The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-12-17

Notwithstanding our stringent regulations respecting
the assignment OF warrants frauds are sometimes perpe
traed and patents issued on fraudulent assignments In
such cases it has been held that this Office afford no
relief and that the only redress for the warraniees
through the proper judicial tribunals in suit for the tile
the lands located with their warrants This rs expen-
sive and may be uncertain when The holder OF the pa
tent title sells to innocent purchaser, who has
knowledge OF the fraud The examinations OF the trans
fers moreover materially retaId the issuing OF the pa
tents as nearly all of them assigned and with the
greatest frauds OF the character above mentioned
cannot always be detected.
To avoid these evils, far practicable, respect
fully recommend that act be passed by Congress
thozng this office in all 10 issue the patents 10 the
person who rendered the service or which The warrants
were granted with The provlso that the nte shall nure
the bene, OF the parties contemplated By the acts Of
Is47 and 1885, their heirs assgnees, or devsees the
case may be- The United States would thus be divesed
OF the lee in the lands, the rights OF the soldiers and
those holding under them would be secured the rule
OF capeot ernpfor" would apply IN all and the
questions connected with subsequent transfers could be
adjudicated by the courts. ln this way the landed
titles OF the country would be rendered and per-
manent, much EexatIous litigation prevented, and the
waTantees could sell and assign as usual. In the
present prosperous condition OF the country, the extent
Of the suerngs and sacrifices endured in the service for
which these warrants were granted, and the value OF
that service, almost unarprecIabe During The war
Of 1912 with England justly styled the second struggle
for Independence, our patriotic citizens, land and
water, ready al moments call 10 strike for
freedom. and shed their best blood in defence OF their
country Many OF these patriots have passed away,
Others struggling, in the autumn OF lite under pow
ery and sickness 10 obtain scanty subsistence. When
The act Of 1850 passed, length OF service appeared
the most just. II not the only criterion, by which the
tent OF the bounty should be measured. Experience,
however has since proven that many OF those whose
tual service in the field the breest endured the great
hardshps and rendered valuable services their
country. II would seem, then. 10 be just that the
liberal provision should be made for them as was ex
tended 10 the soldiers Of The regular army and that each
should receive 100 acres whether bis service was long
nra hOr OF had cen rod m md nj xUaIp
In addition to those above mentioned, warrants and
scrp have been ISSUED by the division having charge Of
the Virginia military and bounty lands under the war Of
1912. amounting to 81, ,766 acres .ssF
That division has slso been actively engaged IN nder
ing the old volumes and preparing records and ab
stacs &c. as TO be ready for the issue OF scrip TO The
holders OF Virginia military warrants, authorized by the
act of 3is August 1852 the proviso to the I'd
section Of that act shall have been complied with BY that
State .#.U ....
The execution OF this law has been devoved by you
upon the General Land Oce, and, from the experience
already had itis evident that the provso n requiring
you 10 be satisfied by revision OF the proofs or by
additional testimony, that any warrant TE.8 : sur
rendered. (under the provisions OF that sci,) fairly
and Justly issued in pursuance OF the laws Of said Com
monweafh (of virginia. for military sevices render
ed viii be exceedingly onerous this Office, and on
the holders OF the warrants and will materially re,ard
the completion Of the business undert would, there.
FORE respectfully recommend that the said proviso be
evidence that the rendered by the per
son in whose name was granted II will then be DIFF
hcultin all 10 ascertain satisfactorily who the
present propreos required by the act that the scrip
may be issued TO them .. t.trE
The extent and nature OF this business in any event,
such 10 require Increase in the number and saa
res OF the clerks employed on IT, | therefore recon-
mend that the salary OF the clerk in charge OF this branch
be increased 10 81 500 per aDnu, and that authority be
given for the employment OF two examiner at salary
OF 1900 each, and two clerks 70 write record, and in
dex the scrip, at a salary of 81 200 each,
In reference TO this branch OF be Office, beg leave 10
invite attention to the condition OF come OF the records OF
Virginia military patents for lands In Ohio, which were
prior 70 1926 Those records deficient that
certified copies OF them oi and cannot AID N
sustaining the rights OF the parties 10 whom patents were
issued they be made available IN their present
condioa by any act OF Congress. In some cases the
name OF The grantee inserted, and, IN lien OF de-
scrpon Of the land the warrant Is pasted IA, and the
whole of the latter part Of The record including the se-
natures Of the officers, is left blank. esalr sI..H
Two modes are suggesied by which these records may
be completed under authority Of act Of Cohgressone
is to call in the Original patents or duly ceft6ed eopes
of them from the records OF the counties in which the
lands are sua,ed aud TO complete the records
the other is TO epdssyor 10 complete Them from the lille
patefs on he in this Office The former woad be the
better plan in all oasss Whore II can be adopted and the