Statute Ⅰ.
Chap. LXXXV.—An Act to revive the powers of the commissioners of ascertaining and deciding on claims to land in the district of Detroit, and for settling the claims to land at Green Bay and Prarie des Chiens, in the territory of Michigan.
Powers of the commissioners for deciding on claims to lands in the district of Detroit, under act of 23d April, 1812, ch. 62, revived.
Commissioners to perform the duties prescribed.
Act of March 3, 1817, ch. 99.
And to examine and decide on claims filed, &c.
Report and transcripts to be transmitted to the Secretary of the Treasury, &c.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the powers of the commissioners for ascertaining and deciding on the rights of persons claiming lands in the district of Detroit, as defined by the second section of an act, entitled “An act to authorize the granting of patents for land according to the surveys that have been made, and to grant donation rights to certain claimants of land in the district of Detroit, and for other purposes,” passed on the twenty-third of April, one thousand eight hundred and twelve, shall be, and are hereby, revived. And the said commissioners shall perform the duties therein prescribed, in relation to the claims which have been filed with the register of the land office for the said district, in pursuance of the act, entitled “An act allowing further time for entering donation rights to lands in the district of Detroit.” And the said commissioners shall also have power to examine and decide, according to the laws respecting the same, the claims which have been filed with the register of the land office, and not heretofore decided on; and they shall transmit their report, and transcripts of their decisions, to the Secretary of the Treasury, to be laid before Congress, in the manner directed by former laws providing for the adjustment of such claims.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the said commissioners shall be, and they are hereby, authorized to employ, with the approbation of the Secretary of the Treasury, a person capable of translating the French language, as an agent,An agent capable of translating the French language.
Agent to give notice, and attend, &c.
Claimants to produce evidence, &c.
Agent to report to the commissioners, &c.
Commissioners to transmit report and transcripts to the Secretary of the Treasury, &c. for the purpose of ascertaining the titles and claims to land at the settlements of Green Bay, and Prairie des Chiens. It shall be the duty of the said agent to give public notice, at each of the said settlements, of the time and place therein, at which he shall attend for the purpose of receiving notices and evidence of titles and claims to lands within the same. And every person having title or claims to lands within the settlements aforesaid, shall produce the evidence of his title or claim to the said agent, who shall record the same in books to be kept for that purpose. And after the said agent shall have remained at the places aforesaid, a time sufficient for the inhabitants to produce the evidence of their claims, he shall make his report thereof to the said commissioners, who shall have power to examine and decide on the claims to reported to them, according to the laws for adjusting and settling the claims to land in the district of Detroit, except, that which relates to donations of vacant land adjacent to the land confirmed shall not be considered applicable to claims in the settlements aforesaid. And the said commissioners shall transmit their report, and transcripts of their decisions, to the Secretary of the Treasury, on or before the first of October, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, to be laid before Congress at their next session thereafter, in the same manner as was directed by law in respect to the claims to lands in the district of Detroit.
Agent to take an oath.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the agent aforesaid shall take an oath for the faithful discharge of the duties enjoined on him; and he shall conform, in discharging the said duties, to such general instructions as shall be given him by the Secretary of the Treasury;500 dollars for each commissioner and agent, with fees to agent and register. and the said commissioners and agent shall each receive five hundred dollars, as full compensation for the services to be performed under this act, together with the recording fees to the agent, and allowance to the register, for a certificate of confirmation for donation rights provided for by former laws.
Approved, May 11, 1820.