, 1857-05-22


An act 70 continue the Land Oces at Vincennes In
DIANA and to ascertain and adjust the titles TO Ger
tain Lands In the States Of In llama and llinnis for
mcrly included within the Vinecnnes Land Dis
trict.
De II enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatives OF the United States Of America in Con.
ess assembled That the register and receiver Of the
land onlces At Vincennes TO be appointed, together
with ht and proper person learned in the law, and
citizen Of Indiana, 70 Be appointed by the President
Of the United States are hereby constituted commits
siOners 70 ascertain and adjust the title Of any claim
ant 70 any tract Of land or any part or subdivision
twentynlnth Of August seventeen hundred and nine
tyone entitled AN act for granting lands 10 the in
hAbitants and settlers at Vincennes, and the Illinois
country, 10 the territory northwest Of the Ohio and
or.cohhrming them in their possessions" and the
several acts In aid OF and supplementary thereto.
Sec 2. And be Il further enacted, That every such
claimant TO any tract Of land 20 granted, any part
or subdivision thereof shall within three months af
hle his claim In writing with the said register, in
which be shall specifically set forth such facts shall
be required In the Instructions Of the Commissioner
the General Land Once Provided, That in any cafs
not fled within the period stipulated, such claim may
be presented and acted upon at any time before the
expiration Of the commission.
Sec. 3. And be 1t further enacted That such regis
ter upon the receipt OF such instructions shall give
notice in the several newspapers Of general circula
tion within said dstdct aud In the vicinity OF said
lands by publication Of his readiness to receive ap
peations claimants 10 which tice shall lie appen
ded the Instructions Of the Commissioner and copy
Of this act
Sec. I. And be II further enacted. that said COM
missoners shall meet Immediately alter the time al
lowed for fling such claims, and shall hold their
s0ns at the town Of Nincennes. They shall have
power TO issue sabpRnas and compel the attendance
OF witnesses, administer all necessary oaths, and TO
hear and decide, In q summary manner, all matters
respecting such claims Minutes Of the proceedings.
shall be regularly entered in book kept for that pur-
pose.
Sec. s. And be it further enacted That every cai-
mant 10 any tract Of land granted any suDdivs
ion thereof, who can produce to such commissioner
regular chain Of title from the original conrmee or
donee to himself eg who show to their satisfic-
ton continuous and connected possession In himself
and those under whom he claims, for a period Of
twenty years or more next preceding the filing Of his
claim, show such claim OF title would. in
the courts Of Indiana, bar action Of ejectment,
such claimant shall be confirmed in his title.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That said com
missiOners shall in e year from the date of organi
zing said commission under this act, sooner ii the
their docket all disposed o. transmit to
the commissioner OF the General Land Office trans
cnpt Of their decisions in favor OF claimants which
shall contain q fair statement OF the evidence on
which each respective claim is founded and also a
transcript Of their decisions against claimants, with
like statement Of the evidence and the reason oil
such rejection.
missioner Of the General Land-0lice, upon the re-
eept Of such transcript Of their dedcsions, shall issue
patent to such claimant confirmed in his title by
the said commissioners; and where any such claims
have been rejected, the said commissioner, upon ap
plication OF the proper person. shall have power to
revise such decision Of the said board and may if in
his opinion the evidence warrants it, reverse such de-
eision. and issue patent therefor TO such claimant
And provided further That the patents issued shall
only be q relinquishment Of the title Of the United
States and shall not be considered construed into
an abridgment Of the rights Of third persons.
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That immediate
ly after the passage Of this act the Commissioner Of
the General Land Office shall give directions to the
register and receiver Of the landoces at Indiapols
forthwith to transfer TO the Land Offices at Nncennes
the books. documents. maps, pats, surveys and all
other papers and writings deposited In the land Off
,es at indianapolis by the register and receiver of tue
and-ofices at Vincennes, and which originally were
deposited in the land offices at Vncennes, and were
transmitted from said Offices to the land-othces at
under the provisions Of the act "for abo
ahinE land-ohices under certain circumstances. and