within six months from such publication, file his claim in writing, in such form as the instructions shall require. At the expiration of the time allowed for filing claims, the Commissioners shall meet immediately at Vincennes, and hear and decide all matters respecting such claims. Records of the proceedings, and the evidence in each case, shall be kept. They can compel witnesses to attend. Any claimant who can show in himself such a title, as would, in the Courts of Indiana, bar an action of ejectment, shall be confirmed in his title. The Commissioners shall transmit to the General Land-Office, before September 1, 1855, a transcript of their decisions in favor of claimants, with a statement of the evidence on which the claim is founded; and a like transcript and statement of decisions against claimants. To each claimant confirmed in his title, a patent shall issue. Those whose claims have been rejected may have them revised, unless the same land has been confirmed, by the Board, to another claimant. The patent shall only relinquish the title of the United States, and shall not abridge the rights of third persons. July 27, 1854.

No. 50. Ch. CLIX. An Act supplementary to an Act entitled "An Act to authorize Notaries Public to take and certify Oaths, Affirmations, and Acknowledgments in certain cases. The provisions of that act are extended to Notaries in the District of Columbia. "Notaries public are hereby authorized to take depositions, and do such other acts in relation to evidence to be used in the Courts of the United States, in the same manner, and with the same effect, as Commissioners to take acknowledgments of bail and affidavits, may now lawfully take or do." July 29, 1854.

No. 51. Ch. CLXVII. An Act making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian Department, and for fulfilling Treaty Stipulations with various Indian Tribes, for the year ending June 30, 1855, and for other purposes. $2,023,832.72 are appropriated. The President may remove or change the location of any superintendency. The reserve on the Minnesota River, now occupied by the Sioux, of Minnesota, is confirmed to them for ever. The Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, use any part of this appropriation for making treaties in Oregon, Washington, Utah, and New Mex ico. July 31, 1854.

No. 52. Ch. CLXXXVII. An Act for the purchase of the Copyright of a work published by Thomas H. Sumner, wherein he describes his new Method of ascertaining a Ship's Position at Sea. $10,000 are paid for the transfer of said copyright to the United States; and when the transfer is made, and the sum paid, the copyright shall become extinct, and the book may be published as if no such right had existed. August 2, 1854.

No. 53. Ch. CLXXXVIII. An Act to provide for the accommodation of the Courts of the United States in the District of Massachusetts, and in the Cities of New York and Philadelphia. The President may fit up and lease necessary accommodations for the United States Courts in those places, until permanent ones can be provided. Suitable sites for buildings, to be used as Court Houses and Post-Offices, may be procured by purchase or otherwise, in the cities of New York, Boston, and Philadelphia; and at as early a day as practicable, plans and estimates for the same shall be prepared, and submitted to Congress, together with any contracts for any such site or sites, such contracts to be conditional, and subject to the approval of Congress. August 2, 1854.

No. 54. Ch. CLXXXIX. An Act to establish a Port of Delivery at Lake Port, on Lake Pontchartrain, and for other purposes. August 2, 1854.

No. 55. Ch. CXCI. An Act constituting Madison, in the State of Indiana, a Port of Delivery. It is annexed to the Collection District of New Orleans. August 2, 1854.

No. 56. Ch. CXCII. An Act to constitute Tuscumbia, in the State of Alabama, a Port of Delivery, and for other purposes. Tuscumbia, in Alabama; Shreveport, in Louisjana; Paducah, in Kentucky; and Jeffersonville, in Indiana, are made ports of delivery, and annexed to the New Orleans Collection District. August 2, 1854.

No. 57. Ch. CXCIII. An Act creating a Collection District in Texas and New Mexico. The county of El Paso, in Texas, and the Territory of New Mexico, are made the Collection District of Paso del Norte, for which Frontera, in the county of El Paso, is made the port of entry and delivery. There shall be a Collector, to reside at Frontera, at a salary of $2,000. All cases under the revenue laws, in said district, shall be under the jurisdiction of the District Court for the Territory of New Mexico. August 2, 1854.

No. 58. Ch. CXCIV. 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. $1,542,078 are appropriated. Where preliminary surveys are required to determine the necessity, or the proper site, for a light-house, or otherwise, the examinations and surveys on the seaboard shall be made under the direction of the Coast Survey; on the northwestern Lakes under the direction of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers. If adverse reports are made, they shall be submitted to Congress at its next session; if the reports are favorable, the work shall be commenced as soon as valid title to the sites and State jurisdiction shall be gained. August 3, 1854.

No. 59. Ch. CXCV. An Act to authorize the State of Illinois to select the residue of the lands to which she is entitled under the Act of March 2, 1827, granting Land to aid that State in opening a Canal to connect the waters of the Illinois River with those of Lake Michigan. August 3, 1854.

