The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-06-10

commenced when surveyed, by whom and
on what authority I; and into every other mat
ter respecting the claims which may affect
the justice and validity thereof and for that
purpose shall have power 10 administer oaths,
and to compel the attendance OF, and examine
Witnesses and such other testimony as may be
adduccd to have access to all records Of a
public nature, relative to the granting, sale,
transfer or titles of lands within their respec-
tive districts, and to take transcripts from
such record or records or any part thereof !;
and the evidence thus adduced and obtained,
shall, by the clerk, be entered in book to
be kept for that purpose.
SEC. 6.--y4nd be H further enacted, That
the powers vested by law, in the surveyor of
the lands of The United States south of the
state of Tennessee, shall extend over all the
public lands in the said tract of country.
SEC. 7.-.4ad be it ./urthsr enacted, That
the said commissioners shall respectively un-
der such Instructions as the Secretary Of the
Treasury may, with the appreciation of the
President OF the United States, transmit to
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, accord
ing TO their respective merits, and other cir
cumstanccs whereby they may be diversified;
the abstracts shall contain the substance of
the evidence adduced in support Of, or obtain,
ed respecting, the claims, and shall contain
such other Information and remarks as may
be necessary 20 proper decision thereon,
which abstracts the commissioners shall res
peouvely, as soon as may be, report to the
Secretary of the Treasury, and shall by him
be laid before Congress at their next session
thereafter for their determination thereon.
SEC. 8.--,fad be 10 .farfhcr enacted, That
the saia commissioners be, and they arc
hereby authorized and required 10 collect and
report to Congress, az their next session
list OF all the actual settlers on land in said
districts, respectively, who have no claims to
iuEds derived either from the French, Brit
Ish or Spanish governments, and the time at
which such settlements were made.
SEC. 9.--dad be ii further enacted, That
each OF the said commissioners shall be al
lowed as compensation for his services in re-
iaiion 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 eigh-
teen months compensation be thus allowed
to the commissioners and clerk for the district
east Of Pear! river; nor moro than two years
be allowed TO the Commissioners
and clerk for the district west OF Pearl river;
and the commissioner for the eastern district,
On making mis- report to the Secretary OF the
Treasury, as aforesaid, shall be entitled to
receive in addition seven hundred and fifty
dollars, and his clerk live hundred dollars
and the commissioners for the western dis
Irict, on making his report as aforesaid, shall
receive one thousand dollars, and his clerk
seven hundred and fifty dollars and the said
allowances shall be in full for thcir services
under this act. III. CLAY,
Steater Of The House of Representatives.
WM. III. CRAWFORD,
President Of the Senate, fro temhorc.
April 25, lSl2,--APPRovEp, !
IAMES MADISON.