Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-09-30
LAWS OF THE UNION.
TPUBLIc-Nn I01

PCBLic-No lU.
AN ACT to appropriate the proceeds OF the
sales Of the public lands, and to grant pre-
emp,ion rights.
Be IL enacted by the Senote and House of
X. preseniafipes OF tAe United Stitss o. .4meri-
ca il, Congress assembled, That from aud after
the thirty first day Of Deoember, in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
forty. .one, there be allowed and paid to each
Of the States Of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Ala
hana, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, AskaR-
sas, and Michigan, over and above what each
OF the said States is entitled to by the terms
of the compacts entered into 5etween them
and the United States, upon their admission
nto the Union, the sum OF ten per centum
upon the nett proceeds Of the sales OF the
public lands, which, subsequent to the day
eSo.esaid, shall be made within the lrnaa Of
each of said States respectively: Provided,
That the sum so allowed to the said States,
respectively, shall be in no wise affected or
diminished on account of any sums which
have been heretofore, or shall be hereafter,
applied the construction or continuance Of
the Cumberland road hut that the dsburse-
ments for the said road shall remain, as here
toissc, ehargeabts 90 the two per ceptum
fund provided for by ceEpac,s with several ct
the said States.
Sac. 2. .1nd be Il further enacted, That
after deductng the said ten per csntun, and
what, BY the conipacts aforesaid, has hereto
Sure been allowed to the States aforesaid, the
residue Of the net, precee eeds-rwhlch nett pro.
cceds shall be ascertained by dcductirg from
the gross proceeds all the expenditures OF
the year for the following objects salaries
and expenses on account of the General
Land Oiice; expenses for surveying public
lS,d~, salaries aud expenses in the surveyor
generals office; snaries, commissions, and
allowances To the registers and receivers; the
five per ccntum To new States-o. all the
public lands of the United States, wherever
situated, which shall be sold subsequent tc
tho said ,hiry.6rst day Of December
shall be divided among the tweaty six States
Of the Union and The District Of Columbia
and the Territories of Wisconsin, Iowa, ant
Florida, according to their respective fedora
representative popplaliaR as asceriained b,
the last census, to be applied by the legs
Ia;ures of the said States TO such purpases al
the said Legislatures may direct: Proenhd
That the distribuive share to which The
District of Columbia shall be entitled. sha'
be applied to free schools, or education II
some other form, as Congress may direct
.7nd provided, also, That nothing herein cor
taned shall be construed to the prejudice o
future applications for reduction OF tn
price of,he public lands, on reasonable terms
10 tho States within which they lie, or
make such future disposition of the publ
hands, or any part thereof, as Congress ma
deem expcdient.
SEC. 3. .qnd be Il further enacted, That th
several sums of money received in the Trea
sury as the nett proceeds of the ssles al u,
public lands shall be paid at the Trcasur
half yearly, on the first day Of January an
luly in each year, during the operation {
Ibis act, to such person or peraopa as the ~
spective Legislatures Of the said States an
Territories, or the Governors thereof in cas-
the Legislatures shall have made no sue
snpoip,ment, shall authorize and direct
receive the same.
SEC. 4. And be Il further enacted, That an
sum Of money, which at any time may o.
come due and payable 10 any state of u
Union. or TO the District Of Columbia, b
virtue Of this act, us the portion OF The sa
state or district Of the proceeds OF the snl'
of the public lands, shall be first applied
the paySept of any debt, due and payab
Eron, the said state or district TO the Unite
States Provided, Tha, this shall not be col
s,rued TO extend to the sums deposited wi
ihc states under tho act of Congress Of tweI
ty-thrd June, eighteen hundred and thirt
ak entitled "An act TO regulate the deposit
OF the public money" nor to any sums "ppa
emily due to the United States as balances
debts growing out of the transactions OF u
Revolutionary war;
SEC. S. .44d b Il further enacted, Th
e this act shall continue aud be in force un
otherwise provided by law, unless the Unit
States shall become involved in war with q
ioreinn power. in which event, from the cot
mcnce,nen of hostlliiies, this act shall
suspend,d during tho continuance Of su
war: Provided, nevertheless, That II, prior
the expiration OF this act, any new state
states shnll be admitted into the Union, the
be assigned to such new state or states, I
ptoportion Of the proceeds accruing at
ihcir admission into the Union, 10 which su
state or states may be entitled, upon
principles of this net. together with what su
state or states may be entitled oby virtue
compncis to be made on their admission u
the Union. m
Syc.6. .7nd be II further enacted, u
there shall be annually Appropriated Tor CO
plcting the surveys of SAID lands n sum
css than one hundred aud iifly thousand d
lars; aud the minimum price OF which
public lands nrc now Sold at private sale n
not he increased, unless Congress shall IN
proper ,o grant alternate secilons along
line of any canal or other inicrual impro
ment, aud at tho same tine ~ INCREASE
minimum piice of the sections reserved
In case the same shall be increased by j
ercspi ns aforesaid, a, any time during
opcrnlion of this act, then 50 much oi
act US provides that the nett proceeds of