1851, ch. 26. Patent to issue. dogwood; thence west one hundred and thirty-three poles, to the place of beginning; containing two hundred acres, being the same tract of land conveyed by A. Morehouse to John Martin Merriwether, by deed, dated February first, Anno Domini eighteen hundred and five; and being, also, that part of the two tracts of land, amounting in the aggregate to four hundred acres, claimed by the said Randall D. Livingston before the commissioners appointed under the act entitled "An act for the settlement of certain classes of private land claims within the limits of the Baron de Bastrop grant," &c., approved March third, eighteen hundred and fifty-one, which was not confirmed by the said commissioners. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the Commissioner of the General Land-Office shall, upon the receipt of a plat and certificate of survey of the said tract of land, legally executed by the proper officer, issue a To operate patent for the same: Provided, however, That such patent shall only only as a relinquishment of operate as a relinquishment on the part of the United States, and shall title of the U. not affect or prejudice the rights of any third person. States. APPROVED, August 6, 1856. August 6, 1856. CHAP. LXXVII.-An Act for the Relief of Mrs. M. E. McKnight, Widow of Francis M. McKnight. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Mrs. M. E. Mc- States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Knight to be Interior be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to place upon the placed on pension roll. pension list the name of Mrs. M. E. McKnight, widow of Francis M. McKnight, who was, while in the discharge of his duty as an artificer of ordnance, accidentally killed on the twenty-second June, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, in the same manner as if he had been killed in battle -her pension to commence upon the day of the death of her late husband. APPROVED, August 6, 1856. August 6, 1856. CHAP. LXXVIII.-An Act for the Relief of Joseph Hill. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Pension of Jo- States of America in Congress assembled, That the pension allowed to seph Hill to be Joseph Hill, an invalid pensioner, be increased to twelve dollars per month, from June twenty-five, eighteen hundred and fifty-six, and to continue during his natural life. increased. Wanderstrand to firmed. APPROVED, August 6, 1856. August 6, 1856. CHAP. LXXIX.-An Act to confirm Joseph Wandestrand in his Title to certain Lands. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Tilte of Joseph States of America in Congress assembled, That Joseph Wandestrand be, certain land in and he is hereby, confirmed in his title to a certain tract of land in the Louisiana con- State of Louisiana, and described as follows, to wit: Sections numbered fifty-five, fifty-six, and fifty-seven, in township numbered twelve south, of range numbered ten east, (east of the Mississippi River,) in the southConfirmation eastern district of Louisiana: Provided, That this act shall only be conrelinquishment strued to be a relinquishment on the part of the United States; and shall not prejudice, or in any way affect, the rights of any third person. APPROVED, August 6, 1856. to act only as a of title. August 6, 1856. CHAP. LXXX.-An Act for the Relief of Richard Albritton. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Richard Albrit- States of America in Congress assembled, That Richard Albritton be, ton authorized to and he is hereby authorized to locate, free of cost, six hundred and forty acres of land, upon any of the public lands belonging to the United States, locate, free of and subject to private entry, at the minimum price. cost, 640 acres of Said location SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the location so made shall be land. in full compensation to the said Richard Albritton for a certain private to be in full for land claim for six hundred and forty acres, reported for confirmation by claim confirmed James O. Crosby, commissioner, under date of June seven, eighteen hun- by act of 1819, ch. 100. dred and thirteen, and confirmed by the act of Congress approved March three, eighteen hundred and nineteen. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the Commissioner of the Patent to issue. General Land-Office, upon the receipt of the certificate from the proper land-office, shall issue a patent to the said Richard Albritton for the lands authorized to be located by this act. APPROVED, August 6, 1856. CHAP. LXXXVIII.—An Act to incorporate the Columbia Library of Capitol Hill, in the Aug. 11, 1856. City of Washington. Hill incorporat Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Columbia LiStates of America in Congress assembled, That James Adams, as presi- brary of Capitol dent, and Jacqueline S. Pendleton, William H. Winter, James A. Brown, ed. James A. Tait, and James McDermott, and their successors duly elected or appointed in the manner hereinafter directed, be, and they are hereby made, declared, and constituted a corporation or body politic, in law and in fact, to have continuance forever by the name, style, and title of "The Columbia Library of Capitol Hill, in the City of Washington," and by that name, style, and title, shall be hereafter forever able and capable, in law and equity, to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended in any court or courts, or other places, and before any judge or judges, justice or justices or other person, whatsoever, within the District of Columbia, or elsewhere, in all and all manner of suits, actions, complaints, pleas, causes, matters, and demands of whatever kind or nature they may be, in as full and effectual a manner as any other person or persons, bodies politic or corporate may or can do. