Notice to be given by the Secretary of the Treasury to claimants. What description of persons shall be entitled to the benefit of this act. Before whom proof of facts may be taken. Secretary of War and Secretary and Comptroller of the Treasury to ex amine and port upon claims. re the to satisfy the claims of certain persons claiming lands under the resolutions of Congress, of the twenty-third of April, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, and the thirteenth of April, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, as refugees from the British provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia, the Secretary for the department of War be, and is hereby authorized and directed to give notice in one or more of the public papers, of each of the states of Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, to all persons having claims under the said resolutions, to transmit to the war office, within two years after the passing of this act, a just and true account of their claims to the bounty of Congress. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That no other persons shall be entitled to the benefit of the provisions of this act, than those of the following descriptions, or their widows and heirs, viz: First, those heads of families, and single persons, not members of any such families, who were residents in one of the provinces aforesaid, prior to the fourth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, and who abandoned their settlements, in consequence of having given aid to the United Colonies or States, in the revolutionary war against Great Britain, or with intention to give such aid, and continued in the United States, or in their service, during the said war, and did not return to reside in the dominions of the king of Great Britain, prior to the twenty-fifth of November, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three. Secondly, the widows and heirs of all such persons as were actual residents, as aforesaid, who abandoned their settlements as aforesaid, and died within the United States, or in their service, during the said war: And thirdly, all persons who were members of families at the time of their coming into the United States, and who, during the war, entered into their service. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the proof of the several circumstances necessary to entitle the applicants to the benefits of this act, may be taken before a judge of the supreme or district court of the United States, or a judge of the supreme or superior court, or the first justice or first judge of the court of common pleas or county court of any state. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That at the expiration of fifteen months from and after the passing of this act, and from time to time thereafter, it shall be the duty of the Secretary for the department of War, to lay such evidence of claims as he may have received, before the secretary and comptroller of the treasury, and with them, proceed to examine the testimony, and give their judgment what quantity of land ought to be allowed to the individual claimants, in proportion to the degree of their respective services, sacrifices and sufferings, in consequence of their attachment to the cause of the United States; allowing to those of the first class, a quantity not exceeding one thousand acres; and to In what man- the last class, a quantity not exceeding one hundred, making such interrer their judgmediate classes as the resolutions aforesaid, and distributive justice, may, in their judgment, require; and make report thereof to Congress. And in case any such claimant shall have sustained such losses and sufferings, or performed such services for the United States, that he cannot justly be classed in any one general class, a separate report shall be made of his circumstances, together with the quantity of land that ought to be allowed him, having reference to the foregoing ratio: Provided, that in considering what compensation ought to be made by virtue of this act, all grants, except military grants, which may have been made by the United States, or individual states, shall be considered at the just value thereof, at the time the same were made, respectively, either in whole or in part, as the case may be, a satisfaction to those who may have received the same: Provided also, that no claim under this law ment thereon is to be regulated. Claims not as shall be assignable until after report made to Congress, as aforesaid, and until the said lands be granted to the persons intitled to the benefit signable until of this act. grants are made. Limitation of SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That all claims, in virtue of said resolutions of Congress, which shall not be exhibited as aforesaid, with- claims. in the time by this act limited, shall forever thereafter be barred. APPROVED, April 7, 1798. STATUTE II. CHAP. XXVII.-An Act to continue in force, the act, intituled “An act prohibit- April 7, 1798. ing, for a limited time, the exportation of arms and ammunition; and for encouraging the importation thereof." SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the first, second, third and fourth sections of the act, intituled "An act prohibiting, for a limited time, the exportation of arms and ammunition; and for encouraging the importation thereof," be, and are hereby continued in force for one year from and after the present session of Congress, and from thence to the end of the next session of Congress thereafter, and no longer. [Expired.] Four first sec. tions continued. Ante, p. 520. Part of the continued. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the fifth section of the said act, except so much thereof as relates to the importation of sulphur and fifth section saltpetre, be, and is hereby continued in force for one year from and after the fourteenth day of June next, and from thence to the end of the next session of Congress thereafter, and no longer; and that so much of the said fifth section, as relates to the importation of sulphur and saltpetre, be, and is hereby continued in force for one year from and after the fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred, and from thence to the end of the next session of Congress thereafter, and no longer. APPROVED, April 7, 1798. CHAP. XXVIII.-An Act for an amicable settlement of limits with the state of Georgia, and authorizing the establishment of a government in the Mississippi territory. