Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-13
WaR DEP.4R I.1ENI;.
An ACT
AN ACT
To provide for DESIGNATING. surveying and grant

BE IL enacted ty fsc Ss1ofe AID House Of Re
presentatives otths Jafe,{ States of .fmerica IN
Congress assembled, That the President ofthe
United States be and he is hereby authorised, TO
cause to be surveyed quantity of the public
= lands of the fit for cultivation, not otherwise
appropriated and to which the Indian title is extn-
guished, notexceeding IN the whole Six millions Of
acres two millions to pc surveyed in The territory
ofAichigan, two millions in the Illios territory,
north of The Illinois river, and two millions in the
territory OF Iouisana betwecnsthe river ST. Frau
els, and the river Arkansas; the said lands 10 be
divided into townships, aud si5-diyided into
sections, leach quarter section 10 contain, as nea.
as possible, one hurdred and sixty acres,) in the
manner prescribed by law for surveying and sub
.diy;Sing the other public land3 of the United
States the sa,ne price to be allowed for survey
ing as is fixed for surveying tleothcr public lands
inthe same territory. And the lands thus survey,
ed, with the exception of the salt springs and lead
mines therein, and of the quantities of land adj
j.cent tkersto as may be reserved for the use OF
the same by tile President OF the United States,
and the section No. 10, IN every township, TO be
ned to the inhabitants OF such tosnship for
the use of public schools, shall be set apart and
reserved for the purpose OF satisfying the bnufl-
ties of one hurdred allllsiSty acres, promised 90
the non-commissoned officers and soldiers ofthe
United States, their heirs sndiegal rerresentives
by lie act, entitled san act ior completing the
existing military establishment approved the
1YentN-Ourltl Gay oil llSceInOSr eighteen nunIll Ell
and eleven, and by the act, entitled g an ACT To
raise an additional military force approved the
eleventh day &C January eighteen hundred and
twelve.
Sec. 2. .s,sa5e IL further enacted, That the Sc
cretary for the Department of War, for the time
issue 10 the persons entitled thereto, by the two
last mentioned acts, or either Of then; Prep:dea
ai7OGys, thai such warrants shall be issued only to
The names Of the persons tliis entitled. and be by
them Or tier Representatives applied Eor within
veyesrs after he said persons shall have be-
come entitled tiIes sto; and the said warrant
shall not be assi5Aable or transferable in any
manner whatever,
Sec. 3. -4ed cest faTs8e, oaacted, That every
person In whose favor such warrant shall have
been Issued, shall, on delivery osthe same, Al The
ofce OF the Secretary OF the Treasury cro of such
other of6cet rs may at the same time have, by
claw, the superintendance cf;he General land of
lice Of the United States, at the seat of goyern-
ment, be entitled TO draw b. lot in such manner,
as the oiicer, at the head ofthe land Office, an.
DEF 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 CT t!e said territory which the per-
son III whose favor such warrant has ISSUED may
designate. And apa:ent shall ttereupon be grain
tedto such person, for such quarter section,
without requiring any fee therefore
Sec. a. .ijii6e IL further enacted, That no claim
1CE tfiC DOunllcS be
assigpsble or transferable, in any manner whatever
until after patent shall have been granted in
the manner Aforesaid. An sales, mortgages, con-
tracts or agreements, OF any nature whatever.
made prior thereto, for the purpose, or with in
tent OF alternating, plcdgng or mortgaglng any
eucb clam, are hereby declared and shall be held
nlIll and void nor shall any tract of land. grant
cd rs Aforesaid, be liable to be taken in execution
OF sold on account ofany such sale, mortgage,
contract, or agreement, or ON account Of any debt
contracted prior 10 The date of the patent, either
by the person originally entitled to the a,lsl, oe
BY his hers or legal representatives, or by yirtur
Of any process, OF suit at law, or Judgment of
court against person entitled TO receive his pa
tent as aforesaid.
IT. CLAY,
Speaker q tis House Of Rebrc5entatires.
JOHN GAlLLARD,
Presidentcf tie Senate pro feintore.
HAY 6, 18f2--ArPRovBD,
JAMES MADISON
From the provisions of the foregoing act, it Is
manifest that no Patent can issue until the War
r3pt is presented TO the Commissioner Of tile
Land ofce-It is therefore the interest of the
Persons entitled to Military Lands, that their
Warrants should, Immediately after they are is
gued, be deposited in the Office from whence
their Patents are to be obtained. This course
will preserve them from the various accidents 20
which they may he subjected in the hands of the
ONbN4S VT -ASthlS WHO may nave DceU uuli!Or-
sed 10 obtain them. II is also manifest tliat an
Contracts for the Sale Of, or incun 5rauce upoa
tnese Lands prior To the issuing OF the Patents
are Illegal and yoil As it is impssibIe tia
Persons possessed Of Powers Of Attorney. for c,b
tsining Military Land Warrants, can have any,
Legitimate interest distinct from their PrinejJals
Warrants hereafter ISSUED will be deposited In
Che General Land Oflise !; and Certificate of thmt
act viii be ElysD 20 such Attorneys If required
Copy Of this proceeding viii be forwarded To
every Person in whose name Warrant shall is
sue, not only 10 counteractany Misrepresentation
of the object Of ths Regulation, but to place the
Soldiers Of The late Army upon their guard n.
gSiusi the DEVICES which hCTe alreadV been. az
may hereafter be, practised1y unprincipled and
designing men TO deprive them Of The Reward
which is so justly due 20 their meritorous sur
vices.
Land Warrants will continue TO be issued AZ
the War Department upon tle presentation of the
ORIoEAL "IioEoRABLE D1so8aReE," which viii
remain there upon File IS heretofore but no
other document VIII be requned 20 ACCOMPANY
II excepting the address oi+s,e original Claimant
III order that he may be duly notified of the n,,,,
Der and oate Of the iand Warrant that win issue
IN bis nasn5.
IN cases where the original Clniniaqfs are dead.
T" rrE tEelriAATE HEIRS ar LAW" must substan
now in use.
February 10th, 1916.
~ The Printers authorised to publish The
Lswsof U. States are requested 10 insert ,he
abevs three times.