The true Democrat., 1855-05-01
Deeds to Swamp Lands.

In reply to the questions addressed us in relation to the manner of procuring deeds to swamp and overfowed lands, we will state briefly the necessary mode of procedure, as laid down in the law of 2Oth January, 1855.
 The Governor is empowered to make deeds, swamp lands that have been confirmed and patented to the State; but where any person holds any certificate which may have been issued by the swamp land commissioners, or any one acting under their authority, such certificate must be presented to the land agent of the proper district for examination. When, upon examination, the land agent finds the cer- tifcate thus presented, is for lands that have been confirmed to the State as swamp and overfiowed lands, and that the proper number Of acres have been paid for, and that there is no conflicting claim thereto he will issue a patent certificate to the holder of the certificate thus presented and surrendered, or to his legal representatives. Upon this patent certificate, granted by the land agent in lieu of the certif- cate granted by the swamp land commissioners, the Governor will make deed.
 Where the original holder or owner of the certificate of the swamp land commissioners is dead, or has assigned the certificate, the land agent will issue patent certificate in favor of the legal representative of the deceased, in case of death, or in favor of the last assignee, In case of assignment. Upon such patent cer- tltcate the Governor will make deed to the legal representative or the last assignee, as the case may be.
 The remaining provisions of the law are:
 That should there be only part of the land embraced in such original certificate confirmed to the State, the land agent shall issue patent certificate for that which has been or may have been confirmed to the State, and shall grant to the holder of said original certificate certificate to the Auditor, designating the tract or tracts not confirmed, but embraced in such original certificate, and setting forth how much had been paid for unconfrmed lands and the Auditor, upon the presentation of such certifi cate of the land agent, shall issue warrant to the owner thereof, for the amount so errone- ously paid; and the amount of such warrant shall be paid, as in other cases out of the swamp land fund.
 "That similar course shall be pursued by said land agents, in all cases where land has been twice paid for, or where more has been paid than was properly due, in consequence of erroneous estimates of the areas of any such lands, and in case sufficient amount may not have been paid, the land agent, before granting any patent certificate, shall require the payment of the balance due, according to the area of the tract; and the land agent shall keep proper re- cords of all his acts under this law, and shall register all lands in his books for which he grants patent certificates, and show on said re- cords when and to whom such certificates were granted.
 '"The original certificates taken up by the land agents shall be returned to the Auditor when the land agents make settlements, and shall be examined by the Auditor; and after adjusting the accounts of the land agents con- nected herewith, the said original certificates shall be cancelled and filed in the office of the State treasurer
 That when there are conflicting claims to such lands, the land agents may administer oaths and shall, upon proper notice to the par tles and upon hearing testimony and statements under oath, decide to whom the patent tertif. cate shall he issued, in accordance with the law on the subject, and shall issue the patent certi- ticate accordingly; and should the other party, whose claim is not allowed to such land. desire acertifcate to the Auditor, upon which to have the amount paid by him upon the land refund ed, the land agent shall issue the necessary cer tifcate to enable him to do so, upon his surren dering such original certificate to the land agent.''
 The Governor cannot make deeds to swamp and overfowed land until they are confirmed and patented to the State of which, we are in formed, he will give due notice to the public.
 As yet no patents have been received from the commissioner of the general land office. except for swamp and overhowed lands lying in the Washington and Champagnolle districts. When the Auditor completes the registration of these in his office the Governor will be prepared to make deeds for them
 Our friends, by paying particular attention to the requirements of the above law, will save themselves much trouble and inconvenience
 By strict compliance with its provisions all difficulty in procuring deeds, or where that is impossible, in getting back the scrip paid out will be avoided
 Military Land Warrants.