THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES. ACTS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Passed at the first session, which was begun and held at the City of Washington, in the District of Columbia, on Monday the first day of December, 1823, and ended on the twenty-sixth day of May, 1824. JAMES MONROE, President; DANIEL D. TOMPKINS, Vice President of the United States, and President of the Senate; JOHN GAILLARD, President of the Senate, pro tempore; HENRY CLAY, Speaker of the House of Representatives. STATUTE I. CHAP. II.—An Act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish, for the use of the territory of Arkansas, an abstract of the military bounty lands, lying within the same. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury, to cause a complete abstract to be made out and transmitted, for the use of the territory of Arkansas, to the governor of said territory, of all the military bounty lands, which have been patented to the soldiers of the late army, or to their legal representatives, lying within the same, designating the tract, the name of the patentee, and the time when issued. APPROVED, January 1, 1824. CHAP. III.—An Act supplementary to the act, entitled "An act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt." Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the oath prescribed by the act, entitled "An act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt," passed on the sixth day of January, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred, may be, in all cases, administered to the person entitled to take the same, either by any judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, or by the district judge for the district within which such person may be, or by any person or persons commissioned by any judge of the Supreme Court, or the said district judge, for that purpose. APPROVED, January 7, 1824. VOL. IV.-I STATUTE I. Jan. 7, 1824. The several acts imposing discriminating duties of ton nage on foreign vessels, to be suspended as respects the kingdom of the Netherlands, &c. Discriminat ing duties of im- This suspension to continue so long as the vessels of the United States and their cargoes shall be exempt from like discriminating duties in their ports. CHAP. IV.-An Act concerning discriminating duties of tonnage and impost. (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 first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four, during the continuance of this act, and under the limitations hereinafter mentioned, so much of the several acts imposing duties on the tonnage of vessels in the ports of the United States, as imposes a discriminating duty between foreign vessels and vessels of the United States, is hereby suspended, so far as respects vessels truly and wholly belonging to subjects or citizens of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; of Prussia; of the Imperial Hanseatic cities of Hamburg, Lubeck, and Bremen; of the Dukedom of Oldenburg; of the Kingdom of Norway; of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and of the Empire of Russia. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That so much of the several acts imposing duties on goods, wares, and merchandise, imported into the United States, as imposes a discriminating duty between goods imported into the United States in foreign vessels, and in vessels of the United States, be, and the same is hereby, suspended, so far as the same respects the produce or manufactures of the territories in Europe, of any of the above-mentioned nations, or such produce and manufactures as can only be, or most usually are, first shipped from a port or place in the said territories in Europe, of either of them, respectively, the same being imported in vessels truly and wholly belonging to the subjects or citizens of each of the said nations, respectively, the vessels of each nation importing its own produce and manufactures as aforesaid. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the suspension of the discriminating duties of tonnage and impost, in the two preceding sections of this act prescribed, shall continue, in behalf of each of the above-mentioned nations, on condition that, and so long as, the vessels of the United States, and truly wholly belonging to the citizens thereof, and all goods and merchandise, of the produce or manufacture of the United States, laden therein, and imported into any of the ports of the said nations in Europe, respectively, shall be exempted from all and every discriminating duty of impost or tonnage, direct or indirect, whatsoever, (a) The acts relating to discriminating duties have been: An act imposing duties on the tonnage of ships and vessels, July 20, 1790, ch. 30, sec. 3. An act to regulate the duties on imports and tonnage, April 27, 1816, ch. 107, sec. 3. An act concerning discriminating duties on tonnage and impost, Jan. 7, 1824, ch. 4. An act to amend the several acts imposing duties on imports, May 22, 1824, ch. 136, sec. 2. An act concerning tonnage and discriminating duties in certain cases, (obsolete,) April 20, 1818, ch. 110. An act in addition to "An act concerning tonnage and discriminating duties in certain cases," (obsolete,) March 3, 1819, ch. 75. An act to exempt Swedish and Norwegian vessels, and the merchandise imported therein from the payment of discriminating duties of tonnage and impost, for a limited time, and for other purposes, Feb. 22, 1827, ch. 21. An act to equalize the duties on vessels of the Republic of Colombia, and their cargoes, April 20, 1826, ch. 26. An act to refund certain duties paid upon vessels belonging to citizens of Hamburg, and