Chapter CLXIII. to protect the surveyors of the public lands of the United States, and to punish persons guilty of interrupting and hindering, by force, surveyors in the discharge of their duty
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Chap. CLXIII.— An Act to protect the surveyors of the public lands of the United States, and to punish persons guilty of interrupting and hindering, by force, surveyors in the discharge of their duty. May 29, 1830. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, * A misdemeanor to interrupt surveys, &c. That any person who shall hereafter, in any manner, by threats or force, interrupt, hinder, or prevent, the surveying of the public lands, of the United States, or of any private land claim, which has, or may be confirmed by the United States, or the authority thereof, by the persons authorized to survey the same, in conformity with the instructions of the commissioner of the general land office, or the principal surveyors in any of the districts, in any state or territory, shall be considered and adjudged to be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction in any district or circuit court of the United States, in any state or territory having jurisdiction of the same, shall be fined a sum not less than fifty dollars, nor more than three thousandPunishment. dollars, and be imprisoned for a period of time, not less than one nor more than three years.
Sec. 2. *And be it further enacted, *That, whenever the President ofForce to be repelled. the United States shall be satisfied that forcible opposition has been offered, or will likely be offered, to any surveyor or deputy surveyor, or assistant surveyor, in the discharge of his or their duties, in surveying the public lands of the United States, it shall and may be lawful for the President to order the marshal of the state or district, by himself or deputy, to attend such surveyor, deputy, or assistant surveyor, with sufficient force to protect such officer in the execution of his duty as surveyor, and to remove force should any be offered.
Approved, May 29, 1830.