i in iMiiiii n r -A -- -m r -i"rmMfcfcM MilMiMhiMi
?-.
'V iiJUJsi
.
V
&W7B
i J h iinmii,,, i i-iiok
Vol.
0.
l.rMiil Opinion.
i ht..ui Cur, Hi 'J', HAD.
A7r l.ttttnr hnvnlmit irulli trd In
pirpan I it nl.1ionti'n a IikI uplnlnn cm.
liinruigamHrrstnlliqfuliiiiiiigiiiiiliuti,
imultui,! ii iiiimiriiMloii uf tlm ..priittlun
nl ik ml, ii i.l ilir lid vcil'.n ofil-' li mI
(..iiL-rfMiifHi m ul, l,Ml. t milted ' An
An iiiirinin lint olliuri nl .Hurtrvnr lirn.
.ml ..I ilm I'lililii. ,mi.. in OrrK'in, ami in
rnt i. lu Tor the nurvrr, an, I In lllln do.
milinittiM-lllnrsnflli''iai.lpuhliulsu.U."
1.1. wimi ilm mm i,f ilinunrili
, ulm or r nauia" a. cmilamiil In
tin, 4ih vi ti.Hi uf ii," above cnllil.il acl 1
...l ui.,,1,,, ii. u..r.l. i. ,,, I ul.n
Unii.m Hiilid iipinaii-lciiliivaieililio
name lor four, ontccutlvo y ears iVo., ro.
tiiic n nu actual ri ti Ii i n tin- l.in.l, as
ni.lnwiivil.t m niiiilv ilm iliiiiuaiit tn
Ii maii,l n pin lit '
3t.l In lli. r a lUuianl wli ili II.
niK m mil mi tin' luiiil, I, ul li.lniiMn
ml .i!lnif b ll.c pliinlin i.f liU
piuHinl l.ilvr, n'r by llint ul bit biinl
nr a iiiimiiI" r nf lil Innnly, enn ilr-
nwunl a ptii nl un.lrr llmui.l li'li m ell .ii
Iili Ami if ilm ml iirtnm lt mi
on.in ii... nrKitti nndlliM ibird Im
iuiii M I in lli, allinnalMP, Blirtln-r llir
l.i I tan.ll.rl nml truant it npptival.lr
i . n f- In ii iIh lni M'tln mil.. I Int
i. ui.ru. n.. nl. I uii-.iIk r iin.l in .ii, liu
lib. lln r tb.'
Umllul ,r Hi. tiiiunl
mat .1 limit, I lh' liib '
1 lir Iji,,.i if f !.r i ir'.n I, nml Hill
I 1 1 .' i. nlin ..I pr i ivlt Mii.iljr lu
i1. tt. .,1 in ull ..in pr . nipll',11 law n
II, . in. 1 1 in. M.-.i. Iln,l if lull
nut an I l"l'r,. Ii.mii r.iiiurkid iit-,ti
in ti..- I. I.,ili- ,.f lir S. ml. on Ibr bill
I i. I I m linn uf lb p' i niptiiui n, I ,(
Mil .!, I:ill, nililb 1 ' u i I In cr-iul
pi. , lltptloll II"III1 I-. , III. I. f'l III. pi II. i
lii fun l, iiat.li .1
I Int rt.rv trtirror
.-, ttjwt i.f lb.1
tin. p.il.lir I.iii I., pn,,r 1 1 tlic ,
in n, i, trA.i i. ii.iirin hiitni
I tviij. . ll
rulhfiiitl nn i art tin r. "I m ibr
. ir ,.ii. Iliiiwiiil fialil bidi.lri I and 111. wolluii oflhe Act nrSi-pl. U7, IH30.
ih.ii inn.', tliull ! ni.l In- i. Inr.li! Tlm principal and rinf live wordi of tlic
nitiln.iliil tni'iitir. mill tlio r.ilrr ..f art of May 'Jtf. "KSU, aro "MtUUror nee.
ilu I.ind.. fin .'in tin di.liii I in n bub m Ii ;in(, iiii ni'inn foticii!e,and cullira.
Iiiil.initt Ii. . I.) I.f.iil miIi din nut, ' l'l," Vc. Tlinao "f July II, 1B3'J, are
ii.iiiiIh i ,l m it ii-i in irr tlmu I, un , " rcuiinti rtwl xlllrri upon pnhlie lan'h"
.Ii I .ind mi. A, M-r. I'lioao of June II), 1(431, aro " irt.
