The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-09
ggrcgates a,lo6, ,9o8.77 ,o6i OI7 30 lO5 ssl 4s

Thus it will be perceived that the grants made
by this act have been nearly closed in several of the
Statcs, and special efforts are now making 10 com
petc those in all the other States In some particu
arly in Florida, this contamination has been pre-
vented by the difficulty in completing the location
OF "private claims, as II was impossible, in many
portions Of country in which sclcctions have been
made by the State, " distinguish public from pr-
yatc lands, till those claims were located, and, Of
course, until that time definite action could be
had in the estate selections" like difficulty has
been experienced in bringing the business connect
cd with claims in Florida, under the aTIned occu-
paton act,' 70 termination. AS most OF the pm
yatc elaine" have been located, as already men
toned, the State selections and cascs arising
der the EARNED occupation act" will be disposed of
rapidly possible.
The several grants 10 the State of Indiana for the
construction Of the Wabash aud Eric Canal,
amounting 20 about 400, 600 acrcs, have all been
scccted the ands certified to the State, and closed
upon the books of this Office. The same may be
said respecting the grant to Wisconsin for the I'M
provement of the Nisconsin and Fox rivers, and
the conncxuJn ol those streams by a canal, made
by the act Of Sth August 1876 except that portion
west of Fox river within the recent ccssion by the
Mcnomonics, which has not yet been surveyed. An
intricate and laborious branch Of our land opera
tons is that charged win the examination and pre-
prfatiOn OF grants for claims 10 land resting upon
TITLES DERIVED rROM rORgIoN GOVERNMENTS, AND
poNATtoNs LANDS UNDER LAWS OF THE UNITED
STATES, connected with which IL the issuing Of Pa
tents for ISDtAT RESERVATIONS. In lcgislsting
from carly period Of our national existence for
tho survey and sale Of the ''PUBLtC LANDS" Of the
United Statcs Congress anticipated the necessity,
and accordingly then commenced making provi-
sion by law for the recognition aud adjustment Of
titles which had been derived from foreign govern
ments.
Il was the policy Of Great Britain, France, and
Spain In the cement Of their colonial affairs,
20 exercise. upon most extensive scalo, the power
Of granting away the royal domain, in many in
stances in immense bodice, bu' generally in mod
crate quantities, 20 promote md advance tho settle
mCnt Of the country.
In thia way millions upon millions Of acres in
the aggregate, have been conceded to individuals,
aud 10 that extent the public lands were encum-
bcrcd when tho United States acquired title to the
same in virtue Of diiTt rent treaties.
BY the laws Of nations and terms Of the treaties
Of cossion, IL became incumbent upon US to recog-
mise and respect all bona do grants Of tis oharac
ter, and in regard them, TO carry into full effect
and in liberal and just spirit, tho intentions Of our
predecessors in sovereignty.
The various classes Of titles Of this description,
which have been designated, aud arc known
~ "Privato Land Claims" have bCcn the subject
Of successive general aud special Legislative enact
ments, through long series Of ycsrs, rcachiug 10
the last session Of Congress inclusive, and now Of
Themselves constitute a complete system
They have been adjudcated from time to timc
through tho instrumcntality Of boards Of comtnis-
siouers OF The recorders Of land tlos Of the United
States district and territorial courts and by the Su
prcpo Court ofthe United States ON appeal. In the
investigation and adjustment OF those ttlos, tho
lave, gcs, and customs Of the British, French,
and Spanish Governments, into the nature and cH
tent Of the power Of tho granting officers and their
subordinates, such as governors general intendcnts
general licutcnant- governors, or ub-delegates,
military commandsnts and surveyors; and Ia the
examination OF this class Of htes numerous intri-
cate and interesting questions have arisen before
tho courts of the United States, and have been iu
dioially decided, some of grave moment, involving
high interests, both national and individual
This SYSTEM then, rests upon the lsws, usages,
| and customs, in granting and surveying, Of the
sovcregntes alluded to-upon numerous general
and spccisl laws Of the United States-upon deoi-
sons Of boards Of commissioners and other officers
upon the decisions and DEGREES Of the ia erOr judi
cia tribunals, aud Of the Supreme Court Of the Uni
/ ted States.
In advancing and gradually extending our sur
veys Of the Public lands, in order 10 sell and dis.
pose Of tho in conformity TO tire will Of Con
grcss, this private land claim system has
rily been invoked, and has operated in scvering
and setting apart from the national domain, and IN
perecting the evidence OF titles to private indiyid-