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all and singular the goods, Power to hola chattels, and other effects of what kind or nature soever heretofore given, property. granted, or devised to the said library, or to any person or persons for the use thereof, or that may have been purchased for or on account of the same, be, and the said goods and chattels, and other effects, are hereby vested in and confirmed to the said corporation. And the said corporation may take and receive any sum or sums of money or any goods, chattels, or other effects of what kind or nature soever which shall or may hereafter be given, granted, or bequeathed unto them by any person or persons, bodies politic or corporate, capable of making such gift, grant, or bequest: Provided, That the goods, chattels, and other effects vested in and confirmed to said corporation and the moneys, goods, chattels, and other effects which by this act the said corporation is authorized hereafter to receive, shall not in the whole exceed the value of one hundred thousand dollars. Cornorate SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said corporation shall have full power and authority to make, have, and use a common seal, power. with such device and inscription as they shall think proper, and the same to break, alter, and renew at pleasure; to appoint a treasurer and librarian and such other officers as they may from time to time deem necessary; to assign them their duties, fix their compensation and remove him or them from office, and appoint another or others in his or their place as often as they shall think fit; to make, ordain, establish, and execute such by-laws and ordinances as may be deemed useful to the said library, and the same to alter, amend, or abrogate at pleasure; to procure by Election of Directors. This act may Directors indi purchase or otherwise a suitable place for keeping the library; to appoint the time for keeping the library open or for taking out and returning books; to fill up vacancies that may happen in their own body between two annual elections; to levy and collect fines and forfeitures; and to determine upon, do, and transact all business and matters appertaining to the said corporation and library, agreeable to the rules, ordinances, and by-laws thereof during their continuance in office: Provided, That no less than a majority of the said directors be a quorum to do business; that no rule, ordinance, or by-law be made repugnant to the laws of the District of Columbia or of the United States. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That an election for seven directors of this corporation shall be held on the first Monday of April next and on the first Monday in April annually thereafter at the library-room, under the direction of such persons as the present directors and their successors may appoint, which appointment shall be at least ten days previous to the day of election. They shall also publish the names of the persons so appointed to hold the election, in some paper published in the city of Washington, at least three days previous to such election's being held, the polls for which shall be kept open from three to nine o'clock, P. M. And no person shall be eligible as a director, or have a right to vote for a director, who is not at the time of voting or being voted for, a member of the Columbia Fire Company of the city of Washington, or who shall be in arrears to the said library for any annual contribution, fines, or forfeitures; all persons qualified to vote, may vote either personally or by proxy, by ballot. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That this act may be repealed, be altered, &c. altered, or amended at any time by the Congress of the United States. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the directors of this library vidually respon- for the time being shall be responsible for the debts and liabilities thereof which may have been created or incurred during their respective continuance in office as such directors. sible. Debts not to SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to furnish to said library bound copies of the laws of the United States. And to furnish annually thereto a bound copy of all documents, journals, laws, and State papers which shall hereafter be published by the authority of Congress. SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act shall be so construed as to authorize the said corporation to issue any note, token, device, scrip, or other evidence of debt to be used as a currency in this District or elsewhere. SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That the debts and liabilities of the exceed capital, said corporation, shall not at any time exceed the amount of their capi and stockhold- tal, and that each stockholder shall be held liable, in his or her individual ers individually responsible. capacity, for all the debts and liabilities of the corporation, however incurred or contracted, to be secured by suit, as other debts and liabilities in any court, or before any tribunal, having jurisdiction of the case. APPROVED, August 11, 1856. Aug. 11, 1856. Columbia's Library for young men incorporated. CHAP. LXXXIX.—An Act to establish a Library for Young Men in the District of Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That James Dunlop, chief justice of the circuit court in the District of Columbia; John T. Towers, mayor of the city of Washington; Henry Addison, mayor of the city of Georgetown, Joseph Henry, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, John S. Meehan, librarian for Congress, and their successors in said respective offices; with such person as the mayor of Washington may designate; and with such person as the mayor of Georgetown may desig nate; are hereby created a corporate body forever, under the name of "Columbia's Library for Young Men," and in that name to sue and be sued, in any court of competent jurisdiction. Power to hold SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That said corporation may receive and possess property, real and personal, not exceeding in value one hun- property. dred thousand dollars, for a library, for the purpose aforesaid. If a lot and house shall be granted, or devised for said library, and the same shall be accepted by said corporation, no sale thereof shall be made without the consent of Congress. Corporate SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That power is given to said corporation to appoint needful officers, messengers, and laborers, and to com- powers. pensate them; to pass such by-laws, rules, and regulations as may be necessary to carry into effect this act; to alter, amend, or revoke them; to limit the ages within which the young men of said District may be entitled to the benefit of this act; to diffuse knowledge among them in such ways as shall be best calculated to instruct them, to elevate their morals, and fit them for usefulness, and to receive assurances of permanent aid from the corporations of Washington and Georgetown, and either of them, to sustain said institution by annual or other aid. