Suit on the official bond of

Claim released.

Proviso for a

the United States for the district of East Tennessee be authorized, and he is hereby directed, to dismiss the suit by him instituted in favor of the Robert King to United States on the official bond of the late Robert King, former pension be dismissed. agent at Knoxville, Tennessee; and that the claim of the United States founded upon said bond, and sought to be enforced in said suit, be, and the same is hereby, released and discharged: Provided, however, That the accounting officer of the Treasury shall first adjust the accounts of readjustment of Robert King as pension agent, allowing to the defendants for him two payment of any per cent. on the moneys paid out by him for all the time he acted as such balance due. agent, and for which he was never allowed, and that the defendants shall have first paid the balance, if any, which may be found due to the United States.

APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

his accounts and

CHAP. CXLVII.-An Act granting a Pension to Benjamin Berry, a Soldier of the Aug. 18, 1856. Revolution.

pension roll at

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Benj. Berry to Interior be, and he is hereby, directed to place the name of Benjamin be placed on the Berry, a soldier of the Revolution, and now resident of the State of $96 per annum, Maine, upon the list of revolutionary pensioners, and pay to him the sum from Jan. 1, of ninety-six dollars per annum, from the first day of January, eighteen 1850, for life. hundred and fifty, during his natural life. APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

Aug. 18, 1856.

Payment to

kin for expen

CHAP. CXLVIII.— An Act for the Relief of Anthony Rankin, of Tennessee. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury pay to Anthony Rankin the sum of thirty dollars, out of any Anthony Ran money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, it being the amount paid by said Rankin in eighteen hundred and fourteen, while engaged in the military service of the United States, for medical aid and attendance when confined by a severe illness. APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

ses.

to

Aug. 18, 1856.

CHAP. CXLIX.— An Act for the Relief of Nancy Bowen and Sarah Larrabee. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Nancy Bowen Interior be, and he is hereby, directed to place the name of Nancy be placed on the pension roll Bowen, formerly the widow of Robert Brice, upon the roll of pensioners, at $96 per anand pay to her the sum of ninety-six dollars per annum, from the fourth num, from July day of July, eighteen hundred and fifty, during her natural life; also, 4, 1850, for life. that he be, and is hereby, directed to place the name of Sarah Larrabee, formerly the widow of Barstow Newell, upon the pension rolls and pay Larrabee from to her the sum of ninety-six dollars per annum, commencing on the first March 1, 1854. day of March, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, and continuing during her natural life.

APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

CHAP. CL.-An Act for the Relief of John Poe, of Louisville, Kentucky.

Also Sarah

Aug. 18, 1856.

John Poe to

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, directed to pay, out of any moneys in the treas- be paid $752.50. ury not otherwise appropriated, to John Poe, of Louisville, Kentucky, the sum of seven hundred and fifty-two dollars and fifty cents, in full com

Aug. 18, 1856.

Nathan M.

paid $756 for ar

pensation for his services in purchasing horses and mules for the army of the United States in eighteen hundred and forty-six.

APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

CHAP. CLI.- An Act for the Relief of Josiah S. Little.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be paid to Josiah S. Little, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of one thousand dollars, in full remuneration for a piece of land to which he lost title by the operation of the fourth article of the "Treaty to settle and define the boundries between the Territories of the United States and the possessions of her British Majesty," &c., of the ninth of August, eighteen hundred and forty-two.

APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

CHAP. CLII.- An Act for the Relief of Nathan M. Lounsbury.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the InLounsbury to be terior be, and he is hereby, required and authorized to pay to Nathan M. rears of pension. Lounsbury, of Rutland county, Vermont, the sum of seven hundred and fifty-six dollars, being at the rate of eight dollars per month, for arrears of pension, from the eighteenth day of March, eighteen hundred and eighteen, to the fourth day of February, eighteen hundred and twentysix, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

Aug. 18, 1856

Rebecca Halsey to be placed

on pension roll

at $35 per month, from July 4, 1848, for life.

CHAP. CLIII- An Act for the Relief of Rebecca Halsey, Widow of Zephaniah Halsey, an Officer of the Revolution."

