The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-25
MIR. Faulkner on the West Virginia
Land Titles. p

We concur so fully in the following
views presented 10y Mr.. Faulkner in the
late Convention that we take pleasure
in extracting them from the current de,
bates as they appear in the Charleston
papers. We think the Convention has
done a wise thing in settling by consti-
tional provisions these disputed ques'
tons of land titles:
Mr.. Faulkner said, that he did not
profess to be intimately acquainted
with the intricate questions OF land
titles of the State, but having listened
with great interest to the views pre-
scented by gentlemen upon this subject,
and to the earnest appeals made to the
Convention, he had a very decided
opinion as to what was the true policy
of the State on that subject. .
In his section Of the State they had
had but little difficulty about their
land titles. His district was embraced
within what was called the northern
neck of Virginia-a grant OF land
made by Charles III, and which subse-
quently became the property of Lord
Fairfax. The patents issued by the
lord proprietor were small in quantity
of land; made to actual settlers, and the
location executed by competent and ex-
perienced surveyors. The land office
at Greenway Court was conducted with
system and judgment. 1t was much to
be regretted that the wise and judicious
regulations of Lord Fairfax had not
been adopted by Virginia in the dis,
posal of her lands. But they were all
familiar with the fact that more
vicious system could not have been
adopted than that Of Virginia; and the
evils under which the people OF this
State had now been laboring for more
than halt century are attributable. to
this unwise policy.
lie was pleased to see that this sub
iect the land titles Of West Virginia.
were now to be made matter OF con-
stitutional arrangement. No subject
Was more worthy of the attention Of
the Convention. Too much indulgence
had already been extended to the large
holders of the naked titles to our un-
occupied lands. He could account for
this indulgence by Virginia; it was in
com prehensihle to him by West Vir-
GINA. These naked titles hung like a
heavy mist over our mountain State.
They retarded immigration checked
and lett large portions OF
the State the abode of wild beasts.
These titles had been repeatedly for
feited by the laches of the parties inter.
ested, and by their failure to comply
with their just obligations to the State;
and as often, by mistaken generosity,
they had been restored to their owners
1t was time that a stern and inexor.
able policy of forfeiture should be adopt,
ed and enforced on behalf Of the actual
settler. 1t was his right to demand it,
and our duty to concede it. Prescribe,
for the last time, the terms upon which
these titles shall be further held, and
il those absentee proprietors shall fall
to comply with those terms, let there
he no further equity Of redemption.
Let the forfeiture be inexorably EN-
forced, and award to the actual occu-
pant the right which God has given
him to the land as mans inheritance
on earth, and which it is our duty, as
statesmen, to secure to him.
He had examined the report OF the
committee upon that subject, and was
prepared TO sustain its policy. He
would even 60 beyond the recommended
ton OF the committee and limit the
period beyond which not even the dis.
abilities of infancy or coverture should
prevent the occupation of these lands
hv the actual settler. There was an
essential State policy involved In this
subject to which even individual rights
must be made to yield.