Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan, in Green Bay, and the Straits of Mackinaw, and the river St. Mary's, are included in a land district, to be called the Lake Superior Land District; and a land office shall be established where the President shall direct. The Secretary of the Treasury shall cause a geological survey of said district to be made and reported to the Commissioner of the General Land Office. And the President is authorized to offer for sale such land as contains valuable ores, giving six months' notice of the sale, and a brief description of the lands, in such newspapers of the several states, showing therein the number and localities of the mines known, the probability of discovering others, the qualities of the ores, the facilities of working the mines, and of transporting the products to a market. The other lands are to be sold in the common manner, excepting sixteen sections in each town, reserved for the use of schools, and such reservation for public uses as the President deems proper. Any persons occupying lands in this district, for mining purposes, under a lease from the Secretary of War, and who have complied with the conditions, may purchase the tract leased (and no less), at any time during the term of such lease, at the rate of $2.50 per acre. And any persons, occupying for mining purposes, under a written permit of the Secretary of War, and who have visible land-marks as boundaries, and who have complied with the conditions, may purchase in like manner. Such purchase must be made before the day on which they are offered for sale. And all persons occupying mines, discovered before the passage of this act, and who pay the same rent as those who hold under leases, may purchase not less than one section of land, including such mine, on the same terms as those who hold under permits, and shall pay their rents to such officers as may be appointed. Proof of actual occupancy, and of payment of all outstanding dues to the government, shall be first made to the Register and Receiver of such district, for which he may claim one dollar as a fee. An appeal lies from the Register and Receiver to the Secretary of the Treasury; and if two or more are in occupation of a mine, the first occupant shall be preferred, unless the mine can be subdivided, so as to give each his just share of the discovery. The mineral lands shall be offered for sale in quarter sections, at not less than five dollars per acre, and, if not sold at public sale, may be entered at private sale, at that price. No lands, under lease, shall be sold until the leases have expired or are surrendered, except to the lessees. The control of the mineral lands is transferred from the War Department to the Treasury Department; and all papers, &c. shall be delivered accordingly. The President and Senate shall appoint a register and receiver for the district, so soon as a sufficient number of townships are surveyed, and returns made thereof. March 1, 1847. No. 19. An Act to amend the Act, entitled "An Act to reduce the rates of postage, to limit the use and correct the abuse of the franking privilege, and for the prevention of frauds on the revenues of the Post Office Department," passed third of March, eighteen hundred and forty-five. (1.) In lieu of commissions allowed to deputy postmasters, by the Act 3d March, 1825, sec. 14, the following are substituted:-On amounts received within $100, 40 per cent.; between $100 and $400, 33 per cent.; between $400 and $2,400, 30 per cent.; on all sums above $2,400, 121⁄2 per cent.; on magazine, newspaper, and pamphlet postage, 50 per cent.; and on letters or packets received for distribution, 7 per cent. These compensations are to be subject to the provisions of the 41st section of the Act amended. The fiscal year commences July 1, and the restrictions of said section apply to fractions of a year. The per centage on a larger sum shall in no case fall short of what it would be on a smaller. (2.) Money taken from the mails, and afterward coming into the possession of any post-office agent, shall be paid to the order of the postmaster-general, to be restored to the owner upon proof made; and, upon failure to pay over such money when demanded, he is liable to the penalties prescribed by law against defaulting officers. (3.) The privilege of franking public documents is extended to all members of Congress and delegates, the Vice-President, the Secretary of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House. Members of Congress and delegates shall enjoy this privilege, and that of franking letters and parcels under two ounces, from the beginning of their term to the first Monday of December following. The Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House may frank letters, &c. under two ounces, during their term of office. March 1, 1847. No. 20. An Act to amend an Act, entitled "An Act to regulate the carriage of passengers in merchant vessels," and to determine the time when said act shall take effect. The act takes effect with regard to all vessels arriving from ports on this side the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn, on May 31st; from