The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-04-17
EAST ELOhInA
THE HACKLEY GRANT OF TEN MILLION
OF ACRES

casion 10 recall the attention OF The American public
TO the vast importance Of the grant made to him
and this has now become the more necessary,
than twenty hye years have elapsed since the Royal
Cediia, together With the deed Of the Duke OF Ala
gon, and solemn inyestture of these lands, gave 10
MIR Hackiey an impregnable tite-whieh no act OF
our government has ever questioned until the surrey
now going on within his boundaries and with high
and arbitrary hand, seems, II were, designed to
question his title. Against this act of government
under law that expires in August next, and under
a mere land office construction given To that law Of
very doubtful nature, Mr.. liackley promptly filed
his protest and then pettoned the late congress to
docket case in the Supreme Court OF the United
States for the trial of his title.
In country Of constitutional law, and Of civil lib
erty, II IS TO be hoped aud confidently trusted that
might viii never be permitted TO overcome right
merely because OF the great magnitude Of the claim
The justice and honor Of country, as well as the
true interest of government equally demand that this
title should be judicafiy Investigated and soemniy
settled and that no arbitrary and despotic power
should be welded to suppress any right whatever, be
II small or great. Mr. Hackey's high character, and
the whole history of his life, give full assurance that
covert fraud exists where The entire paper title is
beyond question and il may be asserted, with per-
feet truth that the sale made by the Duke Of Alagon,
and the purchase by Mr.. lackey, conceived and
contaminated in the most absolute good iaith-and
that up to the present hour the Spanish Cortes The
public functionarles and the sense of the most en-
ightened juriss of that nation, have in single
instance expressed the least doubt the constitll-
tonal, legal equitable and moral title o! Mr.. Hackey
to all the lands embraced within the limits Of his
grant.
Ii w are these lands ever {, be adyantagcously
setedor settled at all, should the United States, on
the one hand, set up naked claim (eyen though at
tended by its vast pOwer) whilst on the other hand
every one the least cognizant of the Hackey title,
enterlans no doubt Of its perfect legal validity The
opinions and arguments of not less than one hundred
Am. hnv tod x.r,n,
nlmity in support of hs gran-whch they all consid-
er just as impregnabe under the constitution and
laws Of our land, under those Of Spain. Many
hundred thousand dollars were zealousy and con
scientiousy expended by this worthy man in estab-
fishing himself IN that vast domain, then supposed To
be Of no greater value, and that time alone could
make il under american eXertion: and, in the
gueess honesty Of his heart and natural character
he never for moment conceived it possible that any
arbitrary power would ever be exerted to disposses
him Of his property, which, though great in acres
was as legally honestly and const tuionally purchased
by him, as ever any man purchased small farm, or
any humble dwelling.
The confidence inspired in Mr.. Hackley by the
opinions of Spanish, British, French and American
lawyers and statesmen, not only nearly contempora-
neous with his purchase, but from that period down.
never had any cther effect upon his noble 81 rit Il an
to inspire him with sentiments Of the most exalted
enevoencc,-which were followed by acts of libe-
ray that resulted in the eventual loss to himself and
family of nearly million of dollars and during his
twenty-five years Of undisturbed possession he ever
manifested the strongest disposition to extend to his
country the freest and most liberal use Of such por-
tons of the lands within his grant as the public
vice required The United States never had and
never attempted to exercise any other than military
possession, from time to time, the acquisitions OF
the Indian wars demanded; and Mr.. Hackley resum-
ed his possessions the public functonares retired
there being, in instance, the least collision ;
and his agent, during that long period, filed
his deeds of sale and other documents and exercised
every act Of ownership undisturbed, which the un-
settled and bellgerent state of the country demand
ed. Mr.. Hackley's great age, also, prevented his
doing more and knowing that those Who should fol-
low him, when death should end his career would
be better able TO adopt and execute liberal and
ful scheme of settlement, he reposed in quiet, and
hoped in the rerfote future that his mcritorious ex-
ertons and great personal sacrifices would eventual
ly be crowned in his children with pc feet success
He has depa ted 10 his fathers-and his expiring
confidence was that his country would suly its
honor, by depeoaiy cresing from his beloved family
that which he had as fairly acquired as ever any
man had been known TO acquire any estate whatever
however inconsderable His last days only were
greatly disturbed by the recent unlocked for action
Of goyernment-bu still he died in the alterations of
hope and anxety-his protest had been ied-his petit
hon then before Congress- and, smidst oon6de
and doubt he breathed his last. His family inherit
nausbt but that domain acquired by such sacrifices and
deferred hopes ry title of it has ever been disposed
of; to Government 1t is of no graf value-but to
them it is their sole patrimory! For the sovereignty
Of all the Flordas, and for the mgranied lands,
amounting, we learn, 10 about Mirfy millions of
acres, Government paid but FIVE millions of dollars
and she purchased with the fullest know ledge Of Mr.
Hackleys title-ihat the laws Of Spain could not in
the least impair it-and & at our own Constitution
absolutely forbade its impairment Many Spanish
titles in no way to be compared in legal, equitable and
constitutional validity with Mr.. Hackley's have been
c -. III "a,
small Does title diminish in legal worth, in the
ratio Of the increase OF lis pecunary value We
will not, cannot believe it country that is no,
bubario, could avow or be actuaied by such a sordd
and iniquitous principle-it is not American, and
would, indeed, be inhuman All that the heirs de-
mand is legal inyestgation-this they ,eH have
and trusting to the high character Of our judicial
tribunals and TO the exalted u right in peo-
Pile, those heirs invoke and challenge the invesga-
ton, and 10 rest until full justice shall be
done them.
The people of Florida would be largely bene-
fitted by having tins title legally adjudcated-
seek it-and all those who knon any thing Of the
title are satisfied that Government are now doing
terong, in the present survey Of Mr.. Hackey's
lands. Far better for them, and for all settlers and
for ronmeni, also, that these lands should be
filmed in these heirs-more would be effectively and
profably done 10 settle that portion Of East Florida
IN the round Of few years, than could be done by
government in half century, the TT set
tied in favor of government Bot, whatever might
be the comparative value Of these lands In the hands
Of the the other, is Of little moment compared
with the enormty Of that dshonor and cruel MUS
tice, this property to be awles,y and violently
seized upon, in total disregard Of the highest legal
opinion and in violation Of every ciisens righi-hai
OF appealing 10 the sober Judicial decision This has
been respectfully sociied--no action was had upon
that petition il will be renewed once more and II
no, then heard the title will be nevertheless prepared
fnr he lel he
which, under constitution recognizes no ds,inc-
ton in the persons Of Iitigauts-nor whether the
matter lt,gated be worth little much.
As Counsel for the heirs and representatives Of the
late Richard S. lsckley, the undersigned notify and
admoDsh all pc sons whatever, that all the lands
beginning az the mouth Of the river .7p,anua ANA
nina, or Awaxura, where II enters the sea, and run.
ming along the right bank Of snid river 10 lis head