three-fifths shall be applied to those objects within the said state, under the direction of the legislature thereof, and twofifths to the making of a road or roads leading to the said state, under the direction of Congress: Provided, That the application of such proceeds shall not be made until after payment is completed of the one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars due to the state of Georgia, in consideration of the cession to the United States, nor until the payment of all the stock which has been or shall be created by the act, entitled “An act providing for the indemnification of certain claimants of public lands in the Mississippi territory," shall be completed: And provided also, That the said five per cent. shall not be calculated on any part of such proceeds as shall be applied to the payment of the one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars due to the state of Georgia, in consideration of the cession to the United States, or in payment of the stock which has or shall be created by the act, entitled "An act providing for the indemnification of certain claimants of public lands in the Mississippi territory." SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That until the next general census shall be taken, the said state shall be entitled to one Representative in the House of Representatives of the United States.

APPROVED, March 1, 1817. 2 G

Convention to

meet at Wash1817, and to deington in July, termine, &c.

Proviso: the

government to
and not repug-
be republican,
nant to the or-
dinance of 13th
July, 1787,

Vol. i. 51.
Proviso: Re-

servations and admission to the union.

conditions of

Reservation

of five per cent. on lands sold for making roads and canals.

Proviso: prior obligations to Georgia, &c., charged.

to be first dis

Act of March 31, 1814, ch. 39. Proviso: the

five per cent. not to be calcu

lated on certain proceeds.

1814, ch. 39.

The state en

titled to one representative in Congress.

STATUTE II.

March 1, 1817. CHAP. XXIV.—An Act supplementary to an act, entitled "An act concerning the naval establishment.” (a)

[blocks in formation]

STATUTE II.

March 1, 1817. [Obsolete.] Letters and

from James

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That every purser now in service, or who may hereafter be appointed, shall, instead of the bond required by the act to which this is a supplement, enter into bond with two or more sufficient sureties, in the penalty of twenty-five thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful discharge of all his duties as purser in the navy of the United States, which said sureties shall be approved by the judge or attorney of the United States for the district in which such purser shall reside. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the first day of May next, no person shall act in the character of purser, who shall not enter into bond as aforesaid, excepting pursers on distant service, who shall not remain in service longer than two months after their return to the United States, unless they shall comply with the provisions of the first section of this act.

APPROVED, March 1, 1817.

CHAP. XXV.—An Act freeing from postage all letters and packets to and from
James Madison.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United packets to and States of America, in Congress assembled, That all letters and packets to and from James Madison, now President of the United States, after the expiration of his term of office, and during his life, shall be carried by the mail free of postage.

Madison free

during life.

STATUTE II.

March 1, 1817. [Obsolete.] Persons re

deeming and purchasing citizens from captivity to be

APPROVED, March 1, 1817.

CHAP. XXIX.-An Act relating to the ransom of American captives of the late war.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the proper accounting officer of the War Department be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to settle the accounts of any person who may have redeemed and allowed not ex- purchased from captivity any citizen of the United States, taken prisoner during the late war with Great Britain, upon the same principles and rules of evidence by which other claims are adjusted in said department: Provided, That in no case shall a greater sum be allowed than one hundred and fifty dollars.

ceeding 150 dollars for each.

STATUTE II.

APPROVED, March 1, 1817.

March 1, 1817. CHAP. XXX.-An Act in addition to an act, entitled "An act for the more convenient taking of affidavits and bail in civil causes, depending in the courts of the United Slates."

Powers of the commissioners appointed for

the more convenient taking of affidavits and bail in civil causes extended.

Act of Feb. 20, 1812, ch. 25. Act of 1789,

ch. 20.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the commissioners who now are, or hereafter may be, appointed by virtue of the act, entitled "An act for the more convenient taking of affidavits and bail in civil causes, depending in the courts of the United States," are hereby authorized to take affidavits and bail in civil causes, to be used in the several district courts of the United States, and shall and may exercise all the powers that a justice or judge of any of the courts of the United States may exercise by virtue of the thirtieth section of the act, entitled “An act to establish the judicial courts of the United States."

APPROVED, March 1, 1817.

(a) By an act to regulate the pay of pursers and other officers of the navy, passed August 26, 1842, ch. 206, the pay of pursers was fixed as follows; in lieu of all other pay and allowances when attached to vessels in commission for sea service, for ships of the line, $3500; for frigates or razees, $3000; for sloops of war and steamers, first class, $2000; for brigs and schooners and steamers less than first class, $1500. On duty at navy-yards, at Boston, New York, Norfolk and Pensacola, $2500. At Portsmouth, Philadelphia and Washington, $2000. At other naval stations within the United States, $1500. And in receiving ships at Boston, New York and Norfolk, $2500, and at other places, $1500. On leave or waiting orders, the same pay as surgeons.

