United States Statutes at Large/Volume 4/20th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 2
Chap. II.—An Act to prevent defalcations on the part of the disbursing agents of the government, and for other purposes.
No money appropriated to be paid to persons in arrears to the United States.
Proviso.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That no money hereafter appropriated shall be paid to any person, for his compensation, who is in arrears to the United States, until such person shall have accounted for, and paid into the treasury, all sums for which he may be liable: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to extend to balances arising solely from the depreciation of treasury notes received by such person, to be expended in the public service; but in all cases where the pay or salary of any person is withheld, in pursuance of this act, it shall be the duty of the accounting officers, if demanded by the party, his agent or attorney, to report forthwith to the agent of the Treasury Department, the balance due; and it shall be the duty of the said agent, within sixty days thereafter, to order suit to be commenced against such delinquent and his sureties.
Approved, January 25, 1828.