The Arkansas banner., 1844-05-08

and the transfers to purchasers, where such were made in writing, will be found on file with the Commissioner of the Land office, and in the office of the clerk of the Supreme Court of the United States. sub- mithese5ith, an authenticated copy ola trans fer iu one case, which has been forwarded .a mo by the party concerned, with a pet .iUH praying relief through Congressional ac-
 a. Others, are in substance, the same.
 In the years 1829-'30, it was ascertaincd by the government that large number of claims, purporting to have originated from the authorities of Spain, confirmed by the su- perior court of the Territory of Arkansas, were founded on forged grants, concessions, or evidence; and law was passed by Con- gress, on the 8th of May, 1890, continuing in force the act of 1921, so far as 1t related to claims in Arkansas, by which the superior court was enabled, by bills of review, to re- vise and set aside any of the decrees conhr- matory of claims previously made, where It was shown that the same were founded upon such forged grants, concessions 6tc. Under the power conferred by this laY which will 5e found in vol of the Laws |. S., ?. 297,) the superior court of Arkansas did invcstl- gate, annul and set aside her former adiudi- cations, confirming some two or three hun dred claims The effect of annulling and set ting aside the former deerees, was 10 leave those who had purchased the claims prcvl- eHsly confirmed, without the shadow =ot tl- tie to the land upon which they had been lo- eated. They had bought them after they had been favorably passed upon by the regularly constituted authorities of the United States7 and after the tin1a within which all appeal was allowed had pired; they had no agen- cy in their confia ation, but were strictly in- nocent purchasers and, to relieve them from the 5aaTer of having their homes taken by othc Congress the proceeding by bill of review Jill pending) passed an act, in the year 1S32, (see Laws U. S., vol. s, ?. 54l,l declaring that the President should cause all the lands, the titles to which were involved in the trial of said bill ofreyiew, claimed by purchasers after the rendition of the original judgment, 10 be withheld from sale until the further order of Congress. This provision of the law of 1892, Is still in fof and the ernment cannot sell, nor taa occupants H=v, the lands 10 which 1t applie
 he settlers upon these lands uo not ask Congress to give them the quantity held un- der circumstances which l have now de- Jailed. although common justice would seem to require it, as they have once bought and paid for il on the faith q Tae Government. acting through her agent; Ut merely to al- low them preference in engering that which they had located with claim subsequently annulled-whieh claim they had bought and paid for, or in which they have an equitable interest, coupled with actual occupancy oI the land and, further that the provision oi Ifhe act of 1852, wi holding these lands from sale, be repealed
 The bill before the 8mmittee neither con templat nor provides for any thing beyond what have stated.
 beg 10 suggest that an amendment nigh be made to the bill, which would, as con eeiYe, promote the ends of justice, by insert- ing, after the word ''otherwise,7F in line S. tsand to allow portions of the land located with French or Spanish claims to be entered of not less than so acres, in conformity to the public suryeys,o and by adding q section .,authorising the heirs or legal representa- lives of boaa-fde owners of claims, provided for ill the first section of the act to which this is a supplement, to enter the lands upon which the same has been located; and pro vided, further, that where any legal owner ot such claim has paid over the money to the proper receiver of Land Office, in locating said rclaim, for the purpose of making out an entire quarter section or half section, (us the case may be- such amount as may have been so paid shall be taken and admitted, as far as t goes, in payment for the entries au- thoriscd, under the provisions of this act,' There are various cases where money was paid under these circumstances, which vii be lost to the individual without some provs- ion. The evidence of their existence vii be found in the General Land office, and vii be procured if desired. All of which IS mos respectfully submitted.
 have the honor to be,
 your ob't seryh,
 EDW. CROSS. LTD Yp D.,.-- CL Cta,, pyb ,YIs