Pennsylvania Act 1804-121 — PUBLIC LANDS - LAND OFFICE - LAND RIGHTS

Act text

PUBLIC LANDS - LAND OFFICE - LAND RIGHTS
                  Act of Apr. 3, 1804, P.L. 510, No. 121              Cl. 68
                                  AN ACT

     For ascertaining the Right of this State to certain Lands lying
        North and West of the Rivers Ohio and Allegheny, and
        Conewango Creek.

        Compiler's Note:  Section 1 of Act 192 of 1806 provided that
            section of Act 121 is extended and continued in force for
            and during the term of one year from April 1, 1807.
        Section 1.  Effect of application of actual settlers
        Applications of actual settlers for lands lying north and
     west of the Rivers Ohio and Allegheny and Conewango Creek, under
     the act, entitled" an act for the sale of the vacant lands
     within this Commonwealth," passed April 3, 1792, describing
     particularly the lands applied for, and filed with the Secretary
     of the Land Office, vouching such other requisites as is
     provided for by the act of September 22, 1794, entitled "an act
     to prevent the receiving any more applications, or issuing any
     more warrants except in certain cases, for any land within this
     Commonwealth," shall, for two years from and after the passing
     of this act, entitle the applicant, his heirs and assigns, to
     all the privileges and benefits that an original or vacating
     warrant would entitle them to; and on the trial of all suits
     brought or to be brought between warrantees and actual settlers,
     concerning lands situate as aforesaid, the actual settler shall
     be permitted to plead and make proof of his improvement and
     residence, as fully and with equal force and effect as if such
     settler had obtained a vacating warrant; but nothing in this act
     contained shall be construed to impair any contract or
     agreement, nor to bar the legal or equitable claims of any
     person or persons to said lands, nor to release said lands from
     the conditions of settlement, residence, improvement, purchase
     money and interest, required by the aforesaid act of April 3,
     1792, nor to the granting of any lands heretofore reserved or
     appropriated by law.  1804, April 3, p.l. 510, 4 sm.l. 199, sec.
     1.
        Section 2.  And be it further enacted by the authority
     aforesaid, That the Governor be and he is hereby authorised to
     employ one or more able counsel, generally to attend to the
     interests of the state, in and to the aforesaid lands, in all
     suits already commenced, or which shall be ready for trial at
     the next April or at any succeeding term in the circuit court of
     the United States, and to draw his warrant or warrants in favor
     of such counsel, for such sum or sums as may be thought proper,
     which shall be paid out of any unappropriated monies in the
     treasury of this commonwealth: Provided, Such sum or sums do not
     exceed one thousand dollars; and that the appearance and
     attendance of council as aforesaid, shall not be so construed as
     to acknowledge or give any further or additional power or
     jurisdiction, other than the courts have heretofore
     constitutionally possessed and exercised in the plea aforesaid.