ACTS PASSED AT THE SECOND SESSION OF THE TWELFTH CONGRESS. CHAPTER CXLIII. AN ACT to authorise the transportation of certain documents free of postage. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the members of Congress, the Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Representatives be, and they are hereby respectively authorised to transmit, free of postage, the message of the President of the United States, of the fourth of November, one thousand eight hundred and twelve, and the documents accompanying the same, printed by order of the Senate, and by order of the House of Representatives, to any post office within the United States and territories thereof, to which they may direct, any law to the contrary notwithstanding. H. CLAY, Speaker of the House of Representatives, WM. H. CRAWFORD, President pro-tempore of the Senate. November 12, 1812. APPROVED, JAMES MADISON. CHAPTER CXLIV. AN ACT further to prolong the continuance of the mint at Philadelphia. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the act, entitled, "An act concerning the mint," approved March the third, one thousand eight hundred and one, is hereby revived and continued in force and operation, for the further term of five years, after the fourth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirteen. H. CLAY, Speaker of the House of Representatives. December 2, 1812. APPROVED, JAMES MADISON. CHAPTER CXLV. AN ACT making an appropriation to defray expenses incurred, or to be incurred, under an act, entitled "An act to authorise a detachment from the militia of the United States;" and the act, entitled" An act for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions, and to repeal the act now in force for those purposes, passed the twenty-eighth day of February, one thousand seven hundred and ninety five." BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Ame propriation. rica in Congress assembled, That the sum of one million of dollars be, and the same is here- Specific apby appropriated towards defraying any expense incurred, or to be incurred, under an act, entitled "An act to authorise a detachment from the militia of the United States," passed the tenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and twelve; and also, under an act, entitled "An act for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions, and to repeal the act now in force for those purposes," passed the twenty-eighth day of February, one thousand seven hundred and ninety five," to be paid out of any monies in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated. H. CLAY, Speaker of the House of Representatives. President of the Senate, pro-tempore. December 12, 1812. APPROVED, JAMES MADISON. CHAPTER CXLVI. AN ACT increasing the pay of non-commissioned officers, musicians, privates, and others of the army, and for other purposes. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the thirty-first day of December, eighteen hundred and twelve, the monthly pay of the non commissioned officers, musicians, privates, drivers, bombardiers, matrosses, sappers, miners, artificers, saddlers, farriers, and blacksmiths, who have enlisted or shall hereafter enlist in the service of the United States, shall, during the continuance of the war between the United States of America and their territories, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the dependencies thereof, Monthly pay. be as follows, to wit: To each serjeant major and quarter master serjeant, twelve dollars; to each serjeant and principal musician, eleven dollars; to each corporal, ten dollars; to each musician, nine dollars; to each private, driver, bombardier, matross, sapper, and miner, eight dollars; to each artificer, saddler, farrier, and blacksmith, not attached to the quarter master general's and ordnance department, thirteen dollars. Non-commissioned off from arrest for debt. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That cers, soldiers, during the continuance of the war with Great &c. &c. free Britain, no non commissioned officer, musi. cian, private, driver, bombardier, matross, sapper, miner, artificer, saddler, farrier, or blacksmith, enlisted in the service of the United States, during his continuance in service shall be arrested, or subject to arrest, or to be taken in execution for any debt contracted before or after enlistment. Recruits to have an option to serve of the war. till the end Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That every non-commissioned officer, musician, and private, who shall, after the promulgation of this act, be recruited in the regular army of the United States, may, at his option, to be made at the time of enlistment, engage to serve during the present war with Great Britain, instead of the term of five years; and shall, in case he makes such option, be entitled to the same bounty in money and land, and to all other allowances, and be subject to the same |