The weekly clarion., 1880-02-25
4 - w -
OF THE
STATE OF MISSlSSI P PI.
1pUBLIsHED By AUTHORITY. I

AN ACT to facilitate the settlement of all
claims of the State of Mississippi against
the United States for lands selected and
remaining unpatented. and for indemnity
in money and scrip growing out of the
grant Of Swamp Lands 1880 and the SUBJ
sequent legislation OF Congress in relation
thereto.
Whereas In pursuance of an Act OF Con
gress entitled AN Act to enable the State of
Arkansas ard other States to reclaim the
Swamp Lands within their limits. Approved
September 18th. 1850. the State of Mississippi
selected about ), ,070 645 acres Of land of VIII ch
she has only received patents for 2,68l, 1888
acres. and
Whereas By the Act of Congress entitled
IAN Act TO confirm TO the several States the
Swamp and 0yerfiowed lands selected under
the Act of September 18th 1850 and the Act
of March 2d, 1919 Approved March Sd,
1857. the selection 50 made by the State was
confirmed, aud the lands selected required
10 be patented to the State as soon thereafter
as practicable, and
Whereas, In pursuance Of said Act of Con-
gress the State is now eatitled to receive pat
entS from. the L nlte1 States for 3Sf 10y acres
Of land, and
Whereas In pursuance of the Act herein
first named, and of the Act of Congress entitled
CAN Act for the relief Of purchasers and loca-
tors of swamp and overfowed land, \ proved
March I'd, 1855, the State Of Mississippi is ens
titled to receive from the United States S52
5l5 60 i'll money, being the amount received
bv the United States for lands Improperly sold
a the OF lSpJ afOreSaltt, ana
Whereas. Under the same Acts of Congress
the State IS entitled to receive from the United
States about thirty thousand acres OF lndem-
nitv scrip in lien of lands granted to the
State as aforesaid and thereafter disposed Of
improperly by The United States for LARD war
rants or scrip; and, Whereas, Owing to the
greatly insufficient clerical force III he gener-
al land office al Washington, 1T has been hlth-
erto impossible and is likely, hereafter, for
many years, TO be impossible, to procure a
settlement of the claims aforesaid, therefore,
SEcrIoN1 Be it enacted by the Leg stature oi
the State Of Mississippi, That the Governor
of this State be, and he is hereby required to
employ some suitable person to prepare, as
soon as it may be done, an accurate list OF
all lands selected by the State under the Act
of Congress of 1850 referred 10 in the prsam-
BILE hereof for which she has never received
patents from the United States, and a similar
list of all lands granted to the State under
said Act of Congress disposed of afterwards
bv the United States for money, and
similar list of all lands granted which
were afterwards disposed of by the United
States for warrants or scrip.
SEC 2 Be 1t further enacted, That the
Governor is empowered TO pay the person SO
employed such as he may think IS prop
err compensation for the services rendered, and
if he cannot agree with the person he may
wish to employ upon the sum to be paid. the
amount shall be determined by the Governor,
Auditor of Public Accounts and Attorney
General
SEC. 3. Be it further enacted. That the
Governor is empowered to employ some suita-
Bile person 10 take the Isis provided for in
section one of this act TO Washington and
there to proceed as speedily may be done,
in conjunction with the officers of the general
lar Office o ascertain the number Of acres of
land for which the State is entitled to receive
patents, the amouAt of money she is entitled
to receive and the amount OF indemnity scrip
she is entitled to receive under the several
Acts of Congress referred TO in the preamble
hereof.
SEC Be it further enacted, That if the
Governor shall deem it necessary or exped-
ent to expedite the settlement of the said
claim of the State against the United States,
he may pay for additional clerks to be select
ed by the general land Office 10 aid the said
office in examining and verifying the lists
provided for in the first section of this act.
| SIC ; Be it further enacted, That when the
claims of the State have been SO ascertained
and allowed by the United States Gov
ernment the Treasurer of the State shall re
ceive the patents money and indemnity scrip
which may be found due the State. and make
all necessary acquIttances therefor.
SEC g. BE it further enacted, That the scrip
so received shall be sold by the State Treasu-
rer at public auction, in the city Of Jackson,
to the highest bidder, at a not less than
twenty-five cents pea acre, after giving thlry
days notice of the time and place OF sale by
publication in The WEEKLY CLARION.
SEC Z. Be il further enacted, That the Gov
eruor shall certify the amount agreed to be
paid the persons employed under this act, to
the Auditor os Public Accounts, who shall
thereupon Issue his warrant upon the Treasu-
rer in favor of such persons therefor, to be
paid out of any money in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated.
SEC s. Belt further enacted, That this act
passage.
APPROVED. February 2lst. 1880