The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1822-06-05
Aa ACT tor ascertaining claims end titles
10 land within the territories Of Florida.


Aa ACT foF ascei,aining claims and titles
10 land within the territories OF Florida.
be H enacted By he Senate and House Of
Rehresentafipes (fhe Uaifed States Of liner
iea IN Congress assembled, That, for the pur-
pose OF ascertainng the claims and titles TO
lands within the territory Of Florida, as ac-
quI,ed by the treaty of the twenty second OF
February, one thousand eight hundred and
nineteen, there shall DO appointed, by the
President OF the United States, by and with
the advice and consent Of the Senate, three
Commissioners, who shall receive, as COM
pensaion for the duties enloined 10y the pro-
vision OF this act, Two thousand dollars each,
TO be paid quarterly, from the Treasury;
who shall open an office for the adjudication
OF claims, at PepsacoIs, in the territory Of
West Florida, and ST. Augustine, in East
Florida, under the rules, regulations, and COLI
dtions hereinafter prescribed
Sec. ,. Ind be IL /nrther eracfr1, That il
shall be The duty of said Commissioners TO
appoint a suitable and well qualified Secrela-
~, who shall record, in well bound book,
all and every their acts end proceedings, the
claims admitted, with those re ec'ed, and The
reason OF their admission or rejection. he
shall receive, as compensation ior his SER
vices, one thousand two huudred and fifty dot
lars, to be paid quarterly, from the Treasury
tie shall be acquainted with the Spanish Ian .
guage; aod, before entering on a discharge
of The duties of his Office, shalt take and sub
serIoe oath, before come authoiity compe-
tent TO administer IL, that hs will wen and
truly and Faithfully discharge the duties as
signed him, and translate ell papers that may
be require cd OF him by the Commissioners.
Sec, 8 Ind be n further enacted, har
said Commissioners, previously 10 entering
un a discharge OF the duties assigned them,
aba!i, before the Judge of the Territorial
court at Pensacola, or some other authority
in his absence, competent to administer II,
take all oath faithfully TO discharge the duties
Of their Offices, and shall commence and hold
their sessions on or before the f'st Monday OF
July next, a, Pensacola, and on The first Mon
day Of January thereafter, at St. Augustine,
for tie asceftainipg and determining Of all
claims to land within the said territories no
lice Of which shall be given, by said Commis-
sioners, in some newspaper printed at each
bIace, or, it there be no newspaper, at the
most public places in said cities, respectively,
uf the time az which their sessions will COM
mence, requiring all persons TO bring Tor
ward their claims, with evidence necessary 10
support hem. The session at St. Augustine
shall terminate on the thlrtie,b OF June, one
thousand eight hundred and twenty three,
when said com mi ssioners shall forward to the
Secretary OF the Treasury, TO be submitted TO
Congress-, detail of all they have done, and
delver over to the surveyor ell the archives,
documents, and papers, that may be IN their
possession.
Sec. g. fnd be il tJurther enacted, That
every person, or the heirs or representatives.
Of such persons claiming title to lands under
any patent, grant, concession, or order OF sur
vey, dsted previous to the twenty fourth day
of JanLary, one thousand eight hundred and
eighteen, which were valid under the Spanish
government, or by the law OF nations, and
which are not rejectsd by the treaty ceding
The territory of East and West Florida to the
United STATES, shall file, before the Comm's-
sioner., his, her, or their claim, setting torih,
particularly, its situation, and boundaries, IT
10 be ascertsined, with the dersignIneu, OF IT,
tie, where they are not the grantees, or oriel-
nal claimants; which shall be recorded by
the Secretary, end who, for his said services,
shall be entitled to demand from the claim
ants ten cents for each hundred words con-
tanned in said papers, so recorded he shall
be entitled TO twenty-five cents for each sub.
prna issued: Provided, That II the amount
SO received shall exceed one thousand Two
hundred and fifty dollars, which is hereby de-
clored the compensation for his services, the
excess shall be reported to the Commission.
ers, and be subject to their disposition, and
said Commissloners shall proceed to examine
and determine on the validity Of said patents,
grants, concessions, and orders Of survey,
sereesbly TO the laws and ordinances hereto
fore existing Of the g0Ysrnmsna making the