the fact of escape, and that the service or labor of the person escaping is due to the party in such record mentioned. And upon the production by the said party of other and further evidence if necessary, either oral or by affidavit, in addition to what is contained in the said record of the identity of the person escaping, he or she shall be delivered up to the claimant. And the said court, commissioner, judge, or other person authorized by this act to grant certificates to claimants of fugitives, shall upon the production of the record and other evidences aforesaid, grani to such claimant a certificate of his right to take any such person identified and proved, to be owing ser: vice or labor as aforesaid, which certificate shall authorize such claimant to seize or arrest and transport such person to the State or Territory from which he escaped: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring the production of a transcript of such record as evidence as aforesaid. But in its absence the claim shall be heard and determined upon other satisfactory proofs, competent in law.

Approved September 18, 1850.

Proviso.

CHAP. 61.-AN ACT granting the right of way, and making a grant of land

to the States of Illinois, Mississippi and Alabama in aid of the construction of a railroad from Chicago to Mobile.

branch

[Sec. 1.] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the right of way through the public lands be, Right of way and the same is hereby, granted to the State of Illinois for the granted for raiiconstruction of a railroad from the southern terminus of the es, with privilege

of using the maIllinois and Michigan canal to a point at or near the junction terials found. of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, with a branch of the same to Chicago on Lake Michigan, and another via the town of Galena in said State, to Dubuque in the State of Iowa, with the right also, to take necessary materials of earth, stones, timber, &c., for the construction thereof: Provided, That the right of way shall not exceed one hundred feet on each side of the length thereof, and a copy of the survey of said road and branches made under the direction of the Legislature, shall be forwarded to the proper local land offices respectively, and to the General Land office at Washington city, within ninety days after the completion of the same.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That there be, and is hereby, granted to the State of Illinois for the purpose of aid

granted. ing in making the railroad and branches aforesaid, every alternate section of land designated by even numbers, for six sections in width or each side of said road and branches; but in case it shall appear that the United States have, when the line or route of said road and branches is definitely fixed by the authority aforesaid, sold any part of any section hereby granted, or that the right of pre-emption has attached to the same, then

Pre-emption it shall be lawful for any agent or agents to be appointed by the rights securèd.

Alternate seetions of land

Proviso.

Further viso.

Further viso.

Further viso.

Governor of said State, to select subject to the approval aforesaid from the lands of the United States most contiguous 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 to which the right of pre-emption has attached as aforesaid, which lands being equal in quantity to one-half of six sections in width on each side of said road and branches, the State of Illinois shall have and hold to and for the use and purpose aforesaid: Provided, That the lands to be so located shall in no case be further than fifteen pro- miles from the line of the road: And further provided, The construction of said road shall be commenced at its southern terminus, at or near the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and its northern terminus upon the Illinois and Michigan canal simultaneously, and continued from each of said points until completed, when said branch roads shall be constructed, according to the survey and location thereof: Provided pro- further, That the lands hereby granted shall be applied in the construction of said road and branches respectively, in quantities corresponding with the grant for each, and shall be disposed of only as the work progresses, and shall be applied to pro- no other purpose whatsoever: And provided further, That any and all lands reserved to the United States by the act entitled "An act to grant a quantity of land to the State of Illinois, for the purpose of aiding in opening a canal to connect the waters of the Illinois river with those of Lake Michigan, approved March second, eighteen hundred and twenty-seven, be and the same are hereby, reserved to the United States from the operations of this act.

Price of lands remaining to the United States.

Lands granted SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the said lands to be used only hereby granted to the said State shall be subject to the disposal aforesaid. Rail- of the Legislature thereof, for the purposes aforesaid and no

for the purposes

roads to be free

for use of Gov- other; and the said railroad and branches shall be and remain

ernment of U. S.

If not completed within ten years, Illinois to

amount received

pay the U. S. the on sale of lands

by that State.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the sections and parts of sections of land which, by such grant, shall remain to the United States, within six miles on each side of said road and branches, shall not be sold for less than double the minimum price of the public lands when sold.

Transportation of U. S. mail. 1!

4.9

#C
I-

a public highway, 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.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That if the said railroad shall not be completed within ten years, the said State of Illinois shall be bound to pay to the United States the amount which may be received upon the sale of any part of said lands by said State, the title to the purchasers under said State remaining valid; and the title to the residue of said lands shall reinvest in the United States, to have and hold the same in the same manner as if this act had not been passed.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the United States mail shall at all times be transported on the said railroad under:

the direction of the Post Office Department, at such price as the Congress may by law direct.

All the rights, herein con

etc.,

to Alabama and

shall be granted
Mississippi to aid
in constructing
a railroad from

Mobile to the
Ohio river.

SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That in order to aid in the continuation of said central railroad from the mouth of the ferred on Illinois Ohio river to the city of Mobile, all the rights, privileges, and liabilities herein before conferred on the State of Illinois shall be granted to the States of Alabama and Mississippi respectively, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of a railroad from said city of Mobile to a point near the mouth of the Ohio river, and that public lands of the United States to the same extent in proportion to the length of the road on the same terms, limitations, and restrictions in every respect shall be, and is hereby granted to said States of Alabama and Mississippi respectively.

Approved September 20, 1850.

1

Corporations of

up slaves.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may
Washington and be lawful for each of the Corporations of the cities of Washing-
Georgetown
thorized to break ton and Georgetown, from time to time, and as often as may be
depots

necessary, to abate, break up, and abolish any depot or place
of confinement of slaves brought into the said District as mer-
chandise, contrary to the provisions of this act, by such appro-
priate means as may appear to either of the said Corporations

expedient and proper. And the same power is hereby vested Levy court or in the levy court of Washington county, if any attempt shall Washington samo be made within its jurisdictional limits, to establish a depot or

place of confinement for slaves brought into the said District as
merchandise for sale contrary to this act.

Approved September 20, 1850.

authority.

CHAP. 64.-AN ACT to supply a deficiency in the appropriation for

mileage of members of Congress for the present session.

pay.

Stationery.
Proviso.

[Sec. 1.) Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep

resentatives of the United States of America in Congress asMileage and sembled, That the sum of one hundred and sixty thousand dollars

be, and the same is hereby, appropriated out of any money in
the treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the payment
of mileage and per diem of Senators, members of the House of
Representatives, and Delegates in Congress, at the present
session: two thousand three hundred and thirty dollars, for ad-
ditional expense of stationery for members of the House of
Representatives, during the present session: Provided, That
the mileage of the Senators and Representatives from Califor-
nia, and the Delegate from Oregon, be computed according to
the most usual travelling route within the limits of the United
States; and the per diem of said Senators and Representatives
for this session shall commence from the day on which the con-
stitution of California was first communicated to the two
Houses of Congress, respectively:

And that the sum of fifty thousand dollars, in addition to the penses of H. of sum already provided for, in the Civil and Diplomatic Appro

priation bill be, and and the same is hereby, appropriated for

the contingent expenses of the House of Representatives:
Mileage and And that Hugh N. Smith and Almon W. Babbit, late claim-
New Mexico and ants for seats in the House of Representatives, from New Mex-

ico, and Utah, be allowed their per diem of five dollars, from
the day of their arrival in Washington, to the day when their
claim to a seat was rejected by a vote of the House of Repre-
sentatives; and,

also, ihe sum of two thousand dollars each for
their mileage: Provided, That no per diem, shall be allowed,
for any time previous to the commencement of the present
session of Congress.
... Approved September 20, 1850.

.

Contingent ex

pay

Utah.

Proviso.

CHAP. 65.-AN ACT to repeal so much of the act approved eleventh of Au

gust, eighteen hundred and forty eight, as extends the provisions thereof to Macao.

Judicial powers withdrawn from

and consuls of the U.

[Sec. 1.] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep. resentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That so much of the act “ to carry into effect certain provisions in the treaties between the United States and ministers China and the Ottoman Porte,” giving certain judicial pow- so as regards Maers to ministers and consuls of the United States in those cao. countries, approved the eleventh day of August, eighteen hundred and forty-eight, as extends jurisdiction over, or the right to exercise any of the powers conferred by said act in Macao, be, and the same is hereby repealed.

Approved September 20, 1850.

CHAP. 66,- AN ACT.to amend an act entitled “An act for the relief of D.

A. Watterston."

To be paid travelling

[Sec. 1.] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep. resentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the act entitled "An act for the relief of D. A. Watterston,” approved August fourteen, one thousand eight instead of salary. hundred and forty-eight, be so modified and construed as to make the sum therein specified, payable to said Watterston for travelling expenses incurred while acting as assistant surveyor of Louisiana, during the fourth quarter of eighteen hundred and forty-four, and the first quarter of eighteen hundred and fortyfive, instead of for his salary during that time, as is erroneously provided by said act.

Approved September 20, 1850.

CHAP. 67.-AN ACT for the relief of Leuright Browning.

years.

[Sec. 1.) 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 authorized to A pension alplace the name of Leuright Browning, widow of the late Lieu lowed for five tenant Robert L. Browning, on the list of naval pensions, and that she be allowed, annually, for the period of five years, the pension now provided by law for the widows of lieutenants of the navy who die in service; said pension to commence the twelfth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and fifty.

Approved September 20, 1850.