The Empire County argus., 1854-11-04
OtINHINNL
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES
tPublic, No. 51.l

tPublic, No. 51.l
AN ACT to ascertain and adjust the titles to certain lands
in the State of Indiana.
Be enacted By the Senate ard House of Reyyseutot,re,
of the United States of Aniercd in Congress assembled
That the register and receiver Of the land office at Vncen
together with fit and proper person learned in the
law and citizen of ndiana to he appointed by the Pres
ident of the United States hereby constituted commits
sioners ascertain and Just the title of any claimant to-
any tract of land or any part or subdivision Thereof
ted by the resolve ofCongess OF the twehyninh of Au-
gust seventeen hundred and eghtyeg and the act of
the third of March, seventeen hundred and ninety
titled IAN for granting lands to the inhabitants and
settlers at Vincennes. and the Illinois country In the
tory northwest of the Ohio and for confirming he their
possessions, and several acts in aid Of and supplementary
thereto.
SEC 2. And be further enactcd That every such cla-
mant to any tract Of land granted part or ubd
vision thereof SHALL within six months after the bablcas
ton of the notice hereafter provided for file his claim i
writing with the said register in which he shall specca
set forth such facts shall be required in the nstruc
tions of the Commissioner of the General Land Office
the reesp &c Of . such sbn gye s%eh regster
publication in some newspaper general circulation he
vicinity of the said lands of his readiness receive appca
tons of claimants to which notice shall be attached the in
structiOns of the said Commissioner.
SEC 4 and be 1t further enacted, That such commission
shall meet Immediately after the time for filing such
claims and shall hold their sessions the town of Vncen
They shall have power to 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
ourments of the said board shall be regularly entered by
the register book kept for that purpose together with
the evidence aduced in each particular casc upon which
their decisions may have been made
SEC And be 1t further enacted, That every claimant
to any tract of land granted part subdivision
thereof who produce to such commissioners regular
chain of title from the original confnee to himself who
show to their satisfaction continuous and connected
possession in himself and those under whom he claims
period of twenty next preceding the filing
of his claim. show such claim title would in
the courts of Indiana bar action ofeectment such ca
mant shall be confirmed in his title.
SEC And be 1t further enocted. That said commits
sioners shall before the first day of September egh
teen hundred and fftyve transmit to the Commissioner of
the General Land ice transcript Of their decisions in
favor of claimants which shall contain fair statement of
the evidence which each respective claim is founded
and also transcript of their decisions against claimants
rejection
SEC And be further enacted. That tho Commissioner
of the General Land Office upon the receipt of such
script shall issue patent to each claimant confirmed in
claims have been rejected the said Commissioners upon a-
pcaton of the proper person. shall have power revise
such decisions of the said board and may if in his opinion
the evidence warrants it, reverse such dccisOn and issue
patent therefore to such claimant ProridCd That this
right to revise shall not extend to those claims rejected
to some other claimant: .4d worMed further, That the
patents issued shall only b REIMBURSEMENT of the title
of the United States. and shall not be construed into
abridgment of the rights of third persons
SEC AHd he fhtcr O1ctci. That the commissioner
appointed by the President shall receive compen sutton of
gagged in the discharge Of the duties imposed by this act
and the register and receiver shall receive such
or fo hei services. may be just and proper in the dis
cIeio: of the Commissioner of the General Land Office
EC AHd be further rnacted, That it shall be the
duty of he Commissioner Of the General Land Office
prescribe such rules and regulations may be necessary
give full effect to the provisions Of this act
Approved July a. 1854