Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-03-26
A RfII

To secure to all the States greater measure Of
Justice and equality in the disposition of the pub
lie lands and their proceeds.
Be 1t enacted bv the Senate and House of Repre-
sentdtigeS of the United States Of America an Con-
gress ASSembieI-Tha the Secretary OF the Inter-
Tor be, and he is hereby, directed and required to
prepare and state account of the quantly OF the
public lands granted by Congress to each State and
Territory to aid in the construction Of railroads
And canals, the lands granted to the State Of Mch
gan to construct the st. Mary's canal, excepted,
and to improve the navigation OF rivers within their
respective limits, and the value thereof estimated
at the rate of one dollar and quarter per az
ter deducting therefrom, in every case, any def
cheney which mag appear in the quantity granted
by the terms of the act of acts making such grants
by reason of prior appropriations, or any other in
pediment and wheD in any case the road or roads to
aid in the construction of which such grant grants
have been made to any State or Tcr!it0ryhave not
been located or where the route routes the ter
mini of such road roads have not been dcsgnat d.
or accurately defined in the act acts making the
grants it shall be the duty of the Secretary Of the
Interior in stating the account herein directed, to
assume the longest route or routes, within the
discretion of the State Territory, 10 which such
grants or grants have been made, TO select as the
basis of calculation in arriving at the aggregate
quantity of land granted and 10 any in which
the Secretary shall be unable from any cause to
state with precision the quantity granted to State
or Territory, he shall make an estimate OF such
quantity founded upon the best information in his
possession.
SEC 3 Be 1t further enacted, That after stating the
account directed in the preceding section, the Secre-
tary shall prepare and state al account CT the quail
tiiv of land and the value thereof estimated at the
rate aforesaid to which each State would be entitled,
taking the greatest quantity of land which shall APP
pear to have been granted for the purposes atort-
said to any one State or Territory, the maximum
amount in land, or their equivalent in money which
is proposed in this to grant to the State having
the most numerous representation in the TWO Hous
ofConeress the basis of the estimate, and adjusting
the relltve of all the other States except the States
which have already received grants OF land for the
purposes aforesaid, equsl exceeding the amount
in quantity or money value, to which they would be
entitled under the aportionment proposed by this
act according to- IN the ratio of, the number OF
their respective representations in the two Houses
of Congress.
SEc. g. Andbe Il further enacted That when the
account directed in the foregoing section shall
have been adjusted and stated upon the principles
therein Or scribed, the Secretary OF the Interior
shall be- and be is her, By, authorized aud directed,
after the close of the PR sent fiscal year. soon
thereafter as may be practicable, to pay to the sew
eral States, OF such offices persons as may be
authorized BY the leei litures thereof TO receive
the same, such ratable proportions of the moneys
received from the sales Of the public lands 10 the
year ending on the rtieth day Of June, eighteen
hundred and 6fy-.ix ana also of the moneys which
have already accrued and which may accrue during
the present fiscal year from the came source as
each of them hall appear to be enIGled 10 receive
by the account direc,ed to be al usted and stated
10 the second section of this act: PrOuide9, That
any State States to which any grant grants of
land for the purpos sforesaid have been made,
but OF less quantity money value than they shall
appear to be entitled according the spportionment
stated in the account last al resaid shall only
ceve respectively such portion OF the moneys d.
rectd to be paid by the provisions of this section
as, when added TO the money value of the lands
heretofore granted to them, would amount to their
equal ratable proportion.
SIC. Apd be Il further enacted That the Sec
rotary of the Interior shsl pay over to the several
States, in the manner and under the restrictions
provided in the last preceding section of this act,
their respective ratabe proportions OF the moneys
accruing from the sal s of the public lands 10 each
successive fiscal year, quarterly. or semi annually,
as NAV be directed by the President, until each Of
them shall have received the full amount appor-
toned to them under the pro, isons of the second
section of this act.
SIC. g. Aitd be IL further enacted. That the
moneys required TO carry into effect the provisions
OF this act, be and the same her by, sppropra-
ted out OF any moneys in tue treasury not other
wise appropriated.