their cargoes, March 2, 1827, ch. 45. An act respecting discriminating duties upon Dutch and Belgian vessels and their cargoes, March 2, 1837, ch. 19. An act in addition to an act entitled "An act concerning discriminating duties of tonnage and impost," and to equalize the duties on Prussian vessels and their cargoes, May 24, 1828, ch. 111. An act to suspend the discriminating duties upon goods imported in vessels of Portugal, and to reduce the duties on wines, July 4, 1836, ch. 359. An act giving effect to a commercial arrangement between the United States and the Republic of Colombia, May 19, 1832, ch. 79. An act concerning tonnage duty on Spanish vessels, July 13, 1832, ch. 207. An act relating to duties and drawbacks, Sept. 11, 1841, ch. 24, sec. 4. An act to provide revenue from imposts, and to change and modify existing laws imposing duties on imports, and for other purposes, Aug. 30, 1842, ch. 270, sec. 11. For proclamations as to discriminating duties, issued under various acts, see Vol. 3, Appendix 1. and post Appendix III. other or higher than is levied upon the vessels and merchandise therein imported, belonging to the subjects or citizens of each of the said nations, respectively. But if, in any of the territories in Europe, of either of the said nations, any such discriminating duty shall, at any time, be imposed or levied on vessels wholly belonging to citizens of the United States, or on the merchandise imported as aforesaid in them, then, and from that time, the said suspension herein prescribed shall cease, and determine, so far as respects the vessels, and merchandise imported into the United States in them, of such nations: and all the provisions of the acts imposing discriminating foreign tonnage and impost duties in the United States, shall revive and be in full force, with regard to the said nation. Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That, upon satisfactory evidence being given to the President of the United States, by the government of any foreign nation, that no discriminating duties of tonnage or impost are imposed or levied within the ports of the said nation, upon vessels wholly belonging to citizens of the United States, or upon merchandise, the produce or manufacture thereof, imported in the same, the President is hereby authorized to issue his proclamation, declaring that the foreign discriminating duties of tonnage and impost within the United States, are, and shall be, suspended and discontinued, so far as respects the vessels of the said nation, and the merchandise of its produce or manufacture, imported into the United States in the same: the said suspension to take effect from the time of such notification being given to the President of the United States, and to continue so long as the reciprocal exemption of vessels belonging to citizens of the United States, and merchandise as aforesaid, thereon laden, shall be continued, and no longer. APPROVED, January 7, 1824. CHAP. IX.—An Act making a partial appropriation for the year one thousand Jan. 19, 1824. eight hundred and twenty-four. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the sum of two hundred and sixty-five thousand one hundred and forty dollars be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, for the compensation granted by law to the Senate and House of Representatives, and to the officers, clerks, and servants of both Houses of Congress, and for defraying the contingent expenses thereof; and that the same be paid out of any moneys in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated. APPROVED, January 19, 1824. [Obsolete.] Appropriation for the compensation of the Senate and House of Representa tives. CHAP. XI.-An Act for the relief of certain distillers within the county of Berks, in the state of Pennsylvania. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and required to refund, out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, to the distillers of spirituous liquors within the county of Berks, in the state of Pennsylvania, who at any time since the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, have used stills made according to Henry Whitmer's improvement upon Anderson's condensing tub, and who have paid a duty upon the capacity of the globes of such stills, all such sums of money as they may have paid, respectively, as a duty on the capacity of the globes of their said stills. APPROVED, January 19, 1824. STATUTE I. Jan. 19, 1824. [Obsolete.] Secretary of the Treasury to refund to cer tain distillers, such duties as may have been paid by them, respectively, on certain stills. STATUTE I. Jan. 22, 1824. [Expired.] Act of March The term of half pay pensions, to the widows, &c. of officers, &c. who died in the public service, extended. CHAP. XV. An Act further extending the term of half pay pensions to the widows and children of officers, seamen, and marines, who died in the public service. