The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-10-18
THE BOUNTY LAND BILL.
DEPARTMENT uF Tpg INTERIOR. !
n,,l,or . ISS0

It's late scssinn, having in split "f jas.
Iice aud lihorality passed an act grant
ing bounty land to certain officers and sol
diers who have hcen engaged in the nil
iiaIy service Of tho United States the
President has esteemed it no less pi'g
llege than duiy to adopt all the means
in his power I" give prnmrt aud efficient
operation to this hencd ent measure.
deem itp'opcr, theref'ne. 10 announce
to those entitled tu the benefits ni the law,
that with bis sanction | have caused all
the necessary f"Ims and instructions Il"
guide claimants in applying for aud "5
iaining their rights to be prepared. aud
they nie nov in the hards "flhe printer
At the earliest practicable moment copies
Of these papers will be forwarded to each
member of Congress, aud TO the clerk Of
the couit Of every county III the United
States
1t will he his purpose to administer the
law in Surh mar,ner as 1" make II what
Congress designed il IN be. a bounty To
the soidicr. aud not to agents and spccn
laturs.
The forms and the mode IF prn"f have
therefore been made ns simple as posi-
bile, and every facility will be afforded To
sppIicapls 10 establish the Just demands
Clerks are NOW engaged in preparing
from lhe rolls on file, certificates OF ser
vice, in older that those who have not re-
ceivrd discharges, or have accidently lost
them, may n he disappointed in obtain
ing their just reward.
The policy of this hw in all its proNls
ions 10 to discourage speculation in the
claims 0f soldiers The act provides "thnI
all sales. m rtgages. letters of attorney.
or either instruments of writing going To
n1Irct the ale ~ claim to any wurrant
hereinbefore provided for, made or exc
cnfed prior to the issue. shall be null and
void 10 all inlepts uud purposes whaisoev
or, nor shall such certificate or warrant
or the land obtained thereby, be in any
wise affected by. or charged with. "r sub
ject to the payment of any debt or claim
incurred by such 'fficrr or soldier plior to
issuing nflhe patent"
In his Judgment lhe issue conlempa'
ted nthe body oflho above reciied clnuse
of ,hs law is the issue ofthe patent. Con
sequently all sales. transfers. assignments
aud membranes Of soldiers land claims
made before the emanation of the patents
are void, and will be discharged by the
government. Spectators are therefore
admonished that they can acquire NJ
rights by purchase which will be recog
nized by this department.
feel it my duty also To warn The frank
and con6ding soldier against The acts aud
devices nf agents who will seek I" exag'
verate tho difficulties of obtaining the
land in nrder To enhance THEFT own cIarg
es. The evidence nI service exists among
the archives nfhe county, In nine case
ont Of ten the only prouf required will be
Of tho identity uflho applicant. or Of mar
riage aud widowhond. orhership, Thes'
are facts readily proven, and, therefore
the difTicuItics will. in most cases, be
merely nominal. And. to o'remove eve'
thrse slight obstacles. aud to give mnr'
full and complete effect lolhe munhcenc'
of tho government beg leave respect
fully, To recommend to the proper author
IiIios of each county and township To crn
pluy suitable agent, at the expense o
the county. Ia supervise the preparation
oflheapplications and proofs of claimants
The ignorant aud unwary would thus be
protected IRON imposition, the poor sol
ders from burdens they are not able Ia
boar. and the governmen; from many EN-
harrassmcnls which may result from the
awkwardness oi incompetent agents.
In conclusion.l desire To that great
care will he used to guard against undue
preference Of ono class ofapplicants oven
others. With this view, at II proprrtme
sufficient number Of clerks will be EN-
ployed 10 issue the certificates with the
least possible DELAY, so that all may have
an equal chance of making advantageous
luca,iuus ALEX. II. Fl. STUART.
Secretary oflhe Interior.