Acts of Congress.

SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That in all ation may be administered by any two persons who cases where any duty shall be collected pursuant may be commissioned for that purpose by the to this act, whether by distress or otherwise, cer-judge of the district court of the United States tificates shall be granted for each carriage in man- within whose jurisdiction the debtor may be conner as before prescribed. fined; the creditor, his agent, or attorney, if either SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, That the live within one hundred miles of the place of imsupervisors of the revenue, and inspectors of sur-prisonment, or within the district in which the veys, shall have power, from time to time, to ex-judgment was rendered, having had at least thirty amine, upon oath or affirmation, any officers or persons employed under them in the collection and receipt of the duties imposed by this act: And any officer or person who shall swear or affirm falsely, touching any matter hereby required to be verified on oath or affirmation, shall, on conviction thereof, suffer the pains and penalties which are prescribed for wilful and corrupt perjury.

SEC. 12. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, and he is hereby empowered, to make such allowances for compensation to the officers of inspection employed in the collection of the duties aforesaid, and for incidental expenses, as he shall judge reasonable, not exceeding, in the whole, five per centum of the total amount of the said duties collected.

SEC. 13. And be it further enacted, That the act, entitled "An act laying duties on carriages for the conveyance of persons," and so much of the fifteenth section of the act, entitled "An act to alter and amend the act, entitled "An act laying certain duties upon snuff and refined sugar," as authorizes the President of the United States to apply a sum not exceeding five per centum on the total amount of duties collected on carriages for the conveyance of persons, shall cease and be repealed, from and after the last day of August next; except for the recovery of any duties or penalties, which shall have accrued and remain unpaid; anything in the last section of the act of the last session, entitled "An act making further provision for the support of public credit, and for the redemption of the public debt," to the contrary notwithstanding: And that this act shall continue in force until the last day of August, in the year one thousand eight hundred and one, and no longer.

Approved, May 28, 1796.

An Act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt. Be it enacted, &c., That persons imprisoned on process issuing from any court of the United States in civil actions, shall be entitled to like privileges of the yards or limits of the respective jails, as persons confined in like cases, on process from the courts of the respective States are entitled to, and under the like regulations and restrictions.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That any person imprisoned as aforesaid may have the oath or affirmation hereinafter expressed administered to him by any judge of the United States; and in case there shall be no judge of the United States residing within twenty miles of the jail wherein such debtor may be confined, such oath or affirm4th CoN.-94

days' previous notice by a citation served on him, issued by the district judge, to appear at the time therein mentioned at the said jail, if he see fit, to show cause why the said oath or affirmation should not be so administered: at which time and place, if no sufficient cause, in the opinion of the judge, (or the commissioners appointed as aforesaid,) be shown, or from examination appear to the contrary, he (or they) may, at the request of the debtor proceed to administer to him the following oath or affirmation, as the case may be, viz: "You

solemnly swear (or affirm) that you have not estate, real or personal, nor is any to your knowledge holden in trust for you, (necessary wearing apparel excepted,) to the amount or value of thirty dollars, nor sufficient to pay the debt for which you are imprisoned." Which oath or affirmation being administered, the judge or commissioners shall certify the same under his or their hands to the prison keeper and the debtor shall be discharged from his imprisonment on such judgment, and shall not be liable to be imprisoned again for the said debt, but the judgment shall remain good and sufficient in law, and may be satisfied out of any estate which may then or at any time afterwards belong to the debtor. And whenever the oath aforesaid shall be administered by commissioners, in addition to the certificate by them made and delivered to the prison keeper, they shall make return of their doings to the district court with the commission to them issued, to be kept upon the files and records of the same court.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That if any person shall falsely take the oath or affirmation aforesaid, such person shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and upon conviction thereof shall suffer the pains and penalties in that case provided. And the court upon the motion of the creditor shall recommit the debtor to the prison from whence he was liberated, there to be detained for the said debt, in the same manner as if such oath or affirmation had not been taken.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the act, entitled "An act to continue in force the act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt," be, and the same is hereby repealed.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That this act shall continue in force for the term of three. years.

Approved, May 28, 1796.

An Act to ascertain and fix the Military Establish

ment of the United States.

Be it enacted, &c., That the Military Establishment of the United States, from and after the last day of October next, be composed of the corps of artillerists and engineers, as established by the

Acts of Congress.

act, entitled “An act providing for raising and organizing a corps of artillerists and engineers;" two companies of light dragoons, who shall do duty on horse or foot, at the discretion of the President of the United States; and four regiments of infantry, of eight companies each; the company of dragoons shall consist of one captain, two lieutenants, one cornet, four sergeants, four corporals, one farrier, one saddler, one trumpeter, and fifty-two privates, and shall be armed and accoutred in such manner as the President of the United States may direct.

of at least five feet six inches in height, and not under the age of eighteen nor above the age of forty-six years, the sum of two dollars.

SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That there shall be allowed and paid to each soldier now in the service of the United States, or discharged therefrom, subsequent to the third day of March. one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four, who shall re-enlist for the term of five years, unless sooner discharged, a bounty of sixteen dollars; and to each person not now in the army of the United States, or discharged as above, who shall SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That each hereafter enlist for the term aforesaid, a bounty regiment of infantry shall consist of one lieuten- of fourteen dollars; but the payment of four dolant-colonel commandant, two majors, one adjutant,lars of the bounty of each and every man so enone paymaster, one quartermaster, one surgeon, two surgeons' mates, eight captains, eight lieutenants, eight ensigns, two sergeant-majors, two quartermaster-sergeants, two senior musicians, thirty-two sergeants, thirty-two corporals, sixteen musicians, and four hundred and sixteen privates: Provided, always, That the President of the United States may, in his discretion, appoint an additional number of surgeon's mates, not exceeding ten, and distribute the same, according to the necessity of the service.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That there shall be one major-general, with two aids-decamp, one brigadier-general, who may choose his brigade-major from the captains or subalterns of the line; which brigade-major shall receive the monthly pay of twenty-four dollars, in addition to his pay in the line, be entitled to four rations of provisions, for his daily subsistence; and, whenever forage shall not be furnished by the public, to ten dollars per month in lieu thereof; one quartermaster-general; one inspector, who shall do the duty of adjutant-general; and one paymaster-general; and that the adjutants, quartermasters, and paymasters, of regiments shall be appointed from the subalterns of their respective regiments.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States cause to be arranged the officers, non-commissioned officers, privates, and musicians, of the legion of the United States, and light dragoons, in such manner as to form and complete out of the same the four regiments aforesaid, and two companies of light dragoons. And the supernumerary officers, privates, and musicians, shall be considered, from and after the last day of October next, discharged from the service of the United States.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the corps of artillerists and engineers be completed, conformably to the act of the eighth day of May, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four, establishing the same, and prescribing the number and term of enlistments, and the method of organization.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted. That the commissioned officers, who shall be employed in the recruiting service, to keep up, by enlistments, the corps of artillerists, infantry, and dragoons aforesaid, shall be entitled to receive, for every able-bodied recruit, duly enlisted and mustered,

listing shall be deferred until he shall have joined the corps in which he is to serve.

SEC. 8. And be it further enacted. That every non-commissioned officer, private, and musician. of the artillery and infantry, shall receive, annually, the following articles of uniform clothing, to wit: one hat, one coat, one vest, two pair of woollen and two pair of linen overalls, four pair of shoes, four shirts, four pair of socks, one blanket, one stock and clasp, and one pair of buckles.

SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That suitable clothing be provided for the dragoons, adapted to the nature of the service, and conformed as near as may be, to the value of the clothing allowed to the infantry and artillery.

SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That every non-commissioned officer, private, and musician. shall receive, daily, the following rations of provisions, to wit: one pound of beef, or three-quarters of a pound of pork, one pound of bread or flour, half a gill of rum, brandy, or whiskey; and at the rate of one quart of salt, two quarts of vinegar, two pounds of soap, and one pound of candies, to every hundred rations.

Sec. 11. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That to those in the military service of the United States, who are, or shall be, employed on the western frontiers, there shall be allowed. during the time of their being so employed, two ounces of flour or bread, and two ounces of beef or pork, in addition to each of the rations, and half a pint of salt, in addition to every hundred of their rations.

SEC. 12. And be it further enacted, That the monthly pay of the officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, of the Military Establishment, be as follows: a major-general one hundred and sixty-six dollars; a brigadiergeneral, one hundred and four dollars; quartermaster, inspector, and paymaster generals, each. in addition to their pay in the line, twenty-five dollars; principal artificer, forty dollars; second artificer, twenty-six dollars; lieutenant-colonel commandant, seventy-five dollars; major of artillery and of dragoons, fifty-five dollars; major of infantry, fifty dollars; paymaster, adjutant, and regimental quartermaster, in addition to their pay in the line, ten dollars; captain, forty dollars; lieutenants, twenty-six dollars; ensigns and cornets, twenty dollars; surgeons, forty-five dollars: surgeons' mates, thirty dollars; sergeant-majors

Acts of Congress.

and quartermaster-sergeants, eight dollars; senior musicians, seven dollars; sergeants, seven dollars; corporals, six dollars; musicians, five dollars; privates, four dollars; artificers allowed to the infantry and artillery, farriers and saddlers to the dragoons, each, nine dollars; matrons and nurses in the hospital, eight dollars.

he shall, in addition to the penalties mentioned in the rules and articles of war, be liable to serve for and during such a period as shall, with the time he may have served, previous to his desertion, amount to the full term of his enlistment, and such soldier shall and may be tried and sentenced by a regimental or garrison court-martial, although the term of his enlistment may have elapsed, previous to his being apprehended or tried. SEC. 18. And be it further enacted, That the sentences of general courts-martial, in time of peace, extending to the loss of life, the dismission of a commissioned officer, or which shall, either in time of peace or war, respect a general officer, shall, with the whole of the proceedings in such cases, respectively, be laid before the President of the United States; who is hereby authorized to direct the same to be carried into execution or otherwise, as he shall judge proper.

