The Empire County argus., 1854-10-28
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
TPublic. No. 5l.1

lEuDllc, NJ. Ol
AN ACT to ascertain and dust the titles to certain lands
in the State of Indiana.
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House Of Representatives.
of the. United States Of lmc'ca an Congress assembled
That the register and receiver of the land Office Vincen
nes together with fit and proper person learned in the
law and citizen of Indiana to be appointed by the Pres
dent the United States, hereby constituted commits
sioners to ascertain and adjust the title of any claimant
any tract of land any part subdivision thereof
ted by the resolve ofCongess of the twenynnth Of An.
gust hundred and eghyeght and the act Of
the third of March, seventeen hundred and ninetone,
titled IAN act for granting lands to the inhabitants and
settlers Vincenncs, and the Illinois country in the terri
tory northwest of the Ohio and for confirming them in their
posession and several acts in aid Of and supplementary
thereto.
SEC 2 And be further enacted, That every such clai-
any tract Of land so granted Or any part subd
vision thereof sh" within SIX months after the pubca-
writing with the said register in which he shall specifeal
y forth such facts shall be required in the nstruo
tions Of the Commissioner of the General Land Office
SEC 3 Amd be ii further enacted, That such register.
upon the receipt of such instructions shall give notice BY
vicinity of the said lands Of his readiness torccevc appca-
ons of claimants to which notice shall be attached the in
sructions of the said Commissioner.
SEC 4 And be further enacted. That such commissions
ers shall Immediately after the time for filing such
claims and shall hold their sessions at the town of vncen
mes They shall have power compel the attendance Of
witnesses administer all necessary oaths and to hear and
decide in summary way all matters respecting such claims
Minutes of the proceedings decisions meetings, and ad-
the register in book kept for that purpose, together with
the evidence adduced in each particular case which
SEC. And be 1t further enacted, That every claimant
tract of land granted any part or subdivision
thereof who produce to such commissioners regular
chain of title from the original conrmee to himself who
can show to their satisfaction continuous and connected
possession in himself and those under whom he claims for
period of twenty years next preceding the filing
of his claim, show such claim title would in
the courts of Indiana bar action ofejectmen such clai
mant shall be confirmed in his title.
SEC 6. And be 1t further endcted That said commits
sioners SHALL before the first day of September eg
teen hundred and ftyfve transmit to the Commissioner of
Il, and of tnnIr in
favor of claimants, which shall contain fair of
the evidence which each respective claim is founded ;
and also transcript of their decisions against claimants
with like statement of the evidence and the such
rejection
SEC. And be further enactcd That the Commissioner
of the General Land Office. upon the receipt of such tran
script shall issue patent to each claimant confirmed in
his title by the said commissioners and where any such
claims have been rejected the said Comm ssoner upon APP
pcaon of the proper person. shall have power to revise
such decisions of the said board and may if in his opinion
the evidence warrants it, such decision and issue
patent therefore to such claimant Pr0ridcd That this
right revise shall extend those claims rejected
where the same lands have been confirmed by the said board
to other claimant: And rOUided further, That the
patents issued shall only be REIMBURSEMENT of the title
of the United States and shall not be construed into
abridgment of the rights of third persons
SEC Aad be further cndctd, That the commissioner
appointed by the President shall receive compensation of
eight dollars per day for each and day he may be
gagged in the discharge of the duties imposed by this
and the register and receiver shall receive such compensa-
on for their services may be just and proper in the dis
creou of the Commissioner of the General Land Office.
SEC And be 1t fnther enacted. That it shall be the
duty of the Commissioner of the General Land Office to
prescribe such rules and regulations may be necessary to
give full effect to the provisions of this act.
Approved July q, 1854