The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-04-13
EAST FLORIDA.
THE HACkLEY GRANT OF Ten MILLION
OF ACRES

EAST FLORIDA.
THE HACKLEY GRANT OF Ten MILLION
OF ACRES.
The recent death at Norfolk, Va Of the venerable
| and excellent RICHARD S. HAcKLgy is a fitting oc
casion to recall the attention Of the American public
| TO the vast importance of the grant made to him
aud this has become the more necessary as more
than twenty-five years have elapsed since the Roydi
Ceiuda together it'll the deed of the Duke Of Ala
goD, and solemn nyestiture of these lands, gave
Mr.. Hackey an impregnable tltle-whch act of
our government has ever questioned, until the surrey
now going on within his boundaries, and with high
and arbitrary hand, seems, il were, designed to
question his title Against this act of our
under law that expires in August next, and under
land Office construction given to that law Of
very doubtful nature, Mr. Hackey promptly filed
bis protest. and then petioned the late congress to
docket case in the Supreme Court of the United
States for the trial of his title.
In a country of constitutional law, and of civil lib
erty il is 10 be hoped and confidently trusted that
might will never be permitted 10 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 judieiaiiy investigated and soemnly
settled and that no arbitrary and despotc power
should be welded to suppress any right whatever be
il small or great. MIR. Hackey's high character and
the whole history of his life, give full that
covert fraud exists where the entire paper title
beyond question and il may be asserted, with per-
feet truth that the sale made by the Duke of Aagon
and the purchase by Mr.. Hackley conceived and
consummaed IN the most absolute good fath--and
that up 10 the present hour, the Spanish Cortes the
public iunctionarIes, and The of the most en-
iihtened urists of that nation have never in single
instance expressed the least doubt the constitu
ional legal equitable and moral title o. Mr. Hackley
TO all the lands embraced within the limit, of his
grant.
II W are these lands ever IL be advantageously
settledor settled at all should the United States on
the one hand, set up naked claim (even though at
tended by its vast power)-whst, on the other hand
every one the least cognizant Of the Hackey title
enterains no doubt of its perfect legal validity The
opinions and arguments OF not less than hundred
American Jursts, have united with conclusive una.
nmity in support OF ms grant-which they all consid
er just as impregnahe under the constitution and
laws Of our land, under these of Spain MANY
Hundred thousan dollars were zeaIously and con.
scentiously expended by this worthy uan in estsb-
fishing himself IN that vast donna n then supposed 10
be OF no greater value, and that time alone could
make IL so under .3meriedn eNertion and in the
guileess honesty of his heart and natural character
he never Tor moment conceived il possible that any
arbitrary power would ever be exered to dispos,ess
him OF hrs property, which, though great in acres
was as legally, honestly and const uonaly purchased
by him. as ever any man purchased small farm. or
any humble DIV elling
The confidence inspired in Mr. IIackley by the
opinions OF Spanish, British, French and American
lawyers ard statesmen, not only nearly conte mnor,
neous with his purcl sse but from that neriod doa
never had any Their effect upon his noble 81 rt than
to inspire HIM with sentiments of the most ex,l,.d
were followed by acts of lbe
rsy that resulted IN the eventual loss 10 himself and
family OF nearly million Of dollars and during his
twenty 'e years oil undsturbed possession, he ever
manifested the strongest disposition 10 extend To nj.
country the ireest and tost liberal use of suob NOR
ions oil the lands within his grant as the public SER
VICE required. The United States never had, and
never attempted TO exercise any other than a military
possession, from time TO time a. the reou.it,on -,
the Indian wars demanded; and Mr. Hackley rcsum-
ed ms possessions as the public functonaries retired
there being, IN no instance, the least coil sion
aud his agent, during that long period filled
ms deeds oil sale and other documents and exercised
every act Of ownership undis,urbed which the nm
settled aud belhgerent state Of the country demand
ed. Mr.. liackey's great age, also, prevented his
doing more and knowing that those " no should f,l
low him, when death should end his career would
be better able TO adopt and execute liberal and se
ful scheme Of settlement, be reposeJ In ouio, al
hoped in the remote future that his mer,a,;o.
ertons and great personal sacrifices would eventual
~ be crowned, IN his children with DE feet suoc,.s
lie has now departed TO his fathers-and ms xn;ri,
confidence was that his country would never suIIy NJ,
honor oy atPohfaHg rreSng from his beloved family
mat which he had as fairly acquired as ever any
man had been known 10 acquire any estate whatever
however iDconsiderable Ills last DAYS only ucro
greatly disturbed by the recent unlocked for ,c,;o
oil so'erlnent-Out stll he died IN the alterations Of
hope ami anxiety-lis protest had been fled-bis n,n
lion was then before Congress; and, amidst con6de
and doubt, he breathcd his last lis family inber,
naus out 'hat domaipaoqulredb by such sacrifices and
deferred hopes reiy TILE of II has ever been disposed
o'j 10 Government It Is OF no graf value-bm 20
them II Is their sole pat mouy For The sovercir,,
Of all the floridls, and for the yprygnt,J IlsoSy
amounting as We learn, 10 about niyfp milton, of
acres, Government paid but five millions az dollar
and she purchased with the fullest know LEDGE az NJ
Haekloys utle-thst the laws of Spain eo1ld NOT !,
the least impair n-and lat our own Con.,;,u,;on
absolutely forbade It's impairment MANY So,,isb
ues IN DO way 10 be compared iu legal equitable and
constitutional validity with Mr.. Hackley's hsy. h.e,
comm mco-put theirs, II viii be RENE nbcred wer,
small Does little diminish in legal worth in a..
rates on 'he increase OF its pecunisry value W..
WIZ not cannot believe II no country that is no,
b@bario, could syow or be acuatod by sich sors;d
and ubiquitous principlo--it is not Americ,n al
would, indeed be inhumsn All that the be;rs de'
Inand Is legal investigsiion-tbi, they ,.;U b.v.
aud trusting TO the bigh character of our judicial
tribunals, and 10 the exalted Of ,ipbf Ia our no.
Pc those heirs invoke and challenge the ,pvesiir,
ION, aud never mean 10 rest until full i,,.c. sh,ltho
done them.
The people Of Florida would be l,ryelv hens.
hued bY having tins title legally adjudicated-tbey
sen h-snd all those who knote any thing Of M,
upe, are satisfied That Government ere now doing
nrong, ~ The present sury,y Of Mr.. UsoLley.
soos' Tar better Tor them, and for all settlers and
Tor government Also that These lands should b. COZ.
mined IN these hers-moro would be effectively and
Proh'sby Zone to settle that portion of East FLORIDA
IN the round Of few years, than could be done by
government IN half century even were the title .et