I In- 11 ... ii mi "I tin pri' 'iiipti n 1. 1 ' (A r nr oeeupunl nf Ih pnhlie ia.i," &r.,
,.l Jiinr l'i, l:it, i until. I "An An i- m-1 " who u now in MMtttiion, and cullimttit
hi, lli- ui 1 1 nliili. I 'An A I m Kraut pm any part Ihtreof," Jje. Tbono of tho act
.nipiioii nKl.i. to tili'ia mi the piil.li ,iilSpt.U7, 1849, aro"JfMVro-nettnll,
!.iii-lv ai-pnitiil Alar itt-rnly-nltif, olio
ll mi.iii I . if-lii bun lit .1 in..1 ll.in t ," pr..
ii bi That iwit irillrr vr mrntnt I
ih- pub In- I in I., pin'r l I In- in;r i.l
lb, . rti I V h . II ll. Mr ill l..,jritn.l, .ii at . il
fill run) part lln n l, in lb.- wnr-n
I1 ,,iMiinl i-i-jbt Ii-in, Irt. I nml 'bun I1 .
ball Ii- t n'lllr-l I . all lln- Itiii-IiI. mil
l. lib pint lib il bl ibr In t lllnl, . I -
ll .t . I. lilt pi pu 'II ii.-bu I,,
. Ill, i-i . n lb. nb.,i I il, J., ii pi i, d,
A.
Ill nil pull "I ,1 In ' l' Til' I lit in l.ll
! 'b- I III id Sut , Ull'l I dill- f nl
", I-IIT, It mild i Ird tblil lln A I "I
I ' m;r. -. iippnni-1 mi lln- t'lih I inn l 'I
I. in,, I, nl.. tbrii'Miib, tin- it.l I', it
t ii vi iippr.iwl , ii lb- I lib "f JuU I- I.',
i.iilli-il, ' i " I -Uppb in. nl if I lb '
A I i.iiiIiiik lln- n.'l.i nl pu -i mpli. ii I
hi lib l . mi tin. pulilir liilliln. llppim. .1 tin
'.'!). Ii dii nl M.iv, . il'IiIi ro liiiiidn-.l mi I
tliiill ,' lli.i Iiiiiii in, v ttbiib u pail
lii I ilbni-.
" . f-mirl. il. , . 'I'liat i.'l lln ,' '
-tnl.i turl Hlllrn I..HI publu i. I. . I
I ii t. d Slat. -., Ii an- i ait a t . 1 1 ,i , ,
'I
. un.
n n.-i ,r In, - I - tin pi.m. . in
.t..l(
.I"
III
l, n't -nililb
.In .I Mat., l -bl
i, I mi I ibiilt,
,,r xh t!l n , lit ,
I i nl, r lb hnme
in. I u liu bill ll 'I I
. imbli .I lu link. pr.
iiilbin tin Hi"
liimt. ,1
H n I in t. lu i
.. I
.1 .jlli III i t. tin pulilli .lilt. I . Inn lint lllj;
In. ii in nl.-nml iituiiii.l i lib. n- ilu bilul
tun iiul iill.iili.il I,, .un I in I ili-lriil, ..I
lu-re tlm m I.a l.i . ii nsi in. I fnuii
h.il. on in i"f ii ili put.. I I-iiiul.tit
I., in. . ii nut Suit, nml 'I. intuit, lliein'l ,
1 1 1 upiul" 'ball I
m I I.iipK ,'ll tin
p. riiuit, ,1 I,, lib I tlie
ii.ii- i ,, l i n--, in ete
ui , nl,, ,1 in mi, I in I,"
ll u-ipii'l, ii. in. pn
v.-
'I lie lib i Ii I
I till ul S nl '.'7, I ".Ml,
ib- Hi, -L',. ii I, an I
. ii. i, I. ' Thai I lu n
-ball be, inn I In r, In i
l-i.iiiIi il In i it rt
.i. r er e. nihinf id
iniiiinn bull' lined
tin public llllllU,
Im linns un lulled,
ulme llie ne,e of i i4bl
i ii ti inn, Ik'Hij. n
I IllIll ul lb" I nited
Stuli ., in Imiiiiu
Hindu n di 1 1 irul' ni in I',, i, lu,;; tilan.of
In. ml. iili, in in bieoiui n i inen or niu
ball uiiike Mii'b ih el.iiiili.'ii on m hi fole
llie firit ilat "I Ib'ieiiil.i r, eiejiiieu linn '
Ilul anil bill, nml nlmMinll b.lte rmnlril
i;w;l mi. iiillnaliil the mi ne fur four ion.
neiilite tenri, nml shall ollu ihiso eon.
Infill In llie pint I. mil .nf llll ni I, till' lU.tl.
Ill) id "lie half km ll'Mi" i
A lillle iiltenliuii will i-li lh.it llmru
ii n tery sliikuiK Miiiilnni) m lliese e.
traits made fnuii ll"' Am "f May '.'U,
IKIll, June III, IH3I, niiilSepl. 'J7, l"30.
Ilul iheso Inns .iru nlike ill oilier (i'pv.ta
us I'n si . They nil render null nml toid
nil coiitrnels fur Irnnifcrrine, llio cliiint
pull, ills to tho liiuiliR of tlio p.itflils,
mi on,l i They ull prut do for llie rescr
ittlion ufiiiiiiernl Ininls, Ihlrd i Tlmy all
irquire prr)f uf " itlltemenl awl improve,
itenl," fouilli . Tiny ull proudo lluil mi
person shall hum tho hem. I'll nf llio acl
nioro ban uiJlii, anu nun : i iiry are an
OREGON
rAVmr- wm mif.
