[No. 3.]—A Resolution to authorize the Transmission and Presentation of Books to the Minister of Justice of France, in Exchange for Books received from him. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the librarian of Congress be, and he hereby is, authorized and directed to procure a complete series of reports of all the decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, and of the Circuit and District Courts thereof, which have been heretofore published; as also a complete copy of the public Statutes at Large of the United States, now being edited by Richard Peters, Esq., by authority of Congress, the whole to be uniformly bound and lettered; and to cause the same, under the direction of the chief justice of the said Supreme Court, to be transmitted and presented to the minister of justice of France, in return and exchange for works of French law heretofore presented by the minister to the Supreme Court aforesaid. SEC. 2. And be it further resolved, That, for the purpose aforesaid, there be appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars. APPROVED, March 4, 1846. [No. 4.]-Joint Resolution concerning the Oregon Territory. WHEREAS by the convention concluded the twentieth day of October, eighteen hundred and eighteen, between the United States of America and the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, for the period of ten years, and afterwards indefinitely extended and continued in force by another convention of the same parties, concluded the sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, it was agreed that any country that may be claimed by either party on the north-west coast of America, westward of the Stony or Rocky Mountains, now commonly called the Oregon Territory, should, together with its harbors, bays, and creeks, and the navigation of all rivers within the same, be "free and open to the vessels, citizens, and subjects, of the two powers; but without prejudice to any claim which either of the parties might have to any part of said country; and with this further provision, in the second article of the said convention of the sixth of August, eighteen hundred and twenty-seven, that either party might abrogate and annul said convention on giving due notice of twelve months to the other contracting party: And whereas it has now become desirable that the respective claims of the United States and Great Britain should be definitely settled, and that said territory may no longer than need be remain subject to the evil consequences of the divided allegiance of its American and British population, and of the confusion and conflict of national jurisdictions, dangerous to the cherished peace and good understanding of the two countries : With a view, therefore, that steps be taken for the abrogation of the said convention of the sixth of August, eighteen hundred and twentyty-seven, in the mode prescribed in its second article, and that the attention of the governments of both countries may be the more earnestly directed to the adoption of all proper measures for a speedy and amicable adjustment of the differences and disputes in regard to the said territory: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the April 27, 1846. President authorized to give the government United States be, and he is hereby, authorized, at his discretion, to May 15, 1846. Preamble. Ante, p. 8. Appropriation in act of 1846. ch. 14. for "the support of the D. of C," to be con strued to have been appropri ated for "the sup port of the peni tentiary" of said District. WHEREAS an error occurred in the enrolment of" An Act to supply Deficiencies in the Appropriations for certain Objects made for the Service of the fiscal Year ending the thirtieth of June, 1846," approved May eighth, eighteen hundred and forty-six, by which error an appropriation intended for the support of the penitentiary of the District of Columbia appears as an appropriation "for the support of the District of Columbia": Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the appropri ation of eleven thousand nine hundred and forty-nine dollars and sixtyfour cents, appearing in said act to be "for the support of the District of Columbia," was intended by Congress, and shall be construed to have been appropriated for the support of the penitentiary of the said District of Columbia, for the fiscal year ending the thirtieth of June, eighteen hundred and forty-six. APPROVED, May 15, 1846. May 20, 1846. Postmaster ized to continue existing mail service in Texas. Ante, pp. 3, 15. [No. 6.]—A Resolution providing for temporary Mail Service in Texas. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the UniGeneral author- ted States of America in Congress assembled, That the PostmasterGeneral be, and he is hereby, authorized to continue the mail service now existing in Texas, under the laws and authority of Texas, or such part thereof as, in his judgment, the public interest may require, from the time that Texas becomes a State in this Union, until contracts can be made, and the mail service put in operation on the post routes in Texas established by Congress at its present session. APPROVED, May 20, 1846. June 26, 1846. in the case of who shall cause [No. 9.]—A Resolution in Relation to the Issuing of Grants of certain Lands in Louisiana. