Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the term "relatives," as used in the ninth section of the act entitled "An Act to raise,

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for a limited time, an additional military force, and for other purposes," approved eleventh February, eighteen hundred and forty-seven, shall be considered as extending to the brothers and sisters of those persons whose services, under that act, may have entitled them to the land therein provided: the order or priority of right, however, shall remain as declared in that act; and those failing, the right shall accrue, fourthly, to the brother or sister, or in equal proportions to the brothers and sisters of the deceased, as the case may be.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the benefits of the said act of eleventh February, eighteen hundred and forty-seven, shall not be construed as forfeited by the privates and non-commissioned officers who have been, or may be, promoted to the grade of commissioned officer during their service in Mexico, and who shall have subsequently fulfilled the condition of their engagements: Provided, Such promotion shall have been made subsequent to the original organization of the company, corps, or regiment to which such privates and non-commissioned officers may have belonged.

Approved, May 27, 1848.