Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-03
Washington NsWs.

RANT QUESTIONS There are many questions
in issue in the consideration of the land claims
mentioned above, by the General Land Office,
which are of great Importance to a large class
of our fellOw-citizens everywhere. These
claims originated as follows, viz Before the
Government, amounting to some 200 900, 900
acres,) Virginia set apart tract Of country
in Kentucky to satisfy the land warrants she
had agreed to issue for the satisfaction of
revolutionary claims under her obligations
In the deed of cession, this tract was held sa-
cred for this purpose; and it being thought
that it might not prove sufficient, tract in
Ohio. between the Little Miami and Sciota
rivers, was also set apart for the same purpose.
When Kentucky became State, she at once
took measures to prevent the further location
of Virginia warrants within her limits.
Whercupon there arose controversy between
her and Virginia on the subject, in which she
was improperly victorious, preventing all
further locations of the kind. This throw the
holders of the warrants wholly upon the Ohio
reservation. which was soon covered: leaving
millions of acres of such scrip without a spot
whereon to lay it. Whereupop Virginia urged
Congress to make provision for the satisfac-
ton of these warrants, as the General Govern
ment was morally bound to do, in considera
ton of the spirit of her deed Of ccssion. In
1880, Congress passed a law for the satsfac-
ton Of such warrants, and from time to time
subsequently they have followed up this policy,
making similar provision of vacant lands on
which to lay them. as circumstances required.
During the last session, the matter was finally
disposed of by an indefinite appropriation of
lands Gin amounD for the satisfaction of
all claims of this kind which had been
proved. up to the date of the enactment of the
aforementioned law. Tho holders of the un-
satisfied warrants (enough to cover perhaps 4
million of acres in all are now applying to
the General Land office for their renewal in
such form Us will authorize them to make To-
cations under them. The Land Office require
The filing of the warrant.
The filing of proof of hership.
The filing of oil papers which prove the title
of the present holder of the warrant, and also
the filing of copies of the papers on which land
bounty was allowed by the authorities of the
State of Virginia.
In making the proof above alluded to, the
following points have become the questions in
issue, viz
The extent of the revision by the General
Land Office of the decisions of the State of
Virginia.
Are supernumaries entitled?
Are staff officers entitled to bounty land adj
ditional to their lineal bounty,
Are the heirs of officers who died in service,
early in the war. entitled to bounty for the
uhoie 7rur'
What is the rank of warrant Officers in the
Virginia navy?
When did the war end
Now, the Commissioner of the Land Office
takes one view of these questions, and the
agents of the claimants take another So far,
very few of these claims have been rejected.
though many have been suspended, to allow
the claimants to make the proof on points
(technicaD on which there is little doubt that
the proof can easily be made. The matter is
clearly to end in an appeal to the Secretary
of the Interior, who we take it. will be aided
by the Attorney General in coming to deci-
sion upon it.
The SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PUBLIC
apprehend from what is said
on the avenue by the supporters Of the differ
ent applicants for the superintendancy of the
public printing, that the spirited contest for
this position is drawing to close. Some
twenty gentlemen have applied for it. various
~ qualified and recommended of course This
struggle has given rise to much elimination
and rccrimination concerning them; adding
not little to the heavy amount Of accumu-
lating testimony, showing that Office seeking is
ESSENTIALLY a very dirty business. The claims and
qualifications of these various applicants have
been subjected from all appearances, to as
severe scrutiny as has been exercised in de-
on any appointment made since
March 4th last. The symptoms around town.
after all this, point, We think, to the selection
of Mr.. - Seaman. formerly Of New York,
who has been in Office here for some time past
COMMODORE SrRINGHAM rs. COMMANDER IN
GRAHAM.-The newspapers seem maliciously
bent on transferring Commander Ingraham 5
glory bodaciously over to Commodore String
ham. We allude to the credit to which the
former is entitled for his behavior in the
recent Costa-catching affair of the Austrian
authorities in the port of Smyrna. Commo-
dore Stringham was far off from Smyrna at
the time, commander Ingraham being the
officer in charge of the sloop of war St. Louis.
We presume that the gallant Commodore will
be az much nettled on finding the press at