Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-10-11
r=* OFFICIAL.
FTrFF roll %TY LAND BILL.

II
Dsp altrMexr or rII# ISrERloa, Oct 3, 1850
The Congress Of The nited States at lis late scs
sion, having in a spirit of justice AMI liberality,
passed an act granting bounty land 10 certain oil
hcers aAd soldiers who have been engaged ii the
military setrice OF the Uited States, the President
has esteemed il no less ajpriTilrge han a tufY To-
adopt all the means in his power to give prompt
and efficient operation 10 This beneficent measure.
deenl il Pa oper, therefore, To announce 70 those
entitled t0 the benefits Of the law that with his
sanction, Ihaye caused al the necessary forms and
instructions to guide claimants in applying Tor and
obtaining their rights to Be prepared, and they are
now ia The hands of the printer AT the earliest
practical bic moment copies Of these papers Will be
forwarded to each member Of Congress, and 70 the
clerk Of the court Of every county III the unlied
Stairs !.
twill ID his purpose 10 administer the law in
such manner as TO make it what Congress de-
signed il - be- bounty to The soi9ier and not e
42e 9y Hf b l0 a5ra aef i q aPP P
Giants 10 establish their Just demand. Clerks are
now engaged in preparing from The rolls on file
certificates of service in order that those who have
not received discharges, or have accidentally lost
them, may mol be disappointed in Obtaining their
The policy Of this law in all its provisions is to
discourage speculation ih the claims Of soldiers
The act provides that all sales mortgages letters
OF att rneyi and other Instruments oil writing going
to affect tho title Or claim 10 any warrant herein be-
fore provided Tornado br executed prior to the is
sue shall be null and void to all intents and pur-
poses whatsoever, shall such certificate or war
rant, or The land drained Thereby be In any wise
affected BY or charged with. or subject TO, The pay
ment Of any debt OF claim incurred by such officer
or soldier prior TO The issuing Of the patent. 4.
In his judgment the FSspe contemplated in the
body Of The above reci;eH clause of the law is the
issae of he pa,eat Consequently, all sales, trans
fers, assignments membranes Of soldiers
land claims made before1the emanaionl of the pat
ents, are void, and will bs dsregarded by the Gov
ernment. Spectators are therefore admoHished
that they dan acquire norighis BY purchase which
will be. recognised by this Department
feel it ID be my duty, also 10 warn the frank and
con6dfng soldier against the arts ana devices of
agents, who will seek to exaggelate the difficulties
OF Obtaining land in order ts enhance their own
charges. .N
The evidenee of servic exists among the archives
of the eouatFg In nine cases out Of ten the only
proof required viii be identity of the applicant
or OF the marriage and wiGowhood, or heirship-
These are facts readily proven and therefore the
difficulties will IN most cases be merely Romila}Z
And to remove even these slight obstacles, and 10
give more full andscompeie effect to the munifi-
eence 81 the GoEernment 1 beg leave respectfully
10 recommend 10 the pfopcf authorities Of eachcoun-
" and township.to employ suitable agent at the
expense Of the county TO supervise the preparation
ofthe applications and proofs of claimants The ig-
norant and unwarY would Thus be protected from
imposition, The poor soldiers from burdens they are
not able 10 bear and the Government from many
embarrassments which NAV result from the awk-
wandness Of Incompetent agents.
In conclusion desire ID say that great care will
be used to guard against andae preferences Of one
class ofapplican.s over others With this view, at
the proper time a'saicient number of clerks will
be EMPLOYED to issue the certificates with the least
possible deIav 50 that all 5nay have an equal
chanceof making advantageous locations. !,
ALEX. II. II. STUART,
S eretQrB Of he Interior