The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-04-22
EAST FLORIDA.
THE iiAcKLEY GRANT or TEN MILLION
OF ACRES

The recent death at Norfolk, Va Of the venerable
and excellent kicHARp s, HAosLEY, is a fitting oo
easioo TO recall the attention OF the American public
10 the vast importance Of the grant made 10 him
shu ths mas no" become the more necessary, more
than twenty -hye years have elapsed since the Rogai
Ced,Ia together nth the deed of the Duke of Ala
gon, and solemn invesure of these lands gave 10
| MIR. HackIey an impregnable title--slieh act Of
our government has ever questioned, until the sprey
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 government
under law that expires in August next, and under
mere land Office construction given 10 that law OF
very doubtful nature, Mr.. Hackley promptly filed
his protest. and then petitioned 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 and confidently trusted that
might WIZ never be permitted to overcome right
merely because OF the great magnitude of the CLAIM
The justice and honor OF country as we'll the
true interest OF government equally demand that this
title should be Jadic,aiiy Investigated aud soemnly
settled and that no arbitrary aud despotic power
should DC welded to suppress any right whatever, be
II small or great Mr., Hackley' high character, and
the whole history of his life give full assurance that
covert fraud exists, here 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.. Hackley, were conceived and
consummated IN the most absolute good failh--and
|
public functionares, and the sense of the most en-
ghtened Juriss of that nation have in single
instance expressed the least doubt the constitu
tona, legal, equitable and moral title o: Mr. Hackey
to all the lands embraced within the limits of his
grant.
W these lands ever 10 be adyantageously
settledor settled at all should the United States on
the one hand, SET up naked claim (even though at
tended by ITS vast power) whilst, the other hand
every one the least cognizant Of the Hackiey title
rta dnnh tpf
opinions and arguments of not less than one hundred
American jnrIsts have united with conclusive una.
nimy IN support of his grantwhich they all consd-
er just as Impregnable under the constitution and
laws OF our land, as under those Of Spain Many
hundred THOUSAND dollars were zealously and con.
scientiously 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 II so under .iaierican exertion: and, in the
guileless honesty of his Heart and natural character
he never for moment conceived il possible that any
arbitrary power would ever be exered to dispossess
him of his properly, which, though great in acres
was as legally, honestly and const uonay 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
had any other effect upon his noble irit than
to inspire him with sentiments Of the most exalted
raly that resulted in the eventual loss to himself and
family of nearly million of dollars and during his
twenty five years OF rndlsrbed possession he ever
manifested the strongest disposition TO extend to his
country the lreest and ost liberal of such por
tons of the lands within his grant as the public SER
vice required. The United States never had, and
never attempted to exercise any other than military
possession, from time TO time the requstions OF
the Indian wars demanded; and Mr.. Hackley resum-
ed his possessions as the public lunctonaes retired
al. L.,... IL
and his agent, during that long period, filed
his deeds of sale and other documents and exercised
every act Of ownership undisturbed which the I'M
settled and belgerent state Of the country demand
ed. Mr.. HackIeys great age, also, prevented his !
doing more and knowing that those no should fol-
be better able 10 adopt and execute liberal and use
ful scheme OF settlement, he reposed in quiet and
hoped in the remote luture that his mcrorious ex-
ertions and great personal sacrifices would eventual
ly be crowned in his children with pc feet success
He has depa ted TO his fathcrs-and his expiring
confidence that his country would never sully lis
honor by despotioaty rreSng from his beloved family
that which he had as fairly acquired, as ever any
man had been known TO acquire any estate whatever,
however inconsiderable. His last days only were
greatly disturbed by the recent unlocked for action
of goyernment-bu still he died in the alterations of
hope AMI anXiey-hs protest had been flcd-hs peii-
lion then before Congress- and amidst confidence
and doubt, he breathed his last His family nheri,
deferred hopes rey ie OF il has been disposed
of to Government IT Is Of no gr at vslue-but TO
them II Il their sole patimoLy For the sovereignty
Of all the Fioridas, and for the ungranfed lands
amounting, as we learn, to about thirty millions Of
acres Government paid but five millions Of dollars
and she purchased with the fullest knowledge Of Mr.
Hackley's ite--ihst the laws Of Spain could not in
the least impair it-aDd at own Constitution
absolutely forbade It's impairment. Many Spanish
titles, IN way TO be compared iiegal equitable aud
III
conhrmcd--but theirs, il will be remembered, were
small. Does title diminish IN legal worth, in the |
ratio OF the increase OF It's pecuniary value We
will not, cannot believe II no country that is not
barbarc, could ayow or be actuated by such sordd
and inquitous principle--it is not American, and
would, indeed be inhuman. All that the heirs de-
mand is legal investgation--ths they iriH have
and trusting to the high character of our judicial
tribunals, and TO the exalted Of right IN our peo-
pie those heirs invoke and challenge the investga
tion and never mean to rest until full justice shall be
done them.
The people Of Florida would be largely bene-
fitted by having tins title legally ndiudicated-they
seek t-and all those who knop any thing Of the
title, satisfied that Government doing
wrong, IN the present surv,y Of MIR Hackleys
lands Far better for them, and for all settlers and
for gorern meni also that these lands should BE- con-
filmed In these heirs-more would be effectively and
prohtably done 10 settle that portion Of East Florida
m the round Of few year., than could be done by
government, in a half century the TT set
tied In favor Of government But, whatever might
be the comparative value Of these lands In the hands
OF the or the otner is OF little moment, compared
with the enormy Of that dishopor and cruel MUS
tee this property TO be lawlessy and violently
seized upon, in total disregard OF the highest legal
opinion, and IN violation OF every cifisens rigi-hat
of appealing TO the sober Judicial decision. This has
been respectfully solicuod-no action was had upon
that petition IL will be renewed once more and II
not then heard the title viii be nevertheless prepared
for trial, and the result left with the only tribunal
which, under our constitution, recognizes distinc-
ton 10 the persons Of litigants-nor whether the
matter litigated be worth little or much.
As Counsel for the heirs and representatives Of the
late Richard s Hackley, the undersigned notify and