Chapter XXIV. supplementary to the act, entitled “An act providing for the indemnification of certain claimants of public lands in the Mississippi territory.” Jan. 23, 1815. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, * Act of March 31, 1814, c
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Chap. XXIV.— An Act supplementary to the act, entitled “An act providing for the indemnification of certain claimants of public lands in the Mississippi territory.” Jan. 23, 1815. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, * Act of March 31, 1814, ch. 39.President authorized to appoint three commissioners, to act as a board in the place of the one formerly constituted. That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint three fit and disinterested persons, to be and act as commissioners, by virtue of an act, entitled “An act providing for the indemnification of certain claimants of public lands in the Mississippi territory,” in the place of the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the attorney general of the United States, for the time being; and the said persons are hereby constituted and appointed a board of commissioners, any two of whom may act as a quorum, as in and by the act aforesaid is provided.
Which board is hereby declared to be intended to effect the same purposes and services as the said original board; and is, in every respect, substituted for the same; and is hereby authorized to execute all the powers granted to, and Act of March 3, 1815, ch. 96.directed to perform all the duties enjoined upon, the said original board of commissioners, according to the intent and provisions of the act aforesaid. Sec. 2. Board to meet at some place in the District of Columbia, and to proceed forthwith to business.Reports to be made by it to the President. *And be it further enacted, *That the commissioners to be appointed in pursuance of this act, shall meet at some suitable place within the District of Columbia, on the fourth Monday of January current, or as soon thereafter as may be, to enter on the duties assigned them.
And that they shall proceed therein, as expeditiously as may be, and from time to time shall certify and report to the President of the United States, as to the sufficiency of the releases that shall have been made, and the claims they shall have finally adjudged and allowed, agreeably to the third section of the act to which this act is supplementary. Sec. 3. Commissioners to take an oath of office. *And be it further enacted, *That each of the said commissioners, before they proceed to execute their duties as such, shall take the following oath or affirmation, to wit:
“I, A B, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am not interested in the event of any decision that may be made by this board of commissioners, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me as a member thereof: and will adjudge and determine all the matters, claims, and controversies, subject to the adjudication and determination of this board, according to the best of my abilities, agreeably to the laws of the United States, and the principles of justice and equity.
” Sec. 4. Board may appoint a secretary.His duty, *And be it further enacted, *That the said board of commissioners shall have power and authority to appoint a secretary, whose duty it shall be to receive, file, and preserve, the papers, documents, and claims, that may be presented to, and received by said board of commissioners, and to enter and record all the orders, proceedings, judgments, and determinations, of said board of commissioners. And one of said commissioners shall administer an oath to such secretary for the faithful and pay—as well as the pay of the commissioners.discharge of his duty.
And there shall be allowed and paid out of the treasury of the United States, to each of the said commissioners, as well as to the secretary by them to be appointed, as a compensation for their THIRTEENTH CONGRESS. Sess. III. Ch. 25. 1815. 193 respective services under this act, and in full for the same, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars. Sec. 5. *And be it further enacted, *That further time be, and herebyFurther time allowed for making releases. is allowed to deposit in the office of the Secretary of State, releases to the United States of claims, under the act or pretended act of the state of Georgia, passed on the seventh day of January, seventeen hundred and ninety-five, and assignments of rights or claims to moneys paid into the treasury of the state of Georgia, and power to sue therefor; and also for recording in the office of the Secretary of State, any deed or evidence of any title or claim that hath been released to the United States, or that shall be released on or before the day hereby appointed, to wit: the third Monday in March next.
And so much of the act of Congress, passed the third day of March, one thousand eight hundred and three, entitled “An act regulating the grants of lands of the United States, south ofAct of March 3, 1803, ch. 27.Act of March 3, 1815, ch. 96. the state of Tennessee,” and so much of the act to which this is supplementary as exclude claimants from recording their claims after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and four, be, and the same are hereby repealed. Sec. 6. *And be it further enacted, *That the said commissioners be, andBoard empowered to consider and determine upon releases preferred by representatives of bankrupts, &c. hereby are authorized and empowered to consider and determine all claims, that shall have been duly released to the United States, on or before the said third Monday of March, which may be made and preferred by assignees of bankrupts, or executors or administrators on estates of deceased persons, which may be insolvent and subject to distribution among the creditors of the persons so deceased.
Approved, January 23, 1815.