IkMlfMllMM
1fl' frV"'W
liilcriilnl by a inunillo.nl government to
benefit tlm widen of new countrits.
Iltji they aro altoallko In many other re-
slierls.
I have iIiim aiiown tbo (ttnlUrtty of
Uirso law, with a View lo proving Mat
for all tho purpose of an application to
tlm law bf Hin. 37, IBM. of principle
well teilled imdtr the threo tlatutca of
rarllor Hale, thai they aro all AoU In
pari materia ml la-bo considered one
law.
Hlalulrt ought not to bo construed M
cordlnr to ilia letter, but ao m to conform
to the Intention of the framefi. Wbsrs
ibero are oontictlng oVclfMM wsoa He
cunatruellon of a alatutc th officer whoas
duly It It lo intrprt them, must refer to
" wnrevrougm: p, omb sonrws oin
audi dcrllone, that Is, the wordt ol llie
statute Itself. (pet1 Lord Etlemhorontk. 16.
''"'i I'M.) Ilul III caaq. of JouMlul eon.
lriiulioii, atatutcii aro to bo Imntdcd ac-
curdlnn In n-a'oii, cnnvrnlenca and llie
N'l '. (. 310. TAW. 100. .1 Ca.
?) Hlalnto. In trl mnttri are to be
omnH ml a. one law: and fur all the
I'lirjuw" of aniwora lo ilm furPRfinUC.
limn, the Ada of May SB, 130, Juno 10,
l"l, anivit. S7ll"Mllaroaiieh. The
lvn il)tl ibo -'ll'jrcl of the public l.ndi
nruiill In pari irnltrin, and aro all to bo
ti'inlriiril lu)clhrr; a nil an in.ulatod act
nml In be ruiMlruril ulriilly upon lit own
r; i.iii at natin); rciauun in urn (jrn.
.ral ti'iii, ami in Ic oouifcd (iccor.
,ni) to tlit: inraii!ii);i)f CoiKrf, lu bocol.
biti .1 (ruin Ilm liiinj;r nf Ilm parlicu
Inr la, n coiupariJ with tbo whole )
ii in, uii.l fnuii ibr rrason and nature uf
ilii env; (oyvnlim of the Ajlorn'y Ventral,
Win. U'irl, Dec. nl, lijtl.) and tho cll
lnllilirj LDiulriicliou of Ibo .aino or
iiuillamnidi contained in like ttatiilt..
Willi tliran ueneral prlncli.loi taken for
crmiKcl, I proceed O amwer Ihc iiuettiom
in tin. ir nrdrr.
Ifti. What u ibo in."!n(r of the worda
"irUler or oreiiim! aj contained ill Ilm
ifr., " irno miuiii wire,rTrni mjym mm fwi
I hrnleil the lomtftr four eomeeullre year,"
e.
, When llie wonli of a Ian am capable
if Inn or Hiiro dilli rcul rnra, nbal liai
l.t i n ajNtUi n or wrillrn by the aiun law
maker, iimii wiino other nerailnn, liaclr.
. inn. Inner hlcli inav aaaitl in inn ex
ibiualmii of tlio or'd which lu tin in-1
Itt-i l.'.iti- bi. uranium iluuhtfiil. Hut
iibrnrtrr v n fnr In lln' laii(iiaj;r' "f R
lint iiinkrr on iiiii-ih rn.ion, n-i n iiiraniof
ml. rpr. ling lauuai- Hied lit binl nl an
..tin i Hun', ll ii iiitTinry In rtlioti llint
ih. miliiii;. nml nlint no ao allrgi', liiitr
-. nun iiiiinrxiuii ttitli inn- number. The
,,ri;-iii of ii lint inn Ih en npukru or itrillrn
l.t tlm Ian maker, upon x-inn other neon-
i u, muki i it n i irmiiuitaiH-r of the Ian
in ipieiliuu , diet l.n I lili tlio natne nri.
I'm, Hint ore i-ouiiiiti'd tilth one uunlher
l.i I'tiiiiiiii: from the Mill" amirrc. The
i. oft'oiiri ai mm lli" siihjcrt of com
an. ii ith u t in" t ithit iniumii'' Id o
mull ..f lln-net uf S pt '.'", INf-u, ni i-. ,
. ul. ,i,p.al. ,l l.t tin iii, .limi'i prnKuiitiil
in All luite tin ir nriin in n deiire
I tin- ceiicm! 1' n eminent In cnnler pe.
. ml t.iton Uui the early sdtleri of now
i .Minliii'H, by ciiablinj; tliem to nciiiiru a
title I j'b potlion of the public) lnu.li Um
iaiy tenni. Ilr llini-niuiunii rule nf con.
htrucliun, nil Mntutca Ukiii the nnme ruib,
... ! ...." ..I.I...J ..
jmi. "i in iir. r.....rr.u. n.n i..'i.ii.w.-ii ""
innkui)' nuu mj-Ii III nf law, mid must be
i uiiHlrueil in rili'tence to each oilier. The
ltiirney l.eiiernl of tho Unilcd Hlnlca ill
Im "pinion nf Dec. 31, 1311, already ri.
lid, fina ili-ilared llint nil Ian 1 upon the
1 Mibjcit ol public Inm Mare in pari materia,
' nml lliut iiuoue of llieie acti i. lo bo con.
