The national Republican., 1862-02-04
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,.
OPTICAL.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES
Passed al he Second Session Of The Thirty
seventh Cbngress.
OFFICIAL.

seventh Cbngress.
rPuBLIc--No. IA .Na.. ~ a
= AN ACT 10 authorize the President Of the
limited States, In certain cases, to take pos
session Of railroad aud telegraph lines, and
for other purposes.
Be u enacted by the Senats and House Of Rep
,.ssetaiivss Of hs United States Of America IN
Gbnqress assembled, That the President ~ the
United States, when In his Judgment the public
safety may require 1t, be and he Is hereby au-
thorized 10 take possession Of any Or Oil tine
telegraph lines 10 the United States, their ofhces
and appurtepances; to take possession o. u,.y any
or all the railroad lines In the United States,
,hslr rollife.stock, their Offices, shops, build.
inas, and ali their appendages and aprurten.
nnoes: TO prescribe rules and regulations for
tbe holding, u.ing, and maintaining Of the sfore.
sad telegraph and railroad lines, and to extend,
repair, aud complete the same, In the manner
mos, conducive to the safoty and interest Of
the Government; to place under military con
troll all the officers, agents, and employees be-
longing 10 the telegraph and railroad lines,
thus taken possession Of by the President, 30
that they shall be considered as post road, and
u part of the military establishment Of the
United States, subject to all the restrictions i'm.
posed by the rules and articles Of war.
SEC. 2. And be u further enacted, That any
attempt by any party or parties whomsoever
in any STATE or District in which the laws o
the United States are opposed, or the execution
thereof obstructed by insurgents and rebel
against the United States, too powerful to b,
suppressed by the ordinary course Of judicia
proceedings, to resist or interfere with the un
restrained use by Government Of the propert,
described In the preceding eectio1, or any at
tempt TO injure or destroy the properly afore
said, shall be punished as q military offence, BY
death, or such other penalty as court-martia
may impose.
SEC s. And be Il further enacted. That thre,
commissioners shall be appointed by the Pres
ident Of the United States, by and with the I'D
vice and consent Of the Senate, TO assess snt
determine the damages suffered, or the com
pensstion TO which any railroad or telegraph
company may be entitled by reason Of th
used under the authority conferred by this act
and their award shall be submitted 10 Congree
for their action.
Sec. 1. And be u further enacted, That th,
transportation Of troops munitions Of war
equipments, military property and stores
throughout the United States, shall be unde
the Immediate control and supervision of th
Secretary Of War, and such agents as he ma
appoint; and all rules. regulations. articles
ussges and laws in conflict with this provision
are hereby annuiled.
Sec. 9. And be il ,fi,Iher enacted, That th
compensation of each OF the commissioner
aforesaid shall be eight dollars per day Will
IN actual service; and that the provisions
this sct so far as IL relates to the operating an
using said railroads and telegrsphs, shall pt
be 10 force any longer than Is necessary for Ii
suppression of this rebellion.
Approved, January 81, 1862.