Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-04-02
VANDALfA, MARCH l9

vANDALfA, MARCH 10.
Through the polteness of a gentleman
OF this town, we are indebted for copy
of the following bill, introduced into the
Senate by Mr.. Thomas, and passed to a
second reading on the 18th of February.
A BILL granting the right of presumption to
actual settlers on the public lands in the State
of Illinois.
BE IL enacted by the Senate and House
q Rehresentatfves Of the United States
cfAmeffra ia Congress assembled, That
every person, or the legal Representatives
otevery person, who has actually inhabit-
ed and cultivated, and who now resides
upon any tract of land, lying in any dis
trlct established for the sale of public
lands, III the state OF Illinois, (which tracts
are not rlgatfnlly claimed BY any other
persen, such persons, SO residing, as
Aforesaid, or his legal representatives,
shall be entitled TO a preference in be.
coming the purchaser from the United
States OF such tract of land, al private
sale, upon the same terms and conditions,
IN every respect, as are now, or shall
hereafter be, provided by law, for the
sale OF other public lands sold at private
sale: Provided, That no more than one
quarter section of land shall be sold to
one individual, in virtue of this act and
the same shall be bounded blythe section
al and divisional lines run, or to be run,
according to law: Provfded, 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 un-
der this act
Sec. 2. Ana2e iJarther enacted, That
every person Claiming a preference in
becoming the purchaser of tract Of
lsad, IN virtue OF this act, shall make
known bis or her claim, by delivering
notice, in writing, to the Register of the
Land Office for the district IN which tho
land may lie, wherein he or she may par
ticuiarly designate the quarter section,
half quarter section, or fractional quarter
section, he or she claims, which notice
the Register shall file in his Office, ON re-
ceiying twenty-five cents from the person
delivering the same; and in every case,
where it Shall appear, to the satisfaction
OF the Register and Receiver Of public
moneys of the Land Office, that any per-
son, who has delivered notice Of his or
her claim, is entitled, according to the
provisions OF this act, to a preference in
becoming the purchaser OF a quarter Sec
ton, hall 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 Of
flee, on producing his or her receipt, from
the Receiver of public moneys for. the
whole ofthe purchase money, as in case of
other public lands sold at private sale:
Propided, That all lands to be sold under
this act, shall be entered with the Regis
Ter, al least two weeks before the time
OF the commencement Of the public sales,
in the district wherein the land lies; and
every person having right of preference
in becoming the purchaser of a tract of
land, who shall fail 10 make his or her en-
try with the Register, within the time
prescribed, his or her right shall be for
teted, andlthe land by him or her claim-
eds shall be ofi'ereaal public sale with the
other public lands in the district to which
it beloass.
Sec. 6. ind be it.fprthed enacted, That
no claim to preference in becoming the
purchaser TO a trac, Of land as aforesaid,
shall be assignabie or transferable in any
manner whatever, until patent shall
have issued for the same; and all sales,
mortgages, contracts, or agreements, Of
any nature, whateye, made prior thereto,
for the purpose, Or with intent, of allien-
ating, pledging and morlagaging, any
such claim, are hereby declared, and
shall be held, nuli and void.