Republican ledger, and Portsmouth price current — Portsmouth, N.H., 1803-07-26 00:00:00, page 2

I hereof, directed to the register of the land office ;
which certificate being duly entered with the
regifler of the land oflice, on orbefre the firft day
of January, eighteen hundred and five, shall entit
le the party to become a puuchafg for such traft
of land : Provided, That he shall prior to the firft
day of January,eighteen Irnndred and fix also pro
duce a receipt from the jreftir%of the United
States, or from the receiver of public monies for
at lead one fourth part of the purchase money,
and also for the payment ofcthe surveying expeoces;
find the party shall upon payment in full of the
pnrchafe money, on which, if any of the three last
payments shall be made in advance, he shall be al
lowed the fame difcowut allowed in similar cases
by this aft, be entitled tofeceive a patent, which
shall iffae in like manner, and on payment of the
fame fees as are provided by this alt for the other
lands of the United States: but if such person shall
neglect to enter his certificate, on or belorc the
frit day orjanuary, eighteen hundred and five or
to make such firft payment as above provided, his
right of preemption fhalFceafe and become void :
Provided aljo, and it is further enacted, That when
ever a tratt of land to Which any person might be
entitled by virtue of the three firft leftions of this
aft, shall also be claimed by the h&dcrofa Britifli
patent, legally and fully executed, and duly re
corded in conformity to the provisions of this act,
who is not confirmed in his claim by the articles of
agreement above mentioned, the commissioners
shall in the certificate granted to the person claim
ing the land by virtue of this aft, state the exigence
of the adverse claims, in which case the party shall
not be entitled to a patent, unless he shall have ob
tained in his favour a judicial decision in a court
having jurisdiction therein, and for every certifi
cate so granted by the boards respectively the clerk
of toe board granting the fame, shall be entitled
to demand and receive of the party to whom the
fame is granted, the sum of two dollars.
Sec. 7. And be it further ena^ed, That
the commissioners aforefaid, shall, on or before the
firft day of December, one thousand eight hundred
and four, make to the Secretary of the treasury a
full report of all the British grants legally and ful
ly executed, which have been duly recorded in
conformity to the provifinhs of this att, the title
of which is not confirmed to the holders thereof,
by the articles of agreement above mentioned,
Dating the present fitu^ionof theiands, the date
of such grants, the conditions annexed thereto, and
how far the fame have been fulfilled, together with
such other remarks thereon as they may think
proper; which report shall be laid before Congress
at theit next session, and the lands contained in
such grants shall not be otherwise disposed of, until
the end of one year after that time.
Sec. 10. And be it further enabled, That
a surveyor of the lands of the United States,
fouth of the State of Tenneflee, (hall be ap
pointed, whose duty it shall be to engage a
Sufficient number of (kilful Purveyors as his
deputies, and to cause the lands above men
tioned, to which the titles of the Indian tribes
have been extinguished, to be surveyed and
divided in the manner hereafter directed, and
to do and perform all such other ads in re
lation to the Paid lands, as the Purveyor Gen
eral is authorifed and direded to do in rela
tion to the lands, lying in the north weft of
the river Ohio, and above the mluth of
the river Kentucky.
