The Kansas herald of freedom., 1854-10-21
General 1pteijigepce.
Title to Lands.

/
| The question is frequently asked ua
"How do the settlers in Kansa: expect ID
secure titles TO their lands, since Govern
ment has not Yet organned the territory
t for settlement" The best answer We can
give is BY quoting a code of laws adopted
at meeting Of the 9 Actual Settlers" held
at the house Of Mr. Miller in Millersburgh
in said Territory, on the 18th of August
last. Public notice had been given Of the
proposed meeting, and it was very well
attended. They adopted the name of the
Mutual Settlers Association Of Kansas
Territory. The following is their code,
which every person in the Territory will
see enforced, until the Government shall
superspde the necessity of the organiza
ton by action of their own =
WHEREAS, The laws of the United
States confer upon citizens the privilege OF
settling and holding lands by pre-emption
right; and whereas, the Kansas valley, in
part, is now open for the location of such
claims and whereas; We, the people of
.his Convention, have and are about 10 Sc
feet homes in this valley. and IN order TO
protect the public good, and to secure
equal justice to all, We solemnly agree and
bind ourselves to be governed by the fol-
lowing ordinances:
l. We recognize the right of every cit
izen of the United States, of lawful age,
or who may be the head of a family, to
select, mark and claim, 240 acres of land,
viz: 100 acres of prairie and so acres of
timber land, and who shall within so days
after the treaty is ratified proceed to erect
thereon cabin or such other improve
ments as he may deem best and shall,
within so days after the ratification of the
treaties, enter thereon as resident.
II. A claim thus marked and register
ed, shall be good so days from the ratifi-
cation of the treaty, at which time, the
claimant if the head of a family, shall
move upon and make his horne on either
the prairie or timber claim, which shall
make them both good, and shall be re-
garded so by the settlers. Single persons
or females making claims shall be entitled
to hold them by becoming residents of the
Territory, whether upon their claims or
otherwise. Any person making claim
as above shall be entitled to day addi-
tional for every FIVE miles they have to
travel to reach their families.
III. No person shall hold more than
one claim, directly or indirectly.
". No one shall be allowed to enter
upon any previously made or marked
claim.
V. All persons failing to commence i'm
proving or entering thereupon within the
time specified, shall forfeit the same, and
it shall be lawful for any other citizen to
enter thereon.
VI. Each claimant shall, at all reason
able times, hold himself in readiness to
point out the extent of his claim to any
person who may wish to ascertain the
fact.
VII 1t shall be the duty Of the Regis
ter to put every applicant upon proof oath,
or affirmation, that the claim offered for
registry is free from the claim of any other
person.
VIII. Every application flor registry
shall be made in the following form, viz !:
Il apply for certificate of registry for claim
selected and marked on this - day of
-, 1854, lying and being in -, con-
tanning 100 acres of prairie and 80 acres
of timber land, and declare upon honor
that said claim was selected aud marked
on the of -, and that am claim
ing but the one in my own right, and that
it was not claimed or selected by any
other person" To be signed by the ap-
plieant; any person failing to make this
certificate shall not be entitled 10 register
TX. We agree, upon the survey of the
Territory, TO mutually deed and redeed TO
each other, SO Is to leave Is near a. posi-
bic as claimed.
\. The officers Of this Association shall
be, one Chief Justice, one Register. one
Marshal, and one Treasurer.
II. The duty of the Chief Justice
shall he toiry and decide alt disputes be
tween settlers in reference jto claims or
otherwise. and to try all criminals or per
sons guilty of the violation d,f the laws of
the Territory. The said Chief Justice
shah always take justice between man and
man ss his guide and upon the demand
Of either party shall summon jury OF
SIX persons to try all disputes or violations
OF law, the jury to be selected as follows,
yiz. the Chief Justice to wtite down the
names of Is persons and zach party to
marx alternately until sig nsmes only are
lea, the defendant lnarkitlg frss- The
Chisf Justice shah also act as Presidsn.