No. 60. Ch. CXCVI. An Act to amend the provisions of the 56th section of the Act entitled "An Act to regulate the Collection of Duties on Imports and Tonnage," approved March 2, 1799. If merchandise is imported from a foreign country, in vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, and the bills of lading show that it is to be delivered immediately after the entry of the vessel, the Collector may deposit it in a bonded warehouse. When the bills of lading do not show that it is to be delivered immediately, the Collector may so deposit it, at the request of the owner, master, or consignee of the vessel, on three days' notice to such Collector after the entry of the vessel. August 3, 1854. No. 61. Ch. CXCVIII. An Act to constitute Cairo, in the State of Illinois, a Port of Delivery. It is annexed to the New Orleans Collection District. August 3, 1854.

No. 62. Ch. CXCIX. An Act constituting San Pedro, in the State of California, a Port of Entry and Delivery. The counties Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Bernardino are made a Collection District, called San Pedro; and San Pedro is made the port of entry in said district, and Santa Barbara a port of delivery. Salary of Collector, $3,000, and $2,000 additional, if his fees amount to that sum. August 3, 1854.

No. 63. Ch. CC. An Act to authorize the State of Wisconsin to select the residue of the lands to which she is entitled under the Act of August 8, 1846, for the Improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers. August 3, 1854.

No. 64. Ch. CCI. An Act to vest in the several States and Territories the title in fee of the lands which have been or may be certified to them. Where lands are, or have been, granted to any State by a law which does not convey the fee, or require patents to issue therefor, the certified lists of such lands, either as originals, or as copies of the orig. inals, or records, shall be regarded as conveying the fee simple of all the lands embraced in such lists that are of the character contemplated by such act of Congress, and intended to be granted thereby; but when the lands are not of such a character, and are not so intended to be granted, such lists shall be null and void, and shall convey no title. August 3, 1854.

No. 65. Ch. CCII. An Act to constitute Palatka and Bayport, in the State of Florida, Ports of Delivery, respectively, and Keokuk and Dubuque, in the State of Iowa. Palatka is annexed to the Collection District of St. Johns; Bayport to that of St. Marks; and Keokuk and Dubuque to that of New Orleans. August 3, 1854.

No. 66. Ch CCIV. An Act to revive the Act approved March 3, 1823, and the Act approved May 26, 1824, supplemental thereto, in reference to the Rio Hondo claims to land in Louisiana. August 3, 1854.

No. 67. Ch. CCXXVII. An Act making appropriations for fortifications and other works of defence, and for repairs of Barracks and Quarters, for the year ending June 30, 1855. $1,005,500 are appropriated. August 3, 1854.

No. 68. Ch. CCXXX. An Act to establish certain Post-Roads. August 3, 1854. No. 69. Ch. CCXLII. An Act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of Government, for the year ending June 30, 1855, and for other purposes. $ 13,809,610.59 are appropriated. For the items, see ante, pp. 127, 128. To many of the appropriations for buildings, in addition to the usual conditions, of clear title, exclusive jurisdiction, and exemption from taxation, it is provided that the Secretary of the Treasury, unless

he can contract with sufficient security for the completion of the building within the appropriation, shall not expend any thereof. August 4, 1854.

No. 70. Ch. CCXLIV. An Act to graduate and reduce the price of the public lands to actual settlers and cultivators. All public lands of the United States, which have been in the market for ten years, or upwards, at the time of the application to enter the same under the provisions of this act, and still remain unsold, shall be subject to sale at $1 per acre; if for 15 years and upwards, at 75 cents; if for 20 years and upwards, at 50 cents; if for 25 years and upwards, at 25 cents; and if for 30 years and upwards, at 12 cents per acre. This does not apply to lands reserved to the United States, in acts granting lands to States for railroad or other internal improvements; nor to mineral lands held at over $1.25 per

acre.

Upon each reduction in price, the occupant and settler on the lands shall have the right of pre-emption thereto, at such graduated price, until 30 days preceding the next graduation or reduction; and if they are not so purchased, they shall again be subject to the right of pre-emption for 11 months, as before, and so on from time to time as reductions take place. Any person applying to enter any of the aforesaid lands, must make affidavit at the proper land office, that he enters the same for his own use, and for actual settlement and cultivation, or for the use of an adjoining farm or plantation, owned or occupied by himself, and that, together with such entry, he has not acquired from the United States more than 320 acres. False swearing under this act, is subjected to the pains and penalties of perjury. August 4, 1854.

No. 71. Ch. CCXLV. An Act declaring the Southern Boundary of New Mexico. The territory acquired by the Gadsden treaty is made part of New Mexico. August 4, 1854. No. 72. Ch. CCXLVI. An Act for the relief of Thomas Bronaugh, and for the repeal of the Act to aid the Territory of Minnesota in the construction of a railroad therein, approved June 29, 1854. See ante, No. 31, p. 135. August 4, 1854.