Sec. It. And be it further enabled, That
the lands for which certificates of any de
scription whatever, (hall have been granted
by the commissioners in pursuance of the
provisions of this ad, (hall as soon as may
be, be Purveyed under the direaion of the
surveyor of the lands of the United States a
bove mentioned, in conformity to- the true
tenor and intent of such certificates, and the
Sec. 8. And be it further enaaed, That
so much of the five millions of acres reserved tor
that purpose by the articles of agreement above
mentioned,as may be necessary to Satisfy the claims
not confirmed by that agreement, which are em
braced by the two firft feCtions of this aft, or
which may be derived from Britifli grants for
lands which have not been regranted by the Span
ish government, be, abd the fame is hereby appro
priated for that purpose; and so much of the refi
dtie of the said five millions of acres or of the nett
proceeds thereof as may be necessary for that pur
pose, shall be, and is hereby appropriated, for the
purpose of fatisfying, quieting and compensating,
for such other claims to the lands of the United
States fouth of the state of Tenneflee, not recog
nized in the above mentioned articlesof agreement,
and which are derived from any aCt or pretended
att of the state of Georgia, which Congress may
hereafter think fit to provide for, provided how
ever that no other claims shall be embraced by this
appropriation, but those, the evidence of which
shall have on or before the firft day of January
next, been exhibited by the claimants to the Secre
tary of State, and recorded in books to be kept in
his office for that purpose, at the expense of the
party exhibiting the fame, who fliall pay to the
person employed by the Secretary of State for
recording the fame, at the rate of twelve and an
half cents for every hundred words contained in
each document thus recorded; nor shall any grant,
deed, conveyance, or other written Sidence of
any claim to the said lands, derived, or pretended
to be derived from the date of Georgia, and not
recognized by the above mentioned articles of a
greement, ever after be admitted or considered as
evidence in any of the courts of the United States,
Uplefs it Ih di have been.exhibited, and recorded,
in the manner and within the time above mention
ed ; and piodded also, that nothing herein con
tained, shall be condrued to recognize or effect the
claims, of any person or persons, to any of the
lands above mentioned, and provided also,
that no certificate shall be granted for lands
lying eatt oUthe Tombigby river, nor for lands
situated without the boundary lines established by
treaty between the United States and the
Choctaws, made the rythday of October, in the
year eighteen hundred and two.
Sec. 9. And be it further ena^ed. That
the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasu
ry and the Attorney General for the time being;
be and are hereby authorized an<l empowered to
receive such propositions of campron/rfe and fetele
ment, as may be offered by the several companies,
or persons claiming public lands in the terrirory of
the United States, lying fouth of the Gate cf fen
neflee, and well cf the state of Georgia, and report
their opinion thereon to Congress at their next
session.
Sec. 13. And be it further enabled, That
the registers of the land offices, and the re
ceivers of public monies, appointed in pur
suance cf this aft, (hail receive the fame
fees and compensation ?s the registers and
receivers of the land offices, north of the river
Ohio, and the registers (hall also be entitled
to receive twenty-five cents for entering each
certificate granted by the commissioners a
bove mentioned. The surveyor of the lands
of the United States, appointed in pursuance
of this a&, (hall receive an annual compen
sation of fifteen hundred dollars, and dial! be
allowed not exceeding two clerks, whose
whole compensation ihall not exceed one
thousand dollars per annum. The commis
sioners appointed to afeertain the rights of
persons claiming the benefit of the articles of
agreement above mentioned, and of this aft,
(hall receive each a compensation of two
thousand dollars for the whole of their ser
vices, the registers of the land offices except
ed, who (ball receive onlyfive hundred dol
lars each, for their services as commission
ers ; The clerks of the boards of commis
sioners a compensation not exceeding (even
hundred and fifty dollars each, and the fu
perintendants of the public sales (hall receive
fix dollars each, for each days attendance
on the said sales.
said Purveyor fltn'il also cause all the other
lands of the United States, in the Miffifippi
territory, to which the Indian title has been
extinguished, to be Purveyed as far as prac
ticable, into townships, and subdivided into
half fe&ions, in the manner provided for
the Purveying of the United States situate
north weft of the river Ohio, and above the
mouth of Kentucky river, and shall tianf
mit to the registers of the land offices respec
tively, general and particular plots of all the
lands Purveyed as aforefaid, and shall also
forward copies of the Paid plots to the Secre
tary of the treasury ; and he fltall alfi^with
the approbation of the said secretary fix the
compensation of the deputy Purveyors, chain
carriers, and axe men : Provided, that the
whole expense of Purveying and marking the
lines shall not exceed four dollars for every
mile that shall be a&ually run, Purveyed and
marked ; And provided, that the expense of
Purveying tracts of land, to which the title
of the claimants is confirmed by the articles
of agreement, or hy the two firft feaions of
!this aa, and those tra^s claimed under Brit
lilh grants, a return of which is to be made
to Congress, shall not be advanced by the
lUnited States, but shall be paid to the depu
-Ity Purveyor by the parties claiming the fame
l and that in relation to all the lands fold by
United States, the purchaser shall make the
fame payment for surveying expenses, which
is dirc&ed by law to be made for lands fold
north of the river Ohio.
