# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 4/22nd Congress/1st Session/Chapter 180

Chap. CLXXX.—An Act for the final adjustment of private land claims in Missouri.
1833, ch. 84. All unconfirmed land claims to be examined.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall be the duty of the recorder of land titles in the state of Missouri and two commissioners ​to be appointed by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to examine all the unconfirmed claims to land in that state, heretofore filed in the office of the said recorder, according to law, founded upon any incomplete grant, concession, warrant, or order of survey, issued by the authority of France or Spain, prior to the tenth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and four;Claims to be classed, &c. and to class the same so as to show, first, what claims, in their opinion, would in fact have been confirmed, according to the laws, usages, and customs of the Spanish government, and the practice of the Spanish authorities under them, at New Orleans, if the government under which said claims originated had continued in Missouri; and secondly what claims, in their opinion, are destitute of merit, in law or equity, under such laws, usages, customs, and practice of the Spanish authorities aforesaid; and shall also assign their reasons for the opinions so to be given. And in examining and classing such claims, the recorder and commissioners shall take into consideration, as well the testimony heretofore taken by the boards of commissioners and recorder of land titles upon those claims, as such other testimony as may be admissible under the rules heretofore existing for taking such testimony before said board and recorder:Time for taking testimony. and all such testimony shall be taken within twelve months after the passage of this act.
Office of recorder to remain open for two years. Recorder, &c., to proceed, &c. A report of claims to be laid before commissioner, and presented to Congress.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the office of the recorder shall be open for the purpose of such examination for the term of two years from the date of the organization of the board of commissioners and no longer; and the recorder and commissioners shall proceed in the examination in a summary manner, with or without any new application of ​the claimants; and shall, at the commencement of each session of Congress during said term of examination, lay before the commissioner of the general land office a report of the claims so classed, stating therein the date and quantity of each, whether there be any, and what, conflicting claims, and the evidence upon which each claim depends, and the authority and power under which the said claim was granted by the Spanish or French governor, commandant or sub-delegate, to be laid before Congress for their final decision upon the claims contained in such first class.
Provisions relating to sale of certain lands.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That from and after the final report of the recorder and commissioners, the lands contained in the second class shall be subject to sale as other public lands; and the lands contained in the first class shall continue to be reserved from sale as heretofore, until the decision of Congress shall be made thereon; and if the decision of Congress shall be against the claims, or any of them, the lands so decided against shall be, in like manner, subject to sale as other public lands:Proviso. Provided, That actual settlers being housekeepers upon such lands as are rejected, claiming to hold, under such rejected claim, or such as may waive their grant, shall have the right of pre-emption to enter within the time of the existence of this act not exceeding the quantity of their claim, which in no case shall exceed six hundred and forty acres, to include their improvements, who shall give notice and prove their right of pre-emption, and in all things conform to the regulations as have been or may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury under the existing laws relative to pre-emption; and it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury immediately to forward to the several land offices in said state, the manner in which all those who may wish to waive their several grants or claims, and avail themselves of the right of pre-emption, shall renounce or release their said grants.
Pay of recorder and commissioners. Interpreter may be employed.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the recorder and commissioners shall each receive the sum of fifteen hundred dollars per annum, to be paid quarter yearly by the United States, in full compensation for their services under this act; and may, when necessary, employ an interpreter of the French or Spanish language, for a reasonable compensation, to be allowed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and paid by the United States.
Heirs of Carlos de Villemont may submit evidence of claim. Report thereon.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the heirs of Carlos de Villemont to submit the evidence of their claim to a tract of land in Arkansas territory, to a place called “Chicot point,” to the said recorder and commissioners, and it shall be the duty of said recorder and commissioners to report upon said claim in the manner that other claims provided for in this act are to be reported and proceeded upon.
Approved, July 9, 1832.