Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-31
(By Authority.)

OF RShresenrQtiVcs OF the United States
of .fmericG, in Congress assembled, That
SO much of the first section OF the act en-
titled " An act for ascertaining and adjus-
ting the titles and claims to land within the
territory of Orleans and the district of
louisiana" as provides that noincompiete
title shall be confirmed, unless the person
in whose name the warrant or order of SUR
vey had been granted, was at the time of
Ats date either the head of family, or "a
Dove the age Of twenty-one years, be and
the same is hereby repealed.
Sec. 9. Ind be IL further enacted, That
any person or persons, and the legal re-
preventative of any person or persons, who,
on the twentieth day of December, one
thousand eight hundred and three, had for
ten consecutive years, prior to that day,
been in possession of tract of land not
claimed by any other person, aud not ex-
ceeding two thousand acres, and who were
on that day resident in the territory of Or
leans or Louisiana, and had still possession
of such tract OF land, shall be confirmed
III their titles 20 such tract of land: Pro-
Vided, That no claim to a lead mine, or
salt spring, shall be confirmed merely by
virtue of this section ind hroUided also,
That no more land shall be granted by vir-
tue of this section, than is actually claimed
by the party, nor more than is contained
within the acknowledged and ascertained
boundaries OF the tract claimed.
Sec. 5. ind be it further enacted, That
the claim of the corporation of the city of
New-Orleans, to the commons adjacent to
the said city, and within six hundred yards
from the Notifications Of the same, be, and
the same are hereby recognised and con-
firned proUided, That the said corpo
ration shall w'thin six months after passing
this act, rehnquish and release any claim
they NAV have to such commons beyond
the distance Of six hundred yards aforesaid:
Provided also, That the corporation shall
reserve for the purpose, and convey graz
tuitously for the public benefit to the COM
pany authorised by the legislature of the
territory of Orleans, as much of the SAID
commons as shall ne necessary 10 continue
the canal of Carondelet from the present
basin TO the Mississippi, and shall not dis
pose of, for the purpose of building there
on, any lot within sixty feet of the space
reserved for a canal which shall forever
remain open as a public highway: Ind
froUidcd also, That nothing herein con-
tanned, shall be construed to affect or i'm
pair the rights of any individual or indivi-
duals TO the said commons, which are de-
rived from any grant of the Preach or Spa
nish government.
SCCs -. sTftfA Oc - fLEftNCI C|ICGtC0s l. nat
the commissioners appointed or to be APP
pointed for the purpose of ascertaining the
rights of persons claiming land in the ter
ritories of Orleans and Louisiana, shall
have full power to decide according to the
laws and established usages an customs
of the French and Spanish governments
upon all claims to lands within their res.
pective districts, where the claim is made
by any person or persons, or the legal re-
preventative of any person or persons, who
were on the twentieth of December, one
thousand eight hundred and three, inhabi.
tants of Louisiana, and for tract not eX-
ceeding the quantity of acres contained in
2 league square and which does not include
either a lead mine or salt spring, which de.
clifton of the commissioners when in favor
of the claimant shall be final, against the
United States, any act of congress to the
contrary notwithstanding.
Sec. S. .E1id be IL further enacted, That
the time fixed by the act above mentioned
and by the acts supplementary to the same
for delivering to the proper register or re-
corder, notices in writing and the writer
evidences of claims to land, be, and thu
same is hereby extended, for the terrific
ries of Orleans and Louisiana, till the frs
day of July, one thousand eight hundred ant
eight, and persons delivering such notice
and evidences shall be entitled to the SAM
benefit rs if the same had been delivered
within the time limited b. the former acts
but the rights of such persons as shall neg
lect so doing within the time limited b.
this act, shall, so far as they are derived
from or founded on any act of congress
ever after be barred and become void, an
the evidences of their claims never afte
admitted as evidence in any court of lay
or equity whatever.
Sec. 6. .4nd be it further enacted, Tha
the commissioners appointed or TO be APP
pointed for the purpose of ascertaining tn
rights of persons claiming lands in the ter
Titories Of Orleans and Louisiana, shal
respectively transmit to the secretary c
the treasury and to the surveyor general
u or officer acting as surveyor general
transcripts of the final decisions made i
favor of claimants by virtue of this act
and they shall deliver to the party a cert
fcate stating the circumstances of the cas-,
and that he is entitled to patent for tn
tract Of land therein designated, whic
certificate shall be filed with the proper re
gister or recorder, within twelve month
after date. And the register or recoi
der shall thereupon "a plat of the tract
land therein designated, being previousl
filed with him or transmitted to him by th
officer acting as encouragement in tn
manner hereinafter provided,) issue a Gel
tifiCate in favor of the marty. which cert