Litchfield enquirer., 1850-10-31
THE BOUNTY LAND BILL.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Oct. 8 1850.
The Congress of the United States, al its
last session, having in a spirit of justice
and liberality passed an act "granling
bounty land 10 certain officers and soldiers
who have been engaged in the military ser,
vice of the United StateS," the President
has esteemed il no less privilege than
duty TO adopt all The means in his power 10
give prompt and efficient operation 10 this
beneicent measure.
deem il proper. therefore, 10 announce
to those entitled 10 the benefits Of The law
that with his sanction have caused all the
necessary forms and instructions 10 guide
claimants in applying for and obtaining
their rights 10 be prepared, and they are
now in the hands of the printer. At the
earliest practicable moment copies of these
papers will be forwarded 10 each Member of
Congress. and to The Clerk Of tho Court Of
every County in the United States.
Ii will be his purpose 10 administer the
law in such manner as TO make il what
Congress designed it 10 be, bounty to the
soldier, and not 10 agents and Spectators.
The fol ms and the modes of proof have
therefore been made as simple as possible.
and every facility will be afforded 10 appli-
cants to establish their just demands
Clerks are now engaged in preparing from
the rolls on file certificates of service in
| order tina; those who have not received dis
| charges, or have accidenlly LOST them, may
not be DISAPPOINTED in obtain ing their Just
reward.
The policy of this law is in all its provis>
ions to discourage speculation IN the claims
| OF soldiers. The act provides "lhat all
| titles, mortgages, letters OF attorney or other
instruments of writing going to effect The
sale or claim of any warrant hereinbefore
provided for. made or executed prior 10 the
issue. shall be null and void 10 all inlents
and purposes whatsoever, nor shall such
! certificate or warrant, Or the land obta ined
| thereby, be any wise affected by, or charged
with, Or subject 10 the payment of any debt
or claim incurred by such officer or soldier
prior 10 the issuing { f the patent.
In his judgement The issue contemplated
| in the body Of the above recited clause of
the law is the issue Of the patent. Conse>
| quenty all sales, lransft rs, assign ments and
membranes of soldiers land claims, are
void, and will be d.sregarded by the Gov
ernmenl. Spectators are therefore ads
| mOniShed that they can acquire no rights
y PNiSMooS "AAOA VIII VIC ASSOSuiZcu ny
the Department
l feel it my duty TO warn the frank and
co nfiding soldier against the acIs aud de-
vices OF agents who will seek to exagger-
ate the difficulties of obtaining the land in
order to enhance their own charges. The
evidence Of service Exists among the archi-
YES of the country. In nine cases out of
len the only proof required will be of the
identity of the applicant, or of marriage
and widowhood, or he'rship. These are
facts readily proven and therefore. the diffi>
culties will in most eases be merely nominal
And 10 remove even these slight obstacles
and 10 give more full and complete effec
TO the munihcence of the Government,
beg leave, respectfully. to recommend to
the proper authorities Of each county and
township to employ suitable agent, al the
expense OF the county, to supervise the prep
aration of the applications and proofs of
claimants. The ignorant and unwary
would thus be protected from imposition,
the poor soldiers from burdens they are un {.
able TO beat, and the Government tom
many embaErassments which may result
from the awkwardness of incompetent
agents.