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, directed to place the name of Rebecca Halsey, widow of Zephaniah Halsey, deceased, an officer of the Revolution, on the list of revolutionary pensioners, and pay to her a pension at the rate of thirty-five dollars per month, from the fourth day of July, eighteen hundred and forty-eight, to continue during her natural life. APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

Aug. 18, 1856. CHAP. CLIV.-An Act for the Relief of John I. Scranton and James M. Hunt, Owners of the Steamer "Major Tompkins."

J. M. Hunt.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Payment to J. States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the H. Scranton and Treasury cause to be paid, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to John H. Scranton and James M. Hunt, owners of the steamer "Major Tompkins," the sum of nine thousand six hundred dollars, in full satisfaction for the services rendered, and for the risk, loss, and damages incurred in saving the United States mails and treasure, and in rescuing the passengers and crew which were on board the steamer "Southerner," at the time of the wreck of that vessel on the uninhabited coast of Washington Territory, in the month of December, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, and for the clothing and subsistence necessarily furnished to said passengers and crew.

APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

CHAP. CLV.-An Act for the Relief of F. A. Cunningham, Paymaster United States Aug. 18, 1856. Army.

lowed $36,085 00

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the proper accounting F. A. Cunofficers of the Treasury Department be, and they are hereby authorized ningham to be aland directed, in the settlement of the accounts of F. A. Cunningham, in his accounts. paymaster of the United States army, to allow him a credit in the sum of thirty-six thousand and eighty-five dollars, of which sum of public money he was robbed at Santa Fe, New Mexico, on the eighteenth of January, eighteen hundred and fifty-five.

APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

CHAP. CLVI.-An Act for the Relief of John M. McIntosh.

Aug. 18, 1856.

John M. Mc

counts of

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and required to cause to be Intosh to be paid paid to John M. McIntosh, the sum of one hundred and sixty-four dol- 816 of John lars, that being the joint amount of two accounts against the government, Clutes and Jaduly certified to be correct, in favor of John Clutes and Jacob Hart, for cob Hart. eighty-two dollars each; said accounts being on duplicate certificates, the originals having been lost and considered as cancelled; the same to be paid out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated: Prorided, That the said McIntosh shall file a bond, to be approved by the bond of indemSecretary of the Treasury, to indemnify the United States against future nity. liability for the payment of said accounts. APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

CHAP. CLVII.-An Act for the Relief of Eliza B. McNeill.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized and required to place the name of Eliza B. McNeill upon the pension list, and to allow her a pension equal in amount to half the pay her husband, F. B. McNeill, was entitled to as captain in the United States marine corps at the time of his death, for five years, from April twenty-five, eighteen hundred and fifty-six, payable semi-annually.

APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

Proviso for a

Aug. 18, 1856.

Surveys of

claims of Toups

CHAP. CLVIII.—An Act for the Relief of Ambrose Lanfear, of Louisiana. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the surveys of claim number seventy-four, known as the claim of the children of Paul Toups, and claims in Louisiof claim number five hundred and twenty-nine, known as the claim of an, known as Daspit St. Amand, executed by Maurice Hanké, United States deputy children and of surveyor, and approved of by William J. McCulloh, United States sur- Daspit St. Amand, confirmned veyor general for the State of Louisiana, on the fifth day of May, eighteen to Ambrose hundred and fifty-five, be, and the said surveys are hereby confirmed in Lanfear. favor of Ambrose Lanfear for the lands embraced within the said surveys hereby confirmed: Provided, That such confirmation shall only be This confirconstrued into a relinquishment of title on the part of the United States, mation to be and shall not affect the rights of any third person claiming title either only a relinunder adverse title or as preemptor: And provided further, That any title. person, or persons, who are now settled on the said lands, or any portion of the lands embraced in the said surveys, shall be entitled to have and maintain an action to test the validity of said surveys and the extent of the said claims of the children of Paul Toups, and of Daspit St. Amand,

quishment of

Proviso that contestants may

sue.

Preemption

as on said surveys.

numbers seventy-four and five hundred and twenty-nine- and to have the same determined judicially in the same manner as though the land on which they are settled had been surveyed as public land, and they had been permitted to enter the same by way of preëmption, it being the true intent and meaning of this act that no person who would be now entitled to a right of preemption to any part of the said land, if the same were the property of the United States, shall be deprived of the same, unless it is judicially decided that the said surveys were made in conformity with the legal right of the said Ambrose Lanfear, under the said confirmation.

APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

August 18, 1856. CHAP. CLIX.-An Act for the Relief of Hannibal Faulk and Eliza S. Collier, (formerly Widow Scriber,) and the Heirs and Legal Representatives of Benjamin Scriber, deceased.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United H. Faulk and States of America in Congress assembled, That Hannibal Faulk and others, heirs of Eliza S. Collier, (formerly widow Scriber,) and Abraham H. Scriber, Benj. Scriber, confirmed in Mary Ann Scriber, and William J. C. Scriber, heirs at law of Benjamin their title to cer- Scriber, deceased, according to their respective interests, be, and they are tain land in La. hereby, confirmed in their title to a certain tract of land, lying within the

Baron de Bastrop grant, in the State of Louisiana, being a remainder of twenty-two hundred and fifty arpens of a tract of three thousand arpens, reported on by the register and receiver of the land-office at Monroe, Louisiana, under date of July thirtieth, eighteen hundred and fifty-two, and numbered in said report as number one, of the first class; and being, also, that portion of said tract of land which was rejected by the said register and receiver, but recommended to the discretion and liberality Confirmation, of the Government. The confirmation hereby made, together with the how, to operate. confirmation under the act of Congress, approved June twenty-nine, 1854, ch. 68. eighteen hundred and fifty-four, shall be construed to confirm the title to

Patent, how issued.

the entire tract of land containing three thousand arpens, claimed by the said parties before the said register and receiver, and more particularly described in the deed from John McBride to Abraham Scriber, dated the fifteenth June, eighteen hundred and eighteen, a copy of which accompanies the said report of the thirtieth July, eighteen hundred and fifty-two. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Commissioner of the General Land-Office, upon the receipt of a plat and survey of the said tract of land, executed by the proper officer, shall cause a patent to be issued ther for: Provided, however, That such patent shall only operate as a relinquishment of title on the part of the United States, and shall not affect the right of any third person, whether entitled to a preëmption under the laws of the United States, or having other valid claim to any part of said land.

APPROVED, August 18, 1856.

RESOLUTIONS.

[No. 6.] A Resolution for the Relief of the Southwestern and Muscogee Railroad Com- May 9, 1856.

panies.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United

mail service of

States of America in Congress assembled, That the Postmaster-General Payment to R. be and he is hereby authorized to correct the error in the bid of R. R. R. Cuyler for Cuyler, for the President of the Southwestern and Muskogee Railroad certain railroads. Companies, on mail route six thousand three hundred and three; and that he be required to allow them fifteen thousand three hundred dollars per annum for the double daily service, from the commencement of their service to the expiration of the contract, or so long as the New York and New Orleans mail may continue to be transported over said route. APPROVED, May 9, 1856.

[No. 11.] Joint Resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to settle the Accounts of Oliver M. Wozencraft.

July 3, 1856.

Settlement of

M. Wozencraft.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Intarior be and he is authorized to audit and settle, upon just and equitable accounts of 0. principles, the accounts of Oliver M. Wozencraft, late commissioner and Indian agent for California, for actual disbursements made by him; and that a sum not exceeding seven thousand dollars be appropriated for the purpose of carrying this resolution into effect, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall authorize the settlement of any contracts entered into by said Wozencraft, or drafts drawn by him, on which individuals now base claims against the United States.

APPROVED, July 3, 1856.

[No. 12.] Joint Resolution for the Relief of Dr. William P. A. Hail, late of the Tennessee July 17, 1856. Volunteers in the Mexican War.

Adjustment of claim of Dr. W.

P. A. Hail.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the proper accounting officers of the treasury be authorized and directed to adjust the claim of Dr. W. P. A. Hail, for medical services rendered to the volunteers while serving in Mexico, upon the following principles, to wit: to allow said Dr. Hail the pay of assistant surgeon while engaged in professional services, with the consent of his commanding officer, deducting therefrom the amount paid to said Hail as a private in the first regiment of Tennessee volunteers, during the period he performed the duties of surgeon. SEC. 2. And be it further resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury pay to Dr. W. P. A. Hail, out of any moneys in the treasury not other- amount wise appropriated, such sum as may, upon said adjustment, be found to be due him for medical services aforesaid. APPROVED, July 17, 1856.

due.

Payment of found

[No. 13.] A Resolution for the Relief of John Y. Laub, a Clerk in the Office of the July 30, 1856.

First Comptroller of the Treasury.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Salary of J. Y. States of America in Congress assembled, That the increase in the Laub.