No. 73. Ch. CCXLVII. An Act to increase the pay of the rank and file of the Army, and to encourage enlistments. $4 a month is added to the pay of the non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, to continue 3 years, from January 1, 1855, and until otherwise fixed by law. A soldier, honorably discharged, who shall, in one month after his discharge, reenlist, is entitled to $2 a month, over the ordinary pay of his grade, for the first period of five years from the expiration of his previous enlistment, and a further sum of $1 a month for each successive period of 5 years, so long as he shall remain continuously in the army. Soldiers, now in the army, who have served one or more enlistments, and been honorably discharged, are entitled to the benefits of these provisions for second enlistments. Soldiers in the war with Mexico, who received a certificate of merit, whether now in the army, or enlisting hereafter, shall receive the $2 a month to which that certificate entitled them had they remained continuously in the service; and the non-commissioned officers, who were recommended for promotion by brevet to the lowest grade of commissioned officers, but who did not receive the benefit of that provision, shall receive additional pay, like those privates who received certificates of merit.

The President, with the consent of the Senate, may confer the brevet of 2d lieutenant on such meritorious non-commissioned officers, as may be found qualified by an army board of four officers of rank, for the duties of commissioned officers, and attach them to regiments as supernumerary officers.

The allowance to soldiers employed at work on fortifications, in surveys, in cutting roads, and other constant labor of not less than 10 days, shall be increased to 25 cents per day, to men employed as laborers and teamsters, and 40 cents as mechanics, at stations east of the Rocky Mountains; and to 35 and 50 cents per day respectively, at stations west of those mountains. August 4, 1854.

No. 74. Ch. CCXLVIII. An Act to repeal the first proviso of the fourth section of the Act entitled "An Act granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers engaged in the military service of the United States," approved September 28, 1850. This permits members of Congress to have the benefits of that act. August 4, 1854.

No. 75. Ch. CCXLIX. An Act to extend the Right of Pre-emption over unsurveyed lands in Minnesota, and for other purposes. August 4, 1854.

No. 76. Ch. CCLXVII. An Act making appropriations for the support of the Army, for the year ending June 30, 1855. $10,408,459.63 are appropriated. The superintendency of the armories is given to civilians. August 5, 1854.

No. 77. Ch. CCLXVIII. An Act making appropriations for the Naval Service for the year ending June 30, 1855. $9,306,806.19 are appropriated. The Memphis Navy Yard is ceded to the city of Memphis. The two general orders of the Secretary of the Navy, of August 31, 1846, and May 27, 1847, upon relative rank, are made law. August 5, 1854.

No. 78. Ch. CCLXIX. An Act to carry into effect a Treaty between the United States and Great Britain, signed June 5, 1854. Whenever the President of the United States shall receive satisfactory evidence that the Imperial Parliament of Great Britain and the Provincial Parliaments of Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, have passed laws on their part to give full effect to the provisions of the treaty between the United States and Great Britain, signed on the 5th of June last, he is hereby authorized to issue his proclamation, declaring that he has such evidence, and thereupon, from the date of such proclamation, the following articles, being the growth and produce of said provinces of Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward's Island; to wit:

Grain, flour, and breadstuffs of all kinds; animals of all kinds; fresh, smoked, and salted meats; cotton-wool; seeds and vegetables; undried fruits; dried fruits; fish of all kinds; products of fish and other creatures living in the water; poultry; eggs; hides, furs, skins or tails undressed; stone or marble in its crude or unwrought state; slate; butter, cheese, tallow; lard; horns; manures; ores of metals of all kinds; coal; pitch, tar, turpentine; ashes; timber and lumber of all kinds, round, hewed, and sawed, unmanufactered in whole or in part; firewood, plants, shrubs, and trees; pelts; wool; fish oil; rice; broom-corn and bark; gypsum ground or unground; hewn or wrought or unwrought burr or grindstones; dye-stuffs; flax, hemp, and tow, unmanufactured; unmanufactured tobacco, rags; Shall be introduced into the United States free of duty, so long as the said treaty shall remain in force, subject, however, to be suspended in relation to the trade with Canada, on the condition mentioned in the fourth article of the said treaty: And all the other provisions of the said treaty shall go into effect, and be observed on the part of the United States.

§ 2. Whenever the island of Newfoundland shall give its consent to the application of the stipulations and provisions of the said treaty to that Province, and the Legislature thereof and the Imperial Parliament shall pass the necessary laws for that purpose, the above-enumerated articles shall be admitted free of duty from that Province into the United States, from and after the date of a proclamation by the President of the United States, declaring that he has satisfactory evidence that the said Province has consented in a due and proper manner to have the provisions of the treaty extended to it, and to allow the United States the full benefits of all the stipulations therein contained. August 5, 1854.