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the UniAttorney-General to examine ted States of America in Congress assembled, That the Attorneyevidences of title General of the United States be, and he is hereby, directed to examthe Houma land ine the evidences of title in the case of a certain Spanish land claim claim, and report in the State of Louisiana, lying on the Mississippi, above New Orto President; leans, commonly known as the Houma claim, and to report his opinproceedings to be ion thereon to the President of the United States; and if, in the opinInstituted to try ion of the Attorney-General, any patent or patents issued, or which the validity of be issued, under such claim, shall have been, or shall be, issued contrary to law, that the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to cause proceedings to be instituted in behalf of the United States, and to have the validity of such patent or patents judicially determined. any patents sup- may posed to be is sued contrary law. to APPROVED, June 26, 1846. [No. 10.]—A Resolution supplementary to the Resolution of February twentieth, eighteen hundred and forty-five, for distributing the Works of the exploring Expe dition. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That of the thirty-seven copies of the narrative and scientific works of the exploring expedition, deposited, and to be deposited, in the library of Congress, one copy shall be presented to the State of Florida; and whenever any new State shall be admitted into the Union, one copy of said works shall be presented to such State. APPROVED, July 15, 1846. July 15, 18-16. One copy of the works of dition to be preexploring expesented to State of Florida, and one State hereafter. copy to each new [No. 11.] — A joint Resolution presenting the Thanks of Congress to Major-General Taylor, his Officers and Men. Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the thanks of Congress are due, and are hereby tendered, to Major-General Zachary Taylor, commanding the army of occupation, his officers and men, for the fortitude, skill, enterprise, and courage, which have distinguished the recent brilliant operations on the Rio Grande. And be it further resolved, That Congress sincerely sympathize with the relatives and friends of the officers and soldiers of the army of the United States, who so bravely fell in the service of their country on the Rio Grande. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause the foregoing resolutions to be communicated to General Taylor, and through him to the army under his command. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be authorized and requested to have a medal of gold procured, with appropriate devices and inscriptions thereon, and presented to General Taylor, in the name of the Republic, as a tribute due to his good conduct, valor, and generosity to the vanquished. APPROVED, July 16, 1846. [No. 12.]—A joint Resolution to refund to States and Individuals Expenses incurred by them under Culls for Militia and Volunteers made by Generals Gaines and Taylor. Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized and required to refund, out of the appropriation made by the "Act providing for the Prosecution of the existing War between the United States and the Republic of Mexico," approved the thirteenth of May, one thousand eight hundred and fortysix, to the governors of the several States called upon by General Tay lor and General Gaines for volunteers and militia, and also to individuals, the amount of the expenses incurred by said States and individuals, in fitting out and preparing said volunteers or militia to join the army under the command of General Taylor, to be settled upon ust and equitable principles APPROVED, July 16, 1846. July 23, 1846. 1852, ch. 91. Regulations for the printing, of the two houses of Congress. Proviso, documents that may have been print ed may again be put in type in certain cases [No. 14.]—A Resolution regulating the Printing of Congress, and establishing the Compensation of [for] the same. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, from and after the passage of this resolution, the printing of the two houses of Congress shall be subject to the following regulations: When any message, report, or document, communicated to both houses of Congress, shall be ordered to be printed by the Senate, the secretary shall ascertain whether the same has been previously ordered to be printed by the House of Representatives; and if so, the copies ordered by the Senate shall be supplied by the printer to the House of Representatives, for which there shall be no charge for composition; and if any such message, report, or document, shall be ordered to be printed by the House of Representatives, it shall be the duty of the clerk to ascertain whether the same has been previously ordered to be printed by the Senate; and if so, the copies ordered by the House shall be furnished by the printer to the Senate, and no charge for composition shall be allowed therefor; an [and] should an additional number of copies of any such document be ordered by either house, they shall be furnished by the printer to the house which first ordered the printing of the document, and for which no compensation for composition shall be allowed : Provided, however, That if, for the purpose of despatch, or any other cause, it shall be necessary to fulfil any order for printing, of either house, of any document which had been previously ordered to be printed, the committee on contingent expenses of the house making such order may direct that such document be again composed, or put into type; in which case composition shall be charged and allowed. And from the commencement of the present