The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-10-17

the iegiiature. They lat from morning to night
for fixty days. aud at length unfolded to the
government the mon hideous afpe6 of villainy
that ever difgraced our country.
Some ofthe principal facts may be here fiat
ed:
The laws of the ftate permitted no larger a
mount Of land to be granted in any one grant,
to any one perlon, than 5000 acres.
Colonel Dsnelfon obtained one grant 70,
100000 acres.
The laws of the fate permitted that if Col
Donelfon, or any body ellie, ihould unfortunate
ly loje bis grant, and would prove to the fats
faction OF the Secretary that it was utterly def
troyed, he hould receive another grant for the
fame quantity, and in the fame place.
But Colonel DonelCon transferred for valua.
BILE confederation, the frlt grant for 100000 a.
ores, and then obtained another grant for ano-
ther 100000 acres. and in another place.
And agan-on the pre/ifmbtion of thofc two
grants being lott--and without any proof to that
effect, he obtains ANOTHER GRANT--for other
land, in another place-not for 2oo,ooo-but
for 100000 acres.
The laws of that fate fay, that the natural
boundaries of land, fuch as rivers, Sc. fhall
take place of artificial boundaries, fuch as courfe
and difance--
But there were nftances even where man
would enter only 100 acres, by courie aud diff
tance--and take out patent for 10000. In
all theie cafes, grants were iiIued by the fccre-
tary, without any money whatever having been
paid to the fate. For the truth of thefr fate
ments our friend governor Davie will vouch,
and his fucceffers Governor Williams and Co
vernon Alexander will put their fingers on the
record.
We will only make one parenthefis in this
narrative by obferving, that all this was nothing
to be compared to other much more egregious
and monftrous frauds. Tyrrell himfclf--a youth
without Property-had grants and warrants for
more than 100000 acres, and it was only be-
cauiejuftice became too impatient that he did
not get more.
Donefon, and Tyrrell, and Doctor Barry,
and many others, rather than be bothered with
the trial of indictments, which were found a
gainft them, went off one day"-to Tenafiee.
They were demanded by the then governor of
N. Z. under the ACT of Congrefs of '9s, entitled
:" dn ar rrloeeTing fngitiVe5 from jnfiee." But
| the Governor of Tenal1ee was 70 brave as to
refufe the demand. Their fecurities then petit.
| toned the Legislature of N. c. to relieve them
from the penalties of their recognizance, and
the Legislature was 70 humane as to comply with
| their requef.
Several others were tried, found guilty, and
punthcd. The Secretary of State was fined
1000 dollars, and difnfied from Office. Mr..
~
| thers--for teveral rcafons.
The fate of North Carolina then pafIed law
giving up the refervation of exec uting and con-
firming titles which fhe had, as we before men
toned, cauted to be cxprefied in the act of cefI
on, unto the fate of TenafIee. if Congreis Mould
content thereto. Congrefs confented by an act
of the laf Slf1ion,
The Legislature of Tenalfee has now requir-
ed from the Governor of North Carolina, all
the titles and evidences of titles in the North
Carolina offlce, and Governor Alexander has
detained them probably in the expectation of
uhng iome of them as evidence aganft thofe
who have fed, as foon as he flall have caught
them.
Vain hope he had better give them up, and
be as eafy as he can - man of our friend
Alexander's fagacity fhould know, that there
is catching before hanging
The People'5 Friend.