No. 79. Ch. CCLXX. An Act making appropriations for the service of the Post-Office Department during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1855. $10,379,000 are appropriated; and $2,344,464 are appropriated to supply any deficiency that may arise in the revenues of the Department to meet the foregoing appropriations. The Postmaster General is directed to continue the steam mail service during the months of August and September, as is now done for 10 months in the year, between Charleston and Key West and Havana. The Postmaster, at Washington, D. C., is allowed the compensation of 1 mill per pound upon the aggre gate weight of public documents mailed from his office, this allowance to continue for one year only, and to be computed from the ascertained weight for January, 1854. Out of such commissions, he shall pay the employees in his office, not exceeding $250 each, per annum, as their compensation for services upon these documents. The Postmaster General shall establish a daily mail on the Mississippi River, from Cairo to New Orleans, and a mail from Keokuk, Iowa, to Galena, in Illinois. August 5, 1854.

No. 80. Ch. CCLXXI. An Act to establish certain additional Post-Roads. August 5, 1854.

No. 81. Ch. CCLXXIV. An Act authorizing the payment of balance of the Property Accounts between the United States and the State of New York, for military stores in the War of 1812. The balance is $11,929.45. August 5, 1854.

No. 82. Ch. CCLXXVI. An Act to establish a Land District in the State of Florida, to be called the District of Tampa. August 5, 1854.

[The omitted numbers are private resolutions.]

No. 1. Joint Resolution of Thanks to General John E. Wool. The thanks of Congress are due, and are hereby tendered, to Brevet Major General John E. Wool, for his distinguished services in the late war with Mexico, and especially for the skill, enterprise, and courage which distinguished his conduct at the battle of Buena Vista. The President is requested to cause a sword, with suitable devices, to be presented to General Wool, as a testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of his gallant and judicious conduct on that memorable occasion. January 24, 1854.

No. 3. A Resolution authorizing an increase of the force in the office of the Superintendent of the Public Printing. February 10, 1854.

No. 4. A Resolution for supplying new members of the Senate and House of Representatives with such books of a public character as have been heretofore supplied. February 23, 1854.

No. 5.

Joint Resolution authorizing a supplemental contract for certain marble for the Capitol Extension. March 1, 1854.

No. 6. A Resolution accepting certain volumes and medals presented by her Britannic Majesty's Government to the United States. The presentation volumes and medals, illustrative of the Exhibition in London, in 1851, are accepted, and placed in the Library of Congress. March 27, 1854.

No. 7. Joint Resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury and Light-house Board to determine upon the site, plan, and mode of constructing the Light-house on Cohasset Rocks, and for other purposes. March 27, 1854.

No. 8. Joint Resolution relative to bids for provision, clothing, and small stores for the use of the Navy. All such bids may be rejected, at the option of the Department, if made by one who is not known as a manufacturer of, or regular dealer in, the article proposed to be furnished; which fact, or the reverse, must be distinctly stated in the bids of fered. The bids of all who have failed to fulfil any contracts previously entered into with the United States, shall, at the option of the Department, be rejected. If more than one bid be offered for the supply of an article on account of any one party either in his own name, or in the name of his partner, clerk, or any other person, the whole of such bids shall be rejected at the option of the Department. Copartners shall not be received as sureties for each other. Whenever it is necessary for the interest of the government, and the health of the crews of the United States vessels, to procure particular brands of flour, which are known to keep best on distant stations, the same may be procured in market overt. March 27, 1854.

No. 10. A Resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to pay the expenses of codifying and revising the Revenue Laws. $5,000 are appropriated; and report of expenditure be made by Secretary of the Treasury, to Congress, in December, 1854. April 6, 1854. No. 11. A Joint Resolution authorizing the accounting officers of the Treasury to adjust the expenses of a Board of Commissioners appointed by the Territorial Assembly of Oregon, to prepare a code of laws; also to adjust the expense of collecting and printing certain laws and archives of the Territory of Oregon. May 3, 1854.

No. 12. A Resolution for extending an existing contract for carrying the Mail in Alabama. May 3, 1854.

No. 13. Joint Resolution directing the connection of the public surveys in Alabama, with the boundary line between the States of Alabama and Florida. June 29, 1854.

No. 16. Joint Resolution explanatory of the 2d section of a Resolution to establish certain Post Routes, approved July 12, 1852. July 17, 1854.

No. 17. A Resolution providing for the distribution of the Works of Thomas Jeffer son. July 20, 1854.

No. 18. Joint Resolution to fix the compensation of the employees in the Legislative Department, and to prohibit the allowance of the usual extra compensation to such as receive the benefits hereof. 20 per cent. added to their present compensation. July 20, 1854. No. 25. A Joint Resolution directing the presentation of a Medal to Commander Duncan N. Ingraham. It is for rescuing Martin Koszta from the Austrian war-brig Hussar. August 4, 1854.