The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-27

which the said commissioners shall take
and return to the Secretary Of the Inte-
riog and 10 the Secretary Of the Treasu-
ry duplicate vouchers therefor, certified
by them.
Sec. g. And he IL further enacted, That,
for the purpose of making the proper
distribution of the moneys hereby APP
propriated for the present relief of such
families, and for the purpose Of ascertain
ing the whole amount of said damages
and the persons who have suffered the
same, it shall be lawful for the President,
by and with the advice aud consent Of
the Senate, TO appoint three commission
ers, not more than one of whom shall be
a resident Of Minnesota, who shall take
an oath in the manner prescribed by the
laws of the United States TO faithfully
discharge their duties; they shall enter
tain and hear the complaints Gin writing,
duly verified on oath) of all and every
person aggrieved by the depredations of
said Indians, and by the troops Of the,
United States in said war; they shall
have power to compel the attendance of
witnesses, and TO administer the prope
oaths to them to testify the truth; they
shall have power to compel the claim
ants TO be examined and cross-examined
on oath, 10 be administered by them, as
to their said claim; they shall hold their
sessions at such times and places as will
give the persons complaining the fairest
opportunity of verifying their claim with
the least expense; they shall take care
that no unjust or fictitious claim shall be
established; and if they have any reason
10 suppose that any such claim is pre-
sented, they shall have power, and it
shall be their duty, TO procure any couE-
,ervailing proof, to their knowledge, that
the same may be finally rejected. The
testimony of the witnesses and the ex-
animation Of the complainant shall be
reduced to writing, signed and certiaed
by them, respectively, and shall, with
the petition aud all the papers relating
TO each case, with the finding of the com
mission, be transmitted to the Secretary
OF the Interior for his approval, reiec e
| ton, or modification, TO be By him laid
before the next Congress. Amajority of
the commission may. select their presid-
Ing officer, and shall be competent TO de-
eide all questions arising before them.
Sec. 4. And be IL further enacted, That
said commissioners shall hold their first
session at Saint Peters, in the State Of
Minnesota, on or before the first day OF
April next, for the hearing of claim
ants, and that all claims must be pre-
sented TO said commissioners on or before
the first day Of September next, or the
same shall not be heard by them; and
the said commissioners shall make and
return their finding, and all the papers
relating thereto, on or before the first
day of December next.
Sec. g., And be IL further enacted, Thai
said commissioners shall receive TOR theil
services and expenses the sum of two
thousand five hundred dollars each And
they are authorized to depute a proper
person to summon witnesses, who shall
be entitled TO receive his actual expen.
SEES, to be allowed by said commission.
ers, aud the sum of three dollars per day
for his services. Witnesses subpoenaeC
in behalf of the United States shall re.
ceiye pay for attendance not to exceed
the fees allowed by the laws of Mime.
sofa for witnesses attending jus tees
courts. And, for paying the expense o
said commission, the further sum of ter
thousand dollars is hereby appropriated
out OF the said annuities in the Treasury
: OF the United States, or so much thereo
as may be necessary TO pay the same.
Sec. 9. Aild he Z further enacted, Tha
the Secretary of the Interior, immedi
ately after the passage of this act, shall
cause the same to be published in fou
of the newspapers of the State of Min
nesota which, in his opinion, will Civ,
the most publicity TO the same anon,
the people who have suffered by saiC
depredations, and give notice of the frs
meeting Of said commissioners, the ex
penses to be paid out of the sum appro
priated in the next preceding section.
Sec. z Ind Do 10 further enacted, That
the complainant, or any witness testify
ing before said commissioners, shall b
guilty OF perjury, upon conviction there
of in the proper court Of the Unitet
States, he shall suffer the pains and pen
alties prescribed by the laws of tn
+ United States for that offence.
Sec. 8. And be il further enacted, Tha
the said commissioners may make rules
not consistent with this act prescribing
the order and mode of presenting, prose
cutting, and proving said claims befor
them, which rules shall be published il
one newspaper in the city of Saint Pau
and one in Saint Peter for at least tw
weeks prior TO the first session of sal
commission, to be held at Saint Peter, a
directed in the fourth section OF this ac
and the expenses Of this act, and the ex
penses of such publication shall be pai
out Of the funds appropriated in the fit
section Of this act
Sec. Q, Ind be IL further enacted That th
Secretary of the Interior is hereb
authorized 10 set apart of the publ
, lands, not otherwise appropriated, eigh
, acres in sevcrslty TO each individual O
, the before named bands who exertel
! himself in resouing the whites from tn
late massacre Of said Indians. TIL
laud so set apart shall not be subject 1
I any tax, forfeiture, or sale by process O
law, aud shall not be aliened or devised
except by the consent Of the Presiden
of the United States, but shall be an in
heritance 10 said Indians and their heir
forever
Sec. 10 Ind Be- il 6frtlsy enacted, Tha
said commissioners, before entering upO
the discharge Of their duties as suul
shall give bonds in the usual form to tn
United States, in the sum Of twent
thousand dollars each. with good ADD SUI
iicient security, 10 be approved by tn
Secretary Of the Treasury, faithfully {
discharge their duties as such, aud I
account for any money which may com
into their hands.
Approved, February l6, 1863