Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-10-18

Correspondence of the Baltimore Sun.
The Bouaty Land Bill in Full Force
Land Bouafy C2aims---U. S. Ge-
oiogisf's Report, &c.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2.
The Secretary of the Interior was
engaged this morning in drawing up in
structions relative TO the execution Of the
general land bounty bill. The official
copy of the act has no, yet been COM
municated to the pension office, and the
numerous applicants were informed that
nothing would be done in the business
to-day. noticed statement in the
Baltimore papers that the PresiJen, had
suspended the execution Of the act until
the meeting Of Congress, bu, this is not
so. The President signed the act on
Saturday night. He might, it is true.
have pocketed the act, and given his
reasons at the next session for his course.
But this he did mol do, aud the act is in
full force, and will take effect as soon as
constructions and instructions are devil
sed and promulgated. The clerical o.
mission of certain words, which was
supposed to remove all restrictions on
assignments of land warrants or claim S
FOR warrants, cannot, upon fair con-
struciion, so alter the actas to defeat the
restriction. Such construction will be
given TO the fourth section as will carry
out the intention of Congress, and, be-
sides, if the second clause of the 4th
section be referred to, it will be seen
that the restriction is there fully enfor-
ced. There is, therefore no way in
which persons can legally ALLEVIATE their
claims TO land bounty, and they must
wait till they get the patent for the land
before they can deprive themselves OF
any interest in it. If they are Disposed
to be improvident of their bounty, they
must show it after and not before they
get the patent. How those who are al
distance from the seat of government,
and those who are poor and illiterate and
unacquainted with their rights or the
mode of proving service, especially
where the discharge has been lost, can
establish their claims to land warrant,
without employing an agent, does moi
appear. /, does appear, however, that
they cannot, in consideration OF any
such service, give lien upon their claim
or warrant.
The government, as it deprives the
claimant of the usual means of awaiting
himself OF his rights, ought to provide
thatsevery officer and soldier, who is lc-
gally entitled to warran, under the act,
should be hunted up by government,
agents, at public expense, and then alfir-
med his land patent, or its value to the
United States in money. But TO ona
half of the persons interested the offer
of COVE nment bounty, under this act, is
mere mockery.
am glad to see that the third auditor
Mr.. Gallaher, has refused all applica
lions for a partial PRONUNCIATION OF the
names of The officers and soldiers ent-
tied under the act. Let the government
give the information to everybody or 10
nobody.
notice that the land bounty claims,
under the act Of February, lSf7, are
officially estimated TO numbe. 100, 900,
of which SO 900 have been presented.
This would show how clean the agents
have swept the platter. This act gave
an option TO The soldier of Treasury
certificate of 500. But. generally. The
putents " ere above that value in market,
and only 1920 certificates for 800
each were issued, only two and a quarter
per cent. on the mass of claims. This
would demonstrate the ivast demand for
public lands and the folly Of reducing lis
price, orgiving away SO valuable a source
of public revenue.
The third part iof the documents ac-
companying the Presidents message is
an interesting report by Mr.. Jackson
United States Geologist, of the Geolog-
ical and meteorological survey OF the min
eral lands of Michigan. 1t discloses
another vast source of commerce and
wealth to the United States in The Lake
Superior region. ION,
The Intelligencer, received last even
ing, contains the official publication OF
the Bounty Land law-so that i would
seem that it is not to be suspended by
action OF the President. Probably, the
suggestion of .'lon,' as to the construc-
lion to be put upon it, is regarded as. suf-
ficient 10 protect the soldier from the
Speculation.