The true Democrat., 1854-12-20

 AN ACT making Appropriations for the Payment of
 Invalid and other Pensions of the United States
 for the year ending the 80th of June. 1855. Be 1 enacted etc., That the following sums be- and the same are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the payment of pensions 1ov the year ending the 3Oth of June, 1855:
 For invalid pensions, under various acts s3l2 300: For pensions to widows and orphans under acts of the 4th Of July, 1886. and 21st of July l84S S96 900: For pensions to widows. under acts of the 7th of July 1888, Sd of March, l843 and 1,th of June, l844 $1O.000;
 For pensions to widows under acts of the 2d of Fe- brnary. lo48, and 29th of July, l64o. Sj6 900. Forpensons and half-pay to widows and orphans under act of the Sd of February, lS53 S916 900 l Approved, July 27, 1854.
 AN ACT making Provision for the Postal Service in the State of California and in the Territories of Oregon and Washington.
 Be 1 e1acted. etc., That the Postmaster General be. and he is hereby, authorized to empower the spe- cial agents of the Post Office Department in the State of California and in the Territories of Oregon and Washington to appoint letter carriers for the delivery of letters from any post in the said State or Ter ritorles, and to allow letter-carlier so appointed to demand and receive for all letters. newsp- pers or any other mailable matter, not more than may be recommended by the postmaster for whose office such letter carrier may he appointed: Prouaed That not more than p cents shall be charged for any letter. newspaper or ounce of other mailabe matter All such appointments may be determined and rates of compensation modified within the limits aforesaid whenever the same is found eXpedient in the opinion of the appointing agent -4h6 1 ls tsytber lr0rided. That all such appointments and contracts shall be subject to the approval of the Postmaster General and upon notice to any carrier of his rejection by the Postmaster General his appointment and contract shall be deermined and that all the letter appointed in pursuance of this act shall oe subject to the provisions of the 41s section of the act entitled
 An actto change the organization of the Post Office Department, and to provide more etiectually for the settlement of the accounts thereof approved July 2d 1886, except as herein otherwise provided: P,ufded That no letter or letters other maiable matter shall be delivered by any postmaster to said carriers unless requested in writing by the person CT persons to whom said letters other maable matter may be directed.
 2. Andhe 1 turtker ea01ted, That each and every let.ercarrier which may be established under the provisions of this act shall be deemed posroute during its continuance: and the provisions contained in the 9th 10th, lh l2th and 10th sections o n act entitled An act to reduce the rates of postage to limit the and the abuse of the franking privilege, and for the prevention of frauds on Uic re- venues of the Post-0ifice Department' aprcoved March 3d, l945. and the 5th and Sth sections of an act entitled An establish certain postrl.ads and for other purposes, approved August 3lst 1852 are hereby made applicable to said letter-calrier routes.
 $ 3. .4nd D. i fu,tker enocfe1. That the Postnas- General be- and he is hereby authorized to cause the dead letters which may accumulate in the post offices in said State and Territories after the 30th day of June. Tn the year l654 to be returned in periods not less than quarter yearly to the postOice of San Francisco, to be there opened and examined under the direction of the postmaster of that offce who shall according to such regulations the Postmaster Ge- neral may prescribe return to the Post Office Depart net such of said letters shall be found to contain money. valuable papers. Or matters of consequence to be disposed of according to law and destroy such letters shall be onnd contain nothing of value Proraded Aomeaer. That no dead letersha be opened which the postal arrangements of the United States to he rnadu to such countries respectively.
 4. 14ndte at tt5ther enacted, That the Postmas- erGenera may allow to the posmasters in said State and Territories from the lst day of July 1853 such offices will, in addition to the commissions, allow ances and emoluments be sufficient to defray the ac tua and necessary expenses of their offices.
 ,. And be Gt furtler eRacted, That the Postmas- ter General be, and he is hereby authorized and di rected in the settlement of the accounts of postmas ters in the State of California and Territory of Ore gon, serving such previous to the 3oth of June A. D. 1853 to allow to such posmasters all just and reasonable incurred by them in and about the business of their respective offices and the discharge of their official duties Proaided That no allowance shall be made whereby the United States shall be charged with any indebtedness whatsoever.
 Approved, July 27, 1854.
 AN ACT to ascertain and adjust the Titles to certain
 Lands in the State of Indiana.
 De enacted etc., That the register and receiver of the iahd-olllce at NlncenneS, together with Tt and proper person learned in the law and citizen of ln diana to be appointed by the President of the United States, are hereby constituted commissioners to as certain and adjust the title of any claimant to any tract of land, any part subdivision thereof gran ted by the resolve of Congress of the 29h of August 1786 and the act of the Sd of March 179l entitled |" An act for granting lands to the inhabitants and settlers at Vincennes and the Illinois country in the territoy northwest of the Ohio and for confirming them in their possessons and the several acts in aid of. and supplementary thereto
 s g. And be M fuatter enaGed. That every such claimant to any tract of land granted or any part or subdivision thereof shall within six months after the publication of the notice hereinafter provided for file his claim in writing, with the said register. in which he shall specifically set forth such facts as shall be required in the instructions of the Commissioner of the General Land-O Office
 3. And be t furtler eaacted. That such register upou the receipt of such instructions shall give notice by publication in some newspaper of general crcula- ton in the vicinity of the said lands of his readiness to receive applications of claimants to which notice shall be attached the instructions of the said comms sioner
 s 4. 4nd be 1 f,,ther enacted, That such commis- sioners shall meet immediately after the tune allowed for filing such claims and shall hold their sessions at the town of Vincennes. They shall have power to compel the attendance of witnesses. administer all necessary oaths and to hear and decide in summa- " manner all matters respecting such claims. Mi nutes of the proceedings decisions meetings, and ad ournments of the said board shall be regularly enter ed by the register in book kept for that purpose,