The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1812-06-17

any records, books or papers, belonging to
the said office, under the sir, 1ure of tho
said Commissioner, or, wheRstae Office shall
be vacant, under the signature Of the Chief
Clerk, and the said seal, shall be compe-
nent evidence in all cases in which the orig
inal records, books or papers, could be evil
dencc.
SEC. 5.-.fnd be IL further enacted, Thae
the said Commissioner shall, forthwith, after
his appointment, be entitled to the custody,
and shall take charge of the said seal, and al
so Of all records, books and papers, remain
ing in the Offices of the Secretary of State,
of the Secretary and Register of the Trcasu-
ry, and of the Sccsetary of War, touching
or concerning the public lands Of the United
States, and the said records, books and pa
pers, shall become and be deemed the rec
! ords, books and papers, of the said office.
SEC. 6.---fnd be if Further enacted, That
the said Commissioner shall, when required
by the President Of the United States, or ei-
ther House of Congress, make a plat Of any
land surveyed under the authority of the u
nitcd States, and give such Information res
pccting the public lands, and concerning the
business Of his office, as shall be directed.
SEC. 7.--.dnd be it further enacted, That
in all cases in which lands has heretofore, or
shall hereafter DC given by the United States
for military services, warrants shall be grant,
ed to the parties entitled to such land by tho
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 locat-
ed as Is or may be provided by law; and
patents shall afterwards be issued according
ly.
SIC. S.--.fnd be if further enacted, That
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 bo
signed by tho President of tho United States,
and countcrsigned by the commissioners Of
the said office ; and shall be recorded in tho
said office, in books to be kept for that pur-
pose.
SEC. e.--.fnd be il further enacted, That
all returns relative to the public lands, here
toforc directed to be made to the Secretary
OF the Treasury, shall hereafter be made to
the said commissioners, 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 certi-
fy the balance, and transmit the account with
the vouchers and certificate to the Comptrol-
lcr of the Treasury, for his examination and
decision thereon.
SEC. lo.--.fnd be ii further enacted, That
no person appointed to an office instituted by
this act, or employed in any such Office, shall
directly or indirectly be concerned in the pur-
chase Of any right, title or interest, in any
public land, either i'll his own right, or in
trust for any other person, or In the name or
right of a-v other person in trust for himself,
nor shall take or receive any fec or cmolumene
Cor i,o tra0 tHo huSs
of the office. And any person offending in
the promises against the prohibition Of thiA
act, shall forfeit and pay one hundred dollars ;
and, upon conviction, shall be removed fron
office.
SEC. ll.--.1nd be il further enacted, That
the commissioner of the said Land Office,
shall be appointed by the President OF tho t.
nitcd States, by and with the advice and COM
sent of the Senate and shall receive an a n
nual salary, equal to the salary Of :he Auditor
Of the Treasury, payable quarterly and, Tho
sum Of two thousand two hundred and fifty
dollars is hereby appropriated for the said
compensation, during the year one thousand
eight hundred and twelve, to be psid out OF
any monies In the treasury not otherwise sp-
propriatcd. And the said commissioners shall
have the same privilege with the comptroller
of the Treasury, Of sending and receiving
letters and packages and also fulfil certificates
and patents for land free of postage.
SEC. I2.--.dsd be if further enacfrd, Thae
the commissioner of tho Land Office shall be
authorised to employ sufficient number OF
clerks Provided, That their annual COM
pcnsa,ion shall not exceed in the whole seven
thousand dollars ; and the said compensation
shall be paid in the following manner during
the year one thousand eight hundred and
twelve that is to say three thousand eight
hundred dollars shall be paid out Of the mo-
nies appropriated for the compensation of
clerks, during tho said year, 10 the Office of
the Secretary Of the Treasury; one thou
sand four hundred dollars shall be paid out Of
the rnnnica anrronnialnd Cor Aha connnensa-