The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-12-18

the Mifiiifippi TERRITORY, berennto annexed GAY
rs more particularly involving all lands under
Spani.h titles il having been cuitomary, until
the American fettlers of Matches requeited pa
tents, to coniider SpaniIh order of furvey,
when executed and returned, a fufficient IL
tie: whif on the other hand few iettlers are o.
bliged 10 claim under incomplete iBritlh titles,
as they generally applied, in lieu OF them,
for Spanifh grants, and now claim under theie.
Sd. Settlements without any evidence or IT,
tie.
1t is Rated by the governor of the terrific
nv, that so heads OF families had, prior TO
OF. 1895, formed fe.tlenents without any o.
Their title, but what Rlght be derived from the
Bourbon act; and that 700 more have tettied
in the country, fnce that time, who either have
no title whatever, or ref their claims on Spanih
orders ofiurvey, and grants tiued after the date
of the treaty. 1t is apprehended, that very few
of the claimants of the Gff deicrption, will be
found to come ftri6tly within the terms of the
Bourbon act. Some trefs is laid by thofe ofthe
lait de!criptio1, who emigrated to that country
before the Spanih potts had been evacuated, on
their ignorance at hrit of the treaty, and on
the fubtequeHt acquieicence of the American
government, in the continued poiieiiion by the
Spaniih government.
To thofe three feveral clailes of claims, may
be added, that the perfons principally from Con-
neeticut, flying themielves company of mill
tary Adventures, who under mittakcn expect.
alton of obtaining large grant from the Britifh
crown, fent agents, in l773, to Wet Florida
for the purpoie of exploring the country. The
governor of that province promiied TO grant
lands to fuch as fhoud become iettlcrs, on rs
advantageous terms as he was authorized to do,
and to relerve till next fprng, for that purpoie,
nineteen townihips which had reen feleGted and
furveyed by the agents. a NUM- or of emigrants
from Connecticut, accordingly removed to the
Mifinippi, in IVA; the war prevent
ed the progrefs of the fettlements and
40 of the iettlers left the country in 1881,
when the Spanifh conquef took place, and
traverfingthe Cho ctaw and Greek country, reach
ed i. inhabited parts of Georgia. The claim
which is now fet up in the name of the compa-
ny, for the nineteen townihips, has no founda-
ton fiich of the tettlcrs rs had obtained grants,
or have continued on the lands, will be embra-
ced by the provihons, made for other claimants
of limilar description it will remain for Con-
gre{s to decide, whether any fpecial provfion
lhoud be made for thofe who abandoned the
lands in the manner above fated.
1t would require more correct information
than has been obtained by the commiiiioners,
toenabe them to offer plan, perfectly fatiSfac-
tory to themfelycs, on the fubicct of thofe vari-
Gus and Claiming claims. The following out
deration of1Congrcfs.
1T. That perfons, who are relident in the
territory, on the 9th day October, 1875, be
confirmed in their claims, to thofe tracts of
lands, then actually cultivated and inhabited,
for which they had received orders of furvey,
dated before that day, either fro:s. the Hrt:hi CT
Spanifh governments, in the fame manner as if
their titles had been completed provided that
no fuch incomplete title flall be ratified, unlefs
the perfon, in whole favor fuch order had ifu-
ed, was of full age at the time of its date.
ed. That every head of family, Gncludns
Jingle perfons of 81 years of age, and above,
who did not reiide with their parents) who
were reGdcnt in the territory on the
day of 1907, when the Spaniih
gsrriions were evacuated who claim no lard
in the territory, under Britih or Spaniil grants,
and who did, on that day, occupy and culti-
vate tract of land not othcrwife claimed, fhall
be confirmed in the polienion of fuch tract, not
exceeding $40 acres.
Sd. That every head of family, who had re-
fded in the territory on the day of
1902, when the articles of agree
ment with Georgia, were ratified by that fate,
and who did on that day occupy and cultivate
tract of land not otherwfc claimed, fhall have
a right to presumption to fuch tract, not exceed
ing GO acres.
9TH. That commii1ioners be appointed, with
a fixed falary, and without fees who ihall i'm
mediately proceed to the fettlement. on the
Milhnippi, and on the Mobile, with power to
receive, examine and decide on Il! claims en-
braced by the articles Engagement with Geor-
ria, and By the preceding proviions, and to if
iue certificates Eating, as the cafe may be, that
the party i,cntitlcd to the land or to right of
presumption to the fame but patents fhall
ifue until after the lands iha have been fur
vcyed, ard the interfcrences ari6ng from clafh-
ing claims, atcertained nor lhall any other evil
denCe of title, but the commiiiioners' certih-
cate, ifIuc in cafe where the land is claimed by
either Britlh or Spaniih title, fully and
I completely executed.
5th. That all claims derived from the agree.
mcnt with Georgia, from Britiih or Spanifh
grants, orfrom occupancy, which ihall not be
filed with the commifiioncrs within twelve
month, ihall forever after be barred.
9th. That the commihioncrs fhall make re-
port TO congrefs, ofthe Brtiih grants fled with
them, on which no improvement has been made
by or for the grantees, and which are not claim
ed under fubfequent Spsnifl grants.
18th. That 70 much ofthe five millions ofacrcs
referved for that purpofe by the agreement with
Georgia, az may be necenary to fatsfy the
claims not confirmed by that fiid agreement, 6,
which are embraced by the preceding provifons,
and all thofe which may be derived from
Britifh grants, be appropriated for that pur-
pofe.
The lsm clafs of claims, confRs of tbofe