The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-20

L
under these laws. and have douh, ihe lss OF Con.
gess VIII thereby be relieved from numerous individual
iaplicatons Tor relief Farther legislation ~ required.
however 10 carry out successfully and properly the pro-
visions OF several existing laws.
by the act OF 27h Jnly 1912, (Stanes al Large vol.
10, pagcae7D the time Tor the and location OF war
tanis ''for military services ia the late with Great
sage OF that ACT That me further extended Tor Ave
Years by The act OF June 49, ls4s Satues Large, vol
9,rage 2i0) This time expired the 26.h June last.
and, consequently, since that period warrants o this
character cannot be located, though many oustand
ing any be issued, though merorous claims
THIS character exis No possible reason can be urged
Why this class o claims should not be placed upon the
same basis with those under Ae act oil 1850 and is
recommended that the provisions OF that law and 0f the
aci OF 2si OF March, 1884, ITO make land warrants as
sgnab|e, &c should be extended TO them. In cOnnex
ION with this subject, renew the recommendation made
ia my last report thai all for military servces.
and all patents thereon. be issued ia the OF the per-
son who rendered the services and that the TILE inufo TO
the benefit OF the hers assgnees deyisees tho case
may be Such measure would relieve u great many
cases where the claimant died before warrants issued
leaving neither widow nor minor children. to whom
alone under the law, warrants could issue N such caAes
For the given in former report. y 10 again
recommended that all persons who rendered military
vice in any war in which the United States have been
engaged since seventeen hundred and ninety. without
reference TO length Of service, be allowed AN amount OF
land which, with that pre- yiously granted would be equal
10 the quantity OF quarter section or one hundred and
sixty No,hing could be more just 10 many who
have rendered valuable services to their country, and
cheerfuy and braveiy pered their lives 10 It's deance
and nothing would probably extend more timely and
widespread relief TO most eriiorous class OF our ciiI-
Zens H4tS L5gs- N
The titles to the lots 10 the town Of SauIt Ste, Marie
have yet been finally acted upon The business OF
that land district confused and involved that
was found indispensaby necessary 10 send q special
agent, with all the returns Of sales and ocauons 10 re-
wise Us records and pa. them in order. lie was also d-
reced 10 examine into the condilioR OF The titles 70 the
town, Tor which instructions had been issued long pre-
heasd. He discharged those duties promptly and eth
GENTLY and In much shorter SPACE OF time than was
expected and finding complaints that full notice had not
been given 10 all concerned OF the action the town
lots he recommended that the evidence relative thereto
be rslurnea iof tha purpose, which was done. The
Ii is specially recommended that fire. proof building be
authorized for the protection Of the archives OF this dis
rci.
Numerous Illegal subdivisions have been made by
some Of the land officers the North west and the lands
have been sold 10 accordance with them. ~ would be
much easer to confirm these sales and subdivisions than
10 unsetle the titles BY declaring them void Legislation
10 that effect is therefore suggested. ssa.
Some of the relief laws authorize the closing and pa
tenng OF all entries below specified prices, where GER
tain amount had been paid. Many cases Inconsistent
with these laws. and provided for by them, were
closed and patented under them and Tor similar reasons
10 the foregoing, the same course is recommended.
There is subject 10 Which would specially and
earnestly call the attention OF Congress. rs the pas
sage OF act similar IN It's provisioas 10 that now exist
ing relation 10 The clerks aud others in hls otcc and
expressly nerdciing any register receiver, surveyor
general depay surveyor or any other officer who may.
~ any manner be connected with the disposal survey
OF The public aads, from making any psrchase thereof,
directly indirectly, under hs penalty, upon conviction.
of dismissal from ohce, and fine.
The reservations for naval timber have not heretofore
been profitable 10 the government, or the reason tnat
lhe laws require selections to be made BY the President
II is recommended that act be passed ipss se:o re-
serving all lands upon which such timber is found
growing; and that collectors OF pors be prohibited
der proper penaltes from granting csafancest vessels
having OF such timber except on satisfactory evl-
dence OF The locality from whence was cut, and mat
the land was private properly
The munimens of titles under the crclh system, that
existed prior 10 ls2o fast going TO decay and are con-
s,antly subject loss or destruction These should all
be recorded in books to be provided for the purpose
the of them might, and probably would lead TO
endless litigation and 10 the loss BY many ndivdualsof
their lands They are in fact the landed history OF
past generation, which could not be replaced by memory
tradition consequently should be placed where they
would be inperishahle 1t is, therefore, recommended
that this office be authorized TO do so, whenever the pres
Of o,her duties will permit
The attention Of Congress is invited 10 the imperfect
condition OF some OF The records IN tbis ohce, OF virginia
military patents issued PRIOR 10 1881 iof lands IN on'o
and the mode OF reneyiag the evil heretofore proposed
again suggested also to the proprlety oil prescribing
by legislation, suitable measures for ascera,nng and
settling the claims IN Oregon and Washington Iernorics
under the treaty with 6ea Britain Of 10Th August, lS46
The settlements IN these Territories are RAPIDLY extending
and in view Of the donations made 10 the settlers therein
indlspensaby necessary that the claims under mat
treaty should be hnaly disposed Of 10 prevent conflict o
titles and hafassng litgaton ssfs,
The numerous, and ia cases extensive, reserva-
lions. which longer required for the purposes ior
which they originally made, materially affect the
settlement and sale OF the public lands in several loca
ties There s no provision OF lay Tor tne osposa Q,
lands covered By such reservations, except tho act Of
1912 which authorizes the Secretary OF War to sell aoan
doned military reservations. The fecommendAt0n ~
therefore renewed that this Office be authorized 70 bring
such lands into narke where not improved, under the
laws regulating the sale OF the public lands and 20
dispose OF those which have been made.
under such regulations shall be approved by the Pres
dent. EaEf
The labor and difficulties experienced n adjusting the
swamp land grant, especially where lands ot t0a charac
ter have been disposed OF the passage Of the Of
September 2S 1850, induce To renew the rec0nnmsnd-
alton heretofore made, that authority be given. where
such lands have been purchased for cash. 10 pay over The
purchase money 10 the State, reinqulshnen by the
governor. other officer appointed by the Legislature ior
the purpose, of all The tight OF the State N and 70 sach
lands and where those lands have been located oy war
rants or scrip, 10 permit The State to select IKE smoun'
elsewhere and that in eilhr The tile TO the oTg-
nal purchaser or locator pass by The United States psent
Ia connexon with this subject, would also sufGeH
that provision be made that the formal certihcxes oi lhm
Office, under is seal the States, that Lists of lands
selected under the OF 9TH September, 1884, the above
mentioned swamp land act for schools, semsnasea,
&c. have been approved by the Executive. shall convey
the fee TO those States respectively suoc TO any vsHd
interfering rights Such has been the unllorm constvue
lion Of this Office but doubts have been suggested
the subject IL deemed expeden and necessary to have
such legislative action shall place that question a
The extension by the act Of 81 March last of the pre-
empon privilege 10 The alternate reserved sections along
the lines OF raroas and lands previously reserved
account Of claims urdef French. Spanish o. c<hs.
grants which have been or hereafter shall ee declared