.Iriiud alrictlr upon its nun letter,
III iloilbtfiil Mntutfi, it U icaanuablo In
prrkiune, thai llie nniuu law makine, twnr
M ulnnji in the nine mind uhcrciiothine,
nppinn In tlio conlrnry J that whatever
nui In. ileiicn nt one lime, tho same is
likeivme bis ilesisit ul auolhur lime, tthcre
un Millicirut rensoii can bo produced In
prove nu nllernlion of il. An oxnmple of
1I1I1 ultrruiioti in the muni or tho l,rglsln.
tnr iifiiuinl inlho 10th wot Ion of tlio act
iif.Sint. I. 1841. Tlm nrincinal ellectivo
nonis ui IliK ncl nro "n settlement in per.
inn on the public taiult," ita and " irAti
iAii inhabit and improre Ihe tame." Ilul
rilinilar minis which taken by ihrmiehcs,
rout eyed llio Idea of not only cultivation
but of an actual uml ioraoiial residence on
llio Inml Liillivalcd, mid no whero elso,
had Ih-cii uaud in llio acta of 1H.10 and
IMS, and 1431. Thrso acta worn con
si rued by tho Coin, of tho lloneral Land
ulTico, and by tlm Attorney ISenoral, aa
not rcnlly rcmiiring an aolunl resldeitco
on tho laud. This was probably In accor.
dance with I ho intention of Conj-resstvlien
thny passed theso acts. Hut tho Inlcn.
lion of that body waa not llio aame when
il passed llio act of 1841, To express
this intention therefore, I hoy expressly
drkluro that "no person teha ihall qui! or
iibiimlon Mi rttidenee on hit pick land to
fc 4&sr
i.-r.tf3t'ryyi
-r?rMM' r
"WMlmri Ilia NH
n jM.tcr.-tsxi. tr ijfjarCTgOJgerarwntwiWtr.y-jivrmi-jMtjiAJ.Ma'-ujjMasteyKitsajjiu-'j.!,
City (Oi T,,) YtthKbty, January 16, 1861.
mmmm
rttUon0n
or UrrUon. Miutre
ikill etq
cmMlon under ihU act."
eipr
rnaijlfc.tallon of Ibo will of Oontraaa WW
nocnaaary, ocoau-w ino pnnoipai mki
feoilvo word ol tho act of 1811 Waf la
aotiKi dcorco atitillar to Iboao found In Ifca
act. of mo, H33and I Ml, without
elsar maiilfr.lalion of Inlentkxt lo lb
contrary, lire prciumptlon might hare
been that the aenao In which ihay uaed tho
word. aettlement In peraon on tho pub.
Ho land.," Vo.,and who .ball InbabH
and Irr-proTa Ibo aame," itc, wa. that
wWoh Um AtUrar)rGmr.al anijh Cmm
Hn9t9tt9w Of IflW MlWnA uUtQ tMBOV BBSjf
In tha dloharj of lealr oaMal dotlaa,
j4M to ftMnawlau iimlUt word in Jka
MMTMII.li, Klf)
If In readlna Ibo rroi
whether ancient or modern, wo hmm wWi
pawago which U of doubtful mMnlog,
ws uaually make him, if wa oaa, a corn,
mcntalor upon hlmaelf, by oompariag thia
with aomo other pa! Id wrhlnre.
And whaleter we And to haro bean hit
mceulnj, whoro ho ancaka plainly, we
coni'tiide to hare bnen llkewlae bi. mean
ing where ho apeak, doubtfully. Adopt.
Ing Oil. well fettled rule elf conatraolion,
and keeping In mind that the acta of 1930,
1832, 1(431, and 1930 are In pari materia,
wo cannot Ions bo in doubt aato the mean,
trig nf tho worda " aetller or oceunant" aa
they occur In the -llh acctlon of tlio act of
Hept. lit, 19.V). Tho act of 1930, It en.
third "An Acl to grant pre cmntion rishta
In actllcra on tbo public land., not othe
public land. Tlio act 1633, wa. an act
entitled "An act aupplemental to an act
granllnjj tho right nf pre-emption to act.
iter, on the public land.," Ao. The act
of 1931 waa an act entitled "An act to
revive tho act entitled 'An aeyto grant
pre-emption right, to actllera on the pub
lie landa." Tbo firat enacting clauaa of
tho act of IS30, llko that of 1334 and 1830,
commence, with the phraae, "every to
iler or occupant of the publlo land.."
The Secretary of ibo Treasury, lion.
Levi Woodbury, lubmllled the followina
Hunllon, under llie act. of 1830 and 1834,
'to ilm lion. II. I-'. duller, Aliorney Oen.
rral ol llie UuileUHtatea: " Whether In.
dltldual. refilling wUXoml tbo land d(a.
