The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-02-09
The Houmas Claims.

Inc HouHlas Claim The history OF the HOumas
Land Claim is simply this, as we are informed
by friend familiar with lands and land claims
and upon whose Judgment and information we
rely. In 1905, Congress provided for the ap-
pointment of Board of Commissioners "to adj
just private land claims in the Eastern District
Of the Territory of Orleans" This Board was
composed of P. Grimes, Joshua Lewis and
Thomas B. Robertson. They received proof of
the claims presented, and reported either in
favor Of or against each claim.
On the Goth February, 1906, William Con-
way filed with the Register of the Land Office,
then one of the Board, his claim to AZ portion of
the lands granted to Maurice Conway, in l774
and l777. The Record of his title was pre-
coded by 1guratiye plan Of the tract claimed
About the same time, Daniel Clark, John w.
Scott and William Donaldson, who all claimed
under Maurice Conway, presented their claims
to other portions OF this land, with fronts on
the Mississippi extending back to the 1berville
or Amite river.
On the Sd March, 1903, the Board reported
on the claim No. 1875, being the claim of William
Conway, as follows:
"No. 1875. William Conway claims another
tract of land situated in the county of Acadia
at the place called the Houmas, on the left
bank Of the Mississippi, containing twenty-five
and half arpents in front, with an opening
toward the rear Of sixty degrees forty-five
minutes. the upper line running north nine
degrees fifteen minutes east three hundred and
ffty-one arpcnts. and the lower line directed
north, seventy degrees east, and measuring
four hundred and fiiiy.ive arpents, bounded
on the upper side by Daniel Clark's land, and
on the lower by land Of Simon Laveau. tap
pearing to the Board, from patent or com
plete title exhibited, that seventeen arpents of
front were, together with greater quantity
granted by the Spanish Government to Maurice
Conway, 2lst June, TIT, and it appearing that
the five aud half arpents of the front remain
Ing Of the land aforesaid were purchased by
Pierre Part at the public sale of the estate Of
the late Joachim Mire alias Belony, on the nth
day of December. I7eS, and it further appear
ing to the Board from the several instruments
of conveyance offered in testimony, that the
two tracts Of land aforesaid have been convey
ed to the present claimant, the Board do here
by confirm his claim aforesaid"
Clark's claim, No. l27, was also reported on
the same day, and Oh the 10th March, 1908, the
claim of Scott and Donaldson, No. 1888 was re-
ported on, and confirmed like the claim of
Conway. The Board went on receiving proof
of claims in different parts Of Louisiana, and
reported to the Secretary Of the Treasury oil
claims examined by them. On the 9th Janua-
~, 1872, Albert Gallatin, then Secretary of the
Treasury, submitted their report to Congress.
Various Acts of Congress were passed from
time toitime in regard to land claims in Lou-
siana, but it appears that the report of 9th
January, 1912, was not confirmed in terms until
the Act Of I'd June, 1858 was passed. 1t is in
these words:
SEC. 2. Aaa Do IL .furtler enacted, That the
decisions in favor of land claimants made by
T. Grimes, Joshua Lewis, and Thomas B.
Robertson, commissioners appointed to adjust
private land claims in the eastern district of
the Territory Of Orleans, communicated to the
House Of Representatives by the Secretary of
the Treasury. on the ninth day of January, one
thousand eight hundred and twelve, and which
is [arel found in the American State Papers,
Public Lands, DUFF Green's edition,) volume
two, from page two hundred and twenty-four
to three hundred and sixty seven, inclusive, be,
and the same are hereby, confirmed, saving and
rescryiDg, however. to NIL adverse claimants
the right to assert the validity of their claims
in cnutt or courts of Justice: Provided, hon.
eter. That any claim so recommended for con-
tirmation, bat which may have been rejected,
III whole or in part, by any subsequent board
of commissioners, be. and the same is hereby,
specially excepted from confirmation.
1t will appear at glance that from 1872 to
1853, the Government of the United States had
failed to ratify the acts and confirm the report
of her own officers appointed under her own
authority to decide on the rights to private
property of people in a country acquired in
1908 The Government is liable to serious
censure in regard to Louisiana. Instead oil
coming Into the province and inviting the PEG.
pie OF the acquired territory to take all the
lands to which they had any kind of claim
She acted the part Of step mother--appointed
her own Boards who sat Mt places remote from
the great body Of the inhabitants, and required
proof such as would establish Il title in Court
to be produced before the Board, and even
, when the Boards had recommended claims fol-
confirmation have been dilatory in confirming
their action. Thousands Of the ancient settlers
have thus been deprived Of their homes. Just
SO with this IIoumas Grant. The Board acted n.
early as 1908, this action was only communicat
ed to Congress in 1912. and there the matter
rests until 1888. And when after this lapse O
time these claims. numbering some thousands
are acted on; hue and cry is raised by thos.
who are to all intents and purposes trcspassers
either as to the claimants or the United States
that n stupendous fraud has been perpetrated
Instead of heaping reproach and obliquy OF
the heads Of our Senators, the people ought te
eulogize and sustain them.
It's due to Mr.. Benjamin to state, that tardy
justice has been douc, and 1t is only the in
terested and defeated spectators on the publ,
domain who stigmalize Mr. Slidell. Had Con
srcss done her duty forty years ago, we would
have heard nothing Of this cry Of the disap
pointed speculator, which will cease as soon a.
their petition shall have been, as it ought tt
be, consigned to the tomb of all the Capu
let's
--~->~-..-N>..>-->e.--.,
POintless.
We have not word of news from the Leeis
lature later than the 2lst ult., circumstanc,
which has annoyed us no little, as we are OF
the lookout to hear that John S}idall hs,