Remittance of the money from Mexico.Secretary of the Treasury, and he is hereby authorized and required, to cause any moneys which may be paid by the Mexican Government in satisfaction of said awards, to be remitted on the most advantageous terms to the United States, and all moneys received under said convention, or by virtue of this act, shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States, and the same are hereby appropriated to be distributed and paid to those entitled thereto according to the provisions of this act; and the Secretary of the Treasury shallThe appropriation thereof. distribute the same in ratable proportions, among the persons aforesaid, according to the proportions which their respective awards shall bear to the whole amount received, and at such time or times as the same shall be received into the Treasury.
If Mexico, instead of paying the amount of the awards, issue Treasury notes therefor, Sec. of Treas. shall receive said notes.Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That if the Mexican Government, in place of at once paying the amount of said awards, shall see fit to issue Treasury notes therefor as provided by said convention, then it shall be lawful for the Secretary of the Treasury, and he is hereby authorized and required, to receive the said Treasury notes, and to deliver the same to the persons who shall be respectively entitled thereto, in virtue of the awards made under said convention, and of the certificates issued as hereinbefore provided.
Sec. of Treas., in the payment to retain any money due to the U. S.Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That in payment of money or the issue of certificates in virtue of this act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall first deduct and retain, or make reservation of, such sums of money, if any, as may be due the United States from persons in whose favor awards shall have been made under said convention.
Approved, June 12, 1840.
Statute Ⅰ.
Chap. XXXV.—An Act to authorize registers and receivers to administer oaths required to be taken by purchasers of public land.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,Duty of registers and receivers to administer oaths. That the register, or receiver, of any of the land offices of the United States shall be authorized, and it shall be the duty of said officers, to administer any oath or oaths, which now are or hereafter may be required by law, in connexion with the entry or purchase of any tract of land; and, if any person shall, knowingly and wilfully, swear falsely to any fact contained in any oath or affidavit so taken or made,Perjury. he or she shall be deemed and held guilty of perjury, and shall, on conviction, suffer all the pains, penalties, and disabilities, which attach to said crime in other cases of perjury under the laws of the United States:No compensation, directly or indirectly, to be charged. Provided, That such land officers shall not, directly or indirectly, charge or receive any compensation for administering such oaths.
Approved, June 12, 1840.
Statute Ⅰ.
Chap. XXXVI.—An Act for the discontinuance of the office of Surveyor General in the several districts, so soon as the surveys therein can be completed, for abolishing land offices under certain circumstances and for other purposes.
Sec. of Treas. to take measures for the completion of certain surveys.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to take all the necessary measures for the completion of the surveys, in the several districts for which surveyors have been, or may be, appointed, at the earliest periods compatible with the purposes contemplated by law; and whenever the surveys and records of any such district or State shall be completed, the surveyor general thereof shall be required to deliver over to the Secretary of State of the respective States, including such surveys, or such other officer as may be authorized to receive them, all the field notes, maps, records, and other papers, appertaining to land titles, with-