Iricl, or in a oVitoaJ part oflbo Stale, and
claiming pre-emption In rirtua of tbo oc
cupancy ani cultivation of other, plaoed
on '.lie public laout a. umnit, aro coillli
lo pre.ciupuoo in any oaaa I
l ne Attorney uancrai in
90, IH87, tiff :-!! rvMrl
and thoae only, aa " tttllert troti
m'.bin tho mraulug of the law,' who .
Iher
" I. IVraonally cultivate and rc.lde on
tho p-iMfc lamia; or
1 I'.l't.l. '. , V.
"'.'. IVraonally culllvalc, utc, and
. .i. i . i r. . 1....1.
uiaimpr, the public laudi.
lltl-l , II.V- 11UW..W IH.IU.I X
I lit f.lliii- tnirila I rinM-.l ilu. tt,l-,1.
.,. wiiiwi --, .i.p.-. ,.u nw.taa
"neltler" and "occupant," aa ucd ay.
nun) uvnisly ; and I think It neceasary,
in order lo constitute cither a " aetller" or
"nccupint" within llie meaning of the
law, that the parly .hall liato a direct
, rtiimifconucxiuii with tho land claimed
bj him."
" Itetiilinco or inhabitittcy on the laud,
in addition to uulliintiou, i tho hiuhe.l
tlerrec of such pcrwiial connexion of
tihich tlm kulurcl it sutccpliblo ; bull
hate, not ii,Kjjcd that actual remlence ori
inhnl'ititney ou the land na. imlinpcuiable,
y ou the latt.l its. Inilinpeiuable.
mill, by personal labor, niny
A mpltIo inaii, ty personal labor, nint
nuke .in iiiiproti-inrut on n particular
lu.irlcr ni'cti.m, ami reduce it lo culliva.
Hon ; but iillbough liu limy board and
liHl)ti thru here, such n person, in my
opinion, inny tu-ll be regarded as a r(7fr
and eiTiixml of tho public lands. So, ton,
may the head uf a family, wfmsc iltrelling
n not on Ike public land, but nlin actually
linprovrs ami cilllimles a tract of public
land by the application of IiIj porsoiiul la
Inir, and tho lalmr ofbis family, or by tho
apiilication of tlio I ubor of his family nlonc.
mull r his immediate personal direction.
lit lii- family, I mean to include domestic
najinnu and hired men, nml where sla
ter y is authorized, slates."
"Ho rvai regaidsllio labor or all such
iiersnnr, I think that whan applied to the
imnnt tinriil and enlllvslt.nl nf llin null.
lie lands, il should bo deemed the labor of
llie head of the family, ami Ihat ho iscn
tilled, for all tho purwes of tho prceiup
lion laws, to the benefit of tho maxim
" aulj'aeil per ahum, faeil per te,"
The above, opinion "of tlio Attorney lien.
cral.whowas the authoiizcd iutcrprelcr
of llto law, furnishes an answer to tlio
first mislion aa lo who aro " aelllera or
occupaala" within Iho meaning of all our
laud laws containing llicso words. II pro
duced a corresxndiiig pracllco under
thrso laws, livcauso llio opinion of tho
Altornoy (iencral was an aulhentiu and
uiithnrilalivo Interprelrtion of liem. Thia
being tho aciiso In which tho word. " scl
tier or ocoupanl" ware use.1 by Ihoso who
mado tho laws nf 1H30, 183'J and 1834, is
ooncluslro evidence lo ahow In what aonso
Iho aamn wonls woro used In tho Oregon
I.aud Hill by ihoso who mado il, and who
had tho best oporlunily of knowing Ihe
truo tenso.
It will bo observed, thai under this de
cision, an actual or personal residence ou
Iho land Is not neceasary to constitute a
ulaimant a " aetller or occupant," of ihe
publlo lands)" "bul," In tbo langui
uf iho Attorney (.iencral, wllh culll
lion, is In Iho hlghckl degree ctiikucc (of
SffiCTATOE.'
4.Axrzwxxtesz. -w:nsrt. jy - - - a - gmiej - -
amag4t: Mm It way.
I connexion." Another, and low.
acrawi however, would bo wber
I ' a - a a . .
I mna nu ton to cultivate. Another
i of auch evidence would be where
a hired man to do it. Another
i .would be where he placet a tasv
sf the lend.
Nrt thia quettloti waa made in nether
MM. , An officer of th army of the Ual-
(af Kates, who in 163-34 wae la Actual
lee at Chicago, claimed quarter awe
or land in tho vicinity or that pom.
ir ibo pre-emption law or the inn of
i, IMl. me law having oeeo com
I wHh in other rtteecta. the aiarelleei
irtialllil Ml Aletraey Uetaml J?,
er. wbetker under awe droiimotaa
taeeeVer ayuld be pemMetwi "eet.
neavwaflL mhum saw
January if, imn, tje-"Af ta h ens.
hraeet "erenr awttler er oeeuaaat of Ihe
publlo lasde," Bad oontalna nethtag lo ex.
etude peraon of My pwatatlan, Ido not
ate any eunWetH legal ground fa reject.
tojlhicUlm."