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 4, 1814, ch. 20. States of America, in Congress assembled, That in all cases where provision has been made by law for five years' half pay to the widows and children of officers, seamen, and marines, who were killed in battle, or who died in the naval service of the United States, during the late war; and, also, in all cases where provision has been made for extending the term for five years, in addition to the first term of five years, the said provision shall be further extended for an additional term of five years, to commence at the end of the second term of five years, in each case, respectively, making the provision equal to fifteen years' half pay; which shall be paid out of the fund heretofore provided by law; and the said pensions shall cease, for the causes mentioned in the laws providing the same respectively. Act of March SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That from and after the passing 3, 1817, ch. 60, of this act, the act, entitled "An act to amend and explain an act giving repealed. pensions to the orphans and widows of persons slain in the public or private armed vessels of the United States," passed March the third, one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, be, and the same is hereby, repealed: Provided, however, That nothing in this act contained shall be construed to prevent the payment of any pension already granted, until the full expiration of the period thereof: nor to affect or impair the rights of any person or persons which may have accrued during the existence of the act hereby repealed, as aforesaid. Proviso. STATUTE I. Jan. 22, 1824. [Obsolete.] Commissioners of sinking fund to purchase, during the year 1824, seven per cent. stock, to an amount not exceeding 8,610,000 dollars. The commissioners author APPROVED, January 22, 1824. CHAP. XVI.-An Act authorizing the commissioners of the sinking fund to pur-chase the seven per cent. stock of the United States, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the commissioners of the sinking fund be, and they are hereby, authorized to purchase, during the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four, any stock of the United States, bearing an interest of seven per centum per annum, not exceeding the sum of eight millions six hundred and ten thousand dollars, upon such terms as they may think proper, not exceeding the following rates above the principal sum purchased, that is to say: For all such stock as they may purchase before the first day of April next, at a rate not exceeding two dollars for every sum of one hundred dollars, in addition to the interest which would have accrued on that day upon the said stock: For all such stock which they may purchase between the first day of April and the first day of July next, at a rate not exceeding seventy-five cents on every sum of one hundred dollars, in addition to the interest which would have accrued on the day last mentioned: For all such stock which they may purchase between the first day of July and the first day of October next, at a rate not exceeding, on every sum of one hundred dollars, the amount of interest which would have accrued on the day last mentioned: and For all such stock which they may purchase between the first day of October next, and the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, at a rate not exceeding the principal and the interest which shall have accrued at the day of purchase. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said commissioners are hereby authorized to make such purchases, under the foregoing restric tions, at such times and places as they may deem most expedient, out of any moneys in the treasury, heretofore appropriated for the redemption of the public debt, or out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. APPROVED, January 22, 1824. ized to make such purchases under certain restrictions. STATUTE I. CHAP. XVII.—An Act to authorize the surveying and making a road from a point Jan. 31, 1824. opposite to Memphis, in the state of Tennessee, to Little Rock, in the territory of Arkansas. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to appoint three commissioners, who shall explore, survey, and mark, in the most eligible course, a road from a point on the right bank of the river Mississippi, opposite to the town of Memphis, in the state of Tennessee, to Little Rock, in the territory of Arkansas; and said commissioners shall make out accurate plats of such surveys, accompanied with field notes, and certify and transmit the same to the President of the United States: who, if he approves of the said survey, shall cause the plats thereof to be deposited in the office of the treasury of the United States, and the said road shall be considered as established and accepted. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said road shall be opened and made under the direction of the President of the United States, who is hereby authorized to employ the troops of the United States in the completion, or assisting in the completion, of said road. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said commissioners shall, each, be entitled to receive three dollars, and their assistants one dollar and fifty cents, for each and every day which they shall be necessarily employed, in the exploring, surveying, and marking, said road: And, for the purpose of compensating the aforesaid commissioners and their assistants, and for opening and making said road, there shall be, and hereby is, appropriated, the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, to be paid out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. APPROVED, January 31, 1824. Act of March The Presi 3, 1827, ch. 96. dent to appoint three commissioners to open point on the right bank of the Mississippi, town of Memopposite to the phis, to Little Rock, Arkansas. a road from a United States troops to complete the same. Compensa tion to the commissioners, three dollars; Assistants, one dollar fifty per day. cents CHAP. XX.-An Act to revive and continue in force an act, entitled "An act fixing APPROVED, February 20, 1824. CHAP. XXII.—An Act to authorize the laying out and opening certain public roads in the territory of Florida. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the President of the STATUTE I. Feb. 28, 1824. [Obsolete.] A public road to be opened from Pensacola |