The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-02-26
's-7l UNCLE SANS FARM.
Its Extent, and How and When
- i..-5... Acquired. at

The first action taken by the author
tiles of the United States in relation to
the public lands occurred in August,
1776. Great Britain had short time
before this passed an act inviting our
troops to desert the service, and also
threatening impressment and compul-
sorry service to all those taken at sea.
The people of the country became
greatly excited and indignant at this,
and accordingly Congress-, after due
deliberation, passed the folio wing pre-
amble and resolutions:
WHEREAS, The Parliament of Great
Britain have thought ft by q late act
not only to invite our troops to desert
our service, but to direct a compulsion
of our people, taken at sea, to serve
against their country,
ResolUed, Therefore, that these
States win receive all such foreigners
as shall leave the armies of her Britain
mic Majesty in America, aud shall
choose to become members of any of
these States, and they shall be protect
ed in the free exercise of their respect
i've religions, and be invested with the
rights, privileges, and immunities Of
natives, as established by the laws of
those States and, moreover, that this
Congress will provide for every such
person fifty acres of unappropriated
lands in some, of these States, to be
held by him and his heirs in absolute
property.
They also further resolved that they
would give to all officers who should
leave his MaJesty's service the follow
ing amounts of lands: ''i'.'t
To a Colonel, 1,0O0 acres to Lieu
tenant Colonel, 800 acres to Major,
600 acres ; to Captain, 400 acres to 3
Lieutenant, 300 acres to an Ensign,
200 acres and to every non-commis-
stoned officer 100 acres. BY the treaty
of 1888, at the close OF the Revolution,
the limits of the Republic of 1776, as
acknowledged by Great Britain, ex-
tended from the Great Lakes on the
MOI tn to the 31st degree of latitude,
and from the Atlantic to the middle
channel of the Mississippi River, that
boundary having been recognized as
the Western boundary of the Anglo
American Colonies by q treaty entered
into on the 10th of February, 1853, at
Paris, between the Kings of Great
Britain, France and Spain, the three
great colonizing powers on the conti-
nent.
The territory northwest of the Ohio
and east of the Mississippi Rivers,
known as the Northwestern Territory,
was conveyed to the General Govern
ment, with certain reservations, by the
State of NewYork in 1871, by Virginia
in 1884, by Massachusetts in 17S5, and
by Connecticut in 1776. Each one of
these States laid claim to certain res
eryations and to certain waste and un-
cultivated lands lying within this ter
ritory. Virginia claimed those lands
by virtue of her charter, but in order
to place the came under the Govern.
ment of the United, States waived all
her rights, and authorized Thomas
Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee
and James Monroe to make and exc
cute the deed OF cession for and on
behalf of Virginia. Congress accepted
the grant, and on the 18th of July,
1887, and while sitting under the arti-
cles of confederation, passed the fa-
nous ordinance of 1887 for the gov.
ernment of this Territory = which
comprises the States of Ohio, Michigan
Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and thai
that part of Minnesota east of the Mis-.
sissippi River. In 1902 Georgia con.
veyed to the United States that por.
ton of the present States of Mississip.
pi and Alabama lying north of the
thirty-first degree of north latitude
In 1903 the United States acquired, BY
purchase from the French Republic
the Territory of Orleans and Louisi.
ana, embracing that portion OF the
States of Mississippi and Alabams
south of the thirty first degree o.
north latitude, and the vast country
which now constitutes. the Statesol
Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa
Kansas, Nebraska, Oregon, and tha
part of Minnesota west of the Missis.
| siDDi River alan the Territ0r;ea nj