SIXTEENTH Congress, Session I, Chapter 102, Vol. 3.

An Act to limit the term of office of certain officers therein named, and for other purposes.

          Sec. 1.  Be it enacted in the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the passing of this act, all district attorneys, collectors of the customs, naval officers, and surveyors of the customs, navy agents, receivers of public moneys [sic] for lands, registers of the land offices, paymasters in the army, the apothecary general, the assistant apothecaries general, and the commissary general of purchases, to be appointed under the laws of the United States, shall be appointed for the term of four years, but shall be removable from office at pleasure.

          Sec. 2.  And be it further enacted, That the commission of each and every of the officers named in the first section of this act, now in office, unless vacated by removal from office, or otherwise, shall cease and expire in the manner following: all such commissions, bearing date on or before the thirtieth day of September, one t housand eight hundred and fourteen, shall cease and expire on the day and month of their respective dates which shall next ensue after the thirtieth day of September next; all such commissions, bearing date after the said thirtieth day of September, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, and before the first day of October, one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, shall cease and expire on the day and month of their respective dates, which shall next ensue after the thirtieth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty‑one.  All other such commissions shall cease and expire at the expiration of the term of four years from their respective dates.

          Sec. 3.  And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States, and he is hereby authorized, from time to time, as in his opinion the interest of the United States may require, to regulate and increase the sums for which bonds are required, or which may be required by the laws of the United States, to be given by the said officers, and by all other officers employed in the disbursement of the public moneys, under the direction of the War or Navy Departments, shall be given; and all bonds, given in conformity with such regulations, shall be as valid and effectual, to all intents and purposes, as if given for the same respectively mentioned in the laws requiring the same.

          Approved, May 15, 1820.