Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-10-14
Official.
THE BOUNTY LAND BILL.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTER 1oR,

IMPAIRMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
October 3, 1850. s
The Congress Of the United States, at its late
session, having, in spirit Of justice and berali,y,
passed an act, 'granting bounty land to certain Of
hcers and soldiers who have been engaged in the
military service of the United States,'' the Pres
ident has esteered it no less privilege than
duty to adopt all the means in his power to give
prompt and efficient operation to this benefcent
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 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.
1t will be his purpose to make it what Congress
designed 1t to be, bounty to the soldier and not
TO agents and spectators. The form and the
mode Of proof have, therefore, been made as sim
pie as possible, and every facility will be afforded
10 applicants 10 establish their just demands.-
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 not be disappointed in
obtaining their just reward
The policy of this law is to discourage specu-
lation in the claims of soldiers. The act provides
<'that all sales, mortgages letters of attorney, and
other instruments of writing going TO affect the
title or claim to any warrant herein before provd-
cd for, made or executed prior to the issue, shall
be null and void to all intents and purposes what
soever, 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 SOL
der prior to the issuing of the warrant"
In his judgment the issue contemplated in the
body of the above rected clause of the law is the
issue Of the patent Consequently all sales, trans
fers, assignments and membranes of soldiers
land claims, made before the emanation of the pat
ents, are void, and will be disregarded by the
Government. Spectators are therefore adtnon-
ished that they can acquire no rights by purchase
which will be recognised by this Department.
feel it to be my duty, also, to warn the frank
and conhding soldier against the arts and devices
of agents, who will seek to exaggerate the difficult
ties of obtaining the land in order to enhance
their own charges.
The evidence OF service exists among the ar
ehives of the country. In nine cases out of ten
the only proof required will be of the identity of
the applicant, or of the marriage and widowhood
or heirship. These are facts readily proven, and
therefore the difficulties will, in most cases, be
only nominal. And to remove even these slight
obstacles, and to give more full and complete eff
feet to the munihcence of the Government, beg
leave respectfully to recommend to the proper au-
thorities of each county and township to employ
suitable agent, at the expense of the county, to
supervise the preparation of the applications and
proofs of claimants. The ignorant and unwary
would thus be protected from imposition, the poor
soldiers from burdens they not able to bea land
the government from many embarrassments which
may result from the awkwardness of incompetent
SCENTS.
In conclusion, l desire to say that great care
will be used to guard against undue preferences of
one class of applicants over others. With his
view, at the proper time. sufficient number of
clerks will be employed to issue the certificates
with the least possible delay, SO that all may have
sD equal chance of making advantageous locations
ALEX. H. H. STUART,
Secretary of the Interior,