The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-21

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ear SD sftsf gES Pub 40, @s sFia
AN ACT to provide for the Collection and safe keeping
Of Public Archives in the State of California u I
BE s.acted Jy he Seots and House Of Representatives. Of The
Eted States Of a0ica Cbness assembled 1hat IL shan
be the duty Of the Secretary of the Interior 10 cause 10
be collected and deposited in the Surveyor General
in California all official books papers, instruments OF
writing documents archives, official seas stamps or
dies that may be found in tho unauthorized possession
of any individual, relating to and used IN the allnls
traon of Government and public affairs IN the Depart
ment of Upper California, and which belonged TO- the
Government during the existence of Spanish or Mexican
authority in Upper California and the same, When de-
posted his Office shall be safely and securely kept by
the Surveyor General in the archives of his Office And
copies thereof authenticated by the Surveyor General
under the seal Of his Office shall be evidence in all cases
whore the originals would be eydence--froVmed, lhat
at the time of depostng said books papers, writings and
documents in said archives. schedule and accurate de-
scpton thereof shall be made by the Surveyor General
with stateent the time and place where the same
were found and when they deposited in the archives
which shall be certified under the seal of the Surveyor
General and filed in his office and certified copy OF
said schedule shall be transmitted to the Commissioner
Of the General Land Office, and also to the Attorney
General SECTION 2. And be further enacted That II
the Surveyor General shall have cause TO suspect a
concealment of any such official books papers, writings
documents archives official SEALS stamps or dies aore
said IN any particular dwelling house, building or place.
any Judge Commissioner of the United States may
affidavit showing the facts and circumstances upon
which such suspicious founded grant to the Surveyor
Gener or any Marshal of the Unted States war
rant to enter such house building place. and there TO
search for such official books papers, writings docu
ments archives. seals stamps or dies, and to take pos
session thereof and eposite them in the archives or the
Surveyor General Office as aforesaid All sgcrl a<
SECTION g. Ind be further caactcd That if any person
shall without lawful authority wifuy take from the
archives of the said Surveyor Generals Office any es
pediente, map, dseho, book paper, writing RECORD,
document SEAL stamp die shalt wifully alter,
deace mutilate iure destroy any espodionte BOOK
paper, map, dseho, instrument OF writing document
record seal stamp die deposited in said archives OF
shall conceal unlawfny withhold from the possession
of the Surveyor General demand refuse to deliver
to him any cspediente map, diseho Official Dook paper
writing document archve record SEAL stamp or die,
relating used in the administration of Government
in the Department Of Upper California and belonging TO
the Government during the existence of Spanish or Mex
can authority in said Department. or shall wiifuiy
alter, dcface mutlate make away with orodcstroy any
such official book, espedenc, map, dscno, paper, VIII
ting document archve record seal, stamp or dle the
person offending shall be deemed guilty Of . nisde-
and on conviction thereof in any court Of compc
tent jurisdiction shall forfeit and inc not exceeding
ten thousand dollars at the discretion of the Court am
be imprisoned for term not exceeding ten yea at tine
like discretion SECTION A. Ind Do further enacted That
If any person shall wully, secretly and fraudulent
y place or cause to be placed in among the archives
Of the Surveyor Generals Office, any expediente book,
paper diseho map daught, record, any instrument
writing purportng to be petition Decree order report
concession, grant, confirmation, map diseio espeenc,
or part of an espedente announcement title paper or
evidence Of right title, claim to any land, mine or
mineral any book, writing paper or document what
ever the person offending shall be deemed and ad)ud-
ged guilty Of misemeanor and upon CONVICTION there
of bhy Court Of competent jurisdiction shall forfeit
and pay fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, and
be imprisoned for term not exceeding three years 81
be both fined and imprisoned within said limits at the
discretion of the Court. 'N AZ '''ti7
| Approved Is May, 1855. sTsI Ea 81s Ea.a.