The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1850-10-18
OFFICIAL.
The Bounty Land Bill.

I inc Bounty LaTla Bill.
The Congress of the United States ha'
wing in spirit of justice and llberality
pas sed an act granting bounty lands tc
certain officers and soldiers who have been
engaged in the military service Of the Uni
ted States" the President has esteemed ii
no less privilege than duty to adopt all
the means in his power to give prompt q
efficient operation to this benefcent mals-
ure.
] deem it proper, therefore. to al &
to those entitled to the benefits of the law,
that with hi, sanction | have caused all
the necessary forms and Instructions to
guide claimants in applying for and OBJ
tanning their rights to be prepared, and
they are now in the hands of the printer.
AT the earliest practical moment copies of
these papers will be forwarded to each
member of Congress, and to the clerk of the
court ofevery county in the United States
+ 1t Will be his purpose to administer the
law in such d manner as to make it what
Congress designed it to be, bounty to the
soldier, and not to agents and SPECTATORS.
The forms and mode ofproofhave there
fore been made us simple as possible, and
every facility will be afforded to applicants
to establish their just demands. Clerks
arenow engaged in preparing from the
rolls on 6le certificates of service, in order
that those who have not treceiyed discharges
or have accidcntly lost them, may not be
disappointed in obtaining their just reward.
The policy Of this law in all its provis-
ions is to discourage speculation in the
claims of soldiers. The act provides 'that
all sales, mortgages, letters Of attorney, or
establishments Of wiring going to affect
the tide eor claim to any warrant herein be-
fore provided for, made or executed prior
to the issue, shall be null and void 70 all in
tents and purposes whatsoever, nor all
such certificate or warrant. or the land os-
tanned thereby be in any wise affected by
or charged with, or subject to the payment
oianv debt or claim incurred by such officer
or so|dicr,prior to the issuing ofthe patent.
In his Judgment the issue contemplated
in the body of the above recited clause of
the law is the issue cfMe patent. Conse-
quenIly all sales, transfers, assignments,
and incumbrances ofsoldiers land claims,
made before the emanation of the patents,
are void and will be disregarded by the
government. Spectators are therefore as
that they can acquire no rights
by purchase, which will be recognized by
this department.
| feel it my duty also, to warn the frank
and con6ding soldier against the acts and
ieyices of agents who seek to exaggerate
he difficulties of obtaining the land in or
Ter to enhance their own charges. The
evidence of service exists among the ar
,hves of the country. In nine cases out
of ten, the only proof required will be of
he identity of the applicant or of marriage
md widowhood, or heirship. These are
acts readily proved, and therefore the
difficulties will in most cases be merely
,ominal And to remove even these slight
obstacles, and to give more full and com
,lete effect to the muniGcence of govern
nent, beg leave respectfully to recon-
mend to the proper authorities Of each
county and township to employ suitable
agent, at the expense Of the county, to su-
,ervise the preparation of the applications
md proofs Of claimants. The ignorant
md unwary would thus be protected from
the poor soldiers from burdens
hey are not able to bear, and the govern
nent from many embarrassments which
nay result from the awkwardness of in
empetent agents.
fn conclusion, desire to say, that
,reat care will be used to guard against
ndue preference of one class of applicants
'ver others. With this view, at a proper
ime, a sufficient number of clerks will be
Employed to issue the certificates with the
east possible delay, so that all may have
IN equal chance of making advantageous
ocations. t
ALEX. H. H. STUART
Secretary of the Interior. /
Washington city, Oct. 1850.