Asalo. tbti Cornmlatloner cf the Gener
al Land offce, in letter to the Hegleter
and Receiver at TlMo, Ohio,- uaaler date
of Awil IBtb. 1869. ear.: "Oeenpen-
ey, inlaw, Utbut defoed: Where a man
Boat a piece or una wnicn no oustr pot.
fettea, and enlera npon the aame, this
gains a property, and baa a title by eceu.
nanov." An occupant ui he that occu
pies or Me putenlon, or Ihat baa poa.
aeition." wuatit nottcasionr- ibu
I used in the act ti tne tynonrmo of oo-
(supaacy, and it thu. defined t tho, having,
holdlns of property occupancy. Aclu.
al Ktldenoe, therefore, It not deemed ca
tL.tn i. UK. ii.... 1 ...i
holding landa," under the aet of May 39,
1830, which utet the word "aetller or
occupant."
Tie second question to which I am do.
aired to give an answer Is the following t
Whether Ihe word "and who shall
have resided upon and cultivated i he aame
Ibr fcVir years," dec., requires aii actual
ret ioVtcew the land aa indurneaaablo to
entitle the ottJsaaal to demand a patent t
I naderttand the object of the inquiry
lo be. to know whether the claimant I re.
quired to reeido ItLtveraoa on the estate.
I regent tne principle ot tne foregoing
oeiaioae of the Attorney General a an.
twetiag (be question in the aegativo. But
if not wunoui neuincuiiiee,
:li property may deatad up.
ntaaaiog oi in taneon
awaawHraaa atm Taattartv
- .1 ".-
exajau laeeuDiect atom at
le ouch autborkic, and offer
i in addition to the lorcrrolnir.
a have inclined me to the opinion that
tne word do not require a personal real.
nccoo.
The word eettle, from which Is derircJ
Ihe word " aetller," at used In llie 4lh
tectiou of Iho act of Sept. S7, 1 830, Is gen.
orally used at llio tjnonymo or reside,
from which Is derived llie word " resided"
In tho tamo section. Set, (from Iho I.at.
in ttdeo), means lo put or place, to causo
lo rest, to fix In any situation.
Settle, (from set) to place in a perms,
ncnt condition after wandering or fluctua
tion. Settler, ono who placet iu a permanent
condition, Aic, after wandering or fluctu
ation.
lletiJe, from the Latin rtsideo, reildo,
re and tedeo, to tit, to sclllc.
Theso definitions are strictly correct,
and lliry show that the word " aetller" is
tlio s) nony mo cl " resident, oral least
tcry nearly ao. I say rory nearly to, be.
cause although a resident is a sutler, yet
a sclllrr is not in rrrry tenso a resident.
although he is ao In many of the form, of
pcccii in which mat worn is usee..
Tho iirlnciiilo and cllbotivo words now
tinder consideration aro "every settler or
occupant of llio public lands, who shall
Into resided upon and cullitated ihe saino
four consccuttvo years." Theso words
then, of the 4th acctlon of tho act of Sept.
37, 1830, ff tbo foregoing definitions arc
correct, mean "ctcry sclllcr or ocoupanl
of llio public lands, who shall have set-
tied ujion and cultivated tho tamo fojir
coiurcutito years ate.
'pio "Ih section ot Ihe act protiilea,
" 'lTiat within twclto monlht after Ihe sur
eya have been mado, or where tho sur
vey ha a liecn mado beroro tho settlement,
llien within twelvo months from Iho timo
tlio settlement w aa commenced, each per
son claiming a donation right unilor thia
act, shall provo to Ibo satisfaction of Iho
8urte)or liyncral,or of auch oilier officer
at may bo appointed by law fur that pur.
pose, that the settlement and cultivation
required by thia act had been commenced,
specifying iho lime of commencement, and
at any limo after thu expiration of four
years from the date of such settlement,
wholhor mado under llio lawt of the late
Provisional Government or rutt, thall prove
In liko manner, bv two disinterested wit.
liottca, the fact uf continued rcaldcuco and
cultivation required by the fourth section
of Hits acl," &o. Now, If the worda tet
llement aud retultnee aro used aynony.
mously In thlt acl, at 1 believe 1 liave
shown them to be, then tho object of the
foregoing provision of the 7iho tection
waa
1st. To require the claimant within
twelve moutlia after the turvev hat been
made, or whore the survey has not been
mado before the utllemcul, then within
.Li. - a -Agrar..--
s-xsy - ni 1) n i in i biIiiibi ii imilnn i iwiiii m i " T'IWWidtjBL-
J. FLKMIMO T liiliiHK ' ,
' r 1 "l i l i l i l l i f i 1 1 1 IvrrT tt mt-nrrtrrnrnfTT rTOTMrweassSSStsaSBattliS
IV .
