Nebraska advertiser., 1863-07-16

-A ~ y AENA0 III 1AL<AAaA AE7
gisser to the Steamship Karnak.
Enacted bg tbs SeUate and Hossse Of Representa-
ttues Of tie United States or Aaserica "a Coaqrees as
sepfaRea, That the Secretary Of the Treasury is here
by directed to issue an American register 10 tho
steamship or vessel known as the Karnak Of tue
collection district Of the port Of New York, the same
being a British built vessel, but now owned by
American citizens.
APPROVED, February is, 1868.
CHAx. XXXVH.-An act for the relief Of Persons
for Damages sustained by reason of DepredatiOns
and Injuries by certain Bands of Sioux Indians.
Whereas tho United States heretofore became
bound by treaty stipulations to the Sisseton,
WadpatOn, Medawaeanton, and WaIhlpakoota
bands Of the Dakota or SInUx Indians to pay
large sums Of money and a~nnuities, the greater
portion of which remains unpaid according to the
terms Of said treaty stipulations; and whereas
during the part year the aforesaid bands OF In
dams made and unprovOked. aggressive and most
savage war upon the United states, and massa-
cred a large number of men, women and children
within the State Of Minnesota, and destroyed and
damaged a large amount Of property, and thereby
have forfeited all Just claim to the said moneys
and a~nnuities to the United States; and whereas
it is just and equitable that the persons whose
property has been destroyed or damaged by the
said Indians. or destroyed or damaged by the
troops Of the United States in said war, should
be Unidentified in whole or in part out Of the in
debtedness and annuities so forfeited as aforesaid
Therefore
Be 1t ResoIUed By the Senate in the Hoase Of Re
pee8entatiUe Of the United Suites Of America az Con-
gress assembled That all treaties heretofore made
and entered into by the SissetOn, Wahpaton, Me-
dawakanton, and Wahpakoota bands Of Sioux or
Dakota Indians, or any Of them with the United
States, are hereby declared to be a~brOgated and an
nulIed, so far as said treaties or any of them pur-
port to impose any future Obligation on the United
States, arc hereby declared to be a~brogated and an :
nulled, so far as said treaties or any of them pur-
/ port p fDanoqa onu fufurn ohIirafiou an the IDIfad
States and all lands and rights Of occupancy with
in the States Of Minnesota, and all a~nnuities and
claims heretofore accorded to said Indians, or any
of them, to be forfeited to the United States.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That two
thirds Of the balance remaining unexpended Of fam
nuities duo and payable to said Indians for the
present fiscal year, not exceeding one hundred thou
/ sand dollars, and the further sum Of one hundred
thousand dollaIs, being cwO thirds of the annuities
becoming due and payable. to said Indians during
the next fiscal year, is hereby appropriated, and
shall be paid from the Treasury Of the United States
out Of any moneys not otherwise appropriated, to
the commissioners hereinafter provided for, to be
/ appOrtiOned by them among the heads Of families,
or, in case of their deeease, among the surviving
members Of families of the State Of Minnesota who
suffered damage by the deprena5ions Of the Sisseton
Wahp5ton, NATURALIZATION, G-d aECOta
bands of Sioux or Dakosa Indians, or by the troops
of the United States IN the lats Indian war in the
State of Minnesota, not exceeding the sum Of two
AANAS ASAAaNt " GIL inv ~-Ay -
damages aforesaid, and no moneys shall DO paid
under this section except upon those claims which
shall be presented to said commissioners on OF be-
fore the first day of June next, for the payment Of
whieh-the said commissioners shall take the return
to the Secretary Of the Interior aud to the Secretary
of the Treasury duplicate vouchers therefor, eertif-
ed by them.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, Thot for the
purpose Of making the proper distribution of the
moneys hereby appropriated for the present relief
of such families and for the purpose Of ascertaining
the whole amount of said damages and the persons
who have suffered the same, it shall belaNful for
the President, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate, to appoint three commissioners. not
more than one Of whom shall be a resident Of Min
nesota, wqo shall take an oath in the mar1sr pre-
scribed by the laws Of the United States to faith
fully discharge their duties; thay shall entertain and
hear the complaints Tin writing, duly verified on
oath Of all and every person aggrieyed by the de-
predictions 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 admin
later the proper Oaths to them to testify the truth;
they shall have power to compel the claimants to
be examsned and cross-exaEined on oath to be adj
ministered 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 appOr-
tunity Of verifying their claim with the least ex-
pense; they shall take care that no unjust or hcti-
tious claim shall DO established; and if they have
any reason to suppose chat any such claim is pre-
sented, they shall have power, and it shall be their
duty, to procure any cOuntervailing proof, to their
knowledge, that the same may be finally rejected.
The testimony Of the witnesses and the examination
of the complaint shall be reduced to writing, sign
ed and certified by them, respectively, and shall,
with tho petition and all the papers relating to each
case, with the finding Of the commission, be trans
mitted to the Secretary of the Interior for his APP
prevail, rejection, or modification, to be by him laid
before the next Congress. A majority Of the com
mission may select their presiding officer and shall
be competent to decide all questions arising before
them.
See. 4. And DO it further enacted, That said CON-
missioners shall hold their first session at st. Peters
in the State of Minnesota on or before the first day
of April next, for the hearing of claimants and that
all claims must be presented to said commissioners
on or before tn first day of September next, or the
same shall not be heard by the; and the said CON-
missioners on or before the first day Of September
next, or the same shall not be heared by them and
tho said commissioners shall make and return their
finding aud all the papers relating thereto on or be-
fore the first day Of December next.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That said
commissioners shall receive for their services and
expenses the sum Of two thousand FIVE hundred
dollars each. And they are authorized to depute a
proper person to uminon witnesses who shall be
entitled to receive his actual expenses, to be allow
ed by said commissioners, and the sum Of three dol
lars per day for his services. Witnesses subpoena
ed in behalf Of the United States shall receive pay
for attendance, not to exceed the fees allowed By
the laws Of Minnesota for witnesses attending JUS
tees courts. Bind for paying the expenses Of said
commission, the further sum Of ten Thousand dol
lars is hereby appropriated out of the said aunui-
ties in the Treasury Of the United States, or so
much thereof as may be necessary to pay the same.
See 6. And be it further enacted, That the Sc
eretary Of the Interior, Immediately after ths pas
sage Of this act, shall cause the same 70 be publish
ed in focr Of the newspapers of tho State Of Min
nesota Which IN bis opinion, viii give the most yub-
licity to the same among the people who have suf-
feredsby said depredEtions, and give notice Of the
first meeting Of said commissioners the expenses to
be paid Out Of the sum appropriated in the next
preceding secticn.
Seer Z. And De it further enacted, That If the
complainant, or say witness t~estifying before said
commissioners shall b guilty Of perjury upon con-
vietiOn thereof in the proper court Of the United
States, he shall suffer the pains and penalties pre-
seribed by the laws Of the United States for that
offence.
See.8 8. And ke it further enacted; That the said
commissioners may make rules, not inc0nsistent
-eEh - Of --~.--L.--. IL 81 q r.