SEC. 13. And be it further enacted, That the commissioned officers aforesaid shall be entitled to receive for their daily subsistence the following number of rations of provisions: a major-general, fifteen rations; a brigadier-general twelve rations; a lieutenant-colonel commandant, six rations; quartermaster, inspector, and paymaster generals, each, six rations; and each aid-de-camp shall receive the monthly pay of twenty-four dollars in addition to his pay in the line, be entitled to four rations of provisions for his daily subsistence, and whenever forage shall not be furnished by the public, to ten SEC. 19. And be it further enacted, That if any dollars per month in lieu thereof; a captain, three officer, non-commissioned officer, private, or murations; a lieutenant, ensign, and cornet, each, two sician aforesaid, shall be wounded or disabled rations; a surgeon, three rations; a surgeon's while in the line of his duty in public service, he mate, two rations; a principal and second artifi- shall be placed on the list of the invalids of the cer, each, two rations, or money in lieu thereof, United States, at such rate of pay, and under such at the option of the said officers, at the posts, re-regulations as shall be directed by the President spectively, where the rations shall become due; and if at such posts supplies are not furnished by contract, then such allowance as shall be deemed equitable, having reference to former contracts, and the position of the place in question.

SEC. 14. And be it further enacted, That the officers hereinafter described shall, whenever forage shall not be furnished by the public, receive at the rate of the following enumerated sums, per month, instead thereof, to wit: a major-general, twenty dollars; a brigadier general, sixteen dollars; quartermaster, inspector, and paymaster generals, each, twelve dollars; lieutenant-colonel commandant, twelve dollars; major, ten dollars; captain of dragoons, eight dollars; lieutenant and cornet, each six dollars; surgeon, ten dollars; surgeon's mate, six dollars; principal artificer, paymaster, adjutant, and regimental quartermaster, each, six dollars.

SEC. 15. And be it further enacted, That every person who shall procure or entice a soldier in the service of the United States to desert, or who shall purchase from any solder his arms, uniform clothing, or any part thereof; and every captain or commanding officer of any ship or vessel, who shall enter on board such ship or vessel as one of his crew, knowing him to have deserted, or otherwise carry away any such soldier, or shall refuse to deliver him up to the orders of his commanding officer, shall, upon legal conviction, be fined, at the discretion of the court, in any sum not exceeding three hundred dollars, or be imprisoned for any term not exceeding one year.

SEC. 16. And be it further enacted, That no non-commissioned officer or private shall be arrested, or subject to arrest, for any debt under the sum of twenty dollars.

SEC. 17. And be it further enacted, That if any non-commissioned officer, musician, or private shall desert from the service of the United States,

of the United States for the time being: Provided, always, That the rate of compensation to be allowed for such wounds or disabilities to a commissioned officer, shall never exceed, for the highest disability, half the monthly pay of such officer at the time of his being so disabled or wounded; and that the rate of compensation to non-commissioned officers, privates, and musicians, shall never exceed five dollars per month: And provided, also, That all inferior disabilities shall entitle the person so disabled to receive an allowance proportionate to the highest disability.

SEC. 20. And be it further enacted, That the officers, non-commissioned officers, privates, and musicians aforesaid, shall be governed by the rules and articles of war, which have been established by the United States in Congress assembled, [except so much of the same as is by this act altered or amended,] as far as the same may be applicable to the Constitution of the United States; or by such rules and articles as may hereafter by law be established.

SEC. 21. And be it further enacted, That every officer, non-commissioned officer, private, and musian aforesaid, shall take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation, to wit: "I, A B, do solemnly swear or affirm (as the case may be) to bear true allegiance to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully against their enemies or opposers whomsoever, and to observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the rules and articles of war."