places beyond the capes, on October 30th. The clause authorizing two children, under eight years, to be reckoned as one passenger, is repealed. March 2, 1847. No. 21. An Act making appropriations for the support of the army and of volunteers for the year ending the thirtieth June, one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, and for other purposes. March 2, 1847. See page 197. No. 22. An Act making appropriations for the support of the Military Academy, for the year ending on the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight. March 2, 1847. See page 197. No. 23. An Act making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department, for the year ending the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and fortyeight. March 2, 1847. See page 197. No. 24. An Act further to extend the charter of the Union Bank of Georgetown, in the District of Columbia. March 2, 1847. No. 25. An Act to amend an Act, entitled "An Act to provide for the payment of horses, or other property, lost and destroyed in the military service of the United States," approved the eighteenth day of January, eighteen hundred and thirty-seven. March 2, 1847. No. 26. An Act for the increase of the marine corps of the United States. There are added to the corps, 4 captains, 4 1st lieutenants, 4 2d lieutenants, 25 sergeants, 25 corporals, 25 drummers, 25 fifers, and 1,000 privates. The officers are to be appointed, first, by promotion, and then by selection; and the nominations to be submitted to the Senate. The act passed June 30, 1834,-"for the better organization of the United States Marine Corps," is made applicable to the provisions of this act; provided that the staff be separated from the line, and that the officers of the former receive the same pay and hold the same assimilated rank as at present. At the close of the Mexican war, the President shall reduce the corps to its present number. March 2, 1847. No. 27. An Act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of government, for the year ending the thirtieth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, and for other purposes. March 3, 1847. See page 197. No. 28. An Act making appropriations for the naval service, for the year ending the thirtieth June, one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight. March 3, 1847. See page 197. No. 29. An Act making appropriations for the payment of navy pensions, for the year ending thirtieth June, eighteen hundred and forty-eight. March 3, 1847. See page 197. No. 30. An Act making further appropriation to bring the existing war with Mexico to a speedy and honorable conclusion. The three millions appropriated are to be used, if needed, in event of the treaty's being signed by the agents of both governments, and ratified by Mexico, and the accounts to be transmitted to Congress. March 3, 1847. No. 31. An Act to provide for the punishment of piracy in certain cases. The subject of any foreign state taken on the sea, committing piratical acts contrary to the provisions of any treaty, may be proceeded against and punished in any Circuit Court of the United States, where he may be found, or whither he may be brought. March 3, 1847. No. 32. An Act authorizing the erection of certain light-houses, and for other purposes. March 3, 1847. No. 33. An Act for the admission of the State of Wisconsin into the Union. The State having, on December 16, 1846, adopted a republican constitution and asked an admission into the Union, it is admitted accordingly. The assent of Congress is given to the change of boundary proposed in the first article of said constitution, to wit: leaving the boundary line prescribed in the act of Congress, entitled "An Act to enable the people of Wisconsin Territory to form a constitution and State government, and for the admission of such State into the Union," at the first rapids in the river St. Louis; thence in a direct line southwardly to a point fifteen miles east of the most easterly point in Lake St. Croix; thence due south to the main channel of the Mississippi River or Lake Pepin; thence down the said main channel, as prescribed in said act. No. 34. An Act to create an additional land district in the Territory of Wisconsin, and for other purposes. All the public lands lying within the territory "north and west of the following boundary, to wit: commencing at the Mississippi River, on the line between the townships twenty-two and twenty-three north, running thence east along said line to the fourth principal meridian; thence north, along said meridian line, to the line dividing townships twenty-nine and thirty; thence east, along said township line, to the Wisconsin River; thence up the main channel of said river to the boundary line between the State of Michigan and the territory of Wisconsin," shall form the Chippewa land district. A geological survey is to be made, and the mineral lands exposed to sale, after six months' notice, in subdivisions of quarter-quarter sections at a minimum of $5 per acre, and, if not sold at public sale, may be entered at private sale, at that price. Other lands, not reserved, shall be sold according to existing laws. Those