(Sect. 7.) And be it further enacted, That the said sec-
retary shall, forthwith after his appointment, be entitled to
have the custody and charge of the said seal of the United
States, and also of all books, records, and papers, remain-
ing in the office of the late secretary of the United States
in congress assembled; and such of the said books, rec-
ords, and papers, as may appertain to the treasury depart-
ment, or war department, shall be delivered over to the
principal officers in the said departments, respectively, as
the president of the United States shall direct.
{Approved September l§, lySg.')

This Act was supplemented by the follow-
ing:

Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of
State to procure, from time to time, such of the statutes
of the several states as may not be in his office.
{Approved, September 2j, lySgJ)

And so much of the Act of July 27, 1789, as



FORMATION OF THE DEPARTMENT.
57



related to an Acting Secretary was changed by
the following :

And be it further enacted, That in case of the death, ab-
sence from the seat of government, or sickness, of the Sec-
retary of State, Secretary of tlie treasury, or of the secre-
tary of the war department, or of any officer of either of
said departments, whose appointment is not in the head
thereof, whereby they cannot perform the duties of their
said respective offices, it shall be lawful for the President
of the United States, in case he shall think it necessary,
to authorize any person or- persons, at his discretion, to
perform the duties of the said respective offices until a
successor be appointed, or until such absence, or inability
by sickness shall cease.
