Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-03-13
A LAW FOR THE DEFENCE OF THE UNI
TED STATES.

AN Act, givingto the President of the United States
additional powers for the defence of the United
States, In certain cases. against INVASION and for
other purposes.
SEC. /. Be it enacted bythe Senate and House
Of Representatives cf the United States Of Amera-
ca IN Congress assembled, That the President of
tho United States be, and he hereby is authorized
to resist any attempt on the part of Great Britain
to enforce, by arms, her claims to exclusive juris-
dction over that part of the State of Maine which
is in dispute between the United States and Great
Britain, and, for that purpose, employ the mill
taTy and naval forces of the United States and such
portion of the militia he may deem advisable to
all into service.
SEC. 2. And be IL further enacted, That the mi
litia, when called into the service of the United
States by virtue of this act of the act entitled
q An act to provide for calling forth the militia
to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insur-
| rections. repel invasion, and to repeal the act
now in force for those purposes" may, if in the
opinion of the President of the United States the
public service require it, be compelled to serve for
a term not exceeding six months after the arrvala,
their place of rendezvous, in any one year, unless
sooner discharged.
| SEC. And be IL further enacted, That, in the
event of an actual invasion of the territory of the
United States by any foreign power, of imminent
| danger OF such invasion discovered, in his opinion
TO exist before Congress can be convened to act
upon the subject the President, be and he is here.
by authorized, if he deem the same expedent, to
accept the services of any number of volunteers
not excepting htty thousand, in the manner provi-
ded for in act entitled " An act authorizing the
President of the United States to accept the servi-
ces OF the volunteers and to raise an additional re.
giment of dragons mounted rilemen," APPROX.
we'd May %, 1886.
SEC. a. And al be further enacted, That in the
event OF either OF the contingencies provided for in
this act, the President of the United States shall
be authorized to complete the public armed YES
sells now authorized by law, and to equip. man.
and empoy. in actual service, all the naval force
OF the u. s.. AMI to build, purchase or charter,
arm, equip and man such vessels and steamboats,
| on the Northern lakes and rivers whose waters
| communicate with the u. S. and Great Britain, as
he shall deem necessary to protect the U. S. from
that quarter.
SEC. >. and be IL further enacted, That the
sum OF ten millions of dollars is hereby appropra-
ted and placed at his disposal for the purpose OF
executing the provisions of this act; to provide for
whch the Secretary is authorized to borrow money
on the credit of the I, S. and to cause to be issued
certificates of stock, signed by the Register of the
treasury, Tor the sum to be borrowed, or any part
| thereof; and the same to be sold upon the best
terms that may be offered after public notice for
P'"Posdis ior tne same. ITOctded, That
gagement or contract shall be entered into which
shall preclude the U. S, from reimbursng any sum
or sums thus borrowed after the expiration of five
years from the first of January next; and that the
rate of interest shall exceed five pei cent. nav
able semi annually.
SEC. 6. Ind be 1t further enacted, That the
sum Of eighteen thousand dollars be, and the same
Is hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the
treasury not otherwise appropriated, for outfit and
salary oil special minister to Great Britain :
Procided The President of the U. S. shall deem
1t expedent to appoint the same.
Sec 7. And be IL further enacted, That in the
event OF either of the contingencies provided for in
the first and third section Of this act the President
OF the u. 5. shall be authorized to apply a part.
not exceeding Sl,000,000 of the appropriation
made IN thus act to repairing arming forti6ca-
tons along the seaboard and frontier
SEC. 8. and be IL further enacted That when
ever militia or volunteers are called into the ser.
vice of the United States. they shall have the or
ganzation OF the Army THE United States, and
shall receive the same pay and allowances.
SEC. 9. And be IL further enacted, That the
several provisions of this act shall be in force until
the end of sixty days after the meeting of the first
session of the next Congress, and no longer
JAMES X. POLK,
Speaker Of The House Of representatives..
WIN. z. KING,
President pro tenn Of the Senate.
Approved, March 3, 1889.
NJ VAN BUREN,