The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-04-11

| thousands OF acres OF lauu III thi'
are covered by two or three or more
patents issued to different individuals In
the early days of the old Common
wealth, when West Virginia was an
almost uabroken wilderness, and fhe
domain OF the Old Dominion was un'
derstood TO embrace almost half the
continent, more or less, and to extend
about one thousand miles further IN a
westerly direction than any adventurous
surveyor dared to 60. In addition TO
the confusion arising from the over
Tapping OF these early patents, the
trouble has been greatly increased oy a
system OF forfeitures for nonpaymeht OF
taxes and consequent sales by the S1a'e'
In many cases large and valuable
tracts OF land which had been returned
delinquent were cold b. the Sheriff ior
a mere song, just enough to pay the
residue OF taxes that had accrued and
was unpaid, and to this class OF pur-
chaeers the State gave sort OF title
to the land. Not long ago a tract ol
land in county, containing --
acrea was sold in tuIl for ., c"o!.nouo
sum ol Two Dollars and Eishty'srTen
cents, that being the amount due ior
taxes. The tract was sold more re-
Gently for $9j 900 and the holder OF the
better title, the proper owner OF the
land. was compelled to buy out the
holder ofthe tax title by paying him
$50 900 for his investment OF = 81.
The uncertainty OF the land titles has
seriously retarded immigration ana
prevented the population OF the State.
Only few months ago the Supreme
Court Of the United States rendered a
decision that hands over TO a New
England company almost the entire
county Of Jackson, whose inhabitants
have for fifty years thought their farms
we're their own. OF course this state
of affairs has seriously retarded the
prosperity OF West Virginia; has pre-.
vented strangers from purchasing and
has deferred the actual settlers from
making many valuable or permanent
improvements upon their lands. The
Committee on Land Titles labored TO
frame Constitutional Article on that
subject that would tend to settle and
give stability to the titles in the interior
counties OF the State. 1t was admlra'
tlv selected for that purpose, being
compoSed OF some Ct the best lawyers
in the Convention, several Of whom
have made a specially of the land laws
and have devoted many years TO that
particular branch o. legal practice. 1t
consisted OF Messrs. Armstrong, Jack
son of Wood, Wilson, Brown, Holt,
Mathews, knight, Ward and Smith.
In preparing their report they had
assistance and advice from Colonel
Hoffman AMI Judge Camden, OF Harri-
son, Edmiston, OF Lewis, Caperton, OF
Monroe, and Smith aud Miller aud
Quarter and Ferguson Of kanawha.
I hey devoted great deal Of labor and
care to the preparation of their report
and had the satisf,ction Of having 1t
stand the ordeal OF three days discus
zion and pass to engrossment with less
alteration than has been made in the
report Of any other committee.
Homer A. Holt, Of Braxton.
Without disparagement or detrGc'
ton from the merits Of any other mem.
Der of the Land Committee, ! would
be doing less than justice were | to
omit special mention OF Homer A.
Holt, ESQ of Braxton county. He is
thoroughly familiar with even the
minutest details OF our complicated land
system, having devoted nearly all his
professional life to the subject. He is
a University graduate and during all
the time since bis admission to the bar,
eighteen years ago, has been engaged in
the management OF one OF those i'm
mense and interminable land suits OF
which the old system was so prolific.
He is very clear thinker and speaks
directly to the point. He has been
remarked during the whole session as
one OF the most practical men in the
Convention and his suggestions have
always been heard with attention and
commended tor their prudence and
good sense Mr.. Armstrong, Of Hamp-
shire, was Chairman of the Land Com
mittee, and showed himself admirably
qualified for the place, but he was
quite unwell during a portion Of the
time the report was being considered
by the Convention, and the explana-
ton of its provisions devolved upon
Mr.. Holt. whose terse, concise and lucid
speeches upon the subject did very much
to carry the report successfully through.
Colonel Ben Wilson.
Upon this subject Of land titles Col.
Wilson made on Thursday the very
best speech he has delivered during tue
session Of the Convention, and those
who know how eloquent he always is,
will admit that his best speech must
have been splendid effort, as indeed it
was. The members of this Convention
NAV be safely supposed to be pretty
tired OF listening to arguments upon all
the various subjects that have been
under discussion, and il requires some.
thing unusual now TO hold their atten-
ton aud awaken a desire to hear every
word. Col. Wilson succeeded in doing
this and during all the time he was
speaking commanded the attention Of
the whole body in a remarkable degree.
He was very warmly congratulated at
the close OF his speech and number
OF the members have united in letter
to him requesting the publication of
his remarks for the information aud
salts action of the people in the noun
tain counties whose homes depend upon
proper settlement Of these vexatious
land titles. Should he consent to
furnish the speech for publication, the
readers OF the REGISTER will find it an
| admirable and eloouent eiuciJation of