this State, and such demand be in conformity with the laws of the Confederate States and with the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, the Governor of this State shall order an impressment pro rata, which shall be strictly uniform and equita ble, of the free negroes and slaves in this State.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That such impressment shall be made on the orders of the Governor, by the Sheriff of the seve ral counties, any Sheriff failing to obey said order shall be punished, on conviction, by fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the Court; and the Governor shall, in failure of any Sheriff to obey said order, direct the duty to be performed by the Coroner or such other civil officer of the county as he may select, who shall be subject to the like penalties in case of failure.

SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That no demand as (or) impressment of slaves or free negroes in the State shall be made, except in conformity with the provisions of this law; and if any shall be made in violation thereof, it is hereby declared unlawful and void.

Passed the House of Representatives December 3, 1864. Passed the Senate December 3, 1864. Approved by the Governor December 7, 1864.

Citizens arrested by Confed. officers.

CHAPTER 1,457-[No. 28.]

AN ACT to protect the Citizens of Florida.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That whenever a citizen or citizens of this State shall be arrested by order of a Confederate officer, he or they so arrested shall be turned over to the Commissioner of the Confederate States, or the civil authorities of the county in which such arrest was made, or to the authorities of the county next adjoining for examination. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That any officer who shall fail or neglect to comply with the provisions of this act, within a reasonto comply with able time after such arrest has been made, shall be guilty of a misthe provisions demeanor, and shall be liable to indictment before the Circuit Court of the District in which such offence was committed; and, if found guilty, be fined at the discretion of the jury.

Officers failing

of this act.

Fees.

SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That the fees and charges received in such cases shall be those now allowed by law in civil arrests.

Passed the Senate December 8, 1864. Passed the House of Representatives December 5, 1864. Approved by the Governor December 7, 1864.

CHAPTER 1,458-[No. 29.]

AN ACT for the relief of C. L. Demilly.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre

1864.

sentatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly conven- Comptroller to ed, That the Comptroller be and he is hereby authorized to au- audit account. dit and allow the account of C. L. Demilly, for services in cleaning and repairing arms in the year 1862, and the Treasurer shall pay the same out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated: Provided, That said account, or the amount to be paid thereon, shall not exceed such amount as the Governor may certify to be suitable and proper compensation for said services.

Passed the House of Representatives December 3, 1864. Passed the Senate December 5, 1864. Approved by the Governor December 7, 1864.

Proviso.

CHAPTER 1,459-[No. 30.]

AN ACT to extend the terms of the Solicitors in the several Judicial Circuits in this State to the first day of January, 1866, and for other purposes. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre sentatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That the terms of office of the present Solicitors in the, several licitors extendJudicial Circuits be and are hereby extended to the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the term of office of Solicitors hereafter elected commence on the first day of January succeeding their election, and continue as now provided by law. SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That the term of office of all State and County offices shall continue until their successors are qualified.

Passed the House of Representatives December 6, 1864. Passed the Senate December 7, 1864. Approved by the Governor December 7, 1864.

ed.

Terms of So

Commencem❜nt

of term.

Terms of State cers.

and County offi.

CHAPTER 1,460-[No. 31.]

AN ACT in relation to the recording of deeds and other papers in Lafayette
County.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre sentatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That the clerk of the Circuit Court of Lafayette county shall deposit in the Clerk's office, in Madison county, the books used

to be deposited in Clerks omce

Books of record

of Madison Co.

1864.

Records.

Record books

to be returned.

Repeal.

by him for the recording of deeds, mortgages and other papers of like character; and it shall be the duty of the said Clerk of the Circuit Court of Madison county to admit, to record and to record in said books such papers as the law now requires shall be recorded in the said county of Lafayette, and that such record shall be as valid in law and equity as if the same had been recorded by the Clerk of Lafayette county.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That whenever in the opinion of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lafayette county said books will be safe in his county, and he shall be able to resume his duties, they shall be delivered to him by the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Madison County.

SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That all laws or parts of laws conflicting with the provisions of this act be and the same are hereby repealed.

Passed the Senate December 1, 1864. Passed the House of Representatives December 6, 1864. Approved by the Governor December 7, 1864.

CHAPTER 1,461-[No. 32.]

AN ACT for the relief of Soldiers' Families.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That in addition to the amount appropriated at Appropriation. the last session of the General Assembly, and yet unexpended, there be and is hereby appropriated the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars. This amount to be disbursed in accordance with the provisions of an act entitled "an act to provide for the renef of Soldiers' Families, and others that require assistance," approved December 3d, 1863.

quarterly returns.

