Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 1.djvu/863



such justices, magistrates, or judiciary, shall take cognizance thereof, and proceed to judgment and execution as in other cases.

. And be it further enacted, That in all suits for causes arising under this act, the court shall proceed to trial, and render judgment the first term after such suit shall be commenced: Provided always, that whenever service of the process shall not have been made twenty days at least previous to the return day of such term, the defendant shall be entitled to one continuance, if the court on the statement of such defendant shall judge it expedient: Provided also, that if the defendant in such suits shall make affidavit that he has a claim against the general post-office, not allowed by the Postmaster General, although submitted to him conformable to the regulations of the post-office, and shall specify such claim in the affidavit, and that he could not be prepared for the trial at such term for want of evidence, the court in such case, being satisfied in those respects, may grant a continuance until the next succeeding term.

. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to report annually to Congress every post road which shall not, after the second year from its establishment, have produced one third of the expense of carrying the mail on the same.

. And be it further enacted, That from and after the last day of April next, the several clauses and provisions, excepting the first and second sections thereof, of an act, entitled “,” and the several clauses, provisions and section of an act (excepting the first and second sections thereof) entitled “,” approved the third of March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, shall be, and the same are hereby repealed: Provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to exonerate any person who shall not have performed the duty, or who shall have violated any of the prohibitions contained in the said acts, from suits or prosecutions; but as to all bonds, contracts, debts, demands, rights, penalties, punishments, which have been made, have arisen, or have been incurred, or which shall be made, arise, or be incurred previous to the first day of May next, the said acts shall have the same force and effect as though this act had not been made. Provided also, that the Postmaster General, deputy postmasters, contractors for carrying the mail, and others employed under the aforesaid acts, shall continue to hold their several offices, appointments and trusts, until they are otherwise removed; any thing herein contained that might be construed to the contrary notwithstanding; and also the bonds which they, or either of them, have or may give for the faithful execution of their several duties and offices, shall continue to have the same force and effect, to all intents and purposes, after the said first day of May next, as though this act had not been made.

, March 2, 1799.

. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the support of the military establishment of the United States, for the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine; the pay and subsistence of the officers and men; bounties and premiums; the clothing, hospital, ordnance, quartermaster’s, and Indian departments; the defensive protection of the frontiers; the contingent expenses of the war department, and the payment of military pensions, the sum of one million five