of lands pre section of land designated by odd numbers, for six sections in width on each side of said road. But in case it shall appear that the United States have, when the line or route of said road is definitely fixed, sold any sec- Grant in lieu tions, or any parts thereof, granted as aforesaid, or that the right of pre-empted or sold. emption has attached to the same, then it shall be lawful for any agent or agents, to be appointed by the governor of said State, to select, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, from the lands of the United States, nearest to the tier of sections above specified, so much in alternate sections, or parts of sections, as shall be equal to such lands as the United States have sold, or otherwise appropriated, or to which the right of preemption has attached as aforesaid; which lands (thus selected in lieu of those sold, and to which preemption rights have attached as aforesaid, together with the sections and parts of sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, and appropriated as aforesaid,) shall be held by the State of Louisiana for the use and purpose aforesaid: Provided, That the lands to be so located shall in no case be further than fifteen miles from the line of said roads and selected for and on account of said roads: Provided further, That the lands hereby granted shall be exclusively applied in the construction of said roads, and shall be disposed of only as the work progresses, and the same shall be applied to no other applied. purpose whatsoever: And provided further, That any and all lands heretofore reserved to the United States by any act of Congress, or in any Act not to apply to reservaother manner by competent authority, for the purpose of aiding in any tions except as object of internal improvement, or for any other purpose whatsoever, be, to right of way. and the same are hereby, reserved to the United States from the operation of this act, except so far as it may be found necessary to locate the route of said railroads through such reserved lands, in which case the right of way only shall be granted, subject to the approval of the President of the United States. Land, how Price of alter SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sections, and parts of sections, of land which, by such grant, shall remain to the United States, nate sections within six miles on each side of said roads, shall not be sold for less than doubled. double the minimum price of the public lands when sold; nor shall any of said lands become subject to private entry until the same have been first offered at public sale at the increased price. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby granted to the said State, shall be subject to the disposal of the legislature thereof, Object of grant. for the purposes aforesaid, and no other; and the said railroads shall be Railroads to and remain a public highway for the use of the government of the United be a public States, free from toll or other charge, upon the transportation of any government. highway for property or troops of the United States. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted to said State, shall be disposed of only in manner following; that is to say, Lands, how that a quantity of land not exceeding one hundred and twenty sections, disposed. and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of said roads, may be sold; and when the governor of said State shall certify to the Secretary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of said roads are completed, then another like quantity of land hereby granted may be so sold; and so, from time to time, until said roads are completed; and if said roads are not completed within ten years, no further sale shall be made, and the lands unsold shall revert to the United States. of mails. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the United States mail shall be transported over said roads under the direction of the Post-Office Transportation Department, at such price as Congress may, by law, direct: Provided, That until such price is fixed by law, the Postmaster-General shall have the power to determine the same. APPROVED, June 3, 1856. June 3, 1856. railroads. Grant in lieu of sections sold or preempted. CHAP. XLIII-An Act granting Public Lands to the State of Wisconsin to aid in the Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be, and is hereby, Grant of land granted to the State of Wisconsin for the purpose of aiding in the conto Wisconsin for struction of a railroad from Madison, or Columbus, by the way of Portage City to the St. Croix River or Lake between townships twenty-five and thirty-one, and from thence to the west end of Lake Superior; and to Bayfield; and also from Fond du Lac on Lake Winnebago, northerly to the State line, every alternate section of land designated by odd numbers for six sections in width on each side of said roads respectively. But in case it shall appear that the United States have, when the lines or routes of said roads are definitely fixed, sold any sections or parts thereof granted as aforesaid, or that the right of preemption has attached to the same, then it shall be lawful for any agent or agents, to be appointed by the governor of said State, to select, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, from the lands of the United States nearest to the tier of sections above specified, so much land in alternate sections, or parts of sections, as shall be equal to such lands as the United States have sold or otherwise appropriated, or to which the right of pre-emption has attached, as aforesaid, which lands (thus selected in lieu of those sold and to which pre-emption has attached as aforesaid, together with the sections and parts of sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, and appropriated as aforesaid,) shall be held by the State of Wisconsin for the use and purpose aforesaid: Provided, That the lands to be so located shall in no case be further than fifteen miles from the line of the roads in each case, and selected for and on account of said roads: Provided further, That the lands hereby granted shall be exclusively applied in the construction of that road for which it was granted and selected, and shall be disposed of only as the work progresses, and the same shall be applied to no other purpose whatsoever: And provided further, That any and all lands reserved to the United States by any act of Congress for the purpose of aiding in any object of internal improvement, or in any manner for any purpose whatsoever, be, and the same are hereby, reserved to the United States from the operation of this act, except so far as it may be found necessary to locate the route of said railroads through such reserved lands, in which case the right of way only shall be granted, subject to the approval of the President of the United States. Grant, how applied. Act not to apply to reservations, except as to right of way. nate sections doubled. