Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 3.djvu/719



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States shall be, and hereby is, authorized and required to cause the business of the United States’ trading-houses among the Indian tribes to be closed, and the accounts of the superintendent of Indian trade, and of the factors and sub-factors, to be settled; and for that purpose, the President is hereby authorized to select, from among the Indian agents, or others, a competent number of fit and suitable persons, to be and appear at the office of Indian trade in Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, and at each of the trading-houses established among Indian tribes, on or before the third day of June next, or as soon thereafter as can conveniently be done, to demand and receive of and from the superintendent of Indian trade, and of the respective factors and sub-factors, all the goods, wares, merchandise, furs, peltries, evidences of debt, and property and effects of every kind which may be in their power or possession, by virtue of their respective offices, and justly due and belonging to the United States; and the said agents, selected for the purpose aforesaid, shall be furnished with copies of the latest quarterly returns of the said superintendent, factors, and sub-factors, as rendered by them to the Treasury Department, and copies of any other papers in the said department which will show what is, or ought to be due and coming to the United States, from the said office of Indian trade in Georgetown, and from each of the trading-houses established among Indians. And the persons so selected shall enter into bond, with good and sufficient security, in such sums as may be required by the President of the United States, for the faithful discharge of the duties enjoined on them by the provisions of this act. And from and after the third day of June next, the act of the second of March, one thousand eight hundred and eleven, entitled “,” shall be continued in force for the purposes only of enforcing all bonds, debts, contracts, demands, and rights which may have arisen, and all penalties and punishments which may have been, or may be, incurred under the provisions of the said act, and for the settlement of the accounts of the superintendent, factors, and sub-factors, at the Treasury Department.

. And be it further enacted, That the goods, wares, and merchandise, which shall be delivered over to the agents of the United States, under the provisions of this act, shall be placed at the disposition of the President of the United States, subject, under his orders, towards satisfying or extinguishing the treaty obligations on the part of the United States, to keep up trading-houses with the Indians; also, towards the payment of annuities due, or to become due, to Indian tribes; also, in making the customary presents to tribes or individuals in amity with the United States; and the surplus, if any, may be sold to the best advantage, under the orders of the President, and the proceeds paid over to the treasury of the United States.

. And be it further enacted, That the furs, peltries, effects and property, received under the first section of this act, shall be sold in the manner the President may direct; the debts due and owing shall be collected under his orders; and all the money received from these sources, and all that shall be received from the superintendent of Indian trade, and from the factors and sub-factors, shall be paid over, as fast as received, into the treasury of the United States: Provided, That such sums may be retained and applied, under the orders of the President of the United States, as may be necessary to defray the expenses of carrying this act into effect.