STATUTE I. April 22, 1826. CHAP. XXIX.-An Act to confirm the reports of the commissioners for ascertaining claims and titles to lands in West Florida, and for other purposes. (a) Decisions made by the commissioners appointed to ascertain claims, &c., to lands in West Florida, confirmed. Reports recognised as valid, &c. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That all the decisions made by the commissioners, appointed to ascertain claims and titles to lands in the district of West Florida, made in favour of claimants to lands and lots in said district, contained in the reports, opinions, and abstracts, of the commissioners, which have been transmitted to the Secretary of the Treasury, according to law, be, and the same are hereby, confirmed. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all the reports, abstracts, and opinions, made and forwarded by the two commissioners in said district, subsequently to the first day of January, eighteen hundred and twenty-five, the period at which that board expired by law, be, and the same are hereby, recognised as valid, and confirmed as aforesaid; and the said commissioners, and their secretary, shall be entitled to receive the same compensation as they were authorized to demand by law, prior to that day, up to the time at which the receiver and register took pos3, 1825, ch. 83. session of their records, in obedience to an act of the third day of March, eighteen hundred and twenty-five, entitled "An act to extend the time for the settlement of private land claims, in the territory of Florida," &c. Act of March The Spanish claims contain ed in special reports, act of May 8, 1822, ch. 129, con firmed. Claims to lots in report, &c., with the exception, confirmed, &c. Claims contained in the report of the register, &c., confirmed. Location of the claim of Francisco and reno. Claims to lands in report L. with the exception of that on the square Ferdinand seventh, confirmed, &c. Proviso. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the Spanish claims contained in special reports, from one to thirty, reported in obedience to the fourth section of an act of Congress, approved May eighth, eighteen hundred and twenty-two, entitled "An act for ascertaining claims and titles to lands in the territory of Florida," be, and the same are hereby, confirmed to the claimants in possession. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the claims to lots in report and abstract K, recommended for confirmation as equitable titles, with the exception of the last ten, be, and the same are hereby, declared valid and confirmed, and the claim of the Catholic inhabitants to a lot on which the church stands, be, and the same is hereby, confirmed to them for that use, so long as it is occupied for that purpose. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the claims contained in the report of the receiver and register, made to the Secretary of the Treasury, in obedience to a law of the last session of Congress, dated the thirteenth day of July, eighteen hundred and twenty-five, be, and the same are hereby, confirmed. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the claim of Francisco and Fernando Moreno, near fort San Carlos de Barancas, shall be so located as not to interfere with the grounds reserved by the laws and ordinances of the Spanish government, for forts, nor with that which has been lately selected for a navy yard and naval depot, by the navy commissioners, and approved by the President of the United States. SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the claims to lots in report L, with the exception of that on the square Ferdinand Seventh, be, and the same are hereby, approved and confirmed, so far as the United States have any title to the same, without prejudice to the rights of the corporation: and the lots reserved for market house and other public uses, in the plan of the Constitutional Cabildo, are relinquished and confirmed to the corporation of Pensacola; and the lots reserved and granted for church, parish, vicar, school, and custom-house, are respectively set apart and confirmed, for the objects set forth in the decrees of said Cabildo, so far as the United States have any title to the same, without prejudice, as aforesaid: Provided, That no claim on the public squares of Seville, Ferdinand Seventh, and the square and garden on which the courthouse stands, as laid off in said plan of the Cabildo, shall be allowed or (a) See notes to the act of May 8, 1822, ch. 129. recognised as valid, by this act; and Provided also, That the confirmation of all the said claims provided for by this act, shall amount only to a relinquishment forever, on the part of the United States, of any claim whatever to the tract of land, so confirmed or granted. SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the lands fronting Pensacola Bay, from the mouth of the Big Bayou, to a line below Tartar Point, and thence back to the Bayou, selected by the navy commissioners, and all the lands fronting said bay, and for one mile back, as far as the Grand Lagoon, shall be reserved from sale or location, for the use of the navy yard or depot, and for other public works of the United States. SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That the proper accounting officers of the Treasury Department be, and they are hereby, authorized to receive and adjust the accounts of the commissioners appointed to ascertain claims and titles to lands in East and West Florida, for the contingent expenses of said commissioners, and to pay the same out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. APPROVED, April 22, 1826, Proviso-As to certain claims. Confirmation of all claims to amount, &c. Lands front ing Pensacola bay, &c., be reserved from sale for the use of the United States. Accounts of the commissioners of East and West Florida. STATUTE I. CHAP. XXX. An Act to exempt the professors, tutors, stewards, and students of May 4, 1826. the different seminaries of learning in the District of Columbia, from militia duty. