The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-10-21
! NUMBER 29.
The Bounty Land piii.
DEPARTMEET OF THE ISTERIoR,
n4al a tnEn

-4T a4s 49, UclO0eI. -, lo0U, "a
The Congress Of the United States, at its
late session. having in spirit OF Justice and
liberality passed an act "gfaniing bounty
land tocertain officers and soldiers who have
been engaged in the military service Of tine
United States" the President has esteemed
| Il no less privilege than duty to adopt all
the means in his power to give prompt and
efficient operation to THE benefcent meas.
ure. ,a.istGs ~ AeFtl@fesAi ON ~ p9&9S
/ deem.it proper, therefore, to announce
to those entitled to the benefits of the law.
that with his sanction have caused all the
necessary forms and instructions to guide
claimants in applying for and obtaining
their rights to be prepared, and they are
now in the hands Of the printer. At the
earliest practicable moment copies Of these
papers will be forwarded to each member
OF Congress, and to the clerk of the court of
every county in The United States. ..,.si, "a
4 IT. will be bis purpose to administer the
law In such manner as to make It what Com
gress designed it to be, bounty to the soE.
d1eT, and not to agents and speculatons. ais
The forms and the mode of proof have
therefore been made as simple as possible,
and every facility will be offered to applil
cants to establish their Just demands. Clerks
are now engaged in preparing from the rolls
on file, cert;ficatesof service, in order that
those who have'not received discharges, or
have accidentally lost them, may not Be dis
appolated in obtaining their Just reward. a
Ihe policy of this law in all its provisions
Is TO discourage speculation in the claims of
soldiers. The act provides ''that all sales,
mortgages, letters Of attorney, or other in
stnments of writing going to affect the III
tie or claim to any warrant hereinbefore
provided for, made or executed priorto. the
issue, shall be null and void to all intents
and purposes whatsoever, nor Shall such
certificate or warrant, or the land Obtained
thereby, be in anywise affected by, or
charged with, or subject to the payment Of
any debt or claim incurred by such officer
or soldier prior to issuing Of the patent.n g0
In his judgement the issue contemplated
in the body OF the above fecited clause of
the law is the issue of the patent. Conse-
quently all sales, transfers, assignments and
incumbrances Of soldiers land claims, made
before the emenation ::of the patents, are
void, and will be discharged by The govern
eminent. Spectators are therefore admon-
ished that they can acquire no rights by pur-
chase which will be recognized by this de-
partment. -, s'ff.sg ..si
feel Tiny duty also to warn the frank and
confding soldiesagainst the acts and devi-
ces OF agents who will seek to exaggerate
the difficulties Of obtaining the land in order
to enhance their own charges. The evil
dence Of service exist mong the archivesof
the country. In nine cases out of ten the
only proof required will be Of the identity
of the applicant, or of marriage and widow-
hood, Or heirship. These are facts readily
lproven, and, therefore, the difficulties will,
in most cases, be merely nominal. And, to
yeieven these slight obstacles. and to
give more full and complete effect to the
munifcence of the government, l beg leave
respectfully, to recommend to the proper
authorities Of each county and township 10
employ suitable agent. at the expense Of
the county, to supervise the preparation Of
i the applications and proofs, of claimants. ~
\ The ignorant and unwary would thus be
protected from imposition, the poor soldiers
from burdens they are not able to bear, and
the government from many embarrassments
which may result from the awkwardness Of
Incompetent agents. ie LAP 49,
! In conclusion. j desire to say, that great
care will be used TO guard against undue
preference Of one class Of applicants over
Others. With this view, at proper time,
a sufficient number Of clerks will be EN-.
ployed 10 issue the certificates with the
least possible delay, so that all may have an
equal chance Of making advantageous, loca-
tions ne ALEX. H. H. STUART,
i Secretary of the Interior