IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, FEBRUARY 21, 1821. MR. THOMAS, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the petition of John Caldwell and others, purchasers of lots in Shawneetown, in the state of Illinois, REPORTED; That the petitioners state, that, by a re-survey of the said town, the public square on which the county jail was erected was laid off into town lots, and sold by the government; that the petitioners, with others, were compelled to purchase two lots whereon to erect the public buildings for the county, on which they paid the first instalment, and pray to be released from the payment of the remaining instalments. The Committee are of opinion that, as the price of the unsold lots in said town is enhanced by establishing a seat of justice therein, it is reasonable and just to grant a public square for the use of the county; and therefore they report a bill, IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, FEBRUARY 21, 1821. MR. THOMAS, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the petition of William Doak, praying for the right of pre-emption to a tract of land, including his improvement, in the state of Mississippi, REPORTED: That, it appears, to the satisfaction of the Committee, that the peti' tioner occupied a public stand in the Choctaw nation, upon the road leading from the Agency to Natchez, from about the year 1810 until the treaty was concluded by which the aforesaid land was ceded to the United States; that he conducted himself respectfully towards those who called at his house, and that he has made considerable improvements on the land thus occupied. The Committee are of opinion that the public house kept by the petitioner was of great public utility; they therefore report a bill. |