Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-05-28

lOpToWde LOT designating, surveying ana
granting the Military Bounty Lands.
BE h enacted 6y the SeAate and House
Of REPRESENTATIVES Of the United States IF
.fne1icd, in Congress assembled, That the
President of the u. States be, and ne is
hereby authorised TO cause to be surveyed
quantity of the public lands of the United
States, fit for cultivation, not otherwise APP
propriated, and to which the Indian title is
extinguished, not exceeding in the whole,
six millions of acres, two millions in the IL
lnois territory, northo of the Illinois river
two millions in the territory of louisiana,
between the river ST. Francis and the river
Arkansas the said lands to be divided into
townships, and subdivided into sections and
quarter sections, leach quarter section to
contain, as near as possible, one hundred and
sixty acres in the manner prescribed by
law for surveying and subdividing the other
public lands of the United States the same
price TO be allowed for surveying, as is fixed
for surveying the other public lands in the
same territory. And the lands thus sur
veyed, with the exception of the Salt Springs
and Lead Mines therein, and of the quanti-
ties of land adjacent thereto, as may be re-
served for the use of the same by the Pre-
sident of the United States, and the section
number sixteen in every township, TO be
granted to Che inhabitants Il such tU9asilip
for the use of public schools, shall be set a.
part and reserved for the purpose of salts
flying the bounties of one hundred and six
ty acres, promised TO the non-commission-
ed officers and soldiers of the United States,
their heirs and legal representatives. by the
act entitled =" An act for completing the
existing Military Establishment" approx.
ed the oath day of December, one thousand
Gin pdf.aI Aaln ard hui hN re-
entitled " An act to raise an additional mi
litary force" approved the eleventh day of
January, one thousand eight hundred and
twelve.
Sec. 2. find be it, further enacted, That
the Secretary for the Department of War,
for the time being, shall, from time to time,
| issue warrants for the military land bounties
to the persons entitled thereto by the two
| last mentioned acts, or either on them -
| Pr0videa Always, That such warrants shall
| be issued Only in the names of the persons
| thus entitled, and be by them or their re-
representatives. applied for within FIVE years
! after the said persons shall have become en-
titled thereto and the said warrants shall
not be assignable or transferable in any man.
! ner whatever.
| Sec. 8. ind be ii further enacted, That
every person In whose favor such warrants
shall have been issued, shall, on delivery of
| the same at the Office of the Secretary of
the Treasury, or OF such other officer as
may at the time have, by law, the superin-
tendance Of the general land Office of the
| United States at the seat of government, be
entitled to draw by lot in such manner as
the officer, at the head of the land-ofice, I'M
der the direction of the President Of the
United States, may prescribe, one of the
| quarter sections surveyed by virtue of the
first section Of this act, in either of the said
territories which the person III whose favor
such warrant has issued may Designate
Aud patent shall thereupon be granted to
such person, for such quarter section, with
out requiring any fee therefor.
Sec. q. ind be ii. further enacted, That
no claim for the military land bounties afore-
said, shall be assigfnble or transferable IL
any manner whatever, until after patent
shall have been granted in the manner a
foresaid. All sales, mortgages, contracts
or agreements, of any nature whatever
made prior thereto, for the purpose, or with
intent, of alternating, pledging or mortgag-
ing any such claim, are hereby declared and
shall be held null and void nor shall any
tract Of land, granted as aforesaid, be liable
to be taken in execution or sold on account
Of any such sale, mortgage, Contract or a.
greement, or on account OF any debt con.
tracted prior to the date Of che patent, eli
Their by the person originally entitled to the
land, or by his heirs or legal representa-
tiyes, or by virtue Of any process, or suit a
law, or judgment OF ceurt against a persoi
entitled to receive his patent as aforesaid.
II. CLAY.
Sneaker Of the House Of ReyIrese1taHues
WIN. II. CRAWFORD,
President ofthe Senate hro-femtorc
May 6, 1912.