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sections and parts of secPrice of alter- tions of land which, by such grant, shall remain to the United States, within six miles on each side of said roads, shall not be sold for less than double the minimum price of the public lands when sold; nor shall any of said lands become subject to private entry until the same have been first offered at public sale at the increased price. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby granted Object of grant. to said State shall be subject to the disposal of the legislature thereof, for Railroads to be the purposes aforesaid, and no other; and the said railroads shall be and public highways remain public highways for the use of the government of the United for government. States free from toll or other charge upon the transportation of property or troops of the United States. Lands, how disposed of. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted to said State shall be disposed of by said State only in manner following, that is to say that a quantity of land not exceeding one hundred and twenty sections, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of roads, respectively, may be sold; and when the governor of said State shall certify to the Secretary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of either of said roads are completed, then another like quantity of land hereby granted may be sold; and so from time to time until said roads are completed; and if said roads are not completed within ten years, no further sales shall be made, and the land unsold shall revert to the United States. of mails. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the United States mail shall Transportation be transported over said roads, under the direction of the Post-Office Department, at such price as Congress may, by law, direct: Provided, That until such price is fixed by law, the Postmaster-General shall have the power to determine the same. APPROVED, June 3, 1856. CHAP. XLIV.-An Act making a Grant of alternate Sections of the Public Lands, to the June 3, 1856. State of Michigan, to aid in the Construction of certain Railroads in said State, and for other Purposes. Grant of land railroads. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be and hereby is granted to the State of Michigan, to aid in the construction of railroads to Michigan for from Little Bay de Noquet to Marquette, and thence to Ontonagon, and from the two last named places to the Wisconsin State line; and also from Amboy, by Hillsdale and Lansing, and from Grand Rapids to some point on or near Traverse Bay; also from Grand Haven and Pere Marquette to Flint, and thence to Port Huron, every alternate section of land designated by odd numbers; for six sections in width on each side of each of said roads; but in case it shall appear that the United States have, when the lines or routes of said roads are definitely fixed, Grant in lieu old any section or any part thereof granted as aforesaid, or that the of sections sold right of preemption has attached to the same, then it shall be lawful for or preempted. any agent or agents, to be appointed by the governor of said State, to select, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, from the lands of the United States nearest to the tiers of sections above specified, so much land in alternate sections or parts of sections as shall be equal to such lands as the United States have sold or otherwise appropriated, or to which the right of preemption has attached as aforesaid; which lands (thus selected in lieu of those sold, and to which preemption rights have attached as aforesaid, together with the sections and parts of sections designated by odd numbers as aforesaid, and appropriated as aforesaid) shall be held by the State of Michigan for the use and purpose aforesaid: Provided, That the lands to be so located shall in no case be further than fifteen miles from the lines of said roads, and selected for, and on account of each of said roads: Provided further, That the lands hereby granted shall be exclusively applied in the construction of that plied. road for and on account of which such lands are hereby granted, and shall be disposed of only as the work progresses, and the same shall be applied to no other purpose whatsoever: And provided further, That any and all lands heretofore reserved to the United States by any act of ply to reservaCongress, or in any other manner, by competent authority, for the to right of way. purpose of aiding in any object of internal improvement, or for any other purpose whatsoever, be and the same are hereby reserved to the United States from the operations of this act, except so far as it may be found necessary to locate the routes of said railroads through such reserved lands, in which case, the right of way only shall be granted, subject to the approval of the President of the United States. Land how ap Act not to ap tions, except as doubled. sections SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the sections and parts of sec- Price of altertions of land which, by such grant, shall remain to the United States, nate within six miles on each side of each of said roads, shall not be sold for less than double the minimum price of the public lands when sold; nor shall any of said lands become subject to private entry until the same have been first offered at public sale at the increased price. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said lands hereby granted Object of grant. to the said State, shall be subject to the disposal of the legislature thereof, Railroads to be for the purposes aforesaid and no other; and the said railroads shall be a public high- and remain public highways for the use of the government of the United States, free from toll or other charge upon the transportation of any property or troops of the United States. way for government. Lands how disposed of. Transportation of mails. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the lands hereby granted to said State shall be disposed of by said State only in manner following, that is to say: That a quantity of land not exceeding one hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of each of said roads, may be sold; and when the governor of said State shall certify to the Secretary of the Interior that any twenty continuous miles of any of said roads is completed, then another quantity of land hereby granted, not to exceed one hundred and twenty sections for each of said roads having twenty continuous miles completed as aforesaid, and included within a continuous length of twenty miles of each of such roads may be sold; and so from time to time until said roads are completed; and if any of said roads is not completed within ten years no further sales shall be made, and the lands unsold shall revert to the United States. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the United States mail shall be transported over said roads, under the direction of the Post-Office Department, at such price as Congress may, by law, direct: Provided, That until such price is fixed by law, the Postmaster-General shall have the power to determine the same. APPROVED, June 3, 1856. June 14, 1856. CHAP. XLV.—An Act to change the Place of holding the Courts of the United States in the District of Delaware. Delaware. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Courts and States of America in Congress assembled, That the courts of the United court offices in States in and for the district of Delaware shall hereafter be held at the 1834, ch. 16. city of Wilmington, in the said district, and the offices of the clerks of the circuit and district court for said district, and the records of said courts shall be kept in the said city of Wilmington. 1852, ch. 33. Serving of process, and proceedings pending. June 26, 1856. 1853, ch. 152. 1846, ch. 78. respecting sus SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That no process issued or proceedings pending in either of the said courts, shall be avoided or impaired by this change of the place of holding the said courts; but all process, bailbonds, or recognizances returnable at the next term of either of the said courts, shall be returnable and returned to the term of said courts respectively, next held according to this act, in the same manner as if so made returnable on the face thereof, and shall have full effect accordingly; and all continuances may be made to conform to the provisions of this act. APPROVED, June 14, 1856. CHAP. XLVII.-An Act to revive and continue in force the Provisions of the Act of 1853, in Relation to "Suspended Entries of Public Lands," and the Act of 1846, in Relation to Suspended Preemption Land Claims." Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Act of 1853, ch. States of America in Congress assembled, That the several provisions of 152, respecting the act approved March third, eighteen hundred and fifty-three, in relasuspended preemption land tion to "suspended entries of public lands," and the several provisions of claims, and act the act approved August third, eighteen hundred and forty-six, in relaof 1846, ch. 78; tion to "suspended preemption land claims," be and the same are hereby pended entries revived and continued in force, and those provisions are hereby declared revived and con- to be applicable to all cases of suspended entries and locations which have arisen since said acts were passed, or which were omitted to be acted upon under either of said acts, as well as to all cases of a similar kind which may hereafter occur, and shall be regarded as applying to locations under bounty land warrants as well as to ordinary entries or tinued. sales, and to all other preëmption cases or locations, where the law has been substantially complied with, and the error or informality has arisen from ignorance, accident, or mistake, and is satisfactorily explained, and where the rights of no other claimant or preemptor will be prejudiced or where there is no adverse claim. APPROVED, June 26, 1856. CHAP. XLVIII.-An Act changing the time of holding the District Court of the United June 26, 1856. States at Wytheville, in the Western District of Virginia. 1819, ch. 12. 1836, ch. 232. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That instead of the times now Courts for western district of prescribed by law for holding the courts of the United States in the Virginia. Western District of Virginia, the said courts shall hereafter be held annually at Clarksburg, on the twenty-fourth days of March and August; at 1835, ch. 36. Wheeling on the sixth days of April and September; at Charleston on the nineteenth days of April and September; at Staunton on the first days of May and October; and at Wythe Court-house on the fourth Mondays of May and October; and that all suits, actions, and proceedings of whatever kind now depending in or returnable to said courts respectively shall be taken to be continued or returnable to the terms herein established. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the term of the circuit court of the United States shall be holden annually at Lewisburg, in the said western district of Virginia, commencing, as now, on the first Monday of August. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That this act shall be in force from and after the passage thereof. APPROVED, June 26, 1856. Circuit court. July 3, 1856. Sessions of nessee. 1855, ch. 143. CHAP. L.-An Act to change the times of holding the United States Courts in Tennessee. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That instead of the times now fixed by law, the circuit and district courts of the United States for the courts in Tenseveral districts in Tennessee shall hereafter be held at the following times, to wit: at Jackson on the first Mondays in April and October; at Nashville on the third Mondays in April and October; and at Knoxville on the third Mondays in May and fourth Mondays in November; and all writs, processes, recognizances, and other proceedings, shall be returnable to the said times, and shall be heard and tried accordingly. But this act shall not take effect until the next terms of said courts after the passage of this act in the said divisions shall be held. APPROVED, July 3, 1856. Act when to take effect. CHAP. LI.-An Act granting to certain Citizens of the State of Missouri the Right to July 8, 1856. enter certain Lands in the Plattsburg District, in said State. 1841, ch. 16. Whereas the State of Missouri, under the provisions of the eighth sec- Preamble. tion of the act of Congress of the fourth September, eighteen hundred and forty-one, selected certain lands in the Plattsburg district, in the said State of Missouri, which lands were thereupon withheld from sale by the United States; and whereas the said State of Missouri permitted entries thereof to be made at the state land-office; and whereas, also, the said selections by the State of Missouri were subsequently rejected and not confirmed to the said State; now therefore, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all cases where persons Purchasers purchased such lands from the said State of Missouri, by entry at the from Missouri of State land-office, the title to which lands is still in the United States, such the Plattsburg certain land in |