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is authorized to appoint three commissioners; any two of whom shall have power to adjust and determine with such commissioners as may be appointed under the legislative authority of the state of Georgia, all interfering claims of the United States and that state, to territory situate west of the river Chatahouchee, north of the thirty-first degree of north latitude, and south of the cession made to the United States by South Carolina: And also to receive any proposals for the relinquishment or cession of the whole or any part of the other territory claimed by the state of Georgia, and out of the ordinary jurisdiction thereof. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That all the lands thus ascertained as the property of the United States, shall be disposed of in such manner as shall be hereafter directed by law; and the nett proceeds thereof shall be applied to the sinking and discharging the public debt of the United States, in the same manner as the proceeds of the other public lands in the territory northwest of the river Ohio. SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That all that tract of country bounded on the west by the Mississippi; on the north by a line to be drawn due east from the mouth of the Yasous to the Chatahouchee river; on the east by the river Chatahouchee; and on the south by the The remaining part of the fifth section cont.nued. President authorized to es tablish a government and appoint officers therein. Congress may thirty-first degree of north latitude, shall be, and hereby is constituted one district, to be called the Mississippi Territory: and the President of the United States is hereby authorized to establish therein a government in all respects similar to that now exercised in the territory northwest of the river Ohio, excepting and excluding the last article of the ordinance made for the government thereof by the late Congress on the thirteenth day of July one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate to appoint all the necessary officers therein, who shall respectively receive the same compensations for their services; to be paid in the same manner as by law established for similar officers in the territory northwest of the river Ohio; and the powers, duties and emoluments of a superintendent of Indian affairs for the southern department, shall be united with those of governor: Provided always, that if the President of the United States should find it most expedient to establish this government in the recess of Congress, he shall nevertheless have full power to appoint and commission all officers herein authorized; and their commissions shall continue in force until the end of the session of Congress next ensuing the establishment of the government. SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That the territory hereby constituted hereafter divide one district for the purposes of government, may at the discretion of Congress be hereafter divided into two districts, with separate territorial governments in each, similar to that established by this act. it into two dis tricts. Saving of the right of Georgia uals to the jurisdiction of soil and of individ thereof. The people of this territory to certain rights, &c. SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That the establishment of this government shall in no respect impair the right of the state of Georgia, or of any person or persons either to the jurisdiction or the soil of the said territory, but the rights and claims of the said state and of all persons interested, are hereby declared to be as firm and available, as if this act had never been made. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That from and after the establishment of the said government, the people of the aforesaid territory, shall be entitled to be entitled to and enjoy all and singular the rights, privileges and advantages granted to the people of the territory of the United States, northwest of the river Ohio, in and by the aforesaid ordinance of the thirteenth day of July, in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, in as full and ample a manner as the same are possessed and enjoyed by the people of the said last mentioned territory. Penalty on the importation of slaves from foreign parts. $10,000 appropriated for carrying the act into effect. SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That from and after the establishment of the aforesaid government, it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to import or bring into the said Mississippi territory, from any port or place, without the limits of the United States, or to cause or procure to be so imported or brought, or knowingly to aid or assist in so importing or bringing any slave or slaves, and that every person so offending, and being thereof convicted before any court within the said territory, having competent jurisdiction, shall forfeit and pay, for each and every slave so imported or brought, the sum of three hundred dollars; one moiety for the use of the United States, and the other moiety for the use of any person or persons who shall sue for the same; and that every slave, so imported or brought, shall thereupon become entitled to, and receive his or her freedom. SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the sum of ten thousand dollars be, and hereby is appropriated, for the purpose of enabling the President of the United States to carry into effect the provisions of this act; and that the said sum be paid out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. APPROVED, April 7, 1798. CHAP. XXIX.-An Act authorizing an expenditure, and making an appropriation for the reimbursement of monies advanced by the Consuls of the United States, in certain cases. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of State be, and hereby is authorized, under the direction of the President of the United States, to reimburse such reasonable advances of money as have been made, or, during the present year, shall be made by the consuls of the United States, in making and supporting the claims of American citizens to captured property, before the tribunals of foreign countries; or for the relief of sick and destitute seamen in foreign countries, beyond the sum already allowed by law for that purpose. STATUTE II. April 18, 1798. [Obsolete.] Secretary of State authorized to reimburse advances made by the consuls. $30,000 ap SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That for the purposes aforesaid, there be, and hereby is appropriated, a sum not exceeding thirty thou- propriated. sand dollars, which shall be paid from any monies which may be in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated. APPROVED, April 18, 1798. CHAP. XXX.