United States Statutes at Large/Volume 4/21st Congress/1st Session/Chapter 163
Chap. CLXIII.—An Act to protect the surveyors of the public lands of the United States, and to punish persons guilty of interrupting and hindering, by force, surveyors in discharge of their duty.
A misdemeanor to interrupt surveys, &c.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any person who shall hereafter, in any manner, by threats or force, interrupt, hinder, or prevent, the surveying of the public lands, of the United States, or of any private land claim, which has, or may be confirmed by the United States, or the authority thereof, by the persons authorized to survey the same, in conformity with the instructions of the commissioner of the general land office, or the principal surveyors in any of the districts, in any state or territory, shall be considered and adjudged to be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction in any district or circuit court of the United States, in any state or territory having jurisdiction of the same, shall be fined a sum not less than fifty dollars,Punishment. nor more than three thousand dollars, and be imprisoned for a period of time, not less than one nor more than three years.
Force to be repelled.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That, whenever the President of the United States shall be satisfied that forcible opposition has been offered, or will likely be offered, to any surveyor or deputy surveyor, or assistant surveyor, in the discharge of his or their duties, in surveying the public lands of the United States, it shall and may be lawful for the President to order the marshal of the state or district, by himself, or deputy, to attend such surveyor, deputy, or assistant surveyor, with sufficient force to protect such officer in the execution of his duty as surveyor, and to remove force should any be offered.
Approved, May 29, 1830.