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the president, professors, tutors, stewards, and students of the different seminaries of learning in the District of Columbia be, and they hereby are, declared to be exempt from the performance of militia duty, except in case of war. APPROVED, May 4, 1826. Presidents, professors, &c., militia duty, exexempt from cept in case of war. STATUTE I. May 4, 1826. The President of the United States to cause A commis CHAP. XXXI.-An Act to authorize the President of the United States to run SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the person or persons, so to be appointed by the President of the United States, with such as have been or shall be appointed for the same purpose, on the part of the state of Georgia, after they, in conjunction, shall have run and distinctly marked said line, shall make two fair drafts, or maps thereof, both of Proviso. Compensa Two fair drafts or maps to be fied, &c. made and certi which shall be certified by them, and one of which shall be deposited in the office of the Secretary of State for the United States, and the other delivered to the governor of Georgia. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That, for the purpose of carrying this act into execution, the sum of five thousand dollars be, and hereby is, appropriated, to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. APPROVED, May 4, 1826. CHAP. XXXII.—An Act to extend the lines of certain land districts in the state of Missouri. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the western boundary of the land district of Cape Girardeau, and of the western district in the state of Missouri, be and the same is hereby, extended to the western boundary of the state of Missouri. APPROVED, May 4, 1826. CHAP. XXXIII.—An Act making appropriations for carrying into effect the appointment of a Mission at the Congress of Panama. 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, appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for carrying into effect the appointment of a mission at the Congress of Panama; that is to say: For the outfits of two envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary, eighteen thousand dollars. For the salaries for the same at the rate of nine thousand dollars per year, eighteen thousand dollars: Provided, That it shall not be lawful to pay to either of the said envoys more than nine thousand dollars for his salary in any one year, in the capacity of public minister abroad. For the secretary of the mission at Panama, at the rate of two thousand dollars per annum, two thousand dollars. For the contingent expenses of the said mission, two thousand dollars. CHAP. XXXIV.-An Act making further provision for the extinguishment of the debt due to the United States, by the purchasers of public lands. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the provisions of the act, entitled "An act to provide for the extinguishment of the debt due to the United States by the purchasers of public lands," approved May the eighteenth, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four, and the provisions of the act, entitled "An act explanatory of an act entitled an act to provide for the extinguishment of the debt due to the United States by the purchasers of public lands," approved May the twenty-sixth, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four, be, and the same are hereby, severally revived and continued in force, in all respects whatsoever, until the fourth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the legal holder of any certificate of lands purchased from the United States, which land has reverted by virtue of the provisions of the act of the second of March, eighteen hundred and twenty-one, or the several acts supplementary thereto; or which, by virtue of the fifth section of the act of tenth of May, one thousand eight hundred, is subject to be sold for the balance due thereon with interest, or which, under the provisions of the said act, has become forfeited to the United States, since the first day of July, eighteen hundred and twenty, and which has not been sold, shall be permitted to redeem the same at any time previous to the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, on paying the amount of the purchase money due, exclusive of interest, with a deduction of thirty-seven and a half per cent. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That if the legal holder of any certificate of further credit extended to purchasers of public lands by the act of the second of March, eighteen hundred and twenty-one, entitled "An act for the relief of the purchasers of public lands, prior to the first day of July, eighteen hundred and twenty," shall, previous to the fourth day of July, eighteen hundred and twenty-seven, discharge the amount due on such certificate, by relinquishment, or payment, or both, such holder shall be entitled to a remission of all interest due thereon at the day of such discharge, together with a deduction of thirty-seven and a half per cent. on the amount actually paid in cash. APPROVED, May 4, 1826. CHAP. XXXV.-An Act supplementary to the several acts for ascertaining titles May 4, 1826. and claims to lands in the St. Helena and Jackson Courthouse land districts. Act of April 12, 1814, ch. 52. Claims to land in land district of St. Helena Courthouse, of Jan. 19, 1825, &c., confirmed. Act of May 26, 1824, ch. 175. Act of March Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That all the claims to land contained in abstracts A, B, and E, of the report of the register and receiver of the land district of St. Helena Courthouse, reported to the Secretary of the Treasury, under date of the nineteenth January, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, in obedience to an act of Congress of the twenty-sixth of May, one thousand eight hundred and twentyfour, and the claims embraced in the supplemental report of the register and receiver, under date of the fifth of December, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, and which are recommended for confirmation, be, and the same are hereby, confirmed, so far as they may come within the provisions of, and be conformable to, the principles, limitations, and