0
twelve months Asm the lime the' eettle.
meat was eomai.aefd, to prove that Ike
aetdemtat and ealUvetba bad been eeav
menced. The proof of tetllemtat was to
bow that Um, Ltd la atwetfaa .was lbs
oenain watea w .feelers
ttte t.1esageftbe aaaabtoa aftbs
word ffMt,lt was - mm Ja'a perma
neat ssadfciaaftbe aaeettw aete whieb
wm bU was eWmy; aeW'waa dirlUjHr
fluctaaliooi" aatl ilMeUhsalbWmV
ccmes a settler, lor oae who pieM-iia
fiitjaaitst tMsMtuoa (tat queattta a.
wan partasasar met aw
kaowa.
ItrafJeWi
11
prove the
aw.
tMMol
Tbi was dow. naaWtr. be aa eyibava.
lion' waa dcovaetlaa aaaw aateag Iks atat
evideace of lbs fjlaieaaat Mas? a oom'iJo
" eetilar or eeesniaat.'''K,
The oowmwaeeanal o4Wetitsjewl
ad cuHlvstlon being NliUltM, tba Tw
acctiaa IWnber provide tbat at aay time
Iter mar yean from lbs oats or each
CQmmsaatmaai, tnaewtamnt "aaaturovs
in lika'saaaaeri by tro ditintereeted wit.
nests the fact of coatiaaed reeideaoe
(uaed eynonymoutly witb settlement), and
culUvaUoa'
SetUenee bare 1 need as tho tviwevme
ofeettlemeat. And the obfect of tbe whole
provitioa waa to require preot, not oniy oi
toe oommeacemeat orettilwa.at aad eul
llvalion, but tbat thai Kttlemeat and oul.
tivation bad been eosUieaeat b9 cooaecu
lire year. Ibd lb law, Instead of oebtg
the words "wbsabaM have resided ansa
and cultivated lbs tame four coeeecullve
year," a tbey occur In the 4tb atctioa,
uaed tho word umdfBp 'resided apsa
and cultivated lbs earns far mar eoaassav
live yean" dsc, or bad tba laasjug of
the 7lh eectioo keen, "aaaJI provs m, Ilka
manner, by two atflat.tfsHd. witaesae.
the fact of anatlaaal aataal iwaManaa aad
culilvaiioa" ata-ttlll tba alalawi wotjei
bring himtrir wMMa las) rssaalag sf, las
law by prpviag Heat aaitbir maa livesiaa
tbaUnd, who ohlvsted t mrtba ataatbv
tor louryeeMsassamaBvvsJyivTbai k
be teen that ItatM asaaUai fast
cits as authorities la Mpport of Ihbi fat)
lion tbe cam of &sasarssa rev fttaaaafcr,
is. rVMcr. oae, sad iSkas si afv.
kit Hal. 1. 1'ei.aH. TasncMT'
writ of error, to deerse stassjaaad la
the eewrl of.tli.Jffi.aamii; Itjtbi tmsf.af
"' t-.f-. Jt-fc.! ., I I iBI I
,w.n,H, , wiviui mm jm asi ma its wv
ror to convey to defrndsaf, a certain
tract of land, in tbe mid prooeedlng. men.
tioned. Tbe pltintia In srror alleged,
that their title wa secured by tbe com.
pact entered into between the Uaitaasaalaa
and (.teorgia, lor too cession or tits coun.
try in which Ibo land wat lUaatsd, aad
that thedecreo wat in violation 'of that
compact. The condition in the Ceatlaa
Acl, on which the plalnliua in error relied,
Is in theso words :" That al! person,
who on tbo S7lh day of October 1703,
were actual settler within the territory
thus l-rded, shall be confirmed in all the
grants, legally and fully executed prior to
Ihat Hay, by the former British govern
ment of West 1'lorida, or by tho govern,
ncnt ol Spain." .
Chief Jusllco Marshall, In dcliverlns the
opinion of the Court, ttid : ",Tho plain
tilts produce a grant, legally and fully
executed ; but to bring the caw under the
treaty, they mutt also prove, that the an.
color or person under whom they olaim,
wua an actual aetller, on iho 97lh day of
October 1703. ''The answer tstertLthtt
the warrantor aunoy. Issued on lluT37lh
day of February 1703, and tho survey
made en tho SOth of July, In the same
year, when possession wat taken ; and
that ihe patent issued on tho 3d of April
1701. James Williams deposes, that about
the 3d nf December 1703, he took pot!
session of tho tract of land -in dispute, aa
otersrer for James Mather (ihe person j.i
dcr and through whom tho platntlflt Inei
ror claim), tho patentee, and understood
from" him, thtt he had gone lo Natchez ,
somen mo bclore, lo apply ror land iu the
part of the country wbero tho tract in con
troversy ilea, i mi la the testimony fur
nished by tbo record, to prove tbat Jai
Mather, the erantee, waa an actual eei
t Jsme
i fWVr
Cession
according to the requisition of the Cession
Act ol ueorcia. in Henderson vs. I'oin.
dexter, 13 ll'Aral. 030. tho term "actual
sclllcr" seems lo have been under stood at
synonymous with Ihe resident of ihe coun
try. Tlio case did not howerer require
ihat the precise meanlns of the term
should be fixed, and the court It disposed
lo think, that a settlement made on the
land by another person, who cultivated ll
lor ti.e proprietor, would bo sufficient;
though the proprietor, thould not reside in
person on the estate, or within Ihe lerrlto.
ry. Had the fctiloment proved by Wli.
llama, been made at the day required by
Iho Cession Acl, It would, we think, have
satisfied the requisition of ihat Act, and
entitled tbo plalnlliTs in error to the beae-
iit oi ineconuiuon.