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the corporations may elect a presiding officer from one of their number. If this shall be omitted, the person holding the office first named shall preside, if present, and in succession, in case of absence in the order of the offices designated in the first section. Presiding offi cer. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the meeting to organize may Meetings. be held at such time and place within said District, as a majority may designate, having given notice in writing three days to all the members. Semi-annual meetings to be held at the library room, on the first Mondays of January and July. All votes, resolutions, by-laws, regulations, and other proceedings to be recorded, and subject to the inspection of each of the corporations of Washington and Georgetown, or committee of either. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the property of said corporation shall be exempted from all public assessments and taxes so long as the same shall remain dedicated to the purposes of a library. Property exempt from taxes. Term of office SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That each person designated as provided by the mayor of Washington or Georgetown, may hold his of appointees of appointment two years, and until his successor shall be appointed. SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for Congress at any time hereafter to amend or repeal this act. the mayor. This act may be altered, &c. This act not issue of curren cy. SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize said corporation to make, issue, or put in circula- to authorize the tion, any bill, draft, check, promissory note, or change ticket, or any thing else promising or agreeing to pay money intended to circulate as money, or the tendency of which shall be to circulate as money or currency. And the violations of any one of the provisions of this section shall be a forfeiture of the charter herein granted, and a fine of fifty dollars against each one of the directors voting for the same. Penalty for violation. SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That the debts and liabilities of Liabilities not the said corporation shall not at any time, exceed the amount of their to exceed capital, and stock capital, and that each stockholder shall be held liable, in his or her indi- holders individ vidual capacity, for all the debts and liabilities of the corporation, how- ually responsiever incurred or contracted, to be recovered by suit, as other debts and liabilities, in any court, or before any tribunal having jurisdiction of the case. APPROVED, August 11, 1856. ble. Aug. 11, 1856. Maher. CHAP. XC.-An Act for the Relief of Bridget Maher. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Settlement of States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Inteclaim of Bridget rior be, and is hereby, authorized and directed to settle and adjust the claim of Mrs. Bridget Maher, for boarding certain Cherokee Indians from the State of North Carolina, disallowed by him on the nineteenth of July, eighteen hundred and fifty-five, and to pay to her, out of any moneys not otherwise appropriated, such sum of money as she is in justice entitled to: Provided, That the sum so settled and adjusted shall not exceed the sum of two hundred and ninety-three dollars. APPROVED, August 11, 1856. Aug. 11, 1856. Pension of Nancy Weather ford under act of 1855, ch. 196, continued till July 4th, 1859. CHAP. XCI.-An Act to continue the Pension of Mrs. Nancy Weatherford. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the pension granted to Nancy Weatherford, by the act of Congress entitled "An act for the relief of Mrs. Nancy Weatherford, widow of Col. William Weatherford, of the first regiment of Illinois volunteers in the Mexican war,” be, and the same is hereby continued for five years, from the fourth day of July, eighteen hundred and fifty-four. APPROVED, August 11, 1856. Aug. 11, 1856. CHAP. XCII.—An Act for the Relief of Benjamin La Fonte, William Altenburg, and Benjamin La Fonte, William Altenburg, William Davern, and Louis Lari vie, authorized to enter certain lands in Still water District, Minnesota, at the usual price. Other school lands to be se lected in lieu of the above. Aug. 11, 1856. enter certain others. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Benjamin La Fonte be, and he is hereby, authorized to enter the north half of northeast quarter of section thirty-six, township twenty-nine, north, range twenty-three west; that William Altenburg be, and he is hereby, authorized to enter the southeast quarter of section thirty-six, in township twenty-seven, of range twenty-one west; that William Davern be, and he is hereby, authorized to enter the southeast quarter of section number sixteen, in township twenty-eight north, of range number twenty-three west; that Louis Larivie be, and he is hereby, authorized to enter the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter, and lots number one and two of section sixteen, in township twenty-nine north, of range twenty-two west, (all of said lands being in the Stillwater land district, Minnesota Territory,) upon payment by said Benjamin La Fonte, William Altenburg, William Davern, and Louis Laravie of the usual minimum of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre; and the Commissioner of the General LandOffice is directed to issue patents on said entries. SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the superintendent of public schools in the Territory of Minnesota is hereby authorized to select, in equal amounts, other lands in said Territory for the use of public schools in lieu of the lands herein granted. APPROVED, August 11, 1856. CHAP. XCIII.-An Act for the Relief of Robert Mitchell. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Robert Mitch- States of America in Congress assembled, That Robert Mitchell be, and ell authorized to he is hereby, authorized to enter lots B, C, and D, of fractional section lots, in Alaba- nineteen, in township sixteen, of range twenty-one east, in the district of ma, on proof of lands subject to sale at Montgomery, Alabama, upon his producing proof, occupancy, &c., satisfactory to the land officers for said district, and subject to the apand paying the proval of the Commissioner of the General Land-Office, of the occu usual price. |