session of Congress all printing ordered by either house of Congress, where the number of copies do not exceed five thousand, shall be paid for at a rate of compensation not exceeding twenty per centum less than the rates fixed and established by the joint resolution of eighteen hundred and nineteen; and when the number of copies shall exceed five thousand, the compensation shall not exceed thirty-three and one-third per centum less than the rates allowed by the said joint resolution of eighteen hundred and nineteen. And when the committee on contingent expenses of either house shall direct a second composition, to execute any order for printing, the printing shall be done by the printer to the house making such order; and when any order for printing requires maps or charts, the same shall be obtained under the direction of the committee on contingent expenses of the house making such order; and all expenses for printing shall be paid from the contingent fund of the two houses, each house paying for the printing ordered by it, except the expense of composition, which shall be paid by the house which first ordered the document or paper to be printed; and if there shall be a second composition, it shall be paid for by th house Expenses for whose committee on contingent expenses shall authorize anu direct printing, how the same; and when extra copies of any document shall be ordered by both houses, and the same are executed by the same printer, the copies shall be delivered to the two houses simultaneously, in proportion to the whole number of copies which the houses have respectively ordered. Rate of compensation. How maps and charts may be obtained. paid. APPROVED, July 23, 1846. [No. 15.1-A Resolution authorizing the Sale of certain Land at Baton Rouge to the State of Louisiana. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be, and he is hereby, authorized and empowered to sell and convey (for the use and benefit of the State of Louisiana) to the three commissioners appointed by the Legislature of said State to select a site on which to erect a State house, two or or more acres of the tract of land owned by the United States, lying in the parish of East Baton Rouge, State of Louisiana, above and adjoining the town of Baton Rouge: Provided, That, in the judgment of the President of the United States, said sale may be made without detriment to the public interest. APPROVED, July 23, 1846. July 23, 1846. Secretary of War authorized Louisiana certain land near Baton Rouge for a site to sell State of for State house. [No. 16.] — Joint Resolution directing the Manner of procuring the Printing for the two Houses of Congress. Aug. 3, 1846. 1852, ch. 91. Secretary of Senate and clerk vertise for proposals for print of House to ad ing. What the ad contain. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the secretary of the Senate and the clerk of the House of Representatives be, and they are hereby, authorized and required, at the beginning of the final session of every Congress, to advertise, for four weeks successively, in all the newspapers published in the city of Washington, for sealed proposals for supplying the Senate and House of Representatives, respectively, of the next ensuing Congress, with the necessary printing for each; which advertisement shall describe the kind of printing and the quality of paper required, as near as may be, in the execution vertisement shall of the work; and said advertisement shall divide and classify the printing of the respective houses, as follows: One of bills and resolutions; one of reports of committees; one of journals; one of executive documents; and one for every other description of printing; each class to be a separate job, and to be provided for by separate contract. The said advertisement shall also contain a designation of the place in the said city of Washington where such sealed proposals shall be received, and the day and time of day at which said secretary and clerk will cease to receive any further proposals. And the secretary and clerk aforesaid shall provide suitable samples of the printing required, and of the paper on which the same is to be executed, to be kept at the place so designated as aforesaid at least twenty days successively before the time of receiving proposals shall expire, open to the inspection of all persons desiring to make proposals for the printing aforesaid, intelligence whereof shall be contained in said advertisement. Immediately on the expiration of the time for receiving said proposals, they shall be opened by the secretary and clerk aforesaid in the presence of the Vice-President, or President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and of such persons making proposals as may wish to be present. And the secretary of the Senate, under the supervision of the Vice-President or President of the Senate, and the clerk of the House of Representatives, under the supervision of the Speaker, shall, thereupon, let each class of said printing to the lowest bidder, who shall furnish satisfactory evidence of his practical skill and his ability to do the work, and who shall offer good and sufficient security for the faithful execution of the jobs and contracts undertaken by him. And thereupon the Vice-President or President of the Senate and its secretary, and the ficient security to VOL. IX, PUB. - 15 Samples of the printing required to be provided and exhibited. When and how shall proposals be opened. Each class of printing to be let to Bonds and suf be taken. |