Sec. 12. And be it further erased,That all
the lands aforefaid, not otherwise disposed
of or excepted by virtue of the preceding
feaions of this a&, shall, with the excep
tion of the feaion number sixteen, which
shall be received in each township for the
support of schools, within the fame, with
the exception also of thirty-fix fe&ions to
be located in one body by the Secretary of
the Treasury for the use of Jefferfon col
lege, and also With the exception of such
town lots not exceeding two in the town of
Natchez, and of such an outlet adjoining
the fame not exceeding thirty acres as may
be the property of the United States, to be
located by the governor of the Mississippi
territory for the use of the said college, be
offered for file to the highest bidder, under
the direction of the governor of the Miffi
fippi territory, of the surveyor bf the lands
of the United Strtes, above mentioned, and
of the register of the land officeat the places
refpedively, where the land offices are kept,
and on such day or days as shall, by a public
proclamation of the President of the United
States, be designated for that purpose. The
sales shall remain open at each place for three
weeks and no longer ; and all lands, other
than the feaion number sixteen, remaining
unfold at the closing of the public sales, may
be disposed of at private sale by the registers
of the refpeaive land offices in the fame man
ner, under the fame regulations, for the fame
price, and on the fame terms and conditions
as is provided by law, for the sale of the
lands of the United States, north of the riv
er Ohio, by an a&, entitled, " An ad to a
mend the a& entitled, an aA providing for
the sale of the lands of the United States, in
the territory north weft of the Ohio, and
above the month of Kentucky river." Pro
vided always, That the lands which may be
fold at public sale by virtue of this a&, shall
not be fold for less than two dollars per acre,
and shall in every other refpea be fold on
the fame terms and conditions as was pro
vided for the lands fold at public sale, by the
last recited a&. And patents shall be ob
tained for ali lands granted or fold in the
Mississippi territory in the fame man
ner and on payment of the fame fees as is
providerffor the lands fold north of the river
Ohio, by the last recited a& ; Provided
however, That evidences of the public debt
of the United ^ States shall not be received
in payment for the purchase of the said
lands.
The President of the United States it
reproached with being a philosopher,because he
dares in his opinion to think for himfelf
and he is called an Atheist, because he does
not avow his behalf in the thirty nine artic
les. Whether he does or does not believe
them is unknown. It is certain that he
gives as good evidence of his faith as those
who denounce him, by a regular attend
ance at places of worffiip and by liberal con
tribution to churches. it is also certain that
all his addresses to Congress breathe a pure
spirit of piety and reverence for Deity. But
he is neither a Sectarian nor a pejfecutor ;
and while he thinks for himfelf on religious
points he does not condemn those who fol
low his example. This measure of liberal
ity ts enough to damn his in the estimation
of bigot,.
