be made out cretary rear of the under such instructions as the Secretary of Abstracts to the Treasury may, with the approbation of and forwardthe President of the United States, transmit ed to the Seto them in relation thereto prepare, and cause to be prepared, abstracts from the records of the claims filed as aforesaid, in which the claims shall be arranged into classes, according to their respective merits, and other circumstances whereby they may be diversified; the abstracts shall contain the substance of the evidence adduced in support of, or obtained respecting the claims, and shall contain such other information and remarks as may be necessary to a proper decision thereon, which abstracts the commissioners shall respectively, as soon as may be, report to the Secretary of the Treasury, and shall by him be laid before Congress at the next session thereafter for their determination thereon. to be made Sec. 8 And be it further enacted, That A list of ac the said commissioners be, and they are here- tual settlers by authorised and required to collect and re- by commisport to Congress, at their next session, a list síoners and reported to of all the actual settlers on land in said dis- Congress. tricts, respectively, who have no claims to land derived either from the French, British or Spanish governments, and the time at which such settlements were made. Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That Rates of com each of the said commissioners shall be al pensation. lowed as compensation for his services in relation to the said claims, at the rate of fifteen hundred dollars a year; and each of the clerks, at the rate of one thousand dollars a year: Provided, That not more than eighteen Proviso, months' compensation be thus allowed to the commissioner and clerk for the district S east of Pearl river; nor more than two years' compensation be allowed to the commissioner and clerk for the district west of Pearl river; and the commissioner for the eastern district, on making his report to the Secretary of the Treasury. as aforesaid, shall be entitled to receive in addition seven hundred and fifty dollars, and his clerk five hundred dollars; and the commissioner for the western district, on making his report aforesaid, shall receive one thousand dollars, and his clerk seven hundred and fifty dollars; and the said allowances shall be in full for their services under this act. H. CLAY, Speaker of the House of Representatives. April 25, 1812. APPROVED, JAMES MADISON. Office established. Commission er to be ap pointed. CHAPTER LXVIII. AN ACT for the establishment of a General Land BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there shall be established in the Department of the Treasury an office, to be denominated the General Land Office; the chief officer of which, shall be called the Commissioner of the General Land Office, whose duty it shall be, under the direction of the head of the de partment, to superintend, execute and per- His duties. form, all such acts and things, touching or respecting the public lands of the United States, and other lands patented or granted by the United States, as have heretofore been directed by law to be done or performed in the office of the Secretary of State, of the Secretary and Register of the Treasury, and of the Secretary of War, or which shall hereafter by law be assigned to the said office. . Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That Chief clerk to there shall be in the said office, an inferior be appointed. officer, to be appointed by the said principal officer, to be employed therein as he shall deem proper, and to be called the chief clerk of the General Land Office, who, in all cases, when the said principal office shall become vacant, during such vacancy, shall have the charge and custody of the seal, and of all records, books and papers, belonging to the said office. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That Oaths of office the said principal officer, and every other to be taken. person to be appointed and employed in the said office, shall, before he enters on the duties of his office or appointment, take an oath or affirmation, truly and faithfully to execute the trust committed to him. Sec 4. And be it further enacted, That the said commissioner shall cause a seal of A seal to be office to be made and provided for the said provided, office, with such device as the President of the United States shall approve; and copies of any records, books or papers, belonging to the said office, under the signature of the said commissioner, or, when the office shall be vacant, under the signature of the chief clerk; and the said seal shall be competent Commissioner to have the the seal and of the books, custody of papers & re evidence in all cases in which the original records, books or papers could be evidence. Sec 5. And be it further enacted, That the said commissioner shall, forthwith, after his appointment, be entitled to the custody, and shall take charge of the said seal, and also of all records, books and papers, remaincords relating in the offices of the Secretary of State, of ing to land. the Secretary and Register of the Treasury, and of the Secretary of War, touching or concerning the public lands of the United States; and the said records, books and papers shall become, and be deemed the records, books and papers, of the said office. er upon the the Presi Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That Commission the said commissioner shall, when required requisition of by the President of the United States, or either House of Congress, make a plat of any land surveyed under the authority of the make plats, United States, and give such information respecting the public lands, and concerning the business of his office, as shall be directed. dent or Congress, to &c. Warrants to be given by Sec❜y of War for military lands. Patents to be issued. Patents how ed. Sec. 7 And be it further enacted, That in all cases in which land has heretoforé, or shall hereafter be given by the United States for military services, warrants shall be granted to the parties entitled to such land by the Secretary of War: and such warrants shall be recorded in the said Land Office, in books to be kept for the purpose, and shall be located as is, or may be provided by law; and patents shall afterwards be issued accordingly Sec 8 And be it further enacted, That to be execut all patents issuing from the said office, shall be issued in the name of the United States, and under the seal of the said office, and be signed by the President of the United States, and countersigned by the Commissioner of the said office; and shall be recorded in the said office, in books to be kept for the purpose. Secretary of Accounts to be settled at the commisProviso. sioner's office. Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That all Returns to be returns relative to the public lands, hereto- made to the fore directed to be made to the Secretary of the Treasury. the Treasury, shall hereafter be made to the said Commissioner, who shall have power to audit and settle all public accounts relative to the public lands: Provided, That it shall be the duty of the said Commissioner, upon the settlement of any such account, to certify the balance, and transmit the account with the vouchers and certificate to the Comptroller of the Treasury, for his examination and decision thereon. the office to indirectly in lands. Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That No person no person appointed to an office instituted by employed in this act, or employed in any such office, shall be engaged, directly or indirectly be concerned in the directly or purchase of any right, title or interest, in the purchase any public land, either in his own right, or of public in trust for any other person, or in the name or right of any other person in trust for himself, nor shall take or receive any fee or emo lument for negotiating or transacting the business of the office. And any person offending in the premises against the prohibitions of this act, shall forfeit and pay one hundred dollars; and, upon conviction, shall be removed from office. Sec 11. And be it further enacted, That the Commissioner of the said Land Office, shall be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and shall receive an annual salary, equal to the salary of the Auditor of the Treasury, payable quarterly; Commission. er of the land office, how to be appointed. |