What returns made.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the county officers having in charge the distribution of the Officers to make fund for the relief of soldiers' families, to make quarterly returns under oath to the Governor of their proceedings, which shall contain a detailed statement of [the] number of persons receiving the benefit of this act, receipts and expenditures, and of distribution of funds entrusted to them, and also cause a copy thereof to be posted up at the Court House, or wherever practicable in their respective counties, and stating the wants of their respective counties, price of provisions, salt, &c., amount of provisions, supplies, &c., that can be purchased, and rates of transportation, and any other information that may be neces

1864.

Governor may

withhold pay.

ments.

tices of the

sary to carry out the provisions of the act to which this is an amendment; and, in case of failure to do So, the Governor is hereby authorized to withhold all payments, under the act, to any county whose officers are in default. until such time as they comply with the provisions of the law. SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That in addition to the du-Duties of Justies required of the Justices of the Peace by an act entitled Peace. "an act to provide for the relief of soldiers' families, and others requiring assistance," approved December 3d, 1863, they shall assist the Board of County Commissioners, or Trustees of their respective counties, in the distribution of the funds and supplies which may be furnished them by the said Board of County Commissioners or Trustees, in their respective districts, under the direction of said Board of County Commissioners or Trustees; and the said Justices of the Peace shall make returns in writing, under oath, to the said Board of County Commissioners, as often as they may direct, of the manner in which the funds and supplies entrusted to them shall have been distributed; and in case any Justice of the Peace shall fail or refuse to faithfully discharge the duties imposed upon him by this act, and the act ing duty. to which this is an amendment, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than six months, at the discretion of the Court.

Returns.

Justice of the Peace neglect

Officers neg

lecting their du

ty, how pun.

ished.

SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That any Judge of Probate, County Commissioner or Trustee, who has or shall hereafter assume the duties imposed upon him by this act, and the act to which this is an amendment, and shall fail or neglect to faithfully discharge the same, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than two thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than six months: Provided, however, That nothing in this bill shall be so construed as to prohibit the counties from receiving their pro unexpended bal rata share of the appropriation made last session and yet unexpended.

SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That all laws, or parts of laws conflicting with this act, be and the same are hereby repealed.

Passed the House of Representatives November 30, 1864. Passed the Senate December 5, 1864. Approved by the Governor December 7, 1864.

Proviso as to

ance.

Repeal.

1864.

Trustees to make enquiry

into rates and charges of R. R.

Companies.

CHAPTER 1,462-[No. 33.]

AN ACT to define the duties of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Board. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre sentatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened, That it shall be the duty of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund to immediately make inquiry into the prices charged by the several railroad companies in this State for the transportation or freight of the citizens of this State, and especially the amount charged the soldier while traveling off duty, and which charge he has to pay individually, and to see that while full justice is done the railroad companies and their efficiency not interfered with, that the people are protected from Trustees to es exhorbitant prices, if they exist; and for this purpose the Board of Internal Improvement are hereby authorized to establish such tariff of prices for transportation and freight as they may be authorized by law and the charters of the companies to establish.

tablish tariff of

prices.

Trustees to inquire as to cm

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the said Board inquire how many persons are employed on said roads, in what capacity, at what salary or compensation, and what are the several ages ployees of R. R. of the persons so employed, and that the Board cause the result Companies. of their enquiry to be published in some newspaper for the information of the public.

Passed the Senate December 5, 1864. Passed the House of Representatives December 6, 1864. Approved by the Governor December 7, 1864.

Senators.

CHAPTER 1,463-[No. 34.]

AN ACT making appropriations for the expenses of the First Session of the
Thirteenth General Assembly, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Florida in General Assernbly convened, That the following sums shall be paid out of any monies in the Appropriation. Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the following persons, to wit: To A. K. Allison, President of the Senate, $105 00; to E. J. Vann, Senator, $126 00; to James Abemcrombie, Senator, $364 00; to J. M. Arnow, Senator, $231 00; to J. D. Clary, Senator, $190 00; to J. C. Cooper, Senator, $225 00; to D. P. Hogue, Senator, 885 00; to D. P. Holland, Senator, $225 00; to Edw. Hopkins, Senator, $203 00; J. L. King, Senator, $217 00; to J. S. Russell, Senator, $106 00; to John Scott, Senator, $260 00; to W. J. J. Duncan, Senator, $141 00; to F. L. Villepigue, Sec