Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-03-29
THE GRAND RIVER TIMES.
w GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN.
WEDNESDAY EVENING. MARCH 90 1854.


TAXATION OF LANDS ENTERED WITH MILITIA
RY Bounty LAND WARRANTs.-The opinion
has been somewhat prevalent that lands entered
with Assigned Military Bounty Land Warrants,
issued for services rendered in the war Of 1912.
are exempt from taxation for three years from
date of tho patents, and in some parts of our
county such lands have not, for that reason, been
subjected to taxation. This opinion is errone-
Gus, and grows out ola wrong Interpretation of
one of the conditions or stpulations in the Or
dinance of July 25th, 1886 Gratifying the acts of
Congress admitting this State into the Union),
and which is in tho following language:
"That the bounty lands granted or hereafter to
be granted for military services during the late
war, shall, while they continue to be held by the
patentees or their heirs, remain exempt from any
tax laid by order or under the authority of the
State, whether for State, County, Township or any
other pupose for the term of three years from and
after the date of the patents respectively"
When this Ordinance of our State was passed
these warrants were not assignable, but since
that time they have been made so by legislation
of Congress, and those who have located lands
with assigned warrants have claimed that ex-
emption to which the original parties would
have been entitled. But this claim to exemp-
ton does not prove valid. Where such lands
have been taxed within the three years, sale
for the taxes taken place, and application made
to the Auditor General to set aside the sale on
the ground alone that the assignee is entitled
to this exemption, that officer has refused to do
SO, but has decided that lands located with the
assigned warrants are subject to assessment,
levy and sale for taxes, the same as other lands.
The exemption in question he holds 10 be
personal privilege bestowed upon the warriors
of 1872 and their heirs, which is not assignable
and does not run with the land, and which could
not by any subsequent act of Congress, with
out the assent Of the State, be extended to
class of persons not in existence, and whose
existence was rot even contemplated, at The
time the Ordinance was adopted.
Our attention has been directed to this SUBJ
ect by an able article in the State Journal, which
gives a convincing calculation of the Auditors
views on this subject, and we alude to the mat
ter thus seasonably for the purpose of giving
the true doctrine currency before another as
sessment is taken.
Whatever may be the views of individuals as
TO the correctness Of the Auditor Generals de-
cision, it is, nevertheless, binding. He is vested
by law with judicial power TO cancel all or any
tax deeds. That power is conclusive, and when
he exercises it there is no other resort than ac-
quiescence.
New HAMPSHIRE ELECTIoN-The latest re-
ports from New Hampshire do not exactly cor.
roborate those first received. For several days
it was generally believed that the Wings and
Free Sellers had succeeded in electing MAORI
ty Of Representatives TO the State Legislature
A sound of exultation over supposed "oppo-
sition" victory consequently went forth, and the
cause for an effect that never had an existence,
was made theme for several grand eypostions
on the part of anti-Administration Presses.
We have not yet received complete returns
from New Hampshire, but we have learned
enough to convince us that, all things consider
ed, brilliant Democratic triumph has been
achieved. A Democratic Governor has been
elected by a decided majority. The Council is
Democratic. OF the twelve Senators at least
eight are Democrats and we now have it re-
ported that 100 Democratic Representatives
have been elected to only las opposition.
We again say that, all things considered,
brilliant Democratic triumph has been achieved.
The majority for Governor may be 5000 less
than last year. But it must be remembered that
most desperate exertons were, at this election,
made to carry the State against the Administra.
ton. Two U. s. Senators were to be chosen
by the Legislature to be elected and this created
an unusual interest. Every effort was used to
make the Nebraska question party issue to
the disadvantage of the Democracy This was
the more easily done from the fact that both of
the N. II. Senators voted in favor of the Ne
braska bill, and from the belief generally enter
tanned that an anti-Democratic victory in New
Hampshire would have decided influence on
the action of the House of Representatives.
AS was to be expected the opposition hoped for
success. They polled full vote, and used ev-
cry possible means to spread disaffection among
the Democratic ranks. The result, if our intel
igence proves correct, is quite as favorable as
we expected and has not shaken, but has con-
firmed our faith in the stability of the Demo-
cratic party That a more marked effect even,