Chapter XLVII.- An Act concerning the Naval Establishment. March 30, 1812

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 be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered to cause to be immediately repaired, equipped and put into actual service, the frigates Chesapeake, Constellation and Adams; and that a sum not exceeding three hundred thousand dollars be, and is hereby appropriated for that purpose.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the officers and seamen of the navy may be increased so far as may be necessary to officer, man and equip the vessels so to be put into service, any law to the contrary not-withstanding.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the sum of two hundred thousand dollars, annually, for three years, viz: one thousand eight hundred and twelve, one thousand eight hundred and thirteen and one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, be appropriated towards the purchase and supply of a stock of every description of timber required for ship building and other navy purposes; and that the first appropriation thereof be made in the purchase of timber suitable for rebuilding the frigates Philadelphia, General Greene, New York, and Boston.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the sums herein specifically appropriated shall be paid out of any monies in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That as soon as it shall be deemed compatible with the good of the public service, the gun boats now in commission be laid up, and with those not in commission, be distributed in the several harbors of the maritime frontier which are most exposed to attack, to be carefully kept and used as circumstances may require.

SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That the pursers in the navy of the United States shall be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and that from and after the first day of May next, no person shall act in the character of purser, who shall not have been thus first nominated and appointed, excepting pursers on distant service who shall not remain in service after the first day of July next, unless nominated and appointed as aforesaid.  And every purser, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall give bond, with two or more sufficient sureties, in the penalty of ten thousand dollars, conditioned faithfully to perform all the duties of purser in the navy of the United States.

APPROVED, March 30, 1812.

By James Madison

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