A Bill to be entitled an act to authorize & require certain illegal entries of the public lands of the united states at the land office ^in^at columbus in the state of Mississippi to be cancelled and for other purposes.

Sec 1. Whereas it has lately been judicially ascertained on the trial of the ^suit of the^ United states against Gordon D. Boyd & his sureties, that the said Gordon D. Boyd whilst he was recever of the public moneys of the united states for the Destrict of land subject to sale at columbus in the state of Mississippi became a public defaulter by issuing certificates of purchase of portions of the public lands in his own name and in the name of others without being paid the purchase money therefor as required by law; by reason whereof the said sureties have been dischared from liability on account of such pretended purchases, and it appearing that said certificates of purchase are illegal and that the lands therein mentioned still remain ^as^ the undisposed of portions of the public lands of the united states,

Be it therefore enacted by the senate & house of representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled that the commissioner of the general land office under the direction of the secretary of the treasury or the attorney general of the united states be and he is hereby ^authorized and^ directed to ascertain the section, subdivision of section township and range for and on account of which such pretended certificates of purchase may have been made, and when the

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same shall have been satisfactorily ascertained said commissioner under the sanction of the secretary of the treasury or attorney general shall have power & authority & he is hereby required to cause said entries and each of them to be cancelled and for nothing held and shall direct such land to be sold or entered in the same manner as if such pretended purchases had not been made,—^provided said entries can be cancelled without prejudice to the rights & interests of third parties.^

sec 2 And be it further enacted that as such certificates of purchase shall be cancelled there shall be refunded to the said Gordon D. Boyd or his surety or sureties their heirs or assigns by the Treasurer of the united states District attorney or other officer having the same all the collateral securities or the proceeds thereof given or surrendered to the United States or any officer thereof for and on account of the said defalcation of the said Gordon D. Boyd; ^provided the same can be returned or surrendered without loss or injury to the general government.^

sec^t 3 And be it further enacted that the said commissioner, secretary of the treasury and Attorney General or any two of them are hereby authorized and empowered to settle and adjust the accounts between the said gordon D. Boyd and his sureties and the United states on principles that shall ^be^ equitable & just.