The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-14
70 F FL CIAL.1
Laws of the United States,
Passed at the Second Session of the Thirty
seventh Congress.

PUBLIC-NO. H..
AN ACT to authorize the President of the
United States, in certain cases to take
possession of railroad and telegraph
lines, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted By the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives of the United States Of america, in Con
gress assembled, That the President OF the
United States, when in his judgment the
public safety may require it, be and he is
hereby authorized to take possession of any
or all the telegraph lines in the United
States, their offices and appurtenances to
take possession of any or all the railroad
lines in the United States, their rolling
stock, their offices, shops, buildings, and
all their appendages and appurtenances ;
to prescribe rules and regulations for
the holding, using, and maintaining of
the aforesaid telegraph and railroad lines,
and to extend, repair, and complete the
same, in the manner most conducive to the
safety and interest of the Government; to
place under military control all the officers,
agents and employees belonging to the tele.
graph and roilroad lines thus taken posses
sion of by the President, SO that they shall
be considered as post road and part of the
military establishment of the United States,
subject W dill lllc ItSGIlCGIOuo NY
rules and articles OF war.
Sec. 2. And be 1t further enacted, That any
attempt by any party or parties whomsoev-
er in any State or District in which the laws
of the United States are opposed, or the exc
cution thereof INSTRUCTED by insurgents and
rebels against the United States, too power.
full to be suppressed by the ordinary course
of judicial proceedings, to resist or interfere
with the unrestrained use by Government
Of the property described in the preceding
section or any attempt to injure or destroy
the property aforesaid, shall be punished as
a military offence, by death, or such other
penealty as court martial may impose.
Sec. 3. Ind be At further enacted, That three
commissioners shall be appointed by the
President of the United States, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, to as
sess and determine the damages suffered, or
the compensation to which any railroad or
telegraph company may be entitled by rea-
son of the railroad or telegraph line being
seized and used under the authority confer
red by this act, and their award shall be
submitted to Congress for their action.
Sec. 4. Afd be 1t further enacted, That the
transportation OF troops, munitions of war,
equipments, military property and stores,
throughout the United States, shall be I'm.
der the immediate control and supervision OF
the Secretary of War and such agents as he
may appoint and all rules, regulations,
articles, usages, and laws in conflict with
this provision are hereby annulled.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the
compensation Of each of the commissioners
aforesaid shall be eight dollars per day
while in actual service and that the pro
visions of this act, so far as it relates to the
operating and using said railroads and tele
graphs, shall not be in force any longer
than is necessary for the suppression of this
rebellion.
Approved January 81, 1862.