possessing, by actual occupancy, mines actually discovered previous to the passage of this act, and paying rent therefor, upon due proof thereof to the register or receiver, may purchase not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres, at $5 per acre. Of two persons in possession of the same quarter section, the first occupant shall have the preference. All outstanding leases from the Secretary of War, of lands actually occupied for mining purposes, shall be respected. The management of the mineral lands shall be transferred from the war to the treasury department. March 2, 1847. No. 35. An Act for the reduction of the costs and expenses of proceedings in admiralty against ships and vessels. Where a warrant of arrest, or other process in rem, shall be issued, the marshal shall stay the execution of such process, or discharge the property arrested, on receiving from the claimant a bond in double the amount claimed by the libellant, with sufficient surety, to be approved by the judge, or, in his absence, by the collector of the port, conditioned to abide by the decree of the court in the cause; the bond to be returned to the court, and judgment on the same, both against the principal and sureties, to be recovered at the time of rendering the decree in the original case. The entire costs in any such case, in which the libellant shall not recover more than one hundred dollars, shall not be more than fifty per cent. of the amount recovered in the same, and shall be applied first to the payment of the usual witness fees, and the commissioner, if any, and the residue be divided, pro rata, between the clerk and marshal, under the direction of the court. No attorneys' or proctors' fees shall be allowed or paid out of said costs. March 3, 1847. No. 36. An Act to give the consent of Congress to the sale of certain salt spring lands, heretofore granted to the States of Michigan, Illinois, and Arkansas. March 3, 1847. No. 37. An Act to establish a port of entry at Saluria, in the State of Texas, and for other purposes. All that part of the State of Texas south and west of the counties of Matagorda and Wharton, including said coun ties, shall constitute a collection district. Saluria, on the north-easterly part of the island of Matagorda, shall be the port of entry; and Matagorda, Aransas, Copano, and Corpus Christi, ports of delivery only. March 3, 1847. No. 38. An Act relinquishing to the city of Madison, in the State of Indiana, all the right and title of the United States to a certain strip of unsurveyed land, lying within the limits of said city, and bordering on the Ohio River. March 3, 1847. No. 39. An Act to amend an Act, entitled "An Act to raise, for a limited time, an additional military force, and for other purposes." Under section 9 of the act approved February 11, 1847 (see page 199), the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue the scrip therein provided, on the certificate of the Secretary of War, showing the claimant entitled thereto, and not otherwise. This stock shall bear interest, payable on the first days of January and July, from the day of presenting to the Treasury department, such certificate of the Secretary of War, in due form, and shall be transferable on the books of the Treasury Department. The certificate shall be signed by the Register of the treasury, and shall bear the seal of the department, and no other signature shall be required. March 3, 1847. No. 40. An Act creating a collection district in Maine, and constituting Bangor, in said district, a port of entry and delivery. The counties of Penobscot and Piscataquis, and the town of Frankfort, in the county of Waldo, are made the district of Bangor, and Bangor is made the port of entry and delivery. March 3, 1847. No. 41. An Act making provision for an additional number of general officers, and for other purposes. Not more than three additional brigadiergenerals, nor more than two major-generals, may be appointed, if the efficiency of the service require it; the said general officers to be immediately discharged at the close of the war with Mexico. Volunteers, now in service, if, upon the expiration of their enlistment, they reënter the service, shall be entitled to a bounty of twelve dollars. The services of individual volunteers to fill vacancies in the volunteer corps may be received. Officers of the "ten regiments," of equal grade, shall take rank as the President may direct, without regard to priority of appointment. The provisions of the act of May 13, 1846 (see American Almanac for 1847, p. 201), are extended to the regiment of mounted riflemen. Army regulations, giving sutlers a lien upon any part of the pay of soldiers, or a right to receive the soldiers' pay from the paymaster, are abrogated; and the privileges of sutlers are regulated by the rules and articles of war alone. The number of officers in the pay department may be increased; such officers to be confirmed by the Senate, and to give bonds. The dragoons as to bounty, &c., are put upon the same footing with the other regiments. When any non-commissioned officer shall distinguish himself, the President may attach him by brevet of the lowest |