United States Statutes at Large/Volume 4/20th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 41
Chap. XLI.—An Act in addition to the act, entitled “An act to provide for the sale of lands, conveyed to the United States, in certain cases, and for other purposes,” passed the twenty-sixth day of May, eighteen hundred and twenty-four.
Act of May 26, 1824, ch. 172.
In all cases where lands have been sold, or conveyed to, the United States, for forts, &c., not used, &c., to be sold.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all cases where lands have been, or shall hereafter be, conveyed to, or for, the United States, for forts, arsenals, dockyards, lighthouses, or any like purpose, or in payment of debts due the United States, which shall not be used, or necessary for the purposes for which they were purchased, or other authorized purpose, it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to cause the same to be sold for the best price to be obtained, and to convey the same to the purchaser by grant or otherwise.
The President authorized to procure the assent of the legislature of any state within which any purchase of land has been made for the erection of forts, &c.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be authorized to procure the assent of the legislature of any state, within which any purchase of land has been made, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings, without such consent having been obtained; and also to obtain exclusive legislation over any such tract as is provided for in the sixteenth clause of the eighth section of the first article of the constitution; and that he be authorized to procure the like consent and exclusive legislation as to all future purchases of land for either of those purposes.
Where lands have been conveyed for the United States, to individuals, a release of their interest to be obtained.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States, in all cases where lands have been conveyed for the United States to individuals or officers, be authorized to obtain from the person or persons to whom the conveyance has been made, a release of their interest to the United States.
Approved, April 28, 1828.