, 1858-12-10

AN ACT to provide for the Collection and safekeep
ing Of Public Archives IN the State OF California
Be f snacied by thr Scnate and Houss Of Reprsnta-
fiUes gf The Uaiied Stafss Of AnleIca in C0agrssS
assembled That it shall be the duty Of the Secretary
Of the Interior 70 to be collected and deposited
In the SurvryorG eneral's ofce In California, al Off
oiR books, papers instruments Of writing document
archives oheia seals, stamps or dies, that may be
found IN the Unauthorized possession Of any ndiyidu
al relating 10 and used Ia the administration 6f gov
ernment and public Affairs in the department OF Up
per California aud which belonged - the government
during tho existence Of Spanish Mexican authority
IN Upper California; and the same, when deposited
In his oiice, shall be safely and securely kept by the
Suveyor-Ceneal Ia the archives OF lis ohlce; and
copies thereof authenticated by the Surveyor Geleal
under The seal OF bis otioe, shall be evidence in all
cases where tho originals would be evidence; Pr0Bi-
dtd That al the time Of depositiug said books, pa
per-, writings and documents In sad archives, O.
schedule aud accurate description thereof shall be
made By the Surveyor General with q statement oil
the time aud place where the same were fonnd, and
When they were Deposited in the archives which shall
be certified under the seal OF The SuveyorGcne
and fled 10 his OIlce; and certified copy Of said
sccdnie shall 30 transmitted 10 the Commissioner Of
the General Land-Onice, and also to the Attorney
Genoral.
SEC. Z. And Be Il further enaetsd, That II the Sur
veyorGeneral shall have cause to suspect conceal
ment OF aay such Official books, papers, writinRs
documents, archives, or oicla seals stamps or dies
aforesaid, In any particular dwellinghouse building
or place, any jpdgo or commissioner OF the United
States may, on adavt showing the facts and circam
stances upon which such suspicious are founded grant
p the SurTeyorGeneral, or TO any marshal Of the
United States, warrant to enter such house. build
ing, Or place, and thero to search for such Official
books, papeTa writings, documents, archives, seals,
stamps, dies and to take possession thereof and
deposiie them IN the archives Of the SuFveyorGene-
rats office a. Aforesaid.
Sec. s. And Be Il further enacted That " any Der
sou shall without lawful antiorty wlfuly take from
the archives Of the said suryeyofG Geueras office anv
dilouO-
document, seal, stamp, or die; shall Wiuy alter
deilce, miitilate, 1jurc, destroy any espedente
book paper, map, dseno instrument Of writing, doeu
mcut, record seal stamp or die deposited in said ar
chives; shall conceal or unlawfully Withhold from
the possession OF the SurYeyOrGencFal or on demand
refuse 10 deliverto him any espediente, map dseno
ouiciai book, paper, writing, document, archiye,
record. seal stamp die, relating to or used IN the
administration Of government in the department Of
Upper California, and belonging u the government
during the existence Of Spanlsh Mexican authority
In said department. or shall wfGly alter deface ma-
slate, make away with destroy any such official
book, eapedentc, map, dseno. paper, writing d0eu.
men. archive, record, seal stamp die the person
20 otcndlng shall be deamed guilty Of msaemea.
nor end On conviction thereof in any court Of cOmpe
tent nrsdictou, shall forfeit aud pay hne not ex.
gnqdng ten thousand dollars at the discretion Of the
court and be imprisoned for term not exceeding ten
years, At the like discretion.
$50. Ind Be t further enacted, That II any Der.
son shall wilfully, secretly, and audulenty place or
cause to be placed in among the archives Of the
Snrveyor Generals o1lee any espediente book paper
dseno, map, dnught, record, or any instrument Of
writing purporing 10 be petition, decree order re.
port, concession, grant, continuation map diseno.
elpediente, Or part Of an espediente announcement
ttepager, or evidence Of right title or claim 10 anv
land, mine, or mineral, or any book, writing paper
or document whatever, the person 70 Offending shall
be deemed and adndged guilty Of misdemeanor, and
upon conviction thereof by any court Of competent
Jarisdiction shall forfeit aud pay fine not exceeding
five thousand dJars, and be Imprisoned for term
not eceeding three years; or te both fined ard i'm.
prisoned within said limits, at the discretion Of the
Approved May IS, 1858.