restrictions of the act of the third of March, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, entitled "An act for adjusting the claims to land, and 3, 1819, ch. 99. establishing land offices in the districts east of the Island of New Orleans." SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the register and receiver of said district shall possess the same powers and perform the same duties in relation to the claims confirmed by this act, as are given to and required of them by the act of Congress, of the eighth of May, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two, entitled " An act supplementary to the several acts for adjusting the claims and titles to lands, and establishing land offices in the district east of the Island of New Orleans:" Provided, That nothing contained in this act shall be so construed as to extend further than a relinquishment of all right and title to said lands, on the part of the United States, without prejudice to the interests of third persons. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the register and receiver, and clerk of said land office, at St. Helena, shall continue to have and receive, for the term of twelve months from the passing of this act, the same salary for the performance of the duties required of them by this act, and the acts to which this is a supplement, as is now allowed by law, which shall be paid out of any money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated. APPROVED, May 4, 1826. Register and receiver of said district to possess the same powers as are given them by Proviso. Register, receiver, &c., to receive the same salary as is now allowed by law. STATUTE I. May 4, 1826. [Obsolete.] On applica or vice consul of France, made in writing, stating that the person therein named has deserted from a public or private vessel of France while in any port of the United States, he shall be delivered up. CHAP. XXXVI.-An Act to provide for the apprehension and delivery of deserlers from French ships in the ports of the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United tion of a consul States of America, in Congress assembled, That, on the application of a consul or vice consul of France, made in writing, stating that the person therein named has deserted from a public or private vessel of France, while in any port of the United States, and on proof, by the exhibition of the register of the vessel, ship's roll, or other official document, that the person named belonged, at the time of desertion, to the crew of said vessel, it shall be the duty of any court, judge, justice, or other magistrate, having competent power to issue warrants, to cause the said person to be arrested for examination; and if, on the examination, the facts stated are found to be true, the person arrested, not being a citizen of the United States, shall be delivered up to the consul or vice consul, to be sent back to the dominions of France; or, on the request, and at the expense of the said consul or vice consul, shall be detained, until the consul or vice consul finds an opportunity to send him back to the dominions of France: Provided nevertheless, That no person shall be detained more than three months after his arrest, but at the end of that time shall be set at liberty, and shall not be again molested, for the same Proviso. Act to be in force so long as the convention of June 24, 1822, be obli gatory. cause. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue in force, so long as the convention of the twenty-fourth of June, eighteen hundred and twenty-two, between the United States and France, shall be mutually obligatory on the parties to it, and no longer. APPROVED, May 4, 1826. STATUTE I. May 4, 1826. After the year 1826, the session of the Supreme Court, changed. Courts to be held on the second Monday in January. Sessions of the sixth circuit court of the United States for Georgia dis trict, and the sixth circuit CHAP. XXXVII.-An Act for altering the time of holding the session of the Supreme Court of the United States, and of the sessions of the circuit courts of the United States, for the districts of Georgia and South Carolina. (a) Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That, from and after the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six, the session of the Supreme Court, heretofore held on the first Monday of February annually, shall, instead thereof, be held on the second Monday of January annually; and all actions, suits, appeals, recognisances, processes, writs, and proceedings whatever, pending, or which may be pending in said court, or returnable thereto, shall have day therein, and be heard, tried, proceeded with, and decided, in like manner as if the time of holding said session had not been altered. (b) SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sixth circuit court of the United States, for the district of Georgia, which is by law appointed to be holden on the fourteenth day of December, annually, shall hereafter be holden on the fourth Monday in November annually; and that the sixth circuit court of the United States, for the district of South Carolina, which is by law appointed to be holden on the fourth Tuesday of November, annually, shall hereafter be holden on the second Monday in December annually; and all that process which shall have been issued, and all recognisances returnable, and all suits and other proceedings (a) See notes to the act of May 25, 1824, ch. 145, as to the sessions of the circuit courts in the districts of Georgia and South Carolina. court for South Carolina dis trict, changed. (b) By "An act concerning the Supreme Court," act of June 17, 1844, ch. 96, the sessions of the Supreme Court are directed to commence on the first Monday in December in each year. The justices of the Supreme Court are required to attend one term of the circuit court in each year, to be designated by the justice of the Supreme Court, assigned to any circuit. The justice of the Supreme Court may, at his discretion, attend any other terms of the circuit court, whenever, in his opinion, the public interest or special exigencies may require. |