Recital.And whereas the agents for such of the troops of the state of Virginia, who served on the continental establishment in the army of the United States, during the late war, have reported to the executive of the said state, that there is not a sufficiency of good land on the south-easterly side of the river Ohio, according to the act of cession from the said state to the United States, and within the limits assigned by the laws of the said state, to satisfy the said troops for the bounty lands due to them, in conformity to the said laws: to the intent therefore that the difference between what has already been located for the said troops, on the south-easterly side of the said river, and the aggregate of what is due to the whole of the said troops, may be located on the north-westerly side of the said river, and between the Sciota and Little Miami rivers, as stipulated by the said state:
Secretary at war to make return to the executive of Virginia of those entitled to bounty lands.Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That the secretary of the department of war shall make return to the executive of the state of Virginia of the names of such of the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates of the line of the said state, who served in the army of the United States, on the continental establishment, during the late war, and who, in conformity to the laws of the said state, are entitled to bounty lands; and shall also in such return state the aggregate amount in acres due to the said line by the laws aforesaid.
Agents to locate certain tracts for the use of the troops;Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the said agents to locate to and for the use of the said troops, between the rivers Sciota and Little Miami, such a number of acres of good land as shall, together with the number already located between the said two rivers, and the number already located on the south-easterly side of the river Ohio, be equal to the aggregate amount, so to be returned as aforesaid by the secretary of the department of war.
and to enter in a book the bounds of each location and survey.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the said agents, as soon as may be after the locations, surveys and allotments are made and completed, shall enter in regular order, in a book to be by them provided for that purpose, the bounds of each location and survey between the said two rivers, annexing the name of the officer, non-commissioned officer or private originally entitled to each; which entries being certified by the said agents or the majority of them, to be true entries, the book containing the same shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State.
President to cause letters patent to be made out to those entitled to bounty lands.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to cause letters patent to be made out in such words and form as he shall devise and direct, granting to such person so originally entitled to bounty lands, to his use, and to the use of his heirs or assigns, or his or their legal representative or representatives, his, her or their heirs or assigns, the lands designated in the said entries: Provided always, That before the seal of the United States shall be affixed to such letters patent, the secretary of the department of war shall have indorsed thereon that the grantee therein named, was originally entitled to such bounty lands, and that he has examined the bounds thereof with the book of entries filed in the office of the Secretary of State, and finds the same truly inserted; and every such letters patent shall be countersigned by the Secretary of State, and a minute of the date thereof, and of the name of the grantee shall be entered of record in his office, in a book to be specially provided for the purpose.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State, as soon as may be after the letters patent shallUnder the peculiar system of the Virginia land law, as it has been settled in Kentucky, and in the Virginia military district in Ohio, by usages adapted to the circumstances of the country, many principles have been established which are unknown to the common law. A long course of adjudication has fixed those principles, and they are to be considered as the settled rules by which those military titles are to be governed. Galt v. Galloway, 4 Peters, 334.
