Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-28
WaR DEPaRT.NENT.
AN ACT

* Pc, .de for designating, surveyinE and grant
ing the military bounty lands.
lie lt enacted BY the Senate and House of Re-
PresenfafiUes qf'tbc United States of qulerica I'm
Congress assembled, That the President of the
United States be and he is hereby authorised. 70
cause to be surveyed quantity of the public
lands of the u. S. fit for cultivation not otherwise
appropriated and to which the Indian title is extin
-guished, notexceeding in the whole six millions of
acres, two millions to De surveyed in the territory
ofMchigan, two millions in the Illinois TERRITORY,
north of the Illinois river, and two millions in the
territory Of Louisiana, between the river ST. Fran.
els, and the river Arkansas the said lands TO be
divided INTO townships, and sub-divided into
sections, leach quarter section TO contain as nea
as possible, one hundred and sixty acres in the
manner prescribed by law for surveying and sub.
dividing the other public lands of the United
States the same price TO be allowed for survey.
ing as is fixed for surveying the other public lands
ill the 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 ad-
lacent thereto, as may be reserved for the use of
the same, by the President of the United States.
and the section No. I6, in every township, TO be
granted TO the inhabitants of such township for
the use OF public schools, shall be set apart and
reserved for the purpose of satisfying the boun
ties OF one hundred and sixty acres, promised To
CHE non-commiss:oned officers and soldiers ofthe
United States, their heirs and legal representatives,
by the act, entitled Gan act for completing the
existing military establishment" approved the
tyenty-fourih day of December eighteen hundred
and eleven, and by the act, entitled an act to
raise an additional military force" approved the
eleventh day of january eighteen hundred and
twelve.
Sec. 9. .7ad6e Il. further enacted, That the Sc.
cretary Tor the Department Of War for the time
issue TO the persons entitled thereto, by the two
loo mo a 4
Always, that such warrants shall be issued only to
the names of the persons thus entitled, ana be bt
them or Their representatives applied for within
hveyearS alter The said persons shall have be-.
come entitled thereto aud the said warrap,
shall not be assignable or transferable in any
manner whatever.
sec. 8 int Ge il further euGcred, That every
person ~ whose favor such wsrrant shah have
been issued, shall, on delivery OF the same. Al the
Office Of the Secretary the Treasury, or of suc
other officer as may at the same time have. by
law, the superintendent ofthe General land of
hce OF the United States, at the seat Of govern
ment, identified to draw By lot in such manner
as the officer, at the head fthe Land Office. IN,
der the direction of the President of llse Un;teI
States may prescribe, one %. the quarter sections
surveyed by virtue OF the first section Of tb;s
act, in either of tie said territory which the
son in whose favor such warrsi.t has issued NAV
designate Aud apatent shall thereupoh be gran
ted to such person, tor such quarter section.
without requiring any fee therefore.
Sec.4. IND be Il. further enacted, That no claim
for the military land bounties Aforesaid sian he
assignable or transferable, in any manner wl,afev.,
until ailer patent shall have been grained IN
the manner aforesaid. All sales, mortgages, con.
tracts, or agreements, Of any nature Whatever
made prior thereto, for tie purpose, or with IN,
tent OF alternating, pledgng or rnortgaemr any
such clam, are hereby declared and shall be held
null and void nor shall any tract Of land, grant
ed as aforesaid, be liable TO be taken in execution
or sold on account OF any such sale, mortgage
contract, or agreement, or on account Of any debt
contracted PRIOR to the date OF the patent, either
py ,he person Originally entitled to the land, or
ny BIS hers OF legal representatives, or by virtue