The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-04-20
EAST FLORIDA
THE HAcKLEY GRANT OF Ten MILLION
l nsf OF ACRES ft


aud excellent R,cIiAHp $. HAc.Lsy, Is lifting oc
cason TO recall the attention Of the American public
10 te snst Importance of the grant made to him
a"d lbis has now become the necessary AS more
uan twenty-five years have elapsed since the Royal
Ced,o, together " ith the deed VI the Duke Of Ala
gon asd a solemn inyestiturc Of ttese lands gave TO
Mr.. Hackley AN impregnable title--which no act OF
our government has questioned until the surrey
now going on within his boundaries and with high
ana arbitrary hand seems, as IL were, designed To
question his title Against this Of government
under law that expires in August next, and under
mere land Office construction given that law Of
very doubtful nature, MIR. Hackiey promptly filed
his protest. and then petitioned the late congress TO
docket case 10 the Supreme Court Of the United
States for the trial Of his title f
Ia a country of constitutional law and of evil lib
cry, II IS TO be hoped and confidently trusted that
might will never be permitted TO overcome right
merely because OF the great magnitude Of the claim
The Justice and honor Of our country well the
true interest of government equally demand that this
title should be judioaiiy Investigated and solemnly
settled ana that no arbitrary and despotic power
should be welded to suppress any right whatever be-
il small or greet MIR Hackleys 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. Hackley wero conceived and
consummated IN the most absolute good fath--and
that up to the present hour the Spanish Cortes the
lightened jursts of that nation, have in single
instance expressed the least doubt the constitu
tional legal equitable and moral title OF Mr. HackIey
to all the lands embraced within the limits OF his
grant. 5n
II w are these lands ever TO be advantageously
settledor settled at ALL should the United States Oh
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 Hackley title,
entertains doubt of its perfect legal validity The
M mr. mens of not Ia ,drsd
American jurists, have united with conclusive una
nmity IN support Of hs grantwhich they all coDsid
err just as impregnable under the constitution and
laws OF our land, as under those Of Spain. Many
hundred thousand dollars were zealousIy 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 80 under american exerton and in the
guilecss honesty Of his heart and natural character
he for moment conceived il possible that any
arbitrary power would ever be exerted to dspossess
him OF his property which, though great in acres,
legally honestly and const tutionay 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-
with his pure ,ase, but from that period down
had any ether effect upon his noble 81 rit than
to inspire him with sentiments of the most exalted
bene volence,--whch were followed by acts of libc
raty that resulted in the eventual loss to himself and
family of nearly million Of dollars and during his
twenty five years of undisurbed possession he ever
manifested the strongest disposition to extend to his
country the freest and liberal use of such por
tions of the lands within his grant, the public SER
vice required. The United States never had, and
attempted to exercise any other than military
possession, from time to time, as the acquisitions OF
the Indian demanded; and Mr.. Hackley resum-
ed his possessions the public functionares retired
there being, in instance, the least coll sion
aVpn that rta nd ElaIl
his deeds OF sale and other documents and exercised
every act Of ownership undisturbed which the un-
settled and belgeren state Of the country demand.
ed. Mr.. Hackiey's great age, aIso prevented his
doing 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 use
full scheme Of settlement, he reposed in quiet and
hoped in the remote future that his merorious ex-
erlions and great personal sacrifices would eventual
~ be crowned in his children with pc feet success
He has depa ted to his faters-and his expiring
confidence that his country would sully its
honor by dspoticaiy rresng Il ON 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 goyennent-but still he died in the alterations of
hope AMI anxiey-hs protest had been tled-bs petit
ton then before Congress- and, amiis, confdene
and doubt, he breathed his last His family inherit
naurht but that domain acquired by such sacrifices and
deferred hopes rery he OF il has been disposed
Of; to Government IT is OF no graf vaue--but 10
them il is their sole pat imouy For the sovereignty
Of all the floridas, aud for the ungran,od lands
amounting, we learn, TO about thirty p,iihons of
acres Government paid but five millions Of dollars
and she purchased with the fullest knowledge of Mr.
Hsckley's ttle-that the laws Of Spain could not in
the least impair it-aDd { at Constitution
absolutely forbade is impairment Many Spanish
titles, in 10 way 10 be compared ia legal equitable and
constitutional validity " ih MIR. Hackey's. have been
hat t,t, , ba ,ka..
small. Does title diminish in legal worth, in the
ratio Of The increase Of its pecuniary valuei We
will not cannot believe II no country that is not
barbarie, could avow or be acuated by such sordid
and iniquitous principle-it is not American, and
would, indeed be inhuman MI that the heirs de-
mand is legal investiga,ion--,his they piH have
and trusting TO the high character Of judicial
tribunals, and 10 the exalted Of right in our peo
pie those heirs invoke and challenge the investiga-
ton, 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 adudicated-they
seek it-snd all those who kio,o any thing Of the
title, are satisfied that Government doing
wrong, IN the present survey OF Mr.. Hackleys
lands. Far better for them, and for all settlers and
for gorernnenf, Also that these lands should b.
Il, med IN these heirs-more would be effectively and
prohtaby done TO settle that portion Of East Florida
IN the round OF a few years, than could be done by
government In a half century, even were the III set
tied in favor of government But, whatever M ght
be the comparative value OF these lands in the hands
Of the the other, is Of little moment, compared
with the cnormity OF that dishonor aud cruel njus
ce, this property to be lawlessly and violently
seized upon IN total disregard Of the highest legal
opinion, and in violation OF every citizens rghi--ihat
OF appealing TO the sober judicial decision. This has
been respectfully solicncd-no action was had upon
that petition 1t will be renewed once more; and If
not then heard, the title will be nevertheless prepared
for trial, and the result left with the ouy tribunal,
which, under our constitution recognizes no dIstnc-
ton in the persons OF litigants--nor whether the
matter litigatcd be worth little or much.
As Counsel for the heirs add representatives Of the
late Richard Hackley the undersigned notify and
admonish all pc sous whatever, that all the lands,
"begnning al the mouth Of the river .1sanua, ANA
nina, or Awaxura, where II enters the sea- and run