Preamble. 1847, ch. 62. Vol. ix. p. 187. 1848, ch. 121. Vol. ix. p. 267. [No. 9.] Joint Resolution directing the Enforcement of the Lien upon the Steamer "Atlantic." Feb. 19, 1869. WHEREAS, on the sixth of February, eighteen hundred and forty-nine, an agreement in the nature of a chattel mortgage was entered into between the Secretary of the Navy of the United States and the assignees of the Collins contract, by which, after reciting the acts of March third, eighteen hundred and forty-seven, and August third, eighteen hundred and forty-eight aforesaid, and that the assignees of the contract had launched two vessels, (the "Atlantic" and "Pacific," still unfinished,) and had applied for advances under the act, and were willing and desirous to secure the repayment or refunding of the same from the annual compensation of the said ships by a lien on said ships, it was witnessed that the said assignees bargained, sold and conveyed the said two vessels to Prosper M. Wetmore, upon trust; that the assignees should retain possession of the said vessels and employ them in execution of the contract, and if, after the expiration of one year from the commencement of the performance of the service under the contract, the assignees should have failed to repay in money, or to refund out of one year's compensation, such outstanding balance due and unpaid or unrefunded of such advances as the Secretary of the Navy might have made prior to the end of one year from the commencement of the performance of the said service, then the said Wetmore was, after advertising for six months the time and place of sale, to sell the said steamships at public auction, and out of the proceeds pay (1) the expenses of the trust, (2) the balances of advances due the United States, and (3) the surplus to the assignees; and whereas the said deed of mortgage is still binding on the " Atlantic,” one of the said steamships; and whereas a large amount is still due on the said mortgage for expenses incurred in executing the trust, which amount it is claimed the government is liable for; and whereas the sale of the said steamship "Atlantic" has been duly advertised according to the terms of the mortgage, but never sold: Therefore, Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Lien upon the States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy lantic" to be ensteamship "Atbe, and is hereby, directed to cause the trustee named in the said deed forced. of mortgage to proceed at once, in such mode as the law and deed of mortgage may authorize, to enforce the lien upon said steamship "Atlantic," with a view to the immediate payment of the expenses of the trust, and any other balances that may be due and owing upon the said mortgage. APPROVED, February 19, 1869. [No. 10.] Joint Resolution authorizing the Secretary of War to allow to the New York and Feb. 19, 1869. Oswego Midland Railroad Company a Right of Way across a Portion of the public Ground at Fort Ontario, Oswego, New York, for Railroad Purposes. 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, New York and and he is hereby, authorized to allow to the New York and Oswego Mid- R. R. Co. to have Oswego Midland land Railroad Company a right of way through the public land at Fort right of way Ontario, Oswego, in the State of New York, for railroad purposes, upon land at Fort Onthrough public such terms and conditions as he may think the defences at that point may tario. require and make proper, reserving to the United States the right to remove, at the expense of the said company, the rails, ties, and other parts of said road, whenever the Secretary of War shall direct, without any claim or right of damages on the part of said company. APPROVED, February 19, 1869. [No. 11.] A Resolution in Relation to Coast Defence. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the general of the army and Feb. 19, 1869. cock mode of Ryan-Hitch- the admiral of the navy, or in the absence of the admiral, then the vicemarine fortifica- admiral, be authorized and directed to inquire into the utility and practicability of the Ryan-Hitchcock mode of marine fortifications, and that quired into, and they report to Congress at the next session thereof. tions to be in report made to Congress. Feb. 27, 1869. Fifteenth amendment to APPROVED, February 19, 1869. [No. 14.] A Resolution proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, (two thirds of both houses conthe Constitution. curring,) That the following article be proposed to the legislatures of the several States as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which, when ratified by three fourths of said legislatures, shall be valid as part of the Constitution, namely: ARTICLE XV. SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. SEC. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. [No. 15.] Joint Resolution gra[n]ting the Consent of Congress provided for in section ten of the Act incorporating the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-four. Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the consent of the Congress of the United States is hereby given to the Northern Pacific Railroad Company to issue its bonds, and to secure the same by mortgage upon its railroad and its telegraph line, for the purpose of raising funds with which to construct said railroad and telegraph line between Lake Superior and Puget Sound, and also upon its branch to a point at or near Portland, Oregon; and the term "Puget Sound," as used here and in the act incorporating said company, is hereby construed to mean all the waters connected with the straits of Juan de Fuca within the territory of the United States. APPROVED, March 1, 1869. March 1, 1869. [No. 16.] Joint Resolution in Relation to the Meeting of the House of Representatives at the first Session of the Forty-first Congress. Time of first regular meeting of the House of Representatives of the 41st Congress. Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the time for the first regular meeting of the House of Representatives of the Forty-first Congress be, and is hereby, postponed from twelve o'clock meridian, on the fourth day of March, eighteen hundred and sixty-nine, to the hour of three o'clock in the afternoon of the said day. APPROVED, March 1, 1869. [No. 17.] Joint Resolution in Regard to the Publication of postal Conventions made with March 1, 1869. foreign Countries. Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of State be authorized and directed to cause the several postal conventions made with foreign countries, under the provisions of the act of March third, eighteen hundred and fifty-one, or which may hereafter be made, to be published in the same manner, and upon the same terms, as is prescribed for the publication of the treaties and laws of the United States. APPROVED, March 1, 1869. Postal conventions to be pub lished, &c. [No. 19.] A Resolution providing for the Reporting and Publication of the Debates in March 3, 1869. Congress. Contract to be made with Rives debates in Congress for two Proviso. years. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the joint committee of Congress on public printing is hereby authorized to contract, on behalf and Bailey for of the general government, with Rives and Bailey for the reporting and reporting, &c. publication of the debates in Congress for the term of two years, on and from the fourth day of March, eighteen hundred and sixty-nine: Provided, That, before the United States shall be called on to pay for any reporting or publication of the debates, the accounts therefor shall be submitted to the joint committee on public printing or to such other officer or officers of Congress as they may designate, and on their or his appro bation thereof, as being in all respects according to the contracts, it shall be paid for from the treasury of the United States, after having passed the proper accounting officers thereof. Debates to be SEC. 2. And be it further resolved, That in case the joint committee on reported, &c. public printing are unable to conclude a satisfactory contract with the under direction said Rives and Bailey, or that they be unable to fulfil any contract that of congressional they may make, the joint committee on printing be authorized to have printer, if &c. the debates reported and printed under the direction of the congressional printer at the government printing office. SEC. 3. And be it further resolved, That for the purpose aforesaid there Appropriation. be appropriated and paid, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary. APPROVED, March 3, 1869. March 3, 1869. [No. 20.] A Resolution for printing the Medical and Surgical History of the Rebellion. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there be printed at "Medical, &c. History of the the government printing office five thousand copies of the first part of Rebellion and the Medical and Surgical History of the Rebellion, compiled by the sur-Medical Statisgeon-general under the direction of the Secretary of War, and five thou- tics of the Prosand copies of the Medical Statistics of the Provost-Marshal's Bureau, Bureau to be compiled and to be completed by Surgeon J. H. Baxter, as authorized by printed. an act of Congress, approved July twenty-eight, eighteen hundred and Vol. xiv. p. 310. sixty-six, which also provides that the editions of both publications thus ordered shall be disposed of as Congress may hereafter direct. APPROVED, March 3, 1869. vost Marshal's 1866, ch. 296. [No. 21.] A Resolution giving the Assent of the United States to the Construction of the March 3, 1969. Newport and Cincinnati Bridge. Consent of to the erection Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Congress given States of America in Congress assembled, That the consent of Congress of a bridge over be, and the same is hereby, given to the erection of a bridge over the the Ohio river Ohio river from the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, to the city of Newport, to Newport, from Cincinnati, Ky. be built; Vol. xii. p. 569. Kentucky, by the Newport and Cincinnati Bridge Company, a corporation chartered and organized under the laws of each of the States of Kentucky and Ohio: Provided, that said bridge is built with an unbroken or Bridge, how to continuous span of not less than four hundred feet in the clear, from pier to pier, over the main channel of the river, and is built in all other respects in accordance with the conditions and limitations of an act entitled "An act to establish certain post-roads," approved July fourteenth, when comeighteen hundred and sixty-two. That said bridge, when completed in pleted, to be a the manner specified in this resolution, shall be deemed and taken to be a legal structure and a post-road. legal structure, and shall be a post-road for the transmission of the mails of the United States; but Congress reserves the right to withdraw the assent hereby given in case the free navigation of said river shall at any time be substantially and materially obstructed by any bridge to be erected under the authority of this resolution, or to direct the necessary modifications and alterations of said bridge. Assent of Congress may be withdrawn, if, &c. March 3, 1869. Islands Saint Paul and Saint George, in Alaska. declared a special reserva tion, &c. No person to land or remain on either, except, &c. APPROVED, March 3, 1869. [No. 22.] A Resolution more efficiently to protect the Fur Seal in Aluska. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the islands of Saint Paul and Saint George in Alaska be, and they are hereby, declared a special reservation for government purposes; and that, until otherwise provided by law, it shall be unlawful for any person to land or remain on either of said islands, except by the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury; and any person found on either of said islands, contrary to the provisions of this resolution, shall be summarily removed; and it shall be the duty of the Secretary of War to carry this resolution immediately into effect. APPROVED, March 3, 1869. March 3, 1869. [No. 23.] Joint Resolution authorizing the Union Pacific Railway Company, Eastern Division, to change its Nume to the " Kansas Pacific Railway Company." Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Union Pacific States of America in Congress assembled, That the Union Pacific RailRailway Co., eastern division, way Company, eastern division, is hereby authorized by resolution of its board of directors, which shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of name to Kansas the Interior, to change its name to the "Kansas Pacific Railway ComPacific Railway pany.' to change its Co. March 3, 1869. APPROVED, March 3, 1869. [No. 24.] Joint Resolution relative to certain Purchases by the Interior Department. Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Secretary of States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the the Interior not Interior is hereby directed not to receive or make payment for three for certain bond hundred thousand sheets of bond paper claimed to have been ordered of to receive or pay paper; nor pay certain bills for printing patent heads, &c. the stationery contractor for the Interior Department at a cost of twentyfour thousand dollars; and also that he withhold payment on any bills claimed to be due to said contractors the sum of two thousand three hundred and eighty dollars charged and received for printing seventeen thousand patent heads, which work was not performed by them; and also the value of forty thousand sheets of bond paper, at eight cents per sheet, now in the custody of said contractors, unless the same is returned; and that he also deduct from their unpaid bills the amount charged for goods in such unpaid bills (not included in their contract) above the prices at which like goods are sold in open market. APPROVED, March 3, 1869. [No. 25.] A Resolution requiring the Commissioner of the General Land Office to transfer March 8, 1869. certain Money. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Unitea States of America in Congress assembled, That the commissioner of the Appropriation for collecting general land office be, and is hereby, authorized to transfer to the statistics of Treasury Department the twenty-five hundred dollars appropriated "for mines and mincollecting statistics of mines and mining," by act of Congress approved ing to be transJuly twenty, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight, and that the Secretary ury Department, of the Treasury be required to disburse the game as provided for in said &c. act. APPROVED, March 3, 1869. ferred to Treas 1868, ch. 177. Ante, p. 115. [No. 26.] Joint Resolution donating condemned Cannon and Muskets for the McPherson March 3, 1869. Monument. 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, Condemned and he is hereby, authorized to furnish to the McPherson Monument &c. given to cannon, muskets, Association, of Clyde, Ohio, four pieces of condemned iron cannon, four the McPherson Monument Assopieces of condemned brass cannon, twenty-five cannon-balls, and one ciation, Clyde, O. thousand condemned muskets, with bayonets to be placed about the monument. APPROVED, March 3, 1869. [No. 27.] A Resolution extending the Time for the Completion of the first twenty Miles March 3, 1869. of the Cairo and Fulton Railroad. road extended. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in case the Cairo and Time for comFulton Railroad Company shall complete the first section of twenty miles tion of the Cairo pleting first secof said road by the twenty-eighth day of April, eighteen hundred and and Fulton railseventy, and the Secretary of the Interior shall be satisfied of such com- 1866, ch. 300, $2. pletion, then the said company shall be entitled to its lands in all respects Vol. xiv. p. 339. and to the same extent as it would have been had said twenty miles been completed by the twenty-eighth of July, eighteen hundred and sixtynine, as provided by law relating to said railroad company approved July twenty-eighth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six. APPROVED, March 3, 1869. [No. 28.] A Resolution reappointing Louis Agassiz a Regent of the Smithsonian Institution. March 3, 1869. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Louis Agassiz States of America in Congress assembled, That Louis Agassiz, of Cam- reappointed a bridge, Massachusetts, be, and he is hereby, reappointed a regent of the regent of the Smithsonian Institution to fill the vacancy occasioned by the expiration of Smithsonian his present term. APPROVED, March 3, 1869. Institution. [No. 29.] Joint Resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to remit the Duty on March 3, 1869. certain Meridian Circles. Customs duty ridian circles Be it resolved 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 remit the duties on a meridian on certain mecircle, imported for the observatory at Cambridge, in the State of Massa- remitted. chusetts, and a meridian circle imported for the observatory connected with the Chicago University, at Chicago, in the State of Illinois APPROVED, March 3, 1869. |