Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-10-18
Bounty Lands 10 Soldiers, WI
served i'm any Of the VIZ
since 1880.

Among the Acts passed at the Sc
of Congress just closed was the fol
ing, which interests very many perso
1t is transcript from the official copy:
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives. Of the United
States of .4aerica, an Congress assem-.
bled, That each Of the surviving, or the
widow or minor chiieren of the deceased
commissioned and non-commissioned Of
ficers, musicians, or privates, whether of
regulars, volunteers. rangers or militia,
who performed military service in any
regiment, company, or detachment in the
service of the United States, in the war
with Great Britain, declared by the u.
States on the 18th day OF June, 1912,
or in any of the Indian wars since 1890,
and each of the commissioned officers
who was engaged in the military service
of the United States in the late war with
Mexico, shall be entitled to lands, as
follows:
Those who engaged to serve twelve
months, or during he war, and actually
served nine months. shall receive one
hundred aud sixty acres; and those who
engaged to serve six months, and actually
served four months, shall receive eighty
acres; and those who engaged TO serve
FOR any, or an indefinite period. and act
ually served one month, shall receive
forty acres: Provided, That wherever
an officer or soldier was honorably dis
charged in consequence of disability il
the service before the expiration of his
period of service, he shall receive the "a
mount to which he would have been en-
titled had he served the full period for
which he would have been entitled had
he served the full period for which he
had engaged to serve: Provided, The
persons so having been in service shall
no, receive saiG lands, or any part there
OF, il it shall appear by the muster rolls
of his regiment or corps tina. he deserted,
or was dishonorably discharged for SER
vice, or if he has received, or is entitled
to any military land bounty under any
act o! Congress heretofore passed.
SEC. 2. find be it further enacted.
&C., That the period during which any
officer or soldier may have remained in
captivity with the enemy shall be esti-
mated and added to the period OF his
actual service, and the person SO detain-
ed in captivity shall receive land under
the provisions of this act in the same
manner that he would be entitled, in case~-
he had entered the service for the whole
term made up by the addition of the time
of his captivity, and had served during
such term.
SEC. 3. find be IL farther enacted,
&C., That each commissioned and non
commissioned officer, musician and pri-
vate, for whom provision is made by the
first section hereof, shall receive a GER
tificate, or warrant, from the Department
of the Interior for the quantity of land
to which he may be entitled, and which
may be located by the warranty. or his
heirs at law, at any land Office in the
United States, in one body, and in con-
formisy TO the legal subdivisions Of the
public lands in such districts, then sub
ject to private entry; and upon the re-
evidence of the location thereof having
been legally made, 10 the General Land
Office, patent shall be issued therefor.
La he event Of the death of any com
missioned or non commissioned officer,
musician, or private, prior or subsequent
10 the passage Of this act, who shall nave
served as aforesaid, and who shall not
nave received bounty land for sad SER
ices, a like certificate or warrant SHAH
be issued in favor and enure 10 the bene-
NJ OF his widow, who shall receive one
hundred and sixty acres OF land, in case
her husband was killed in battle, ba; not
her heirs. Prou.del, She is unmarried
at the date OF her application. Proui-
del, further, Ina! no land warrant H.
sued under the provisions of this act
shall be laid upon any land of the United
States to which there shall be a pre-
emption right, or upon which there shalt
be an actual settlement and cultivation,
except with the consent. of such settler,
to be satisfactorily proven TO the proper
land officer.
SEC. 4. find be 1t further enacted,
&C., That all sales, mortgages, letters OF
attorney, or other instruments OF writing
going to affect the title or claim to any
warrant or certificate issued, or any land
granted. or to be granted, under the pro-
visions of this act, made or executed
prior TO The Issue, shall be null and void,
TO all intense and purposes whatsoever;
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 in
Cured by such officer. or soldier, prior
to the issuing of the patent: Provided,
That the benefits of this act shall not
accrue to any person who is member
of the present Congress: Provided fur
fher, That it shall be the duty of the
of the General Land Of :
flee, under such regulations as may be
prescribed by the Secretary of the Inte-
rior, TO cause to be located, free of ex-
pense, any warrant which the holder
may transmit TO the General Land Office
for the purpose, in such State and land