Washington telegraph., 1850-11-27
BY AUTH ORIT Y.
PUBLIC ACTS.

BY HORITY.
PUBLIC ACTS.
Passed during the first session OF the Thirty. first
Congress.
AN ACT granting bounty land to certain officers
and soldiers who have been engaged ia the
military service Of the United Stat $.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives. of tie United States Of America
in Congress assembled, That each OF the surviv-
ing, or the widow minor children OF decreased
commissioned and non commissioned officers, mu l.
sicians or prvates, whether Of regulars, volunteers,
rangers or militia who performed military service
in any regiment, company or detachment IN The
service CT the United States, in the war with
Great9Bitain, declared by the United st .trs Oh
the eighteenth day Of June, eighteen hundred aud
twelve, or la any Of the Indian wars since seven
teen hundred aud ninety. and each OF the conin's-
sioned officers who wis engaged Ia the military
service of the United States. in the late war with
Mexico, snail be entitled 10 lands, as follows
Those who engaged 10 serve twelve months or
during the war, and actually served nine months
shall receive one hundred and sixty acres, and
those who engaged To serve Six months, and ac-
tually served four months shall receive eighty
acres, and tiu.se who engaged 10 serve ior ali. or
an indefinite period aud actually served Que month
shall receive ioriy acres. ProUtded, That whei-
charged in consequence OF disability IN tie service
before the expiration Of his period Of service, he
shall receive the amount to which he would have
been entitled if he had served the fui period ior
which he had engaged to serve: PfoDided, Ihe
person SO having been in service shall not receive
SAID land or amy part thereof If ii shall appear by
the muster rolls of his regiment or corps, that ie
deserted, or dishonorably discharged from
service or if he has received, or is entitled to any
and nnfx nuHp ANT u
heretofore passed.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the
period during which any officer soldier may
have remained in captivity with the euemy shall
be estimated and added to the period OF his actual
service, and the person detained IN captivity
shah receive land under the provisions OF this act
in the same manner that he would be entitled III
case he had entered the service or the whole term
made up by the addition Of the time of his captivity
and had served during such tIme
SEC g. And be it further enacted, That each
commissioned aud non commissioned ofhcer, mn-
sicap or private, for whom provision is made by
the first section hereof shall receive certificate
or warrant from The Department of the Interior
for the quantity Of land to which he may De en-
titled and which may be located by the war
rautee or his heirs at law. at any land Office o. he
United States IN one body aud in conformity to
the legal subdivisions of the public lands, upon amy
OF the puoc lands in such district then subject 10
private entry; and upon The return O such certih-
cate or warrant with evidence OF the ioc'1ion
thereof having been legally made to the Genera
Land Office, a patent shall be issued therefor. In
the event Of the death Of any commissioned OF non
commissioned officer musician or private prior or
subsequent 10 the passage oil ths act, VINO siai'
have served as aforesaid, aud wfO shall not have
received bounty land for SAID services. like GER
tficate or warrant shall be issued IN favor aio
euure to the benefit of his W dow VINO shall receive
one hundred aud sixty acres oi land ln case ller
husband was killed In hattie, but not to her hrlrS;
Pr,r,ded, She is unmarried at the date 0a iser
application: Prorided further, That no land war
rant issued under the provisions Cf this act shall be
laid upon any Iaud Of the United States to which
there shall be pre-empion right, or upon wn'ch
there shall be an actual settlement and cultivation,
except with the consent Of such settler TO be salts
factoriy proven to the proper land officer
SEC 4. And be it further enacted, That all
sales, mort cages, letters Of attorney or other IN
struments of writing, going tc affect the title or
claim to aBy warrant or certificate issued. or 10 be
issued, or any land granted to be granted, under
the provisions of this act. made or executed prior
to the ISSUE shall be lull and void to all inents
and purposes whatsoever; nor shall such cer'ncdte
or warrant, or the land obtained thereby oe 10
anywise affected by, charged with, or subject TO
the payment Of any deb, o: claim Inccufr~d by
such officer soldier. prior to the issang OF The
patent: Provided, That the benefits OF this act
shall not accrue to any person who is a m-' ,b"r
of the present Congress. Propided further That
it shall be the duty Of the Commissioner of The
General Land Office under such regulations as
may be prescribed by the Secretary OF tr INTERIOR
to cause to be located free of expense. any warrant
which .he holder may transmit TO tine General
Land Offic- for that purpose IN such Stat and
land district AS the said holder or warrdatee may
designate, and upon good farming land SO lar as
the same can be asc-rtained from tn. maps. platS,
and feld-note. of the surveyor, or from any other
inform alton i'm the possession OF the local 0iflcr,
and upon the location being made as aforesaid the
Secretary shall cause patent to be- transmitted t.
such warran,ee: And prouided further, That no
patent issued under this shall br delivered upon
any power of attorney or agreement dated before
the passage Of this act, and thai all such powers
of attorney or agreements be considered a"d treat
ed as null and void.
Approved September %, 1850