STATUTE II.

March 1, 1817.

Restriction of

vessels of a particular character.

CHAP. XXXI.—An Act concerning the navigation of the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That after the thirtieth importations to day of September next no goods, wares, or merchandise, shall be imported into the United States from any foreign port or place, except in vessels of the United States, or in such foreign vessels as truly and wholly belong to the citizens or subjects of that country of which the goods are the growth, production, or manufacture; or from which such goods, wares, or merchandise, can only be, or most usually are, first shipped for transportation: Provided, nevertheless, That this regulation shall not extend to the vessels of any foreign nation which has not adopted, and which shall not adopt, a similar regulation.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all goods, wares, or merchandise, imported into the United States contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, and the ship or vessel wherein the same shall be imported, together with her cargo, tackle, apparel, and furniture, shall be forfeited to the United States; and such goods, wares, or merchandise, ship, or vessel, and cargo, shall be liable to be seized, prosecuted, and condemned, in like manner, and under the same regulations, restrictions, and provisions, as have been heretofore established for the recovery, collection, distribution, and remission, of forfeitures to the United States by the several revenue laws.

Proviso: the regulation not to extend to foreign vessels of

a certain de

scription. Merchandise

imported contrary to this act, vessel, &c., forfeited.

Bounties on

ed in the fisheries restricted to such whose officers and

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That after the thirtieth day of September next, the bounties and allowances now granted by law to the vessels employowners of boats or vessels engaged in the fisheries, shall be paid only on boats or vessels, the officers and at least three-fourths of the crews of which shall be proved to the satisfaction of the collector of the district where such boat or vessel shall belong, to be citizens of the United States, or persons not the subjects of any foreign prince or state. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That no goods, wares, or merchandise, shall be imported, under penalty of forfeiture thereof, from one port of the United States to another port of the United States, in a vessel belonging wholly or in part to a subject of any foreign power; but this clause shall not be construed to prohibit the sailing of any foreign vessel from one to another port of the United States, provided no goods, wares, or merchandise, other than those imported in such vessel from some foreign port, and which shall not have been unladen, shall be carried from one port or place to another in the United States.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That after the thirtieth day of September next, there shall be paid a duty of fifty cents per ton upon every ship or vessel of the United States, which shall be entered in a district in one state from a district in another state, except it be an adjoining state on the sea coast, or on a navigable river or lake, and except also it be a coasting vessel going from Long Island, in the state of New York, to the state of Rhode Island, or from the state of Rhode Island to the said Long Island, having on board goods, wares, and merchandise, taken in one state, to be delivered in another state: Provided, That it shall not be paid on any ship or vessel having a license to trade between the different districts of the United States, or to carry on the bank or whale fisheries, more than once a year; And provided also, That if the owner of any such vessel, or his agent, shall prove, to the satisfaction of the collector, that three-fourths at least of the crew thereof are American citizens, or persons not the subjects of any foreign prince or state, the duty to be paid in such case shall be only at the rate of six cents per ton; but nothing in this section shall be construed to repeal or affect any exemption from tonnage duty given by the eighth section of the act, entitled "An act to provide for the establishment of certain districts, and therein to

3-4ths of the crews are citizens, &c. Regulations with respect to importation of goods from one port of the United States to

another, &c.

Regulations

in relation to tonnage duty on vessels entering from a district

in one to a district in another state.

Proviso:

as

to licensed vessels.

Proviso as to

diminution of

duty where 34ths of the crew

are citizens, &c.

Act of May 1, 1802, ch. 45.

50 cents per ton on vessels,

whose officers and 2-3ds of the

crews are not citizens.

Proviso; exception in fa

vour of vessels on foreign voy

ages, &c.

The proportion of citizen seamen to exist

during the

whole voyage, unless, &c.

amend an act, entitled An act to regulate the collection of duties on imports and tonnage, and for other purposes."

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That after the thirtieth day of September next, there shall be paid upon every ship or vessel of the United States, which shall be entered in the United States, from any foreign port or place, unless the officers, and at least twothirds of the crew, thereof shall be proved citizens of the United States, or persons not the subjects of any foreign prince or state, to the satisfaction of the collector, fifty cents per ton; And provided also, That this section shall not extend to ships or vessels of the United States which are now on foreign voyages, or which may depart from the United States prior to the first day of May next, until after their return to some port of the United States.

SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the several bounties and remissions, or abatements of duty, allowed by this act, in the case of vessels having a certain proportion of seamen who are American citizens, or persons not the subjects of any foreign power, shall be allowed only in the case of vessels having such proportion of American seamen during their whole voyage, unless in case of sickness, death, or desertion, or where the whole or part of the crew shall have been taken prisoners in the voyage.

APPROVED, March 1, 1817.

STATUTE II.

March 3, 1817.

Sums appropriated for the expenditure of the civil list, &c. for the year 1817.

For Congress.

For President and Vice President.

For the Department of State.

For the Treasury Department.

CHAP. XXXIII.-An Act making appropriations for the support of government for the year one thousand eight hundred and seventeen.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the following sums be, and the same are hereby, respectively appropriated, that is to say:

For compensation granted by law to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, their officers, and attendants, four hundred and twenty-one thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars.

For the expenses of firewood, stationery, printing, and all other contingent expenses of the two Houses of Congress, forty-two thousand dollars.

For the expenses of the library of Congress, including the librarian's allowance for the year one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, one thousand three hundred and fifty dollars.

For compensation to the President of the United States, twenty-five thousand dollars.

For compensation to the Vice President of the United States, five thousand dollars.

For compensation to the Secretary of State, five thousand dollars. For compensation to the clerks employed in the Department of State, thirteen thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars.

For compensation to the messenger in said department, and for the patent office, six hundred and sixty dollars.

For the incidental and contingent expenses of the said department, including the expense of printing and distributing copies of the laws of the second session of the fourteenth Congress, and printing the laws in newspapers, twenty-three thousand seven hundred and two dollars.

For compensation to the Secretary of the Treasury, five thousand dollars.

For compensation to the clerks employed in the office of the Secretary of the Treasury, ten thousand four hundred and thirty-three dollars.

For compensation to the messenger and assistant messenger in the office of the Secretary of the Treasury, seven hundred and ten dollars.

For expense of translating foreign languages, allowed to the person employed in transmitting passports and sea letters, and for stationery and printing in the office of the Secretary of the Treasury, one thousand one hundred dollars.

For compensation to the comptroller of the treasury, three thousand five hundred dollars.

For compensation to the clerks employed in the office of the said comptroller, fifteen thousand five hundred and sixteen dollars.

For compensation to the messenger in said office, four hundred and ten dollars.

For expense of stationery, printing and contingent expenses in the comptroller's office, eight hundred dollars.

For compensation to the auditor of the treasury, three thousand dollars.

For compensation to the clerks employed in the auditor's office, sixteen thousand six hundred and thirty-two dollars.

For compensation to the messenger in said office, four hundred and ten dollars.

For expense of stationery, printing and contingent expenses in said office, six hundred dollars.

For compensation to the treasurer of the United States, three thousand dollars.

For compensation to the clerks employed in the office of the treasurer, five thousand four hundred and forty dollars.

For compensation to the messenger of said office, four hundred and ten dollars.

For expense of stationery, printing, and contingent expenses in said office, eight hundred dollars.

For compensation to the commissioner of the general land office, three thousand dollars.

For compensation to the clerks employed in the office of said commissioner, eleven thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars.

For compensation to the messenger in said office, four hundred and ten dollars.

For expense of stationery, printing and contingent expenses of said office, including vellum for land patents, five thousand dollars.

For compensation to the commissioner of the revenue, three thousand dollars.

For compensation to the clerks employed in the office of said commissioner, nine thousand dollars.

For compensation to the messenger of said office, four hundred and ten dollars.

For stationery, printing, and contingent expenses, including the paper, printing, and stamping of licenses, in said office, three thousand two hundred dollars.

For compensation to the register of the treasury, three thousand dollars. For an additional sum which was allowed him for the service of the year one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, six hundred dollars.

For compensation to the clerks employed in the office of the said register, seventeen thousand and twenty-eight dollars.

For compensation to the messenger of said office, four hundred and ten dollars.

For expense of stationery, including books for the public stocks, printing the public accounts, and other contingent expenses of the register's office, three thousand six hundred dollars.

For fuel and other contingent expenses of the Treasury Department, five thousand dollars.

To make good the deficiency in the sum appropriated last year for the general expenses of the several offices of the Treasury Department, and VOL. III.-45

2 G 2

Comptroller.

Auditor.

Treasurer.

Commissioner of general land office.

Commissioner of the revenue.

Register.

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