1 pers not sent from the office of publication, and all handbills or circulars, printed or lithographed, not exceeding one sheet, shall be subject to three cents postage each, to be prepaid. Contractors or mail carriers to be allowed to transport newspapers out of the mail, for sale or distribution to subscribers; and the Postmaster-General shall have authority to pay, or cause to be paid, a sum not exceeding two cents each, for all letters or packets conveyed in any vessel or steamboat not employed in carrying the mail from one port or place to any other port or place in the United States. Books that have been published or procured by order of either House of Congress, or both of them, may be franked as public documents. No allowance or compensation shall be made to deputy postmasters, in addition to their commissions authorized by law, excepting the receipts from boxes, of which all beyond $2,000 shall be applied in defraying the expenses of their offices. The special allowance made by law to the postmasters at Washington city and New Orleans is continued. SEC. 14 repeals so much of the act of March 3, 1845, and of other acts, as is inconsistent with this act. March 3, 1847. No. 44. An Act to amend an Act, entitled "An Act to amend 'An Act to carry into effect, in the States of Alabama and Mississippi, the existing compacts with those States with regard to the five per cent. fund and the school reservations." " Extends the provisions of this act so as to enable the State of Alabama to locate a quantity of land, in any State or territory, equal to the quantity due to the inhabitants in the Chickasaw cession, March 3, 1847.. No. 45. An Act to authorize the constituted authorities of the city of Dubuque, in the State of Iowa, to enter certain islands between the landings of said city and the main channel of the Mississippi River. March 3, 1847. No. 46. An Act to amend an Act, entitled "An Act to provide for the better organization of the department of Indian affairs," and an Act, entitled "An Act to regulate trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes, and to preserve peace on the frontiers," approved June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and thirty-four, and for other purposes. The limits of the superintendencies, &c., shall be defined; the superintendents, &c., shall be furnished with offices, and the agents and subagents with houses, and shall, with the assent of the Indians, be permitted to cultivate such portions of land as the Secretary of War shall deem proper. In addition to the fines imposed by act, June 30, 1834, persons vending or giving spirituous liquors or wines to an Indian, in the Indian country, or introducing the same to said country (except army supplies), shall be punished, on conviction before the proper United States District Court, in the former case by imprisonment not exceeding two years, and in the latter not exceeding one year. Indians are made competent witnesses, in prosecutions under this act, and under the 20th section of the act, June 30, 1834. The 11th section of said act is so amended that annuities, moneys, or goods, payable by treaty to any Indian tribe, may (at the President's or Secretary of War's discretion) be divided among the persons entitled, or, with the consent of the Secretary of War, be so applied as will be best for them. No moneys, &c., shall be paid to any Indians while intoxicated, nor while they have intoxicating liquor within reach, nor until the head-men have pledged themselves to endeavor to prevent the sale of such liquor in their country. All executory contracts made by an Indian for the payment of money or goods shall be held to be null and void. One of the $1,000 clerkships in the office of Indian affairs shall be discontinued after June 30th. The chief clerk is to receive $100, and one of the $1,000 clerks $200 additional per annum. $5,000 are appropriated to collect historical statistics, &c. of the Indian tribes; $20,000, for presents to the Indians of Texas and the south-western prairies, for the years 1846 and 1847; $3,650 to pay a special Indian agent and two interpreters for one year; and $10,000 to carry into effect a treaty with the Camanche and other Indians; $6,000 to the commission sitting under the Cherokee treaty. No. 47. An Act giving the consent of Congress to an Act of the General Assembly of Virginia, authorizing the levy of tolls on the James River. March 3, 1847. XXXI. PUBLIC RESOLUTIONS. No. 1. A Resolution respecting the maps and charts of the surveys of the boundary lines of the United States of America with foreign states. March 1,1847. No. 2. Resolutions giving the thanks of Congress to Major General Taylor, and the officers and men under his command, in the late military operations at Monterey. March 2, 1847. No. 3. Resolution to refund money to the States which have supplied volunteers and furnished them transportation during the present war, before being mustered and received into the service of the United States. March 3, 1847. No. 4. A Resolution for lighting with gas the capitol and capitol grounds. March 3, 1847. No. 5. A Resolution concerning the purchase of additional lands for the use of the United States armories at Harper's Ferry and Springfield. March 3, 1847. No. 6. A Resolution authorizing the employment of the United States ships Macedonian and Jamestown, in transporting provisions for the famishing poor of Ireland and Scotland. March 3, 1847. No. 7. A Joint Resolution, relative to the preparation and presentation of medals to certain French, British, and Spanish officers. March 3, 1847. No. 8. A Joint Resolution to prohibit the sale at private entry of certain lands in Cincinnati, Ohio. March 3, 1847. XXXII. PUBLIC TREATIES OF THE UNITED STATES RATIFIED SINCE THE FIRST SESSION OF THE TWENTYNINTH CONGRESS. 1. Additional article to the convention, for the surrender of criminals between the United States and France, of the 9th November, 1843. Concluded. 2. Convention with Saxony for the mutual abolition of the Droit d'Aubaine and taxes on emigration. Concluded, May 14, 1845; ratified, August 12, 1846. 3. Convention with Nassau for the mutual abolition of the Droit d'Aubaine and taxes on emigration. Concluded, May 27, 1846. 4. Convention with Peru, for the payment of claims presented by Samuel Larned, Esq., when Chargé d'Affaires at Lima. Concluded, March 17, 1841; ratified, October 21, 1845; President's proclamation, January 8, 1847. 5. Treaty with the Winnebagoes. Concluded, October 13, 1846. 6. Treaty with the Camanches and other Indians. Concluded, August 13, 1846. 7. Commercial treaty between the United States of America and His Majesty the King of Hanover. Concluded, June 10, 1846. INDIVIDUAL STATES. I. MAINE. The first permanent settlement in Maine was formed about the year 1630; and for several years the government of the colony was administered in the name of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, as proprietor of the country. In 1652, the inhabitants of Maine were placed under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. The country was, however, afterwards claimed by the heirs of Gorges, but was, in 1677, purchased by the colony of Massachusetts. From that time the territory formed a part of the colony, and afterwards of the State of Massachusetts, and was styled the District of Maine, till the year 1820, when it was erected into an independent state. The Constitution of this state was formed in 1819, and went into operation in 1820. Every male citizen, except paupers, persons under guardianship, and Indians not taxed, 21 years old, and for three months next preceding any election a resident of the state, may vote in the town where his residence is so established. Persons in the army or navy of the United States stationed in garrison, and students in seminaries, shall not thereby gain such a residence as will entitle them to vote. The election of state officers shall be annually, on the second Monday in September. Representatives, not less than 100 nor more than 200 in number, and elected annually, must be 21 years old; five years citizens of the United * Gov. Fairfield was elected United States Senator, March 3d, 1843. |