SEC. 22. And be it further enacted, That so much of any act or acts now in force, as comes within the purview of this act, shall be, and the same is hereby repealed; saving, nevertheless, such parts thereof as relate to the enlistments or terin of service of any of the troops which, by

Acts of Congress.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the thirteenth section of the act, entitled "An act making further provision for securing and collecting the duties on foreign and domestic distilled spirits, stills, wines, and teas," which section will expire at the end of the present session of Congress, shall be, and the same is hereby, further continued in force for the term of one year from the passing of this act, and from thence to the end of SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That, to the the next session of Congress thereafter, and no aggregate of compensations for clerks in the longer. year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four, there Approved, May 30, 1796. shall, during the present year, be further allowed

Acts of Congress.

of four thousand five hundred and thirty-nine dollars and six cents be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, to reimburse certain sums advanced by Captain Colvill and Captain Burnham for their ransom from captivity in Algiers; which sum, the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and required to pay to the said Captains Colvill and Burnham, dividing the same equally between

them.

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be authorized to borrow, on the credit of the United States, if, in his opinion, the public service shall require it, a sum not exceeding three hundred and twenty-four thousand five hundred and thirty-nine dollars and six cents, at an interest not exceeding six per centum per annum, reimbursable at the pleasure of the United States, to be applied to the purposes of this act, and to be repaid out of the duties on imports and tonnage accruing during the present year, and not otherwise appropriated. And it shall be lawful for the Bank of the United States to lend the

same.

Approved, May 30, 1796.

An Act making provision for the payment of certain

Debts of the United States.

and that the interest to be paid upon the stock, which shall be constituted by virtue of the loan herein proposed, shall be paid at the offices or places where the credits for the same shall, from time to time, stand or be; subject to the like conditions and restrictions as are prescribed in and by the eighth section of the act fast aforesaid.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be deemed a good execution of the power to borrow, herein granted, for the said Commissioners of the Sinking Fund to cause to be constituted certificates of stock of the description herein mentioned, and to cause the same to be sold in the United States, or elsewhere: Provided, That no more than one moiety of the said stock shall be sold under par. And it shall be lawful for the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, if they shall find the same to be most advantageous, to sell such and so many of the shares of the stock of the Bank of the United States, belonging to the United States, as they may think proper; and that they apply the proceeds thereof to the payment of the said debts, instead of selling certificates of stock, in the manner prescribed by this act. And such of the revenues of the United States, heretofore appropriated for the payment of interest of debts, thus discharged, shall be, and the same are hereby, pledged and appropriated towards the payment Be it enacted, &c., That it shall be lawful for of the interest, and instalments of the principal, the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, with which shall hereafter become due, on the loan the approbation of the President of the United obtained of the Bank of the United States, pursuStates, to borrow, or cause to be borrowed, on the ant to the eleventh section of the act for incorpocredit of the United States, any sum not exceed-rating the subscribers to the said bank. ing five millions of dollars, to be applied to the payment of the capital or principal of any parts of the debt of the United States now due, or to become due during the course of the present year, to the Bank of the United States, or to the Bank of New York, or for any instalment of foreign debt: And that, for the whole, or such part of the said sum as shall be borrowed, certificates shall be issued, purporting that the United States are indebted for the sums to be therein expressed, bearing an interest of six per centum per annum, payable quarter yearly; which sums, at the said rate of interest, are to remain fixed and irredeemable, until the close of the year one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, and to be redeemed thereafter, at the pleasure of the United States. And the Bank of the United States is hereby authorized to lend the whole, or any part of the said five millions of dollars, and to sell the stock received for such loan.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That credits for the sums which shall be borrowed, pursuant to this act, shall be entered and given on the books of the Treasury, in like manner as for the present domestic funded debt; and that certificates, for sums not less than one hundred dollars, pursuant to the provisions herein contained, shall be issued by the Register of the Treasury; which shall be transferable in like manner, and by the like ways and means, as are provided by the seventh section of the act, entitled "an act making provision for the debt of the United States," touching the credits or stock therein mentioned;

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That such of the revenues of the United States, heretofore appropriated for the payment of interest on such debts as may be liberated or set free, by payments from the proceeds of the loan herein proposed, together with such further sums of the proceeds of the duties on goods, wares and merchandise imported, on the tonnage of ships or vessels, and upon spirits distilled in the United States, and stills, as may be necessary, shall be, and the same are hereby, pledged and appropriated for the payment of the interest which shall be payable upon the sums subscribed to the said loan; and shall continue so pledged and appropriated, until the principal of the said loan shall be fully reimbursed and redeemed.

SEC.5. And be it further enacted, That the principal of the said loan, bearing interest as aforesaid, shall remain fixed and irredeemable by the United States, until the close of the year one thousand eight hundred and nineteen; after which period the said loans shall be redeemed at the pleasure of the United States; and the funds which shall be liberated by the discharge of the stock of the United States, bearing a present interest of six per cent., or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be, and the same are hereby, pledged and appropriated for the said redemption.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the Department of the Treasury, according to the respective duties of the offices thereof, shall, and they are hereby directed to, establish such forms and rules of proceeding, touching the execution of