And the people of New-England should
feel so tender on the fubjed, is a question
not easy of solution. Is it becaule th:)
have once been the victims of perfection,
that they would in their turn recoil with
fierce vengeance, not on those who are n^
only guiltless, who with themselves chose
America as a retreat from persecution r
This motive charity forbids our ascribing to
them. Nor would truth juftify it. 'l'hc
people of New-England are conscientious%
The homage they offer their maker is the
homage of their hearts. Their adoration
is pure and unsullied by resentments againil
their fellow mortals. They value too highly
the liberty they have purchased at so dear a
price, to deny it to others. The blood ot
their fathers has not flowed in vain. The
torch and the faggot are too frefh on their
memories not to impress an abhorrence of
ecclcfudical intolerance. They mud, there
fore, refpeft the sentiments of Mr. Jefferfon
on this fubjea. Let their priests, and po
litical preachers fay what they may, the peo
ple of New-England and Mr. Jefferfon on
this interesting fnbje& think alike. They
know that nothing can so much endanger
true religion as political interference. They
know, that Should the day ever come, when
in this country an establishment Should rife
it would be soon succeeded by its total prof,
tration, which if it did not eventually de
stroy the interests of religion, would
inflia upon them all but a mortal
wound.
Fortunately on this point, there exifls
evidence at once indisputable and compre
henfive, and which exhibits, in a narrow
compass, the refpeft cf Mr, Jefferfon for
Sec. 15. And be it further erased, Tha:
a sum not exceeding twenty thousand dol
lars, be, and the fame is hereby appropriat
ed for the purpose of carrying this a& into
effea ; which sum shall be paid out of any
unappropriated monies in the treasury.
Sec. 16. And be it further enabled That
the nett proceeds of the lands which may be
fold by virtue of this a&, after dedu&ing the
surveying ekpenfes and other expenses inci
dent to the sale thereof, shall and the fame
are hereby appropriated in the firft place,
towards paying to the State of Georgia a
sum of one million two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars in pursuance of the articles
of agreement and ceffiop entered into be
tween the United States and that State ; and
the secretary of the treasury is hereby au
thorifed and direded to pay accordingly, and
from time to time, as the fame shall be re
ceived in the treasury of the United States,
so much of the said nett proceeds as will a
mount to the said sum ci one million two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Sec. 17. And be it further enaaed, That
all navigable rivers within the territory of
the United Stakes, fouth of the state of Ten
nessee shall be deemed to be and remain pub
lic highways.
NATHI. MACON,
Sec. 14. And be it further enafled, That
the President of the United States shall hat
full power to appoint and commission th;
surveyor, registers of the land offices, and re
ceivers of public monies above mentioned
in the recess of Congress, and their commit
fions shall continue in force until the end o:
the session of Congress next enfeing such ap
pointment.
To establish the hostility of the fettled 0-
pinion of those who compose the present ad
ministration to the interests of New England,
resort is frequently had to their habitual
declarations and condua before they camt
into office. This criterion is undoubtedly
so far fair as it is applied with truth ; bu
may be so deftorted as to produce extenfiw
misconception. Such has in fad been the
case.
A Refutation of the Charges againfl the present
Admihift ration, that their views and
taeafures are hof.ile to the
Eastern States.
Speaker of the Houje of Representation.
STEPHEN R. BRADLEY,
President of the Senate pro. tempore.
March 3, 1803.
Approved,
TH: JEFFERSON.
From the National Intelligencer.
No. 111.
Notwithstanding these fa&„ the reproach of
infidelity is one of the mod fruitful topics of
declamation and crimination. It is tepr&
fented as the interest of futbern men to break
down all the precepts and restraints of religion,
so highly prized in New-England, that they
may thereby pave the way fc r that demoraliG
mg system which their hearts, with the malice
of demons, pant to diffemmate. Black must be
that heart, which can ascribe, without evidence,
such nojves to others!
So far then the honest and enlightened fenti
™ents of Mr. Jefferfon constitute him the
.riend cf truth, of an undisturbed conscience, of
true reugion, of New England. . The fame
rem . ar , applied to Mr. Jefferfon, mav be ex
. erer y prominent member of the ad
ministration. There is not one of them who
has either,~on the one hand, exhibited a fpiri;
of bigotry and intolerance, or who has on the
other, manifefted difrefpeft for the religious
opinions of others. ^ PUBLIUS.
