Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-06-03
ByeAut&ority.
AN ACT

BE &c enacted bv the Senate and House
Of Re7ireSeafdt,yes ofthe United Sfa:eS Of
America, tn Congress assembled, That
every person claiming lands within that
part o. the Michigan territory, to which
the Ind an title hath been exiinguished by
virtue OF any legal grant made by the
French government prior to the treaty of
Paris OF the tenth Of February, one lhou.
sand seven hundred and s,xty-three or
ct any legal grant made by the British go
yernment subsequent to the said treaty,
and prior to the treaty OF peace between
the United S ates and Great Britain. of
the third OF September. one thousand se-
ven hundred and eighiy-three, or of the
second section OF the act to which this a@
is a supplement, sl.aIl BE- allowed until the
hrst day OF January next, to deliver 10 the
register OF the land Office for the district Of
Detroit, notice in writing, stating the ma
ture and extent of hrs claims, together
with a plat or pla S of the tract or ,raels
claimed, and il such person shall fail to
deliver such notice in wiring, together
with plat of The tra9 claimed, all his
right, SO far as it may bs derived from any
aet of congress, shall become void, and
the commissioners appointed for the pur-
~
OF persons claiming lands in the said dis
triet of Detroit, shall have the same pow
ers, and perform the duties in relation to
the claims, notices Of which shall be thus
filed, as are provided by the act To which
this act IS supplement, in relation to the
claims therein described.
Sec. 2. Ind be IL further enacted, That
every person whose claim has been or shall
he r.. ned hxyt b..-
said, 10 tract of land bordering on the
river Detroit, and not exceeding in depth
forty arpens, French measure, shall be en-
titled % preference in becoming The pur-
chaser of any vacant tract OF land ada
cent to, and back of his own tract, not ex.
ceeding forty arpens, French measure, in
depth, nor IN quantity OF land that which
rs contained in his own tract, at the same
price, and on the same terms and conditions
as are provided by law for the o,her public
lands in the said district And the survey
or general shall be, and he is hereby au-
thorised, as SOON as may be, TO cause to be
surveyed, the tracts claimed by virtue oil
this section, and in all cases where, by
reason OF bends IN the said river, and oil
adjacent prior or pre-empiion claims, each
claimant cannot obtain a tract equal il
quantity to The adjacent tract already ow.
ned by him, TO divide the vacant land APP.
plicable TO that Object, between the seve
raj claimants, in such manner as TO hiI.
will appear most equitable. And ever
person entitled TO The benefit of this seet
en-, shall on or before the first day of Ja
nuary nex. deliver 10 the register of th,
land office for the district of Detroit, no
tice IN writing, stating inc situation ant
extent OF the traet of land he wishes /,
purchase, and deposit at the same time on,
twentieth part of The purchase money
and shall also, within three months al e
the return of the survey TO the office Of IN,
said register, produce to him a rcceip
from the receiver of public money fol h,
said district, for one fourth part Of tht
purchase money. And if any such per
son shall fail TO deliver such noiice. anc
make such deposit ard payment, al tn,
times above mentioned, his right of pre-
emption shall cease aud become void.
Sec. 3. ind be it further enacted, Tha
every person who being the head Of fa
nily, did prior TO the twenty fif h day 0
March one thousand eight hundred snc
tour, and doth al the time OF the passae,
oil this acti inhabit and cultivate tract o
land IN the territory of Michigan, not cIai
med by virtue of regal French or Bri
fish grant, or by the second section of IN,
acl 10 which this ACT is supplement-, shall
be entitled to preference in becoming
the purchaser from the United States q
such tract oflsnd not exceeding one sec.
ton, at the price at which the other pub
llc lands IN the said territory are directed
to be solo; and payment may be made
therefor IN the same manner, and under
the same conditions as are provided by
las for such other public lands And eve.
ry person entitled To the benefit of this sec.
ton, shall on or before the first day of ia.
nuary next, deliver to the register Of the
land cffice for the disiria aforesaid, no
tice in writing Of the situation and extent
OF the traei OF land he wishes to purchase.
The commissioners aforesaid are hereby
authorised to examine and decide the
claims ofeVery person claiming the benea
ht of this section, and whenever il shall
appear TO them that the claimant is emit.
tied IA right Of pre.empiion, they shall
give certificate thereof, direeled to the
register Of the land Office, which certi6-
entc. tOgethor with q rero..f t.. -.