Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-10-24

thereby, be in any way affected by, or chars.
ed with, or subject 10 the payment Of any
debt or claim incurred by such officer or SOL |
der prior 10 the issuing of the patent. Pro
rided, That the benefits of this act shall NOT |
accrue 10 any person who is member OF
the present Congress: Prorided, further, |
Iha! II shall be the duty of The Commission.
er OF the General Land Office, under such
regulations as may be prescribed by The Sec.
relary OF the Inferior to cause 10 be located.
Tree OF expense, any warrant which the hold
er may transmit 10 the General Land Office
Tor that purpose, in such State and land dis
trict as the said holder or warrantee may de-
slgnate, and upon good farming land, so far
as The same can be ascertaned from the
maps, plats and field notes of the surveyor
or from any other information in the posses
sion OF the local Office: and upon the location
being made, us aforesaid, the Secretary shall
cause patent to he transmitted to such
WARRANTED; And proridcd further, That no
patent issued under this act shall be delivers
ed upon any power of attorney or agreement
dated before the passage of this act; and that
all such powers OF attorney or agreements be
considered and treated as null and void.
CIRCULAR RELATING TO THE BOUN-
TY LAND BILL.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
October 3, 1850.
The Congress Of the United States, at its
last session having in spirit of justice and
liberallty passed an act granting bounty
land 10 certain officers and soldiers who have
been engaged in the military service of the
United States the President has esteemed
II no less privilege Than duty To adopt all
the means IN his power TO give prompt aud
efhcient operation to this benehcent meas
ure.
l deem 1t proper, therefore, to announce 10
those entitled 10 the benefits of the law, that
with his sanction have caused all the nec-
essary forms and instructions to guide claim
ants 10 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 for
warded 10 each Member of Congress, aud to
the Clerk of the Court Of every County in the
United States.
II will be his purpose to administer The
law IN such manner as to make il what
Congress designed it TO be, bounty 10 the
soldier, and not TO agents and spectators.
The forms and the modes OF proof have
therefore been made as simple as possible.
and every facility will he afforded to appl,-
cants TO establish their just demands. Clerks
are now engaged in preparing from the rolls
on file certificates OF service in order thai
those who have no. received discharges, or
have accidentally lost them, may not be dis
appointed in obtaining their just reward.
The policy OF this law in all IT'S provisions
is to discourage speculation in the claims OF
soldiers. The act provides that all sales,
Late II.
strumenis of writing going 10 effect The title
or claim OF any warrant herein before pro-
vided for. made or executed pr 10 the is
sue, shal II be null and void to all intents and
purposes whatsoever, nor shall such cerliti-
cate Or warrant, or the land obtained thereby
be in any wise affected BY, or charged with
or subject to the payment Of any debt or
claim incurred by such officer or soldier pri-
or to the issuing of the patent
1n his judgment The issue contemplated in
the body OF the above recIted clause Of the
law is the issue Of the patent. Consequently
all sales, transfers, assignments and Incum>
brances of soldiers land claims, are void, and
will be disregarded by the Government
Spectators are therefore admonished that
they can acquire no rights by purchase
which will lie recognized by this Depart
ment.
feel it to be my duty TO warn the frank
and con6dlDg soldier against tile acts and de.
vices of agents who will seek to exaggerate
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 of ten the only |
proof required will be OF the identity of the |
applicant, or of marriage and wIdowhood, or
heirshp. These are facts readily proven
and therefore, the difficulties will, in most
cases, be merely nominal. And 10 remove
even these slight obstacles, and 10 give more |
full and complete effect to the nuni6cence
of the Government. beg leave, respectfully,
to recommend 10 the proper authorities OF
each county and township to employ suit
able agent at the expense of the county, 10
supervise the preparation of the applications |
and proofs of claimants. The ignorant and |
unwary would thus be protected from impo-
are unable to bear, and the Government from
many embarrassments which may result
from the awkwardness of incompetent a.
gents.
In conclusion, desire TO say that great
care will be used to guard against undue
preferences of one class Of applicants over
others. With this view, at the proper time,
a sufficient number of clerks will be employ
ed TO issue the certificates with the least pos
sibe delay, so that all may have an equal
chance OF making advantageous locations.
ALEX. H. Ii. STUART.
Secretary Of the Interior