Well aware that Almighty God has create
ed the mind free ; that all attempts to in
fluence it by temporal punishments or bur
dens, or by civil incapacitations, tends only
to beget habits of hypocrisy and meanness
and are a departure from the plan of the
Holy Author of our religion, who being Lord,
both of body and mind, yet chose not to pro
pagate it by coercions on either, as was in his
almighty power to do ; that the impious pre
lumpuon cf legislators and rulers, civil as well
as eccleliaflical, who being themselves but fai
lible and uninspired men have affirmed domin
ion over the faith of others, letting up their
own opinions & modes of thinking as the only
true and infallible, and as such endeavoring to
impose on others, hath established and main
tained falfe religions over the greatest part of
the world, and through all time ; that to com
pel a man to furnilh contributions of money
for the propagation of opinions which he dis
believes, is fillful and tyrannical ; that even the
forcing him to support this or that teacher of
his own religious purfuaGon, is depriving him
of the comfortable liberty of giving his contri
butions to the particular pastor whofc morals
he would make his pattern, and whose powers
he feels molt purfuafive to righteousness, and
is withdrawing from the mmitlry those tempo
ral rewards, whilh proceeding from ah appro
bation of their perfohal condud, are an addi
tional incitement to earned and unremitting la
bors for the inftrudion of mankind ; that our
civil rights have no dependance on our religious
opinions, more than our opinions of phytic or
g e ?™ e ' r y ' that therefore the proscribing any
citizen as unworthy the public confidence by
laying upon him an incapacity of being called
to offices of trull and emolument, unieri he pro
fefs or renounce this 01 that ieligious opinion,
is depriving him injuriously of those privileges
and advantages to which in comfron with his
fellow citizens he has a natural tight ; that it
tends also to corrupt the principles of that ve
, religion it is meant to encourage, by brib
ing, with a monopoly of worldly 'honors and
emoluments, those who will externally profefs
and conform to it ; and though indeed those
are criminal who do not withfiand fmh tempta
"°p>.yet neither are those innocent who lay the
bait in their way ; that to fuffer the civil ma
gistrate to intrude his powers into the field of
opinion and to reftr&m the profeffion or propa
gation of principles, on supposition of their ill
tendency, is a dangerous fallacy, which at once
destroys all religious liberty, because he being
of course judge of that tendency, will make his
fynibns the rule of judgment, and approve or
condemn the sentiments of others only as they
luall square with or differ from his own ; that
it is time enough tor the rightful purposes of
civil government, for its officers to interfere
when principles break out into overt acts a
gainst peace and good order ; and finally, that
truth is great and will prevail if left to herfelf,
that flie is the proper and fu^icient antagonist
to error and has nothing to fear from the con
fl^, untefs by human interposition disarmed
of her natural weapons, free argument and de
bate, errors ceasing to be dangerous when it
is permitted freely to contradict them.
Be it therefore enacted by the General aftbly.
That no man shall be compelled to frequent or
support any religious worship, place or minify
try whatfoevcr, nor shall be enforced, retrain
ed, molested, or burthened in his body or goods
nor shall otherwise fuffer on account of bis re
ligious opinions or belief; but that all men
shall be free to profels, and by argument to
maintain, their opinions in matters of religion,
and that the fame shall in no wife diminish, en
large or affed their civil capacities.
And though we well know that this aflein,
bly, eledeo by the people for ordinary purpos
es of legislation only, have no power to restrain
rhe ads of succeeding assemblies, constituted
with powers equal to our own, and that there
fore to declare this a& irrevokable, would be
of no effect in law, yet we are free to declare,
and do declare, that the rights hereby asserted
are of the natural rights of mankind, and that
if any ad shall be hereafter passed to repeal
the present or to narrow its operations, such
ad will be an infringement of natural right.
religion, and for freedom of conference; and
us hostility to every institution in the nature
f eflablilhmcnt. "In the year 1-86, the
Legislature of Virginia passed the following
161 on his recommendation :
in aft for efablifag Religious Freedom,^,
fed in the Assembly of Virginia, in the ft
ginning of the year 1786.