Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-04-18


transmitting, in obedience to resolution
of the 3th ms. statement OF the lands
sold, the amount remaining unsold, sc.
in the states Of Ohio, Indiana, and ILL
nois.
Agreeaby to notice given, Mr.. Tho
mas asked, and obtained, leave to bring
in the following bill whichw read, and
passed to the second reading.
A BILL
Granting the right Of fre-emftion to
actual settlers on the Public lands.
be it enacted By the Senate and House
of REPRESENTATIVES Of the United States
of .dmerica, in Congress assembled,
That every person, or the legal repre-
sentatives of every person, who has ac-
tually inhabited and cultivated, and who
now resides upon, any tract OF land lying
in any district established for the sale of
public lands, which tract is not rightfully
claimed by any other person, such per-
son, so residing, as aforesaid, or his or
her legal representatives, shall be entitled
to a preference in becoming the pur-
chaser, from the United States, of such
tract of land, at private sale, upon the
same terms and conditions, in every re-
spect, as are now, or shall hereafter be,
provided, by law, for the sale of other
public lands sold at private sale: Pro
Vided, That no more than one quarter
section of land shall be sold to one indi
yidual, in virtue of this act, and the same
shall be bounded by the sectional and
divisional lines run, or to be run, &C
cordinp to law: Provided also, That no
lands reserved from sale by former acts,
or lands which have been directed to be
sold in town lots, shall be sold under this
act.
Sec. .. ind be it further enacted,
That, in cases where two or more per-
sons, entitled to the ght Of presumption
in virtue Of this act, shall be settled, as
aforesaid, upon one quarter, or fractional
quarter-scction of land, each person shall
be authorized to purchase one quarter
section, or fractional quarter-scction of
the section, or fractional section of land,
upon which they are so settled and the
quarter-section, or fractional quarter-sec-
ton, upon which such persons are set
tied, shall be equally divided between
them, in such manner as the Register and
Receiver, within whose district the land
lies, shall determine and direct; so as to
secure, as far as practicable, to every
such person, their Improvements re-
Spectively.
SEC. 5. Ind be it further enacted,
That every person claiming preference
in becoming the purchaser of tract of
land in virtue of this act, shall make
known his or her claim, by delivering
notice, in writing, to the Register of the
Land Office for the district in which the
land may lie, wherein he or she shall
particularly designate the quarter-sec-
ton, half-quarter-section, or fractional
quarter-section, he or she claims; which
notice the Register shall file in his office,
on receiving twenty-five cents from the
person delivering the same and, in eve
ny case where it shall appear, to the sat-
isfaction of the Register and Receiver of
Public Moneys of the Land Office, that
any person, who has delivered notice
of his or her claim, is entitled, according
to the provisions of this act, to prefer
ence in becoming the purchaser of a
quarter-section, half-quarter section, or
fractional quarter-section, of land, such
person, SO entitled, shall have right to
enter the same, with the Register of the
Land Office, on producing his or her re-
ceipt, from the Receiver of Public Mo-
neys, for the whole Of the purchase
money, as in case of other public lands
sold at private sale: Provided, That all
lands to be sold under this act, shall be
entered, with the Register, at least two
weeks before the time of the commence
ment of the public sales in the district
wherein the land lies; and every person
having right of preference in becom-
ing the purchaser of tract of land, who
shall fail so to make his or her entry
with the Register, within the time pre-
scribed, his or her right shall be forfeit
ed, and the land by him or her claimed,
shall be offered at public sale with the
other public lands in the district to which
at belongs.
TUESDAY, MARCH 81.
Mr.. Lozvrie, from the committee on
public lands, to whom was referred the
resolution Of the Senate respecting the
expediency of making extra compensa-
lion to deputy surveyors, under certain
circumstances, in Missouri, made re-
port adverse to the expediency of the al
lowance, which was read.