-An Act supplementary to an act intituled "An act authorizing a loan for the use of the City of Washington, in the District of Columbia; and for other purposes therein mentioned." govern SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is authorized, to cause to be loaned to the commissioners appointed under the act, intituled "An act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the ment of the United States," the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, fifty thousand of which shall be advanced in the present year, and the remaining fifty thousand shall be advanced in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, at an interest of six per cent. per annum, to be computed upon each instalment, from the time it shall be advanced; which sum of one hundred thousand dollars is declared to be in full of the monies which the said commissioners are now authorized to borrow, under the direction of the President of the United States, by virtue of the act, intituled "An act authorizing a loan for the use of the city of Washington, in the district of Columbia; and for other purposes therein mentioned." STATUTE II. April 18, 1798. cause $100,000 to be loaned to Ante, p. 130. How the loan bursed. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the sum herein authorized to be borrowed shall be reimbursed by instalments of one fifth part of is to be reimsaid loan, and the interest thereon, commencing in the year one thousand eight hundred and five, and continuing, annually thereafter, till the whole shall be repaid; and all the lots in the city of Washington, now vested in the said commissioners, or in trustees, in any manner, for the use of the United States, and now remaining unsold, excepting those set apart for public purposes, shall be, and are hereby declared and made chargeable with the repayment of the sums which shall be advanced, in pursuance of this act, and the interest accruing thereon, and shall be disposed of in the manner, and under the regulations prescribed by the act herein last mentioned. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the sum of fifty thousand Appropriation. dollars for the present year, and of fifty thousand dollars for the next succeeding year, be, and hereby are appropriated for the purposes aforesaid, out of any money in the treasury of the United States, not otherwise appropriated. APPROVED, April 18, 1798. STATUTE II. April 27, 1798. [Obsolete.] President authorized to cause a number ves. of armed sels, not exceeding twelve, to be procured and fitted out. Number and grade of officers, pay, subsistence, term of service, &c. CHAP. XXXI.-An Act to provide an additional Armament for the further protection of the trade of the United States; and for other purposes. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States shall be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered, to cause to be built, purchased or hired, a number of vessels, not exceeding twelve, nor carrying more than twenty-two guns each, to be armed, fitted out and manned under his direction. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the number and grade of the officers to be appointed for the service of the said vessels, shall be fixed by the President of the United States, as well as the number of men of which the respective crews shall be composed, who, as well officers as seamen and marines, shall receive the same pay and subsistence, be entitled to the same advantages and compensations, be governed by Ante, p. 523. the same rules and regulations, and be engaged for the same time, and on the same conditions, as by an act of the United States, passed the first of July, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, entitled "An act providing a naval armament," is ascertained and established, as fully, as if the particular provisions of that act, having reference thereto, were herein inserted at large. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to cause the term of enlistment of the seamen and marines, to be employed in any vessel of the United States, to be extended beyond one year, if the vessel should then be at sea, and until ten days after such vessel shall arrive in some convenient port of the United States, thereafter; any thing contained in this act, or in the act entitled "An act providing a naval armament," to the contrary notwithstanding. During the re SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the officers of the aforesaid cess of the Sen- vessels may, during the recess of the Senate, be appointed and commissioned by the President alone. ate the Presi dent may appoint officers. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the sum of nine hundred Appropriation, and fifty thousand dollars be and are hereby appropriated out of any monies in the treasury of the United States, beyond the appropriations that may heretofore have been charged thereon, for the purpose of carrying the objects of this act into effect. STATUTE II. APPROVED, April 27, 1798. April 27, 1798. CHAP. XXXIII.-An Act to provide an additional regiment of Artillerists and [Obsolete.] Additional regiment shall be engaged for five years. Engineers. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That an additional regiment of artillerists and engineers shall and may be engaged, by voluntary enlistments, to serve for the term of five years, unless sooner discharged, and to be organized as follows; that is to say: There shall Organization be one lieutenant-colonel commandant, one adjutant, one surgeon and three battalions, each to consist of one major, one adjutant and paymaster, one surgeon's mate, and four companies, of one captain, two lieutenants, two cadets with the pay, clothing and rations of a sergeant, four sergeants, four corporals, forty-two privates, sappers and miners, ten artificers to serve as privates, and two musicians in each company. thereof. To form a part of the military establishment. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the additional regiment which shall be raised pursuant to this act, shall be considered as a part of the military establishment of the United States, for the time being; and the commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, privates, artificers and musicians, who shall engage in the said regiment, shall be entitled to the |