The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-10-24
The Bounty Land Bill.
DRPARrMESr OF THE INTERIOR,
h.s


The Congress Of the United States, al
It's late session, having in II spirit nf justice
and Iiberaiity passed al, &C, "granting houn.
ty land to certain officers and soldiers uhs
have heeB engaged n the military service ol
the United States" the President has es-
teemed it no less a privilege than duty to
adopt all the means in his power to give
prompt aud efficient operation to this be-
neficent measure.
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 20 guide
claimants in applying for and obtaining then
the hands of the printer. AT The carries,
practicable moment copies of these papers
will be forwarded to each member of Con-
gress, and to the clerk of the cour, of every
county in the United States,
1t will he his purpose to administer the
law in such q manner as 10 make it wha,
Congress designed it to be, bounty to the
soldier, and not 10 the agents aud specula-
tors.
The forms and the mode Of proof have
therefore been made as simple as possible,
and every facility will be afforded to appl-
cants TO establish their JUST demands.--
Clerks are now engaged in preparing from
the rolls on file certificates Of service, in Or
der that those who have not received dis
charges, or have accidentally lost them,
may not be disappointed in obtaining their
Just reward.
The policy Of this law in all its provisions
is TO discourage speculation in the claims Of
soldiers, The act provides "tha, all sales,
: mortgages, letters of attorney, or other in
struments of writing going to effect the IT,
tie or claim to any warrant hereinhefore
provided for, made or executed prior to
the issue, shall be null aud void to all in
tents and purposes whatsoever, nor shall
such certificate or warrant, or the land OBJ
tanned thereby, be in any wise affected by,
or charged with, or subject to ;he pay
ment of any debt or claim incurred BY
such officer or soldier prior to the issuing
OF the pa;ent.''
In his judgement the issue contemplated
in the body Of the above recited clause of
the law is the issue Of the patent. Conse-
guenlly all sales, transfers, assignments,
and membranes Of soldiers land claims,
made before the examination of the patents,
are void, and will be disregarded by the
Government. Spec Culators are there adj
monished that they can acquire no rights
by purchase WHICH viii be recognized by
this Department,
feel it to be my duty also to warn the
frank and con6dlng soldier against the acts
and devices of agents who will seek to ex-
aggerate The difficulties Of obtaining the
land IN order to enhance their own charges.
The evidence of service exists among the
archives of the country. In nine cases out
ot ten, the only proof required will be of
the identity Of the applicant, OF of marri-
age and widowhood, or heirship. These
are facts readily proven, and, therefore, the
difficulties will, in most cases, be merely
nominal. Aud, to remove even these slight
obstacles, and to give more full and com
plete effect TO the muniticence of the Gov.
ernment, | beg leave, respectfully, to re-
commend 10 the proper authorities of each
county and township to employ suitable
:12, :1e:2t al .aa3 Expenses of the county, to su-
pervise the preparation Of the applications
and proofs Of claimants. The ignorant and
unwary would thus be protected from i'm
position, the poor soldiers from burdens they
are not able 10 bear, and the Governmen,
from many embarrassnents which NAV re-
suit ftom the awkwa,dness Of incompetent
agents.
In conclusion, desire to say, that great
care will he used to guard against undue
preferences of one class Of applicants over
others, With this view, nj the proper.
time, sufficient number of clerks will he
least possible delay, so that all may have an
equal chance Of making advantageous ioca-
tlons. ALIEN. Ii. Ii. STUART,
-. I,ta