Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1853-03-10


consideration therIore and all powers
Of attorney, orders, or other authorities
for receiving payment oi any such
claim, or any part or share thereof,
shall be absolutely null and voio, unless
the same shall be freely made and exc
cuted in the presencerot NJ least two at
testing witnesses, alter the allowance
OF sueh claim, the ascertalnmcnt oil the
amount due, and the issuing Of war
rant for the payment thereof.
SEC. z And be it)uriher enacted, That
any officer OF the United States, or per-
son holding any place oi trust or profit,
or disclarging any official function
under, or in come xion with, any execu-
tive, department OF the Government OF
the United States or under the Senate
or House Of Representatives oil the
United States, who, after the passage OF
tbs act, shall act as an agent or ai,or-
ney for prosecuting any claim against
the United States, or shall in any man
ner, or by any means otherwise than IN
the discharge ofhis proper official duties,
aid or assist in the prosecution or sup
port st any such claim or claims, or
shall receive any gratuity, or any share
OF or interest in any claim from any
claimant against The United States,
with intent &c uid or assist or in coDsid-
GRAFTON ofhaving aided or assisted, in
ths prosecution of such claims. shall be
LIABLE 10 indictment, ns Tor a m,sdemean-
or, in any court OF the United States
having Jurisdiction thereof, and, on con-
viction, shall pay fine not exceeding
FIVE thousand dollars. or suffer impri
sonment in the peniientiary not ex-
cesdins one year, or both, IA the court
in it's discretion shall adjudgc.
Src 3. And be IL further enacted, That.
any Senator or Representative n Con-
grsss who, alter the passage oi this act,
shall, for compensatien paid or to be
paid, certain or contingent, ct as agent
or attorney for prosecuting any claim
or claims against the United States, or
shall in any manner or by any means
Tor such compensation aid or assist in
the prosecution or support oi any such
claim or claims or ihali receive any
gratulty. or uny share Of or interes, IN
any clam from any claimant against the
United States, with intent TO aid or
assist or IN consideration Of having aid
cd or assisted in the prosecution Of such
claim, shall be liable To indictment as
ior mlsdcneanor ia any urt OF the
Uniied Stalss having jurisdiction there
OF, and, on conviction, shall pay fine
nGt exceeding five thousand dollars or
suffer imprisonment in the pcnitsntiary
not exceeding one year, or both, US the
court in It's discretion shall adjudgc.
SIC. 4. And be ii)uyiher enacted That
any person who, with intent TO steal or
destroy, shall wiIfuily aud knowingly
destroy. o. attempt to stroy, or shall
take aud carry away any record, paper.
or proceeding OF cour' OF justice fiied
or deposited with any clerk or officer
Of such court, or amy paper or Jocu-
ment or record filed or deposited IN any
public office, or with any Judicial or
public officer, shall, without reference
to the value Of the record, paper, docu
ment, or proceeding, so taken, be deem.
ed guilty of felony, aud on conviction
in any court oil the United States hav.
ing jurisdiction thereof, shall pay 4 fine
not exceeding Two thousand dollars, or
suHer, ,imprisonme in a pcni.entiary not
exceeding three years, or botn, as the
court in it's discretion shall adjudge.
SEC. 5. And be- ii further enacted, That
any officer having the custody Of any
record, document, paper, or proceeding
specified in the last preceding section
Of This act, who shall fraudulently take
away, or withdraw, or destroy any such
record, document, paper or proceeding
fled in his Office or deposited with him,
or in his custody, shall be deemed
guilty ofielony. and on conviction in
any court Of ,he United States having
jurisdiction thereof. shall pay fine not
exceeding TWO thousand dollars, or
suiler imprisonment IN Il penitenliary
not exceeding three yeas, or both, as
the court in its discretion shall atjudge,
und shall iorieit his office and be forever
aiterward disqualified from holding
any Office under the Government OF the
United States.
Src. 6. And be IL further enacted
Tha, il any person or persons shall, di-
tly or indire:ily, promise, oh.r, or
give, or cause or procure to be prom
ised, Offered, or given, any money,
goods. right IN action, bribe. present, or
reward, or any promise, contract, un-
dertaking. obligation, or security for
the payment or delivery Of any money,
goods, right in action, bribe, present, or
reward, or any other valuable thing
whatever, 10 any member OF the Senate
or House Of Representative ofthe Uni
S.d States after his election AS such
member, and either before or after he
shall have qualified and taken his seat,
or to any ficer VI the Unred States, or
person holding any place OF trust or
profit, or discharging any official fune-
lion under, or in eonDexion with any
Jepartment OF the Government Of the
UuI,ed States, or Under the Senate or
House OF Representatives Of the United
States, after the passage oil thus act
With intent TO influence his vote or de-
cision on any question, matter, cause, or
proceeding which may then be pending,
or may by law. or under The consitu- =
ton OF the United States. b, brought
before him in his official capacity, or in
his place OF trus, or profit, and shall be
2 thereof convicted, such person or per-
sons 90 offering, promising, or giving,
or causing or procuring TO be promised,
/ offered, or given any such money, goods,
riph, IN nc Iion, brIbe, present, or re-
ward, or any promise, contrast. under
/ taking. obligation, or security Tor the
paymcnt or delivery Of any money,
goods. right in action, bribe, present, or
reward. or other valuable thing whatev.
er. and the member, Chicer, o. person
who shal in anywise accept or receive
the same, or any part thereof, shall be
{ liable to indictment as tor high crime