Thl decision of Chief Jusllco Marshall
It authoritative and conolutlvo upon the
aubject, because lu waa made In a Irlbu
bunal of the last retort, and because mors.
over it wat enunciated by a tag of lbs
aw wnoae natiy conclusions, to say now.
Ing of his labored and learned expositions,
command more respect, than the well con.
" V ' SerJl".iJ
2S.'
aasasaHBiNi
aidered oplnleae of alette
lae ovesiioa.fjccaeoastl
uuiptrammor
IU wise asas-a
f aaotbar
asmaaaal
tbMrJemail
ioa IswsMl'aM ttaVtaV'l
ikaiafl
tbslaaalby
KPtriaoM
wssjUa
tor saaabti
tats, ar.wbbba m
iaasiattbaa
tioa
and bar lanembsal
worM.. Tlaabsiita
aa a assat ai sasi
aweoasesaaaa
cause It is tba
oaa have of las law
K,Mjtas
prnftesJm.t
Ibcas who ooaavJl tasaa. Jf bsammt
caaoas wsta w aa asjaaiy
tbould ditlarb aad asanHla tba
mark of proasrly (MJsbau
Id. 733. Lord Ckaaotllf.l
Wm.3.Ahaart.J.TT
Teaterden, BeVAV4pb lT.Btat,
o aaagaara, osaa. sjassaa, j w Wi
Rep. III. 1. Koat Cos. a.i
Joaee ( Bstav on Bfllmasia a. JfV
"No maa who k aet a law.
ever snow now to act; aad ao aata
a a lawyer woaw, la
Snow what to advJss. ui
bound by authority aa irmly as the
gaq acme were supposea 10 as
tbe decree of fete.''
j-.F T .. . ,
That there it tcb a tbJag M aa
retldence, as wsll as aaVsotaal rat
and that a man may be VrstUaat
realdenco of his sgtat. Swa V
Coin., p. 77.
In reply, then, to the
-
uweribal the word "aad whtahatt
reaided upoa and cultivated tbo aa
lour consecutive years" la tba am
do not require aa aataal aaa ai
aldence, in order to giva tho (
right to demand a pattst ; bat that a
llement made on the laaat by asxmV
son or ptraons, who, darks, mar
liro on and culiivato tba Ibm far ti
mrtwii
prletor, would be lull
Tals'l
at least i clearly whbbt OtM.Jami
Marshall'a decision and tba ariaaWaa I
on which it proceeded. Owl rasa saw sat
Tacit per tc.
la anawtr to the lairs: otmum, ,1 1
inai i oauevo mat a ciaimaai waja
Ing
Jin
V1
ins It not on tas laad, bat who ,
and culiivato by lbs apllssjbji afl
Vortonal labor, or by that sfbaifamat am
or a member of hi tastily, aaa ammlM
patent at tbe explralisa aC.
At lead auch iilliama )
occupant" within lbs sWaht I
of Msy 30, 1880, s4 Cbstsf ,
1834, (tee already
opinion of Attorney
March 30. 1837.1
1880 is at fcllowei A
pre-emption rkbt to sswsM
Ho laBdaJ"BoftbspaaB
though tba word "oocsyaarr
a in unci jet use
tlttute were net smm
mm
ilofliberslllywblebBi
pass lbs law giaaaTaj
wouia nscsssaray
ni" to ons was
resided on tbe
aiHlna Alauaai SWI
of 1834. oo
"every mnUv.m
wshsvsstsa thai
aaa parates la
ootiMrued, a
residence or
t.K
UlrteJgaT, rj. i -ft
smgitw-a mm mm mmw;
aat may aasaa ajpima
waa mass MaiSsaaawMM mmm ,
judicial tmot-mmymtm'
ilnmntiAt&
aad wbeea deettlta ommifmpm v
meet PrWewel sssasat av asA ajaVmlfS tl
aaa. aaaaaa aaaaaaaas..
aaisssSKfBssisssa: i1'
) ajBBpjBjBs rr
mwwy, atasma aajt aw i
eteaaaabi isyBsmC J
that ajgaajmSjaaBaBBBBBBB taaTBBBt'aaf
i - ary rwaiwi s Jv B
tW Wsaawaasssfaxasasiwpsssassxfasaal
gfi LmWkm'mmmmMim
iwaHalty mmv0mmgm inmjj
aasrt- aaa to, regents tastr asanas ay
CU.I
-st.V.
vJ I