Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1843-12-28
Adjourned Town Meeting.

IOWu NlCCtAAss
At an ad ioarned meeting of the citizens
of Burlington, held at the Methodist ChurcI
on Saturday evening the 23d inst, for the
purpose of adopting measures to perfect
the titles, and bring into market tie un
sold Lots in said city,
I The Committee appointed at a prevlou:
meeting to report suitable plan to per
feet titles to the unsod Lots in the City OF
Burlington, and bring said Lots into mar
ket, presented the following report, which
being read and considered was unanimous
ly adopted, TO wit
The committee, to whom was referred the
subject of the unsold lots, beg leave to
make the following unanimous report.
Resolued, That the Mayor and Alder
men memorabilia Congress-, and the Execu-
tive OF the United States, on the subject
of the unsold lots in our city.
| That they represent to them the deep in
( terest of the City in having the title to
said lots rendered certain, and the utter
impracticability of obtaining that desira-
bic object, without further Legislation on
the part of Congress.
That us the recipients of the proceeds,
for which said lots may ultimately sell, by
virtue OF the previous acts on this subject
the sd id city, and not the Government, is
the party really interested in procuring as
large an amount from the sales as pract-
cable, and in pretended or unjust claims
! from being confirmed But that IN the opin.
ion of the SAID Mayor and Aldermen and
the people OF said city, the prompt adj ust-
ment OF titles, so that said lots may be i'm
proved and taxed is Of vastly more impor.
lance to the interest of said city, than the
mere accumulation OF revenue from the
sale thereot-one hundred and---of which
still remain unsod-the certificates of pre-
enption for which have either been sus-
pended contested by counter claimants,
or adjudged irregular as to the original
proof
That the Land Office for the District has
been removed to u place in the interior, re
mote from our city, and in new settle
ment, so that the re- proving or investica.
ton OF said claims, before said office, should
power to take cognizance thereof be grant
ed to said Office, which is now not given it
by law, would be attended with great in
convenience, privation, delay and expense
to our citizens. And that inasmuch a ma
ny OF said claims are now in the hands OF
innocent assigrees, who in the spirit Of
equity ought to be allowed to stand in the
place of the original pre-emptor, and ma
ny others are involved i'll dispute that
no power other than a Court OF Equity ca
properly adjudlcate and finally settle the
same.
That the said Congress be therefore re.
queSted TO pass an act. comforting on the
District Court for Des MONIES County in
said Territory power to take cognizance of
said claims, and finally Just the same en-
petition o! the party Or parties in interest, |
according 10 the acts conterrng said claims, I
and the principles Of equity; having fall I
power TO hear and determine, as well be- !
tween the ultimate r,ght OF !ltigant claim |
ants, as between the claimants and the I
Government, and to decree the right of
prc-einptioR if one is found to exist to the !
person OF persons entitled thereto. by the |
acts aforesaid ana the principles OF equity /
between the paities
That in all cases Of undisputcd claims,
Tor under this act, the pre- EN- ption
certificate issued By the commissioners shall
be received by said court US prinsa tacie evil
dencc OF presumption subject to being con-
tested by the Mayor or Aldermen, or some
citizen ofsaid city claiming tho same and
making ati!da 1t OF a claim in his belief to
he same, who may defend the same, if
they choose, aud TO-. in case. Ht dispute, :
eithe: claimant may file his petition g.inst
tiie adverse party and cause the same TO be
acco. ding to the rules and prac-
tee IN equity in said Court as the same +
now EXISTS by law. And said Court in case
oi dispute snail receive evidence of the
original prc-empton and right OF the par
'ies, ana decIde accordingly and that the
costs SAall b. paid by sack party OF the
Undivided claimants as the Court shall ad. {
udge. And that copy of such decree 9
hall in all cases be delivered to the per !
ons obtaining Tie same, which shall entltle 4
UGH person To enter the lot designated at u
he minimum price. Aud provided further, h
hat all pre- cmptons which shall not be !,
urchased out, IN ninety days from their !,
rant, shall be forfeited, and all such lots, a
; well as those lots, TO which pre- emp
ons shall not be obtained from said Court.
lali be sold ut auction, except such as NAV :
III be pending Tor trial IN said Court, at .
ie end OF nine months from the passage Of
us act, the Register and Receiver, Civ a
lg notice OF such sale, and conducting the b
me as heretofore in the sale of lots in
id city. =
Res1lced, That the said Mayor and AL.
srmen, draft or procure the drafting of =
I'D memorial and suitable bill, according &
the provisions aforesaid, and that they
ic.ose the same, with copy o: these pro-
edngs to our Delegate with a request
at the same be laid before Congress at as "
rIy day as possible. g
On motion of d. RoRER, Esq, Resolved, Ut
hat our Delegate be requested to urge the z
suing and forwarding OF the patents, for |
c lots in said city sold. DC
On motion of john IL. MckENNY, Esq,
ssolved, That the proceedings of this =
Getting be published in the newspapers /
lnted in this city.
On motion, Resolved, Tha. the meeting 70
now djourn. 81
A. BRIDGMAN, Chairman. sa
L. DUNLAP, Sec'y. ar
Burlington, Dec. %, 1913 ST